The Silver State

Rye Patch, September 3, 1887.
Editor Silver State:—Peregrinating through these sections, the ubiquitous reporter brings up in the Patch of Rye. Persons traveling upon the railroad wonder whence the name Rye Patch. In days gone by there was in the immediate vicinity, a tract of land of four or five acres that produced wild rye, but now not productive—hence the name Rye Patch.

HOTEL DE YOUNG.
We find Judge Young in charge of the Rye Patch hotel, and doing a fairly good business. The crews on freight trains stop here for their meals, the same as when John Borland was proprietor. George tells us that he has ample accommodations for all who patronize him. Mining experts and others may procure good teams at any time, and at the Hotel De Young one may look for comfortable lodgings and a square meal suitable for an epicure even if the dining tables are round. Mr. Young's whisky is warranted not to kill at 40 yards, and above the bar mirror hangs a suspended placard, bearing the suggestive inscription in embellished letters:
"Our liquors are good,
And our prices just;
But, my dear, dear friends,
We cannot trust."
The proprietor told me he knew I must be an emigrant when I told him I did not remember Sam Clay, who used to step up to the bar and say:
"Got any beer?"
An affirmative answer being given, Sam would say: "Well, give me a little whisky."

THE BUTTE MINE
Owned by Frank Dorman has been bonded by W. T. Hale of Reno for the term of nine months for a consideration of $10,000. The Alpha was discovered in 1863 by Walter Smith & Co., and has produced since then $5,000,000. The Butte is an extension of the famous Alpha, this name Alpha being the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Its signification as the name of a mine the deponent sayeth not. Mr. Hale began work about the first of last month, and has run an 80-foot tunnel, and will likely go on for 60 feet more, until he strikes the ledge. Six white men are at work in the mine, and are taking out some good ore now. Day before yesterday the miners struck a stringer, which may be the ledge, as the rock is getting soft. Assays of the minerals from the Butte show returns of all the way from $50 to $3,000 per ton in silver.

SCOTTISH CHIEF.
Wm. E. Walton, Esq., an old partner of Fred. Lambing and Angus Morrison the latter recently deceased in Pennsylvania, is here representing a Boston syndicate that has unlimited capital at its command, which is about to operate on the Scottish Chief and other mines located in El Dorado canyon.

NEVADA AND OTHER MINES.
Prof. J. H. L. Tuck is about to put a force of men to work upon the Nevada mine, owned by H. J. Bender. The Nevada is situated in San Jacinto District. Mr. Tuck has purchased a two-thirds interest in the Nevada from Mr. Bender. Several very promising claims in San Jacinto are owned by J. B. Brown, Esq., of Rye Patch, who was one of the locators of the renowned Crown Point mine in Virginia City, Nevada.

AMERICAN AND FISHER CANYONS.
There are approximately 150 Chinamen in American Canyon, of which number one hundred are mining. The remaining fifty are engaged in gambling and laying around. They keep coming and going all the time. Wing Tong Chung is the principal merchant of the camp. He gets about two loads of freight per week from Rye Patch. The freight consists chiefly of rice and Chinese goods. George Young does the hauling for them. Mr. Wing Tong Chung ships about $3,000 worth of gold dust each month. The dust is very rich, being worth $16 per ounce. Eighteen dollars per ounce is considered to be exceedingly fine dust, and $22.50 is the value of the pure gold itself. The Celestials consume $60 worth of hogs and chickens each month, purchasing the same principally from J. H. Thies and C. Bastian of Lovelocks. Spots in the canyon pay big wages. There are cases, but they are rare, where four Chinamen pan out as high as $20 per day. The heathens make a stake and then return to China, some to remain and some to come back again after having visited friends and relatives. Tom Lee, Esq., runs a store in American, and has eight supernumeraries prospecting in Fisher Canyon, which may in time develop into another Spring Valley or American Canyon. There are but few Chinamen at work in Dry Gulch and Spring Valley at this writing, as the claims seem to be worked out, and the miners are leaving, some going to American Canyon and others elsewhere.

PERSONAL AND MISCELLANY.
L. F. Dunn and family are going to move to Winnemucca, where his children may reap the benefit of Prof. N. F. Smith's school. Messrs. Griffin and Keane are the section foremen here. Mr. Griffin has a crew of white men and Mr. Keane a gang of Chinamen. Mr. Isaac Beecher recently returned from Los Angeles, where he disposed of about thirty head of horses, and we understand did well in the transaction. His partner, Juan Espinosa, met with a sad fate, as has already been chronicled. Marion Howell, Esq., returned from Wisconsin without a bride. All of Marion's friends are disappointed because it is thus. Mr. Howell likes the east very well, but he likes the people of the west so much better, and it seems so good to see again the familiar faces at Rye Patch that he could not content himself in the Badger State. Mr. Howell is the owner of the "Sun Rise" mine, which he considers the best property in the country, and he is going to operate and develop it this winter. The Sun Rise is located in the neighborhood of Sacramento canyon. The mine was worked some last Winter and produced good ore. We had the pleasure of an introduction to Edward Munson, the popular and clever young agent and operator at this station. Though everything is quiet on the Potomac to-day, and the goose hangs high, we are informed that the 4th of July comes every three weeks in Rye Patch at which interval all hands participate in the festivities. Alfred French, who has been mining in Spring City, returned day before yesterday. Speaking of Spring City, reminds us of our worthy contemporary, "Polyhemus." We western Humboldters enjoy his literary productions much, and hope to hear from him often through the columns of the Silver State. We might add parenthetically, that Prof. N. A. Hummel of Wadsworth, one of the members of the teachers fraternity, and a young man of sterling worth and ability, is adding to the popularity of the Reno papers, by his brilliant effusions and newspaper contributions. Business at the hotel here is rushing, and we are compelled to close our little story. Miss Emma Brown of Virginia City, reopened the public school in this town last Monday. We wish and predict for the young lady a successful term. The future prospect of Rye Patch is assured, particularly if all of these mining developments, develop. Concluding, we beg to acknowledge thanks and indebtedness to Justice George Young and his estimable lady, for valuable suggestions and reliable data furnished during the compilation of this, the first, but hastily written letter from Rye Patch.
CHARLES H. GROVES.