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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
August 30th, 1859 -- Six miles driving in the morning and we landed in Chinatown or Gold Canon as it is commonly called. Great preparations are here making for extensive mining operations in the fall, making ditches and constructing reservoirs for leading the water of the Carson River in to the mouth of the canon. Here I sold one ox for $30, and Ben sold one that had got lame for $27. The Chinese here show much of their native characteristics, especially in dress, you can distinguish them by their steeple-crowned umbrella-shaped hats as far as you can see them. I had the satisfaction of seeing about two ounces of pure gold, it looks nice, and would do pretty well if I only had enough of it. A nine mile desert in the afternoon, one of Ben's oxen went dead, and we have turned out for the night two miles or so from Carson City situated where the old California trail used to strike up into the Nevada Mountains.Powell
Travelled 16 miles. We took dinner by Chinatown. This is a new town started on the mouth of Gold Canon. Gold has been found here to pay and claims sell high. Only a few men are at werk on account of water. We crossed a 9 mile stretch this afternoon. Owenses lost an ox to day, also-sold one in Chinatown and Gibson sold one. It leaves us with but 2 yolk.