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Letter From Nevada, [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] VIRGINIA CITY, NEV. Jan. 5th, 1868. s EDITOR CHRONICLE:-The holidays came and went. And such holidays I don't care to see again-that is to say, the weather. For the balance of the year 1868, I wish you and your readers, and the rest of mankindhealth, wealth and general prosperity. THE LATE STORM. About two weeks ago I wrote you of a storm then prevailing to a fearful extent, and as time has proven, at that time it was but in its infancy. Since that time, this is the first day we have been permitted to see a clear sky. For the past two weeks it has rained, snowed, blowed, and everything usually attending a severe storm was meted out to us. Nothing equal in its severity has ever been witnessed this side of the Sierras by the "oldest inhabitant." Even the Indians can give no account of anything nearing its equal. During the past two weeks all communication with California has been cut off. Last night the telegraph was in working order and to-day a mail got over, but by what route I have not learned. The mail from the East has continued to arrive regular as well as uninterrupted communication by telegraph. On New Year's day the snow took the place of the rain, and up to last night we got enough of it. Many were unable to reach their dwellings in the evenings, after attending to their business during the day in the city, so great a depth did the snow drift in many localities. About 2 o'clock last Friday morning, (my business requiring my being out at that hour of night while wending my way homeward, came in contact with a drift of snow some ten or twelve feet in depth, and within one hundred yards of my domicil, which compelled me to submit to the "Powers that be," and prospect for a new channel or be severed from the comforts of married life. After numerous attempts to reach home, and going through a variety of gymnastic exercises, in the way of of rolling, tumbling, swearing occasionally, etc., I reached the bedside of one who had been during that dismal stormy night watching the faint flickerings of the night lamp, fearing all the while the strong arm of her earthly hopes would be wrecked, and lost in attempting to reach the comforts of a warm bed in readiness for him. It was no fun, I assure you at least I don't care about amusing myself in that way again. A lady and gentleman one night last week, while returning from a ball in Gold Hill, missed the road and wandered off together in the snow, and came near perishing. The iemmnse amount of falling snow and darkness of the night was the cause of their wandering from the main road. Luckily, however, for them, their loud cries for help were heard by the inmates of a house, and they were at once relieved from their perilous situation. Quite a contrast, between the hilarity and mirth abounding in the ball room just previous and the snow drift in which they were so uncomfortably occupying. Such is lifefrom wealth to poverty from unbounded pleasures to sudden unimaginable distress. They were taken to a house near by and restored to full man and womanhood, when they then and there agreed "no more balls for them" during the prevalence of so severe a storm, and rumor has it, that this particular occurrence will undoubtedly be the means of uniting the two "one and the same." Should this rumor become a fact, they will very likely choose a different kind of a downy bed to "bill and coo" upon than the one they occupied at the time they were discovered on the eventful night above referred to. The storm thus far has destroyed 80 large an amount of property that it is utterly impossible for me to give you an idea of the extent. It will take millions of dollars to replace the damages sustained from the storm in this State. Nearly all the mines ceased operations, in consequence of the teams being unable to haul the quartz to the mines. Wells, Fargo & Co., and the Bank of California run entirely out of coin, in consequence of being unable to get returns from bullion shipped during the month of December, 80 Iam informed. SUFFERING MUST COME IF STORM CONTINUES. Hundreds of miners have been suddenly thrown out of employment, and in many instances without food and wood, and it is feared much suffering will follow. A public meeting is called to take measures to alleviate the necessities of those in want of help. Provisions have advanced nearly a hundred per cent., although the stock on hand is quite sufficient to last until spring opens. Turkeys brought during the holidays, 621 cents per pound flour is selling at $18 per barrel and wood all the way from $30 to $45 per cord. Good healthy prices for poor folks, and not at all agreeable for rich ones. THE OLD TERRITORIAL Enterprise has been compelled to reduce to a quarter sheet, in consequence of their supply of paper becoming exhausted. Their winter's supply was caught some where in the mountains, in its transit over. POLITICS have frozen over-gone dead-defunct to be resumed in the Spring. The all absorbing topic now, among those fortunate enough to have a little coin left, is-sleighing, skating, attending balls, courting and drinking whisky. Sleighing is tip-top, just now, and the young folks and fast folks are using up horse flesh at a fearful rate. I received the CHRONICLE, this morning, of
