Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-11-30
The Gold FieIds Of the Far West.


The St. Louis Democrat thinks the dream Of De
Soto is at last realized in the gold fields Of the far
West. Multiplied narratives from the trappsr who
first the glitter in the sands to the latest adven
turer returning with the yield Of summers pros
peeting says the Democrat all attest the richness Of
and extent of the gold beds formed By the Washing
Of the eastern slope Of the Rocky Mountains Along
the banks of Cherry Greek, the Fontaine qui Boue,
the South Platte and smaller aue8ts in the vioini
ty of Pixies Peak, surface explorations have shown
an abundance Of the presiOus metals mingled
with the deposits amply sufficient to repay constant
toll, even with the rudest Instruments Further
along faint rumOrs to US Of stiT more aTluring
indications upon the western slopes in the Three
Parks, snd souihWard among the huge formations
that skirt the Rio Bravo del EOrte From research
50 far made from geological evidences, from tradI-
Onary stories and remains Of former civilsEatiOn,
we have no room to doubt the general auriHerous
character Of the whole central elevation Of the con-
tinent. The Sierra San Juan is known to contain
grester variety Ofpreoious stones minerals salts and
esrhs than any other Of the sierTas Of the interior
The partial exploration Of its treasures prepares Us
to hear Of developments among its gluehes unsur-
passed in the world. A recent lecture upon physi-
cal geography, delivered By gentlemen better in
informed Of the resources Of that region thsu any
other in America, assumes that gold will be found
there in soid mass just as iron is found at the Pilot
Knob or Sheppard Mountain. And we see no reas-
on to doubt it, but every reason to believe it, stin
less should we be surprised to note discoveries Of
the garnet, the topsE the amethyst the emersd and
the diamond more abundant than those Of The great
mountain chains Of Europe and Asia In Arazonis
the silver mines have already attracted large at
tentiou and become the object Of eager quest, and
this is also part Of the remarkable formation
"a formation embracing an area Of ten degrees Of
latitude by six Of longitude. Here therefore is q
field ripe with the harvest and ready for the gath
ering. Who shall number all It's treasurest How
shall We take an inventory Of all its wealth And
with the opening new year, when the grass grows
green, and nature, assuming there her garment
Of rare IoveIiness. shan invite the exploration,
what scene Of adventurous industry viii
be witnessed IN that now silent Territory
More than twenty thousand men viii be fOiling
digging searching through every nook Of that great
vol ,anie ssoiiOn-elmbing the mountains, psnstrai>
ing the valleys, turning the streams, breaking the
rocks burroWing the earths, polishing the stones,
smelling the silver cleaning the gold from every
l'crsVioe. The thrOng Of wagons, and accumulation
of provision, and collecting Of herds and hOcks
along the western lines Of the present settlement,
Willresemble the outgoing Of an army Of Invasion
The tramp Of this mighty enigrant army, as Il
marches to the conquest Of .he new OphiP, viii be
heard above the din Of politics. and the restless eye
o! speculation viii wander from government con
tracts and Congress lobbying to watch this exodus
to the centre-this crusade against the mountains
-.his evsngel to 5 new commerce. The West
chs far Wsst-ths great West, viii loom up in the
eye Of the nation in proportions Of unreasonable
grsndure. where the deer snd the elk nov frs-
qusnt, citiss viz SPringup within the ysar rvalling
those Of the valley, and the buffalo path win tura