The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-01-04

IN September last, considerable excitemeu
was felt throughout the frontier settlements
occasioned W the Reports Of Gold Discoyerie
on the South Platte. The citizens Of thia -
gion. determined to act advisedly in the mat
ter. very properly selected few Of their mos
reliable men, assisted them in procuring III
necessary outfit, and sent them forward Il
Cnerry Greek, to examine the mines, and tn
various routes thereto, and report to them tn
truth concerning the matter a. as early CAV q
practicable. Accordingly, Messrs. II. J. Ora
ham, d. G. Oaks, A. Walrold, Geo. Pancoas,
and =. N. Miles started on the 4th of September
Passing through Fort Kearney, they foun,
the wagon-master, master mechanics, suffers
and others, highly excited on the same subec,
A meeting was held there, and Mr.. Stephen W
smith was delegated to accompany the party, OF
behalf OF the citizens of the Fort.
These gentlemen proceeded at once to Cher
~ Greek, where they prespected about fft
miles round, and conversed freely with all VIII
were at the Mines, ascertainng precisely ID
condition Of affairs there, and returned home
in December. They are now preparing His
tory Of the Mines, together with Guide of tn
Route, part of which is already in type il
this Office, AM they expect to have the worl
ready Tor sale in about two weeks.
From these gentlemen, personally, an,
through their manuscript, we gether the follow
ing facts
l. When they arrived at the mines the,
found about twenty persons at work there
This number was increased to over FIVE hun
dred before they left. when an election wa
held, and II. j. Graham of this place wa,
chosen delegate to Congress, and the neces-
sary steps taken 10 secure an early organization
OF new territory to be called CoLoNIA, anc
| Smith, of Florence elected to the Kan
/ saeLegislature.
| 2. The first discoveries of importance were
made by the Georgia Company, which started
from Leavenworth in May last. During the
summer, many other companies went out, from
the frontiers, and after prospecting consider.
able time became discouraged, and returned
home without finding gold. At one time in
July, over hundred person we're prospecting
This number was reduced to thirteen, before
any important discoveries were made. This
small but determined band continued their
labors without intermission, until they had
opened three or four good mines, where from
20 TO SIS could be made each day by single
person. This company is still at the Mines
ana intend working them extensively next
summer.
3. The gold found is all drifted gold. TIE
source whence it has drifted has not vet been
discovered, although the Georgia Company
spent neatly two months in their search for 1t,
TRAVELLING south into New Mexico, north to the
Black billie, and considerable distance up in
to the mountains. They found this driited
gold, in variable quantities, wherever they
went and they have no doubt OF the existence
OF immense quantities near the source of
some OF the mountain streams Specimens
OF this drifted gold were brought in by Messrs.
DA nd Sy,ift, h. -
place.
4. The best diggings vet discovered are on
the South Platte River, in the vicinity of Cher
ry Creek; although gold can be found for a
distance on five hundred miles north and south.
The large quantity obtained by one person
in one day was SIC worth. The least sum real.
lied by any one person who has worked is So. 80
per day. The average was about S. or Sc per-
day.
S. A town has been laid out at the mouth
OF Cherry Creek, called Auraria, and about
thirty houses Lad been erected there before
our informants left. About five hundred per-
sons will probably spend the winter there
Before another winter the numbers at the
mines will probably reach 100000.
A careful examination OF the several routes |
has thoroughly convinced the gentlemen named |
above that altogether the best route to the |
L
along the south side OF the Platte and South |
Platte rivers. The distance by this route is eou.
siderable shorter than by any other, there are |
10 difficult streams to cross; there is plenty OF
excellent grass and water the entire distance
wood and Buffalo chips are abundant; good
are easily found the road is |
much Travelled, and it is impossible TO mistake
ne way; the Indians are not troublesome, and
'ame Is abundant. Those travelling the North
latte route, have to cross Loupe Fork and
latte river-which is almost an utter impossi-
'ility during their food; while those on the
outh side have but one small stream to cross
Salt creek which is easily forded at all seasons
ntil they are within hundred miles of the
lines
large number of our citizens are preparing
D leave in the spring. Mr.. Graham will re-
arm as soon as the present session of Congress
! over. Mr.. Oaks will probably start from
ere in February or March, Mr. Smith will
pend the winter in the East, and return 10 the
lines in the spring. Messrs. Nuckols, Moer.
nd others. have purchased portable saw. mill,
18th which they intend to start to the mines in
anuary or February. Messrs. Wellington,
lackmar, Orr, Pancoast, Reeder, Street, Pain
=, Hubs, Mccoy, and a host of others are
taking preparations to start early in April
essrs Miles and Griffith remain at tie mines
lis winter.
Every body here places the utmost confidence
every statement made by the gentlemen re-
lrned, and all who have any desire to emigrate
} gold mining country, and can raise the
cans will be off in the spring.
Petitions have been forwarded for a mail
'ute from Pacific City or Portsmouth, to
ura,ia, at the mouth of Cherry Greek. A
,mpany has also been formed to run line of
ages through on this route, charging about
loo for the ride, including boarding. This
lie of stages will start from Pacific CITY. ,
We have not space for further comment this
eek; but will say, in conclusion, that We have
quired a mass of important information, and |
III be constantly in receipt of more, relative n
the new gold fields, all of hhieh We shall .
ke pleasure in laying before our readers this 9
inter-, in broken doses, as time and oppor,un- :
may serve.-Pae.fc City Herald. t
FORMER CITIZEN OF ROCHESTER NEARLY /
ozEN ON A PRAIRIE.--We regret to learn that t
r former townsman, Sylvester H. Parkard ir, /