Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-20


Gold Mines at Pixies Peak and ON Platte
KicaFOo, X. T., March 4, 1859
EpIToHs UvIOS AND ANERieAN
For some days have been observing The move
merits il the direction of Psks's Peak. but am sill
unable 10 write anything hat is reliable as TO The
value Of the mines. sonsin-lsw Of the genlsInaa
with whom 1 boarding, went cut in 0etcher
last; he writes favcra'y and has sent for his fani
IT, There are quite armber Of citize,s hero vho
are preparing 10 START the 1st o. April. Some of
them have friends in the mnea, and regard IL cir
testimony reliable they state there are several
thousand in the mining niOe.tenihs of whom
are continually prospecting. from which one would
mfr thatnOne have yet found good iggipgs, though
II is currently reported hsrsthat the D0nipban com
panyis working shot gold.
The region embraced by the mines, covers % area
of about four thousand square miles, commencing
in Nebraska, above parallel forty, and East of lon
giude los West, runs South eighty miles, West
fifty miles and North to the parallel of the first
point. The main prospecting has been done in the
northeast corner, along the South Platte.
You will see from this deliniaiiOn that it embra-
css the head waters of the South Platte, the Arkan
aud The Rio Grand rivers, and is the parallel
of Sacramento, Cal. 1 recon there is no doubt
bat that geld has been obtained all these waters
You are aware that the largest gold is always found
on the highest points in gold region aud that in
descending from fall of the to snotherit
gradually ground by the action of the water ard
sand until reduced to dust at some distance from
the hill The main mining, as before stated, has
been done in the dust gold, distance form the
hills; these wsshings have paid FIVE dollars day,
more or less. This is considered good indication
Of the gold in higher waters; it would certainly
be imprudent for any one TO make sacrifices of tina
or money without further evidence of the value If
the gold regitn, aud from the number of persons
there that evidence Will soon be obtained. An
air line from Kansas City, Missouri, TO the CEN
tire Of the gold fields would measure about 500
miles. l apprehead that the most direct wagon
road which be travelled would measure 700 miles.
The quickest way of getting to the mine is to take
stage at Kansas, LeGyenWorth, or st Joseph, there
being daily lines from each OF these points They Of
fer take passengers through in Is days with 40lb
extra weight for sixty dolars-ineidsntsl expenses
thereby would make ninety dollars from any one of
these points. St. Joseph is now most available
point from the East the fare from the ST. Louis be-
ing Sl1.OO, time, &c hours; from St. Louis TO Kan
sas and LeavenWorth, S12 90, time, three to four
days The next way is packing through on horses
or mules; in this way the "trip can be made in from
twenty to twenty five days. Horses are high on the
border, AID two are necessary to eich maa. The
s'oWest but surest way is with teams and outfit.
ey will make the route in from four to six weeks.
Such trains viii cost from two four hundred dbl
lars, exclusive of outfit There sill be any qaanti-
ty Of beef ct the mines, and from the preparations
now makisg on the borders for supplying, it would
seem that provisions O. all kiuds will be abund4n.
Perhaps l should state in conclusion, that trains
continually leaving Kansas, Leavenworth and ST.
Joseph; they are travelling in every manner, from
the wagon to the hand. cart Day befJre yesterday
a train cf several hand carts passed this place.
There were seven mento each cart, hundred lbs
Of freight In my aext viii give few facts in rea-
ton to The practical working of the pre-emplion
system, political parties in Kansas, &C. I.