Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-11-03
LETTER FROM THE WEST.
IbI ILls ISOz1 " ESI.
Correspondents Of the sRaftsman's Journal

Correspondents of the ssRaftsman's Journal"
OMAHA CrrY, N. T., Oct. Is, 1858.
FRIEND Row:-The gold excitement through
this part of the county continues, to a great
extent, undated. Cheering news is brought
TO our settlements almost daily by old noun
taineers and others coming in from Cherry
Greek and Pixies Peak. Large numbers of
persons have gone there from Our Nebraska
and Iowa towns along the Missouri River. But
the lateness of the season, scarcity of money,
&c, will pretty effectualiy prevent any further
emigration thither this fall. Large numbers,
however, are making preparations to start in
the spring, should not the whole thing prove
to be a deusion. | have just had a.long con-
versation with gentleman just arrived from
Salt Lake He made the trip from Salt Lake
to Omaha in about thirty-six days. The gen.
tleman referred to states ssthat he found guam
titles of fine gold in the bank of stream call
ed Strawberry creek, and that it appeared to
exist there in large quantities. Gold had also
been discovered on Brier creek andl Sweet
Water creek, in the same vicinity" These
creeks are some distance west of Fort Lara
mie- He sssaw plenty of specimens in dust
and in Jumps in the hands of the soldiers, as
it had been collected at Cherry Greek. He
net about one hundred teams, between Lara
mic and Omaha, on their way to Cherry creek.
| Each team takes about four men with their ne
| cesSary provisions for eight or nine months.
The same gentleman informed me that the
Mormons are quiet, and that the disap-
| pointed and yexed officers and soldiers had
nothing to do but to prepare for winter quar-
tiers. The army was healthy and in good con-
dition. On his way in he met one hundred
and three Government trains bound for Salt
| Lake. Each train consists of twenty-six wag-
ons, sseach one of which is drawn by six yoke
of oxen" The Cheyenne Indians. hitherto
very troublesome and unmanageable, are re-
ported to be sspeaceable, friendly and well
| disposed towards their white masters.''
| Great interest is manifested here to learn
the result of the late elections held in Penn
| sylvania, Ohio, owa and other, States. Poll
tics in this Territory have, until quite recent
/ ly, lain dormant. But party strife is almost
as bitter here now as it is in the old settled
| States, where the great contending parties of
the day are prompted to action by the hope OF
| the spoils of office in view before them. Ne
| braska will. beyond doubt, adopt constitu-
tion prohibiting slavery within its limits, as
soon as it is ready for admission into the Union
of States. The Democrats claim to have a
majority in the Territory, but the people are
not at all willing to make any such admission.
The Legislature of the Territory is yet in
session, and will continue its session tor about
twenty five days. A large amount of business
has been disposed Of during the session, and
much more of public nature yet remains to
dispose of. On the 21st of Sept, at the be-
| ginning of the session, the Territory was al
most without law. No laws for furnishing
crimes exi ted at that time, as a former Legis-
lature repealed all the criminal laws, broke
| up, and passed no others.
Yours, very respectfully, D..