Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-02-18

From the Omaha Times, 1lth inst.1
Below will be found extracts from two
interesting letters from the Gold Mines,
The fret is from the Hon. William Clancy.
former resident of Desoto, N. T.. to the
Times. He has been prominent man in
this Territory from the time of its organi-
cation until he left for the mines-if our
memory serves Us right he has occupied
seat in every Legislature of the Territory,
with the exception of the last. Letters
from such high sources need no endorse
ment from US:
Letters ere this have reached you pro-
claiming the mineral resources of this coun-
try Many are true, while some are exag-
gerated. We-that is those of Us who are
out bere-are perfectly satisfied with our
prospects. Denver City, the county seat Of
this county. is growing rapidly, and, not.
withs;anding the winter weather, ouildiugs
are going up rapidly. Rich diggines have
been recently discovered, that it is sup
posed will pay 800 per day in the spring !;
some are sanguine enough to say $780,
Capt. Parkinson, of this place. says that he
knows of diggings where he has taken out
$3.50 to the pan, and that in the spring
they will be known. The whole country
is alive with excitement Not ten minutes
since, . man came into the store in which
am writing this letter, with q vial contain
ing $67.5O, while another has a mineral
water bottle containing $500 in shot gold.
The Table Mountain Mines are at present
thought to be the most prol fic, and about
all the claims are taken. That the vast
mineral resources of the country remain as
yet undeveloped, will not admit of a doubt
From the Arkansas river to the Medicine
Bow Mountain, it is q measured distance Of
365 miles, and during the entire distance,
gold has been found in greater or less guam
titles. Thus far all has been flat gold, with
the exception of the mines discovered upon
the Cache Ia Poudrie which have turned
out to be of the quality designated by Cal
ifornians as shot gold. Other beds Of mln-
eral have also recently turned up. An al
UNI bed has been opened, and some most
excellent alum taken out. Coal of the best
quality of bituminous. has been found to
exist in abundance. In fact, so completely
are We surrounded by mineral influences,
that the needle of the surveyors compass
fiuctuates SO az to make calculations uncer-
tain.
Railroad meetings have been the order Of
the day. The far eeeing of the country see
the absolute necessity of having railroad
to this point, to meet the exigencies that
the country will demand These meetings
are held at the cabin Of Gen. Larimer, and
so frequent have they become. that the In
dians, who are always apprehensive, al
though friendly, are continually enquiring
as to the meaning Of the council at the big
chiefs wigwam." When the matter is ex-
planned to them, they shake tteir heads in
credulously. and seem to doubt that this
thing can be done. A memorial has been
addressed to Congress. praying that they
take it into confederation, and push the
matter to completion - rapidly as possible.
On Christmas day, We had at our camp
an immense dinner, and other appropriate
ceremonies, during which they were fully
presented, and its importance urged. A
convention was held q few days since at
Denver City, at which about 800 persons
were present. The meeting was most en-.
thusiastic, and the best talent of the coun-
try was brought to bear upon the occasion.
We do not look for anything short of lOO,-
O0O out here in the spring, and we ara ac-
lively engaged in making preparations for
their reception"
The following 10 from our late townsman,
Patrick NJ Donnough. Every body stands
ready to vouch for the truth of what he
writes:
"There is small quantity of gold to be
found all over this country. 1t is all fiat
gold. Men say that they can make fiftv
dollars per day, but / did not see It since /
came here. / did not find anything that
would pay more than five or six dollars Der
day, with . cradle or pan. never worked
long tom or . sluice-cannot tell What I
could make ct such work but know What
l lean make with the cradle-oan max,
from five to eight dollars per day. think
that there will be good chances here in the
summer; believe that it will be - good
% ever California was"