Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-25
FROM NEBRASKA.
I Correspondoce Of The EicAm"hd Eaqgder
F~oyrYxrlIr. DoDGr COUNTY. y. IT,
January Sth Isl.

/ LDTf'oIfHtIf' =
FoxrYxrILr. DoDcr County. y. IT,
January >ih, 1852.
Tie GoH F1el1s Of .Nejrasl0-Erritfment ."
NE Front;a- .NtJrasko az toDgr"@-Nr
Nsl,yats and Unat-Ge"ert Na''. 81.
McssrS. Edi,ors--It is some time since last
wrote the Enquirer" and is new and in
proved dress courts me tn send q few lines.
erecting. from this portion Of the far West.
fraugh, as il now is. with an excitement more
intense than anything I have witnessed for
years.
Sometime in September last two brothers
cane Down the North of the Platte route, to
the States, from the camp of Col. Johnson, in
Utah, and in conversation with them, on the
road. | was told that the nountainecrS traders.
halE-brccdS. &c. who live far away out on In
dian lands. were all hurrying off TO some newly
discovered gold d~iggineS. on Cherry Creek, 4
tributary of the South Platte, in Nebraska.
The inhabitants Of the country out there
were much excited on the subject. and, from
the color" "a miners expression these gen
tlcmcn were not only Convinced that gold was
there. but that it existed in large quantities
and diiiuscd over Il section Of country a> en-
tensiyc as California. They were determined
to return thithcr with an outfit AZ soon rs they
could arrange their business in the States
They had spent some years IN California. -
Their stories. of course. created some excite
lncnt, particularly in Il Territory like this.
cursed with hard times. and only about u"
miles from the "di ggingS. In 4 short time
their stories were confirmed, and more exciting
tales were told Of the marvellous richness "i
this new FL Dorado. Week after week the sto-
rieS came IN. and hundreds from our midst
prepared themselves with provisions, &c. and
hurried 'o.r to the mines" They have writ
ten back to their friends to 'forSakc al! and
follow" and now thousands in the West arc
preparing for an early Spring start. Several
have returned from the mines for their families
and outfits. for a permanent stay. Considcra-
bic quantities of the dust" have been sent in.
and proved to he equal to the best California
gold. or worth some $20 to the ounce; and. III
the language of Il friendly miner there, 1T
seems as if the Almighty had. with a SciYc.
scattered it all over the country there with Il
bountiful hand"
The distance from here to the richest dig.
gins. so said. upon Cherry Creek. is about jlo
miles over a good road, following up the Platte
river to Fort Kcarncv. there crossing the river
and continuing up the south side of the South
Fork. The road is for nearly all the way the
one commonly designated the old Mormon
trail" to Utah-anl the one still used by them
travelling thence from the Missouri river. The
entire cost Of an outfit, for eight months i"r
four persons. including cattle. tools. &C.. is est.
mated at about $500. There are now abou; one
thousand miners there. mostly within a circuit -!
20 miles, above and below the mouth of Cherry
Creek. The miners are making from - 10
$40 per day with ordinary implements.
1t is generally supposed that by July next,
there will he full twenty five thousand persons
there, and. from present appearances. our own
beautiful Territory will be partially dcpopulairj
as early as grass starts next spring. lndcct,
MANY arc preparing for a start next month. II
is hoped that Congress will, at an early day.
extend 4 Territorial government over tha, rel
country. Now. it is five hundred and forty
miles to the nearest District Court for them to
travel.
Next tothc gold fever" comes the Pacific Rail
Road mania, to pass over the national highway
to the Pacific, via the North of the Platte route,
through the South Pass, thence on TO the head
Of navigation on the Sacramento. Bat Of this
more anon.
cannot let this occasion pass, without pay
inc some tribute to our excellent delegate in
Congress. Hon. Fenner Ferguson. a person
commanding the confidence, not only of the
Democratic party, but the masses of the peo'
ple. 1t is true. he has much to attend TO for
his constituents. both publicly and privately
and | doubt not he does his duty like a true
man and Democrat. as he is.
1t is hoped he will secure Il homestead do
nation to actual settlers here; but, with all his
ability, | doubt whether il can be done. The