Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-12-02
1oWs ron the Geld Hpnters.

1sws from the Geld Hunters.
LETTER Fn0H COL. o. .. SMITH
F. N. ZrRsAcnA-Dem Sir :-Thiukisl
il would b Of some interest " you anl
your readers to hear something about u,
route 70 the Cherry Greek gold disginss,
in w savos 70 iss : a6'dssesie.isr
Of the route - far - this place, which i,
stage station on the South Plssts, on II.
road 70 Salt Lake.
We started from Omaha Oct. 18th, and
commenced our march for the mountains
We crossed over . rolling prairie cvussry
70 the Elkhorn river, where they have q
very fine country tolerably we'll settled
and 6ne little town commsnced. W.
struck The Platte river valley, which ID
one Of the finest valleys I. ever Travelled in.
We found plenty Of feed for our cattle,
and wood for camping, and the best road
that I ever saw for the distance. This
valley Is far ahead Of the Missouri Bottom.
1t is high and dry generally, with . vsrie.
~ Of soil al on the sandy order, and pro.
duces all kindsof cropsIwell ~ far ~ tried.
We passed through several quite thrivisg
little towns. Fremont IL 6us town, with
. beautiful and fertile country surrounding
it. 1t ia built up with good block houses
in neat style. The inhabitants are mostly
eastern people. The next laid out town
10 Wallis-one house. The next town Of
note We came to was Columbus At the
crossing Of the Loup Fork. They have
come good buildings At this place, includ.
ing = good steam mill. The settlers are
mostly Germans, and are very industrious,
and ere opening some good farms. This
place they consider the last Of civilization
until the traveller reaches Fort Kearney.
We passed another town called Grand IL
land City, composed entirely Of Dutch Of
the wooden shoes kind, and matched roofs
to houses and barns--hovels, pig-stiss
and chicken eoops oil under one roof. and
entering through one door 70 these differ
ent departments. I met . man 10 The
street and asked him the name Of the
place. He looked up at me aud said,
" Nix fors.ay," and passed on. I asked
another he said +" vanschlever could tell
20 better as he could" So We passed on
through the city to Wood river-seven
miles-where we met an Americas who
gave Us the name Of the City. The next
place Of note We arrived . wa Fl. Kearny.
At this place We forded the Platte, which
was hard job. The distance across il at
this point is three miles, including water,
islands and sandbars, which il first one,
then the other, until we reached the Fort
on the South side Of the Platte, which 10
, 6ns country and better timbered than
tho most Of it below the forks, and abounds
With game Of various kinds-bu6alo, an.
telope, deer, and the mountain rabbit, and
fowls Of many different varieties. l have
killed Eve buffaloes, which keep 10 in oil
the fresh meat We want. Some days We
see five hundred or more, but this road is
travelled 20 much that it makes game rath.
Or shy aud hard to get 1t. We spend no
time hunting, only what l do - W are
along. This road 10 travelled
more than any road 10 Iowa that know.
We have met some days - high ~ sixty
wagons-the greater proportion Of them
Government teams. The stage runs once
week drawn BY six mules, and . man
riding another to help drive.
We are now within two hundred miles
Of the gold diggings, and oil we'll and in
good spirits. Our teams have stood it
dne. We had the pleasure several times
Of seeing that which we started to find
We saw one man from the diggings. He
reports that the miners were making from
i've to eight dollars day with pans when
he left. All accounts that we get now are
favorable. One hundred and City wagons
have passed this point for the new gold
iiggings, averaging about three men to >
wagon. There has gone up saw mill,
Ind with it four blacksmi.hs with their
:ools. With good luck we expect to get
through in two weeke when will give
vou the particulars, and the best route to
come.
noticed in . number Of the Eagle
'ince / started that our company consisted
If" Judge WAxsLY, him don't know
Judge TowSsLEY, he is with u.s., and
Mr.. SHOOK We expect to see him &C.
the Eagle in the spring, when
The will spread her wiugs, bid farewell to
Sioux City, and soas to he mountains 70
Duio her nest and lay her last egg.
Our company consists Of Messrs. GARDE,
RosrRrs, HArHAwAY, 0lS-
IAN, MosIER, DR.. kuEcKEL and myself.
Yours, &C.,
o. B. SMITH.