The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-03-19
Late Reliable News from the Mines.
ARRIVAL OF sam. S. CURTIS :!
GOOD REPORTS !!
THE MINES as THEY ARE


city last Saturday, direct from the mines.
He made the return trip in .wenty-ihsee and
a half DAYS, eneoaBse-iag heavy storms and
horrible roads. He brings the most favor
able reparts in regard to the mines, as will
be seen from the following statement, which
he has kindly furnished ISL
SOUTH PLATTE GOLD MINES.
Almost every one Is aware that there IS a
large tract Of country-exteni.ng from tue
Eastern base Of the Rocky Mountains nearly
10 the Missouri River-Ancwn as "shs
plains" Every child has heard Of the Cali
fornia emigration across the plains, but
there are few, who have not Travelled upon
them, that are acquainted with the character
and resources Of this great section Of cur
country. The discovery Of gold at the base
Of the Rocky Mountains has, Of late, at
,racted the atteution Of the public 10 this
part Of our country and the mountains ad-
;Ecent thereto. For long time II was
supposed that this was an immense desert,
almost rivaling the Grea: Sahara OF Africa.
Unou the maps, it was marked as The Great
American Desert. That part of 1t most
known, is traversed By the waters Of the
Platte, Kansas and Arkansas. Almost
entirely destitute of timber, and the ground,
for miles, being covered with but small tufts
or lunches of grass, grease-woO4, wild
sage, prickly pear and other varieties OF
cactus, it is not surprising that travellers
called i; desert. But, recent explorations
have proved the erroniousness Of previously
entertained opinions. Along tie banks OF
the streams there are low grounds, but a
few feet above the water, not subject to
overflow, which, feel assured, vii! exceed
in fertility the boas;el prairie lands Of the
West. The short, dry and curling Buffalo or
Grama grass, and the hard and spiny bunch
grass of the highlands, are among the most
nutritious grasses in the world. Where
these grow. range millions Of buffalo ana
antelope. supplying the Indian with food,
clothing. and shelter. Winter or summer,
they are found in good order, and cattle
and horses keep in better condition upon
.hesa cros.as. even when DRY. than upon
the native grasses in the States. Here,
then, is field for stock raising, sufficiently
omnls to surply the whole nation. Here
mon will land = wandering life, Alike Abra-
bo,o md Iocoh with herds and nocls that
,bor cor r,ova nj any fims to any place they
nav aos;ra Srcnling their winters in the
crovns of timber and the valleys Of the
South. and in the summer driving their
hnr1s 70 the highlands. and farther North,
Unon the western border of theso plains,
md immediately at the base Of the Rocky
Mountains. gold was last summer discovered
Persons in the East NAV be skeptical, and
think it !. all new western town-lot specu-
lntion. but they will all be satisfied, and
that before long. that miners can make
money digging gold upon til. South Fork
Of the Platte River. and lys trihuta ie.. The
mines now discovered, extend along III.
base of the moun,lins H.. one huuI.rd aud
seventy. Gyemilrs~-f from the Boiling springs,
which is n tr.hntarv IF the A.kan-a>, IL
the head waters Of Ii, CA.:,, Is !oulrc.-
There ~. diuyinys on Monument Creek.
Cherry Gre, :. Dry Creek, P.um Creek,
Platte River. Va<quer's Fork, san Vrain's
Fork, Thompson, Fork and Cach lie pou-
Dire. On San yru:n's Fork, shot or round
gold has been found, AMI town mid out,
c ,tIod R2ulInr C,ty. be}irye this is the
ONLY r'ac, where shot cold had been found.
rs late ~ III, middle Of February, at which
tune left III, mines, have seen pjeccs
IF xbo, cold fr,m there worth fifteen cents
,,c5 onl IN l.r..,-4 tLAt they hid taken
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