The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-25
rhe New Western Gold Fcver-A Reasonable
Warning to Emigrants.

We continue the publication Of the latest
news received from our correspondents of the
Far West, in reference to the newly discovered
gold fields among the Rocky Mountains, along
the western frontiers OF Nebraska and Kansas
Territories; and 10 the first Of the letters which
we publish this morning On the subject, we
would invite the special attention of all parties
anticipating fortune from trip to these new
diggings.
We know, from the experience Of repeated ex-
amples, and particularly from the Fraser river
.furors-which, within month from the frss
authentic reports, nearly depopulated the sub
stantiL gold region Of California when
once plausible hue and cry Of new gold
country is raised il is perfectly useless to at
tempt to arrest the general rush which is sure
to follow in that direction We shall not, there
fore, undertake the useless experiment Of show
ing up the cruel losses, disappOintments and mis-
fortunes which are sure to follow general stam-
pede to the wild and inhosptable region in
question: but little seasonable advice to the
hopeful emigrant may, perhaps, save thousands
from the clutches Of the sharpers and specula-
tors who are y ing in wait for their prey.
That there will be an immense emigration to
the Pixies Peak and contiguous gold districts this
spring, from the Western States and from the
eastern settlements Of Kansas and Nebraska, there
can be no doubt; that various parties will make a
good thing Of 1t is morally certain; but from the
| broad hints thrown out by our Fontenelle cor
respondent, We apprehend that the provision and
clothing establishments at the Quitting frontier
| settlements, ard the town lot spectators in
| photographic cities in the mining region, will be
apt to carry off the lions share of the spoils In
round numbers, the Pixies Peak and contiguous
| gold washings are thousand miles west Of our
present frontier white settlements, and in the
| midst of q perfect wilderness of mountains Ex-
| cepting few cattle, and such game as buffaloes
bears, deer, horses &c. all the provisions for the
miners in this Wilderness for the first season, at
least, must be transported over this interval of
| u thousand miles. Thus, from the experience of
the War Department in the late Utah campaign,
the subsistence Of the gold digger among the
Rocky Mountains during the coming summer
will hardly be less than from three to five dol.
lars day.
We should not be surprised if the rush during
this season, now about to open, to these Rocky
Mountain washings, were to embrace an aggre-
gate Of two hundred thousand emigrants The
late revulsion has left the financial affairs of the
great West in a very disordered condition. and
thousands Of men, of all pursuits, thus ruined or
| embarrassed, will be off for these new and COM
| paratively convenient gold fields. The gene
raj exodus will comprehend all sorts of specu-
latOrs and sharpers; and to guard against
their extortions the bona .ede miners should Or
ganize into companies, and provide for their
own subsistence, at least for month or so,
among the mines At the end of that time they
will have discovered whether it is best to remain
or return. 1t would be we'll, also, for the early
mining companies to take out with them seeds
and roots for cultivation; for thus, even during
the first season, some very profitable returns may
be made, especially from potatoes, beans, peas,
onions, buckwheat, &c.
Among the little valleys and parks of the
eastern range Of the Rocky Mountains, in the
| midst of this new mining region, there are many
places well adapted to agriculture; and this
whole region, for grazing purposes, is scarcely
excelled. Droves of cattle and Sheep therefore,
| may be safely taken out, and in view of the
general emigration foreshadOwed they will pay
handsome profit to all concerned but particu-
larly if the mines should prove to be as rich and
extensive as they have been described. The
great danger to be guarded against in the outset
! is dearth of provisions; and where many thou
| sands have to be fed, and where nothing of
subsistence exists, and nothing is produced,
| thousand miles of transportation will augment
the cost of provisions to the point of starvation
Perhaps during this coming summer the re-
sources may be developed in these new gold
fields, and the population established for pow
erful and prosperous State among the Rocky
Mountains If so, the route Of the Pacific
Railroad will be fixed, and the consumma-
ton Of that great enterprise will cease
to be regarded as an impossible or distant
event. The Importance Of the consequences,
therefore, which will follow the substantial con-
firmation of the aattering reports received con-
corning these new gold fields cannot be over
estimated. Commercially and politically the
results will be of the greatest magnitude to this
country and to The world at large. On the other
hand If it should turn out that these Rocky
Mountain gold washings are too poor to pay ex-
pcnses, we fear that the tales of suffering and
destituton which followed the last summers
rush from California to Fraser river will sink
into insignifcance compared with the starving
thousands of this impending crusade.
The great question of the richness or poverty
of these new mines has still to be solved The
immense emigration about to move forward will
soon work out the required solution; and, in
view Of reckless spectators and land sharks of
all sorts, already in motion from st. Louis to
Cherry Creek, it would be well, we say, for the
emigant, before going, out to provide for the
possible necessity of a return before the next
winter. with smaller allowance Of gold than the