Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-03-01
WAsHINGToN, d. c., }
Feb, IA, 1859. :

Dean S1R:-Yours of the 9th ult.
came TO hand yesterday, it having laid
in the office several days through mis-
take, and l have the honor to answer.
First. the country of which you wish to
learn, has been but very little explored.
or prospec,ed, as miners call it, for the
discoveries of gold were not made. In
any quantities until quite late in the sea-
son, say August, and then the news had
to be carried 10 the United States, and
by The time ,ha, persons arrived there
from the States it was late in the fall
Nv train was the first that arrived from
the States, having started from Mills Co.,
Iowa, Sept. 18th, travelled Immediately
up the south side of The Platte River, all
the way, making the trip in % days,
with loads, two horses to wagon, three
extra ponies, i've wagons. prospected
all | was able TO with four men, (two of
them good California miners) during six
weeks, and we came TO the conclusion
that it was fine country to live In and
all of US returned for our families, and
expect TO emigrate early in the Spring.
That many persons will go there to be
disappointed l have no doubt. and there
fore do not advise any one to go. For
many, very many. have gone to Califor-
MA and never made cent, but that does
not prove that there is not gold there
Timber is not found except on some of
the principle streams III the mountains,
and at the base of them, and on a ridge
be;weeen the Platte and Arkansas. Pine
and Cottonwood. The former on the
ridge and about the mountains, and the
latter on the streams. Water Is abun-
dant in fine streams coming out of the
mountains and rich beautiful bottoms skirt
the streams, which will make fine farms.
Grass covers the bottoms, and bunch
grass is found on all the ridges. Over
space of sixty or seventy miles north and
south | found gold scale or drift gold,
with two or three places that Indicated
round or shot gold; some of these places
a man could make about So per day, and
IN no place did | prospect but found the
color. 1t is The opinion of all miners that
gold will be found in abundance In the
l have but little doubt but
that we will find Coal there, and if we
do, l think it will be one of the finest
countries in the world in a few years.
| think 1t very healthy; pure air and wa
ter in abundance. have but little doubt
but wheat and fruit will be raised III abun-
and In perfection. Also barley, oats
and rye will be undoubtedly raised, and
corn TO some extent but not IN much guam
tties without irregation. The time of
starting depends upon the season, say,
from the middle of April TO the first of
May. Team, about the same is neses-
sary as to haul an ordinary load any
where, time and distance taken into con-
sideration. The road being very fine,
o better in any + lace on the continent.
/ think i, immalerial whether person
sed horses, oxen or mules for the trip
ether are good property when you get
there, and either will carry you there,
with any kind OF care.
| now have some hopes of getting our
Territory organized, but do not yet know
u uhether we shall succeed can tell in
few days. If do not, we shall be under
The necessity of institull.g a government
Of our own, for the emigration is going
% be very great in the Spring. | think
there will be gQld and silver both found
i'll great quantities all through The Rocky
Mountain Range. next season, from one
end to the o,her.
Hoping I may sometime be able to
meet you, | am, Dear Sir,
Your Obi Servant,
HI. J. GRAHAM.
To CYRUs NJ. CURTIs,
Mineral Pt., Wis.
P. S.-Shov this letter to LEMuEL
GOODWILL, if you know him. Ny ad-
dress un'Il start for jefferson, will be
Pacific Cny, Mills County. Iowa, from
which place | shall take my departure
some time in May. H. J q.
Exc A liIle child of this city was hold