The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-05
THE KANSAS GOLD MINES.

Nac Diagings-Prospects for the Ensuing iSammer-CH-
mate, SOL, de-, dc.
Knowing the interest that is felt in this new land of
gold, take the liberty Of addressing you.
The long settled impression in the minds Of many, that
an extensive gold region existed OF the Rocky
tains and the well known fact that the greater part oil
the debris Of all American mountains lies upon their
eastern SLOPE induced several companies out here
last spring for the purpose Of prospecting and finding
whether the country really presented anything worthy
the attention of 4 mining people.
That the few who came should be able give this ex-
ensve region OF country thorough and satisfactory ex
animation could not be expected yet sufficient gold was
discovered by them to present bright prospects for the
future of this land and to stir up the people with the gold
fever they have not been since the California dscoye
res Notwithstanding the ateness Of the season when
the gold was discovered, not less than fifteen hundred
persons already congregated in and around this point
which situated at the junction Of Cherry creek with the
Platte.
With this number already here, and thousands more
preparing TO soon the spring opens IL will Of
be asked what there is to support them here
ing upon the ground have endeayored to answer this
question satisfactorily TO myself which answer will per-
haps be Of interest 10 the public.
First then gold has already been found scattered along
this country from the Spanish peaks on the south to the
Medicine Bow on the northa distance Of not less than
five hundred miles, it has been found in the South PARK
the New Park and the Old Park and among the Black
HiIs The extent Of its existence Is limited only by the
extent OF the explorations made.
In place has gold been found In large quantities or in
nuggets, as in California II Is what commonly called scale
float gold indicating that the source has not yet been
found yet it is sufficiently coarse and abundant to
with pans from two dollars per day and with long
toms and suices much more, of course So say those
who have been digging here, and who are acquainted
Here on the South Platte there are thousands
Of such dggpgs, also on all the upper tributaries Of
the Platte, Arkans as and other streams
hat agit n
mountain gorees have been prospected seems 10
doubt; but they have not yet been explored It will be
done, however, soon spring mels the snow. Even
companies constantly going out to hunt and
pect At Table Mouotain about twelve miles distant,
where the best digginss yet discovered eEwhch dig
fornia during its palmy days-a company has already
been formed to dig ditch from Vascarre's Fork for
mining purposes, and even now, with the ditch undug
shares in it cannot be bought for yc hundred dollars
II is currently reported here that fifty cents per pan IS
there obtained, but this is probably somewhat exaS
gerated.
Bion, Scion and Cachea Rondre also spoken of
aiording rich digglngs.
The opinion current that the richest lie to the north
The highest amount that is reliably known to have
been taken out in a day is twenty five dollars 1t is re-
ported that Dry Creek about six miles from this place.
three Mexcans took out three thousand dollars in twenty
one days, but this is doubted by many Certain it is
that rich vein has been struck there.
Quartz veins have been found in the mountains, like
those In California, but have not been examined So
much for what Is knOwnthe future must reveal the rest
Icame from Wyandott, at the mouth Of the Kansas
crosses the Arkansas thence up that stream to Pueblo
thence up the Fountain Quebouile, Boiling Spring
river and across the divide to this place.
The distance to Pueblo is about six hundred aud sixty
mles-from that point to this hundred more This is at
least one hundred and fifty miles further than up the
Kansas river and the Republican Fork crossing
to the Platte, and better road. Trains might
start equally well from Wyando,te, Leavenworth or
Atchison, but the route should be the same Should u
road be opened up the Smoky Hill fork, 1t viii be the
nearest of ALL This route has already been trayersed
than half of the way and will very likely be opened
strikes that about go miles out ana follows it
TO within 100 miles Il ON here For the first 800 miles
passes through fertile country but from that point It
appears to receive very little ran wild cactus and sage
abound, aud the only fertile places in the bottoms,
while they frequently contain no grass for miles.
We found buffalo very abundant after 200 miles
out We were at one time a week without any wood bat
what We carried with US. The Arkansas has very little
timber and much Of the way none. The big tm5cs,
they are Called we found TO consist OF scrbby cotton
WOOD which, indeed, is without exception the only tim.
Der found the Arkansas or the Fountain Queboue
very fruitful by irrigation. Along the Fountain Quebo-
lille we found more sgus OF rain and the divide between
that stream and Cherry Creek had the appearance Of
ing fair farming country. On this divide the only tim
Der was pine Pine and cottonwood the only timber
in the whole country, far as have One finds
nothing with which t? mend wagon Or make an axe han
dle Here the uplands require rgaton to make them
productive as they are capable OF becoming.
The great rush to this country has resulted the laying
out OF several towns, Of which the chief is this the
county sen Of Arapahoe county, and the probable capital
OF new Territory. is beautifully situated AT the union
Oh CHeIry creek Win the Plate. We nave here ma9ni
hcent view OF the mountains the waters OF the Platte
rushing down from them past US. There already
hundred houses here, and hundred moro under way,
with not less than five hundred inhabitants The Climate
OF this country is almost unequacd Those started
with wan and salow cheeks now the very pictures
OF health
York. while there less wind and Our cattle
likely to winter safely on what they can get for them
selves
Came is 20 abundant that Of the thousands OF oxen
driven here not one has been killed for beef
Flour Is worth twenty dollars per hundred sugar, 5oc
coee 50c. bacon the same and other things in ike pro
portion; yet there appears be enough country
last till spring emigration shall in with supplies
have many other things 10 write, bat will leave them
till another time.
P.S-Since writing the above new discoveries have
been made, richer than any preceding ones Dggings
twenty five to thirty dollars per day be made with
pans The gold is much coarser than any before found
These discoveries in the mountains twenty miles
distant Cold bearing quartz has been also found and
said 10 exist in great abundance
OUR LEAvESwoRTH coRREspo<DESof.
IEAvESwosrH, Jan. IL, 1859
The Gold Mines in Kansos-Anicatel Rush in he Spring
The Romes-Each one The Best. dc.
The news has gone forth that there gold in Kansas
To every aud village within Union has the news
paper carried the dings that in the western part of
Kansas-almost at very doors there s large
aurerons region, where industrious dig
from the earth dollars worth of glittering gold
a day This news of course will cluse great excite
ment, and thousands of our young men, and old
too will rush to this Fl Dorado Next spring there
win be tide Of human beings setting towards Pixies Peak
equal TO that OF 1852 which flowed overland towards
California.
Persons, by clubbing together. can reach the gold
dgginss comparatively trng expense The distance
TO them short that persons leaving the trontershat
is TIE Missouri river-eary In the spring. reach the
MINES Work several months and then return to the from