Nebraska advertiser., 1859-01-20
CHERRY CREgKs
24th 1858.


the bright side of the gold prospects:
CHERRY CREEK,
November 24th 1858.
Z. Z, PARkER; .} ~
We are above he-mouth of Cherry
Creek four miles, oh-the Platte River
have built a log cabin 20 feet by "A, and
l think, have quite a good situation for
the winter. So far, the weather has
been very mild and pleasant. think
the climate here is not so severe, as on
the Missouri River. We have had two.
SHOWS; one seven or eight inches IN depth,
the other four. The snow is very wet
when it falls, and soon melts away. We
have had no freezing weather of any con-
sequence. Nights are frosty, but the
ground is not frozen. / cannot tell the
reason Of chmild weather, unless 1T is
on account of being so close to the noun
tains; that they seryeaas a shield. So near
that the. cold wind from the snowoon the
mountains passes over our heads. / think
this country inltime will be one of the
best regions Of country in the United
States. Timber smore plenty here than
any place West I'haye seen3G The bot
toms of the Platte and other streams
have cotton wood timber; and IN the
mountains pine sfthe principal growth.
The soil along the River and footof the
mountains, is good, bat not so good as
East Nebraska and Kansas, but more
adapted l think TO the growing of small
grain. / think wheat could be produced
here in abundance, bothfall and spring.
For if the weather is generally as it has
been since / arrived here, | see nothing
to keep fall wheat from doing we'll in
winter. The Platte here is a regular
mountain stream. 1t. runs swift, with a
narrow channel, is perfectly clear and
pure; while its bottom is of stone from
the smallest pebble tothe size of a per-
sons head, worn perfectly smooth by be-
ing rolled by the current.
l suppose, as l stated before, we are
four miles from the mouth of Cherry
Creek; which runs a north west course.
While the Pate runs here and above
here, nearly the same course while be-
low, neal the mouth of Cherry Creek it
, turns more to the north. So you find a
scope of land laying rather between the
two streams. From the Platte, out from
the river for from fifty to two hundred
yards, is bottom land, like that below
Brownville, after which there is rising
ground not hilly, but from five to twenty
five feet higher than the low ground.
Along the brink of this rise is found the
precious gold you have heard so much
about. It is not found in Jumps tie size
of birds eggs, OF even birds eyes, but
in small specks or scales. The largest
not worth more than five or six cents. ]
have heard of some few pieces being
found worth 25cents, but they are moi
often found. We have not worked any
/ yet in the mines. In fact, but few mer
are at work, from different reasons sup.
pose. There are a few men at work, a
little distance above us, with pans and
rockers. l do not know what they are
making on a average. | know of one
man who made four dollars in one day
5 and | suppose there are men making three
dollars per, day. There is no coarse golC
found. All that is found, is supposed
to have been washed from the mountains
, and men here are expecting to find it by
l prospecting in the spring in heavier de.
: posts farther toward the mountains, anl
o heads of the streams. There is gold OF
almost all the streams putting out from the
; mountains, and | have heard the nearer
e you approach their headings, the coarsel
!. the gold but I have not yet satisfied my
own mind In that respect. There art
men here who have mined in California
and olher places, who say this grounc
prospects very well, and l suppose if wa
r ter could be had good wages could b.
t made; but until arrangements are made
by which water can be had, I think bu
little viii be done. It is supposed whel
spring opens, something in that way vii
be done. We do not expect to make any
thing this winter, and do not intend try
e ing very hard. We aim, however, t,
make enough to send a few letters to GU
friends, and to buy a few notions.
There is a nan running an expires
e from here to Leavenworth and Kansa
n City. He charges one dollar for ever
# letter he carries. There is also an ex
press to Fl. Laramie, which charges 81
cents for the first letter and 25 cents TO
d each additional.
We have plenty Of meat, both beef an,
deer, We killed one Of the yoke 0
cattle | got of Mr.. Hughs; and Nj
Bakers Company, killed one of theirs
So we have two beeyes sailed up on cot
ton wood slabs in one corner of our house
beside deer hams hanging on the out side
It We all eat we'll and generally four o
five times per day. l think this a yer,
lle healthy climate, and would like to Iivr
y here had l my friends with me. Yo
i may talk and sing Of mountain homes
but in a few years no doubt this will b
the garden spot of North America
With these pine-clad hills, these clear
II swift streams, and pure, though GENT
breezes, all that is needed to make on
happy and contented, is good books, an
n those we love. / have very often though
d | would like to spend my days in such
10 place-Where nature moves maiesticall
! on alone, without the meddlinc of ma
and his intentions to mar It's beauty.