The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-11-27

of supereogation on our part, to say ought
of the reliability of Mr.. GRAvEs, to the pso-
pie of this city, but to those who are not
80 fortunate as to know the gentleman, We
would say, that he has been resident Of
this city some three years, and two years .
member Of the Common Council. His
statements are entitled to the utmost cred
snce. S.
LETTER FROM JOHN GRAVES.
CAMP on CHERRY CREEK, J
October 81, 1858.
We arrived here on the 29th, all
well-joyous at having got through safe,
and glad we started from home. With 9TH
ers have been up above I or 8 miles on
prospecting expedition. We found the
earth pretty much pregnated with gold,
more or less. We can find the "color" in
most every place, but, rs general thing,
the soil would not pay unless extensively
worked. But, up Cherry Greek, and other
branches, it will pay in almost any way you
choose to work it. We will not, how
ever, be able to do much this winter. But,
those who winter here, will have the advan.
tage in tho spring, while the water is run.
ming down the mountains. think We shall
be able to make from three to ten dollars
per dag, but hope to do better with the i'm
Elements we have to work with.
Isend you small parcel Of " dust" to
show you that the gold is not all a hun'bug
This PANIED out, myself. Provisions are
scarce and high, but We, and most Of the
emigrants, have enough to last till spring
We are now at work building our cabins fol
winter. We are building in very heavy
grove of cotton wood timber, on the South
Fork of the Platte, Immediately at the foot
of the Rocky Mountains. We have plar
view of Pixies Peak, which is about 60 miles
South Of US.
Emigrants are daily arriving, and We think
there will be from 400 to 600 men in here
this winter. We hear and fear but little
from the Indians. There is a town laid of
here, but as yet no splendid brick blocks
have gone up.
As some of my friends may wish to come
here in the spring-which do not particu'
lary advise, especially if they are doing wei
where they Twill give synopsis of the
camping places and roads. From Omaha
to Fort Kearny, q distance of 1872 miles
there is good road, and but little difficulty
in finding camping places. From Fl. kear-
ny to the crossing of South Platte-that is
where the road from Fort Kearny tc
Laramie crosses (ue do not cross the Platte
loo miles, the road is very good, but, it
camping, we generally had to drive off the
road from to 2 IL miles, and then often
obliged to do without timber. Water & grass
are plenty. From the crossing aforesaid tc
Cherry Creek, 225 miles, it is considerably
mi4ed"--the first part having a slight
sprinkliug of sandy intervals, hills and hol'
lows, but nothing serious, and We did moi
"doub!o teams" all the way out here. Fol
about $50 miles after leaving the crossing Of
the South Platte, there is little or no timber
but the rest of the way the road is good
plenty of timber, water and grass. The road
follows the river close.
Tell Capt. DODGE, he was certainly mis-.
taken in the location of Cherry Greek. II
is about 40 miles ADORE St. Vrain's Fort in.
stead of - miles below, as he told me-
The whole distance from Council Bluffs to
this place is, as near as can keep tally, SCI
miles.
Direct letters to Fort Laramie, as we ex.
expect to have private mail to and from
there this winter. Snow has been falling
all the morning, md it is now about seven
inches deep, and yet falling.
Yours &C.,
JOHN GRAVES.