Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-02-17

The organization OF TIE Territory or JET
fcrson-7He Gold lNines--lStofement Of
II. J. Grahom. Esg.--Prospect;ng Par
fies-Descripfion Of Country--Em;yra-
ton in the Spring. etc.
The Washington correspondent of the
Louisville Courier, in his letter under date
Of the Gath january. gives the following
interesting items in reference to the pro-
posed Territory Of Jefferson, which includes
the gold region of Pixies Peak:
The bill organizing the Territory Of JEFF
ferson. will, it is understood. be reported
during the present or coming week. The
boundaries assumed by Hon. j. w. Dem
yer, Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, and
which, presume. will be agreed to, are as
follows: The Eastern boundary, the 103
degree of Longitude West from Greenwich:
the Northern line to be the 43d degree of
the North latitude: the Western line the
Eastern river of the Great Salt Lake Basin,
and the Southern line to be the Northern
line Of the Territory of New Mexico" The
proposed Territory will embrace portions
of Kansas, Nebraska and Utah.
Within the past few days have become
acquainted with Ii. j. Graham. ESQ.,, the
delegate elect from the new Territory. and
have sought other information. which |
presume. can be fully relied npon. The
subjoined statement have received from
Mr.. Graham:
AS early as lS49-50 the miners who
crossed the plains to California, found gold
ia small quantities at the head waters of the
river Platte, as also in the Black Hills. The
first gentleman who prospccted with marked
success. was Mr.. Green Russell, who dis
covered fair prospects for gold on the Sweet.
water. The hostility Of the Iniians to the
whites rendered it unsafe to travel among
them until 1857, when they were sub.lued
BY Col. Sumner. In the spring of 1858,
Russell was reliably informed that he could
with safety penetrate their country, and
Immediately formed company. consisting
of himself. his two brothers. and about
thirty others, to prospect for gold in the
Black Hills. He travelled up the Arkansas
on the Sante Fetrail, anl crossed into New
Mexico. anil discovered the first color las
the miners term it. as low down as the
crossing in the Arkansas. lie prospcctcd
from the Spanish Peaks as far north As Fort
Laramie, making distance Of some seven
hundred miles. according to his re koning
and found the color in nearly every day,
travel. He penctrate,. the mountains. but
from the insufficicncy of fprovisions anil helr
was unable to satisfy himself Of the extent
of the gold deposits. lie returned to tn,
mouth Of Cherry Creek abont the first o.
August, and camped with his company. 8
humber Of whom went to collecting gold
while others went to New Mexico for tn,
purpose of laying in supplies for the winter
being convinced that il would fully pay tc
make extensive arrangements for washing
during the coming season.
News having reached the States abou
the middle of August that gold had beer
discovered. prospecting and mining compa
nies were Immediately organized. The frs
to start from the Missouri river was II. j
Graham's train. composed of ID. e.. Oakes
Abram Walorl. C. VI. Miles and Geo. w
Pancost. of Pacific City. Mills county,
They arrived at Cherry Greek about tn,
10th OF October, making the trip from tn,
mouth of Platte. in twenty Eight days. will
two wagons-one span of horses to a wag
on. Tho wagons were heavily loaded, but
the trip was accomplished with comparative
ease. There are no streams ofmagnitudet to
cross, no hills to climb. no marshes; good
grass and water along 1c whole extent oi
the road. and with the exception of one hun.
,lred and fifty miles, sufficient wood for or.
dinary purposes. Mr.. Graham met Mr.
Russell at Cherry Creek, who gave him an
extended history of his explorations and
discoveries Being satisfied that it would
pay, Mr. Graham and company commenced
prospecting for themselves. turning their
course northwari; and crossing the Platte
at tine mouth of Cherry Creek. they found
well travelled road. used by emiyrants to
California since 1850.
| The scenery between the Platte and c Cashe
de Powder rivers is romantic. picturesque
and beautiful. The mountains overhang.
ing You on the West, from which issue. ev.
cry few miles. unfailing streams. sufficient
ly large to carry immense amounts of ma
chinery. The country is described by Mr.
Graham to be the most charming he ha,
ever seen. Hcwas directed from this point
tn follow the Cashe de Powder river, where
quartz could he found in abundance, bu,
being delighted with the locality. and find
ing good prospects for gold on all tht
streams, with plenty Of .lecr. elk. antelope
de-. and fine place for his stock to Craze
he concluded to defer any further prospect
ing. and return to the Same spot in tine
spring.
The creeks and streams are skirtcd with
rich bottoms, to a miles wide. Cotton.
wood anil pine forests, thirty or forty miles
square. between Platte river and Arkansas,
| in sight Of Auroria. Auroria is situated
at the mouth Of Cherry Creek. so miles
north of Pixies Peak. and contains It's
houses. Monana. about miles up the riv-
er, about eight houses. San vrain. an old
Adobe fort. built for an Indian trailing post
eighteen or twenty years ago. in state OF
decay. was fixed up by Mcssrs. NJ. Stocking
and g. NJ. Mills, aud made point for win
tcring stock.
Coal is said to be in the mountains in
abundance. 1t Is also found in the North
Platte, from Laramie up for fully ono hun
drsl miles t i t5A
In some portions Of the country as murh
as an average yield Of on . dollar per hour