Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-10
Prom tho Nebraska oity News
Later aud Encouraging LOm the Mines

EDIToK News. Il have thought
best to give statement Of my recent
trip TO the gold mines, the prospects
for gold, the routes &c, that all inter
cstcd may have the benefit of what |
know in relation to them. | am induc-
ed to take this course to avoid telling
one story so frequently.
When We arrived at Cherry Creek,
the first thing we attended to was to
provide ourselves with winter quarters.
Cur company at this time numbered
scvcnty-iivc men, after we had erected
comfortable cabins and arranged for
the safe keeping of our stock, we then
divided Oft into parties of from five to
ten men to prospect for the "nccdiul."
We prospcctcd an erea of country
am confident of more than 200 miles
in extent, and found gold wherever we
tested the earth. The whole time so
far has been employed in prospecting,
and no manner how tlattcring the pros
pect was of any one place, still, it was
like the "milk sickness in Illinois, it
was not there, but just ahead. The
gold found so far, is fine float gold,
except on place at the foot of Longs
peak and the anxiety has been to
find coarse gold, which is believed to
exist in the mountains. Our company
traversed numerous small streams ris-
ing in the mountains, we followed them
up the canons till we were compelled
to abandon the pursuit on account Of
snow.
The float gold will average from 3
to % cents per pan. Experienced
miners say that with proper fixtures,
sluices &c, that ten dollars per day
could be realized from the present
prospect, and in view Of this the COM
pany were at work when | left prepar-
ing sluiccs.
In oar search over the country, we
fell in with numerous companies of
men; one party in what is called the
spanish diggings' told us they were
making from one to seven dollars per
day; another told us they were making
five dollars per day, others again two
and three per day, which is unques-
tionably true.
There was when | left, from eight
hundred to one thousand men there
and others arriving daily.
will remark here that in addition
to finding every indication Of Gold
about the base Of the mountains, such
as quartz rock, isen glass, mica &c.,
| will say that there the climate is very
salubrious and healthy. Tho Arrap-
hoe Indians which are camped there,
have at least 1000 horses, and the min
ers have say 500 more, and quite 1000
oxen and all in good round ORDER
The grass is good and green thro'-
out the winter. The country Is also
full Of wild game, of almost every kind.
Three species of the Deer, Elk, Bear,
grizzly and black ; Panthcrs, Wolves
and Mountain Sheep. SO far as fresh
meat Is concerned, all miners can be
well supplied for long time to come.
But the great error all the miners
have fallen into, is the amount of flour.
bacon, coffee, boots and shoes thew
would use in given length Of time
They all underestimate the amount.
They are now getting short of these
articles, and are anxiously awaiting
traders to come with supplies. Should
they not get supply soon, they will
have to adopt the mode of living
of their brethren with red skins-on
meat alone.
| met, on my way in, two steam
mills, bound for Cherry Creek. There
is u fortune for them, for lumber was
in great demand, and worth 5000 per
thousand when left. There are im-
mense forests Of pine timber, cedar,
&c, in and about the mountains
and large bodies OF cottonwood timber
on the streams. The soil, l know
nothing OF, any farther than a nutritious
grass covers the whole surface, and
people are now preparing to cultivate
It: In addition to the general scramble
after gold, they have not overlooked
that other interest peculiar to Western
men-viz., the town site iuterest
There are many towns laid out. and
many already improved. The town Of
Aurora, had, when lea, $50 cabins
crested and = many more ia process
q etootion. ] toll 1ou vhas ma NJ