New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-09-11

We had occasion some weeks since to expose
the absurdi;y of the reports then current of gold
being found along the southern line of lowa-a re-
gion wholly occupied BY the strata of the coal forma-
tion. Rumors now come from remote dis
trict-that the precious metal is found along the
mountain range Of which Pixies Peak forms q
part. which peak is situated in west longitude
lbs 90 and about latitude 30 NJ, on the same
parallel with the mouth of the Kansas River, from
which it mus, be full 200 miles distant. This be-
inc beyond the limit of geological surveys, we are
indebted to the explorations made by Col. (then
Capt Fremont in 1884 for the information We
possess relative 10 the region This range, al ap-
pears from his map and section, is the first noun
famous district reached in following up the Kansas
to its sources or the Platte River further to the
north, or the Arkansas, whose course is more Ia
the south: all these rivers head IN this mountain
range though the sources of the Kansas may per-
haps not be- found So far west-the small branches
of he Arkansas aud the Platte appearing to inter
LOCK- beyond the heads OF the Kansas. The country
waered by these streams from the base OF the noun
tains 10 the Missouri River appears from the few
data collected to be undersid by the limestones and
sandsiones Of the cre,aceous formation, the out
groupings of which are traced southwark through
Arkansas into Louisiana and Mississippi, and thence
through the southern 10 the Atlantic States. Ere
mont calls the country plain. watered on lis
western half BY many shallow streams with sandy
beds which become deeper as they reach the richer
lands approaching the Missouri River bordered by
bottom lands and these BY bluffs varying from 81 TO
SEQ feet in hight. The timber is entirely confined
to the sreams-in the eastern half il is OF vigorous
growth. sud Of many different kinds but throughout
the western half only the cottonwood tree is found.
This is of several species, growing in sandy soils in
which no other tree will flourish, pointing out the
existence of wafer, and furnishing 10 the Traveller
fuel and food for his animals. II is in fact the tree
Of the desert. The Pswnees then occupied the
eastern portion. sni the Sioux, Arapahoes and
Chiennes the western and the intermediate cOun-
Try was their war ground. The SOIL though the
country is spoken of as desert, is described as
excellent, capable of supporting large agricultural
and pastoral populstion.
Near the base of the mountains, the country lies
at elevations from 1900 10 1900 feet above the
sea. and the sources Of the streams traced Tar
up among the ridges. As represented upon the
map, the topography resembles that OF the western
outEers Of the Sierra Nevada Of California which
an Gu, up in lines transverse TO their range by The
numerous streams which make their way scross
them in a westerly direction toward the san Joa-
auin and the Sacramento Rivers. These are In like
manner apparently trsyersed BY the streams which
flow east 10 the Pls.te aud Arkansas Rivers. The
Blue Mountains of New South Wales are repre-
sen.e1 as exhibiting similar topography; nume-
rous branches running eastward sercss their range
into the Macquarie and other streams which dow
parallel with il, and dividing the country into deep
parallel canons. The attention Of Fremont was not