The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-10-16
orrespondence Of the NcnparciI.
OPPOSITE FIR. KEARNEY,
Saturday. Oct. End. 1858.

/ Mr.. Editor: We have at length arrived
safely, and in good health, thus fur on our
! Journey to tho Gold mines. Until We ar
rived a, Columbus, we travelled and camped
when and where We pleased, but at that
! place, we formed ourselves into Company
for the purpose of protection, and for ia
cilitating travel. Columbus is the only town
! | have seen in the valley, which has improv
! cd since last year. 1t has grown great
deal, and the erection of a large aud fine
hotel, has added greatly to its appearance.
1t occupies the best position of any inland
town in the territory, and think, bids fair,
at some time, to be the Capital of the Ter
ritory.
There are great many more farmers
than there were last year, and nearly every
one Of them has a stock of Sugar Cane. |
have seen several horse mills for crushing
the cane, and think they will raise enough to
supply the valley with syrup.
On Sunday, September Goth, we crossed
Loup Fork, on the ferry at Columbus. We
commenced crossing at ten O'Clock, A. NJ,
and by 1, P. NJ, were all crossed and camp
ed on Spring creek, about milo West Of
the Ferry. In the evening, all assembled at
our tent, for the purpose Of forming our
selves into Company.
WV. FOSTER was called to the Chair.
On motion, the Chair appointed II. AL
LEN, 4. J. SMITH, j. GORDON, W. G.
Preston, and the writer, Il committee to
draw up Articles of Agreement for the
government of the Company. Tho commit
tee retired, and the meeting proceeded to
elect II Captain of the Company. After
preliminary bal!oting, your humble servant
was unanimously chosen Captain, and WV.
FOSTER, Secretary.
The committee reported articles which
were received and adopted, and the meeting
adjourned.
We have since been making from Is to
20 miles day, with splendid weather for
travelling. a. Grand Island City, found
Mr.. SEYMOUR and Captain BARNARD, good
deal better fixed than when was there last
year. They have forty five adults in the
settlement.
At Mendoza, the mouth of Wood river,
We found a house, in which resides Mr.
CROKER. He has fine crop of corn,
melons, Sugar Cane, &c.
The train arrived here about noon to- dav.
came on early this morning, and was over
at the Fort. The ford of the river is in fine
condition. They are carrying over from
ton to ton and half of hay, with teams
Of six mules. They have already put up
1900 tons of hay.
There are eight teams there, waiting for
US, and seven went on this morning. There
are eleven teams in our train, and elcv en-
more will be here tomorrow. The train
from Nebraska City will also be here to-
morrow. 1t consists of fifteen wagons
There Is no doubt felt here about the Gold
Mines. Every person that comes in, con-
firms all previous rational and reasonable
reports. The men on the other side, saw
last night two men from Cherry Greek, who
had some gold with them, which they saw.
The largest piece they saw, was worth about
dollar. They told the Plattsmout party.
they had been in the mountains for Eve years
and they told the train from Iowa Point,
they had been gone but two months. Their
statements were contradictory in other re
spects, but they had the gold, though Meth
er party who saw them, could ascertain the
amount.
We have arrived in from one to three
days sooner than any other OK teams which
have left the Missouri river. We have had
no hard pulling nor bad roads. Twice our
heaviest loaded wagon was stalled in soft
ground, but an extra team pulled them right
out. The road is almost level, from Elk
horn to this place, and none of it can be
called bad. The streams are all bridgcd
except Loup Fork, where there is ferry,
and Prairie Greek or Wood river, both of
which have good fords. We cross the river
tomorrow and will 60 on in the afternoon
or Monday morning.
We have had very pleasant trip thus
far, and l can assure you, that this life
pleases me much better than the inactive
quiet one was leading at Council Bluffs
Even if we get no gold, l would not ex-
change the winter in the mountains for one
in the Bluffs. shall try to write you again
from about the mouth of the South Fork of
Platte, but there is no certainty shall have
an opportunity to do SO. In the meantime,
| am yours, truly, SAN. S. CURTIS.
c. A novel style Of racing came off on
Saturday, the 18th ult., at the johnson Co.,
Fair Grounds in Iowa City. 1t was case
of ladies on foot. The prize silver cake
basket, was won BY Miss Handy, she out
running the other ladies' A-'Psrse of $50
was made up by the bystanders for Miss
L. H. .,.l 81