Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-12-17


The Gold FfeIds OF the Far % est.
The dream Of DE Soto is at last realizes
j n the gold fields of the Tar West Ever
the tabled waters that would give perpetait,
of youth seem disclosed in the sparkling
currents whose gathered wealth can add .
bloom TO the faded brow of beauty or eTotte
with comeliness the decripiiude of cid age
Multiplied narratives from the trapper WIN
first saw the glitter in the sands, 10 the Ia
lest adRenturer returning with the yield OF a
4 summers prospecting, all attest the rich
ness and extent OF the gold beds formed by
the washing Of the eastern slope of the Soc-
ky Mountains. Along the Cherry Greek
s! the Fontaine qui Boville, the South Platte
and smaller affluents in the vicinity of
Pixies Peak. surface exploration have show
| an abundance Of the precious metals min
gled with the deposits amply sufficient 10
repay constant toll, even with the rndest
instruments. Fur sher along faint rulnors
come to US of still more alluring indications
upon the western slopes in the Three Parks,
and souihward among the huge formations
that skirt the Rie Bravo del Norie. From
research So far made, from geological evil
dences, from traditionary stories, aRd remains
doubt the general auriferous character OF the
whole central elevate on of the continent
The Sierra San Juan is known to contain
greater variety of precious stones, minerals,
salts and earths than any other of the Sier-
ras cf the interior. The partial exolora-
ton Of its treasures prepares us TO hear of
developments ameng its gulches unsurpass-
ed in the world. A recent lecture upon
physical geography, delivered by gentle
man better informed of the resources of that
region than any other in America, assumes
that gold will be found there in solid mass,
just as iron is found at the Pilot Knob or
Sheppard Mountain. And we see no rea-
son to doubt it, but every reason to believe
it. Still less should we be surprised TO note
discoveries of the garnet, the topaz, the ame-
thyst, the emerald and the diamond more
abundant than those of the great mountain
chains OF Europe and Asia. In Arizona the
silver mines have already attracted large
attention, and become the object of eager
quest, and this is also part 0. the same re-
markable forination-a formation embracing
n area OF ten degaees OF latitude by six OF
longitude. He re, therefore, is a field ripe
with the arvest, and ready for the gather
ing. Who shall number all its treasures?
How shall We take an inventory of all its
wealth! And with the opening new year,
when the grass is green, and nature, assu-
ming there her garment of real loveliness,
shall invite TO the exploration, what scene
OF adventurous industry will be witnessed |
IN that now silent Territory. More than
twenty thousand men will be telling, Dig
ging, seurching through every nook of that
great volcanic section-climbing the noun |
tains, penetrating the valleys, turning the
streams, breaking the rocks, burrowing the
earth, polishing the stones, smelling the sill
Yer, cleaning the gold from every crevice.
The lhrong Of wagons and accumulation of
provision, the COLLECTING of herds along the
western lines of present settlement, will re-
semble the outgoing of an army of invasion.
The tramp of free labor, as il marches to
the conquest of the new Ophir, will be heard
above the din of politics, and the restless
eye Of speculation will wander from govern
ment contracts and Congress Lobbying to
watch this exodus TO the center-this crusade
against the mounlains-this evansel to
new commerce.
The West-the far West--the great West
will loom up before the eye of the nation
in proportions OF immeasurah,e grandure.--
w here the deer and the elk now frequent,
cities will spring up within the year rvalling
hose of the valley, and the buffalo path will
urn into highways for hurrying merchan-
lise. The tradesman who can scarce get
ogether enough in his narrow home to buy
IN outfit, will return the millionaire of new
,old field, or a shrewd realizer of successive
bubble town lots. The OK driver will merge
nto the proprietor OF an express line; the
armer's boy will boast the possession of
anche with cattle on hundred hills. Nor
viii there be wanting dark lines in all this
yilded pageantry! The broken gambler,
he youth whose bright hope has been ex- t,
iDgsishcd IN crime. the impoverished miner .
whose bad luck has become the proverb OF
lis associatee--the husband, the father, the
:hild returning to plant the willow over the .
raves OF those for whose sake he struggled
% bravely after fortune--all these will min E
'le in the panorama. And yet the good
will surpass the evil, the gladness be great.
II than the sorrow, the contribution TO na-
ional progress far transcend the cases of in
ividusl suffering. Altogether it is a con-
emplation to rouse the spirit and make us
'roud of our country and our time. What
ther land can hold out such uuspeakable in
lucement to thrifty toll! And what other :
ge can parallel such irrupiions of people =
astening to pioneer the wilderness! Such,
Iowever, is the corl.ing marvel of the com
ng year.
EsraTrEe N m IRE