The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-10-30
Very Latest from the Gold Mines
ALL FORMER ACCOUNTS CONFIRMED 1!
PLENTY OF GOLD ON SOUTH PLATTE
From the Lawrence Republican, Of Oct. 10.


We are at last embed to lay before our
readers, direct reliable news from the newly
discovered gold fields Of Western Kansas
Mr.. F. II. Britain arrived ut this city last
Sunday evening, direct from the mines, hav-
ing been just twenty eight days on the route.
He Joined the Lawrence Company at Pixies
Peak upon his arrival there, and has been
with them ever since. Mr.. Britain confirms
the accounts we have from time to time pub
lished from the company. The most of the
summer was spent by them in prospecting
overssa large extent of country, finding gold
in almost all cases, but not as was thought
in paying quantities, except, by one pros
pecting party, who found on the head wnt-
ers of the Platte diggings where they thought
from five to eight dollars per day might be
made.
For two weeks the company prospected
upon both sides of the Platte, finding gold
in sufficient quantities so that with pick,
shovel and pan, from 81 to IS per day could
be made. Mr.. Britain brings specimens of
the gold, which we have seen, and which
have been examined by several old Califor-
mans in our presence, who all pronounce it
the genuine article-known as the "scale'
or s.drift' gold by miners.
There were about one hundred persons in
the mines, and numbers arriving daily, when
Mr.. Britain left. Provisions were t0lerably
plenty, though ut enormous rates-h0ur
selling at twenty-five dollars per hundred
Gold dust is used in the mines for currency,
at one dollar per pennyweight.
Mr.. Britain met from 800 to 1000 emf
grants en- route for the mines. He thinks that
but few of teams will be able to reach the
mines this fall, as probably pefore this time
there are heavy SHOWS in the mountains. 1t
is the height of folly, therefore, for other
companies to start this fall. If those already
on the route do not meet with great hard
ships, they will be fortunate.
At the time Mr.. Britain left the mines
there were no houses erected, the miners all
living in tents. The health of the miners
has been good.
The implements in use in the mines, are,
almost without exception, only shoveis,
picks and pans. 1t was the general opinion
of the miners, among them several old
Californians, that, with the proper imple-
ments, from SIS to SIS per day could be
made.
Mr.. John Rocker had rough rocker made
out of a hollow log, split, with which he
and his son were taking out from 81 to IS
per day. A half breed Cheyenne boy, John
Smith by name, son of John S. Smith, well
known as an old Indian trader, had been at
work about two weeks when Mr.. Britain
left, and had made fourteen dollars per week
with his pan, shovel and pick, carrying his
dirt from ten to twenty rods. One of the
"mess" found in prospecting a"pocket'' in
the bed rock, where the dirt yielded dollar
and half to the pan full. One of the
Georgia Company washed out SIG in asingle
day.
Cherry Greek is a tributary Of the South
Platte. 1t is about 80 or 40 miles in length,
is dry creek, with sandy bottom. from
four to six rods wide, and has but little
water in it. The main gold diggings are on
the South Platte, about forty miles west of
the m ouh of Cherry Creek. and about $50
miles little east by south of Fort Laramie.
The gold is found on the second ''bench,"
or bottom. Mr.. Brittan's specimens were
South Platte river, has been prospected
upon both sides for some thirty miles,
and gold found uniformly. Water is not
very abundant where the main digglngs
are, but can be obtained very readily by
s!uclng.l
The general face of the country is rolling
prairie, very sandy, supporting but little
vegetation except the prickly pear. The
bottoms, however. are very rich, and afford
IN abundance of pasture, the grass being
from three to six feet high. The timber is
mainly cotton but within twenty miles are
extensive prares. The Lawrence company
in going up from Spanish Peak to the Platte,
passed through pinery 81 miles in width,
and within 20 miles of the Platte. There is
also an abundance of timber in the mount
aims.
The disgings arc only ten miles from the
base of the Rocky Mountains. Mr.. B. says
the boys go frequently upon the mount
aims to hunt. Game is plenty nthe diggnss
such as antelope, black tailed deer, Virginia
deer, brown bear, ''jack" rabbits. Grizzly
bear are found in the mountains. A young
one was killed near the diggings, the skin Of
which Captain Smith has with him. Wild
ducks and geese are found on the river
The Platte at the diggnss is about two
hundred feet wide, easily fordibe.