Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-07-14

Rocky Mountains, Vest of the Gregory
Gold Diggings, 40 miles East of The
Middle Park, and $50 miles of the Head
Of Grand River, a Tributary Of the Colo.
RADIO ofthe West.
Correspondence of the Republican.
TUESDAY, June 81, 1859.
As mitch speculation has been had relative to
the gold diggings of the South Platte and its
tributaries, take pleasure in giving to you the
result of my investigations, since | have arrived
in this part of :he country up to this time.
began my labors al Fort Bent, SYNOPSIS of
which, covering about two hundred sheets of this
size, will be furnished you bv my wife, to whom
it was sent for copying, having been compelled
10 write in my buggy whilst on the road, giving a
description of all that country between the Fort
and the head of Cherry creek, from the divide of
the Fountaine qui Boileau, and the tributaries of
the South Platte to Denver City. 1t will be per-
ceyed from the observation referred to. that all
thai portion of countrc, with some few excep-
tiops' has been formed by deposits :made from
voyrsnic eruptons. of which shall be more fully
nrenared TO give YOU an accurate account after
have rome over more Of the mountain region, and
which I reserve for future article. AT present
desire 10 furnish you evidence Of the gold fields
,f This region, of which have only investigated
a small area of the mountains.
You will readily perceive from the observations
made on the plains and tributaries OF the South
platte that the gold found In those localities is
not dri,t, but transi:ory, such as is always found
,tnnnp transtory rocks, and the gold Of Cherry
crsek is nil of this character, thus showing that
# rnust have had some original source. This
sou-re has been discovered, and the true charac-
Tor Of IFS posion partially developed, and fully so
far as the Gregory diggings are concerned. These
late discoveries add no new feature to the geolog-
iral conditions of the mountains this side OF the
~ fho / hor f,-a on
81 tbs origin of the gold found in the slopes and
streams of the eastern face of the mountains IS
tr,c and cannot be controverted. This is not all
The s~;dence that can be adduced IN support OF
the position undertage TO assert, regarding lis
geoloaicaI condition.; the scoria, lava. pumice,
horn blende. porphyra, detached PARTICLES OF trap
and other rocks, found as far east OF the base OF
the mountains as four hundred miles gives 10 the
biologist unmisiakable evidence OF the huge vol
canic eruptive throes, mat has Haue 'ie Pi"'iis
nroppr barren waste.
The erratIc disposition OF this part OF the Rocky
Mountains, bounded on the North by Longs
Peak. and on the South by Pixies Peak-made so
volcanic upheavals. TO an inexperienced hunter OF
minerals. makes it difficult task for him TO DIS
cover az what place he should begin to make his
nrosnect-and thus failing he becomes discour-
AGED and quits the task he has undertaken to per-
form. The California minor looks for gold in the
puIches and alluvium of streams-but here he is
fooled and he quits the mountains IN despair
M.py thousands of persons have returned TO the
states. and their homes. with the full conviction
that there are deposits of gold here IN sufclent
quantities 10 paw them for their labor, and tins
brinos me 10 that which have seen, that which
NV own hancs have proved, and that which I'll
tbe world NAV RELY upon. | have only visited
the Gregory mining district OF the mountains, on
the north fork Of Clear creek, description OF the
character OF which will here attempt TO give,
topether with the richness Of the lodes discovered
and future prospects. Atpresent there are about
five hundred sluices IN operation, with varied sue
cess in the FpIecious ore. The sluces on the
Gregory lead, for which the company paid s2l.-
600, are taking on, daily $1,000 and upwards
Other sluices are paying from ten cents TO two
dollars nd half per pan. ! have examined the
mammoth quartz lode, and find it 10 be very rich;
this is partially decomposed. The Gregory lode
Is the richest vet discovered. Now, there Is no
exagseraton In this statement, and here | will
remark, that although look upon this small area
of the mountains as the richest gold field | ever
saw or read Of | do not wish II 10 be understood
by the masses, that there are leads for all who
come here equally as rich for them, but will
tell them in plain terms, that the gold IS here, but
so cratic is its disposition in the mountains that II
takes energy, perseverance, privaton. ond capital
TO work il out. and the following will show how
near the ruth come. The gold is not found IN
quantities sufficient TO paw in the a!luvial bottoms
or eulches but from the tops of high mountains,
AMI exists chiefly in lodes or leads. These hills
are steep and very difficult OF ascent and descent,
rugged and clothed with thick growth of pine,
and where the mines alluded TO are situated deep
within the mountain ranges, 10 approach winch,
very steep and rough mountains have 10 be climbed,
lettering the timid from advancing TO make dis
coyeries. and those will carry hack bad reports
respecting the mines and condition OF the country.
All volcanic countries more or less are cratic,
and the best biologists have been puzzled 10 make
them out. II is now very plain concerning the
character of these mines, that even old California
miners DO not understand them. They, as well as
the novice IN such matters, are at once dlsccur-
aged and leave for home without giving them
a fair trial. Now do not know what Jackson's
dig. ines or the Bordae doing, but this | do
know that there are about five hundred slulces IN
operation in the Gregory district and all OF them
are dong well. and a company OF ten men have
three siuices running, and their averas IS little
over a thousand dollars day-this is the GRECO
nv lead which was sold TO this company for S2l :
COO Now, this is true, as well as 1t is true that
leads are very hard 10 find by inexperienced as
well as experienced persons. Reports have gone
back 10 the States that persons have been and are
now in starving condition here. THIS IS not the
case; all that have seen have plenty, and seem to
be in good spirits Now do not wish any one,
I repeat. TO come into These mountains any
itslists 10 send out their agents TO work these
mines, as il will require capital 10 work them
The mountains are filled with quartz veins, many
OF which are very rich.
/ | shall probably next week cross the Snowy
range, at which time shall give you such infor
nation as may gather. II is rather a hazardous
task to perform, but am determined if possible
to Ond the source Of the ella mines, which, think,
from the character of the country, have their
source on Grand river and the tributaries of the
Colorado of the West.
These gold fields are bound to be Of great ad-
vantage 10 St. Louis and Missouri, and | know
that millions of dollars will flow into the city of
ST. Louis, IN the shape of dust, and the largest
WELD of gold will not be from California, but
from the Rocky Mountains. This prediction
make from observation, not from exaggeration
and mighty State will rise here on tine eastern
slope, whose wealth will be in its golden noun
tains, and verdure Of its rich pastural and agrcul
tural valleys. Already the husbandman ha:
turned the soil up TO the rays of the sun, and the
mountain streams are made the ready assistant oil
agricultural pursuits. Gardens verdant witt
vegetables, and the antelope, the elks, deer and
buffalo Will find their native grazing grounds
changed from natural meadows into smiling field!
teemipg with the fruits that follow the agricul
turaI pursuits Of the husbandman. Towns oil
nine boz rds logs and canvass will soon change