Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-11-05
The Pixies Peak Counsry and Mines.

The Pixies Peak Country and Mines.
The Pixies Peak gold discoveries have been
almost forgotten with us, where the existence of
gold is a certainty. Many bereabous. in the
heat Of first excitement were ready to lay down
their implements Of labor, and undertake jour
ney of thousands of miles to try their chances in
a newly discovered FL Dorado, an index of the
rowing, excitable natuce OF the people Of the
West Some went, but more, taking the "sober
second thought resolved TO wait, and learn
whether they could better tlems Ives by a re-
move. More than a year has intervened since
the discovery of gold at Pixies Peak was made
public, and on the authority of the ST. Louis
Republican, Ga paper which pretends to publish
the correct figures in regard to the gold receipts
from the new placers) not 500, 900 have yet been
sent from the mines during that time.
Mr.. J. J. Lown, who left Butler county, Illinois
early last spring for tbe Pixies Peak region, and
lately arrived here, has given the result of his
experience during a stay of one month there
We are led to place much confidence in his opin-
ion, and give it as related to us.
Territory, and took what is known as the Arkan-
sas route, and recommends that as preferable to
the South Platte routc, the road from Wyandole
to Arkansas river, 800 miles, being an excellent
one, with plenty of grass and good water. There
are mail stations every 20 miles from Kansas
City to the Arkansas, spectators having located
sections of land at such distances, according to
act Of Congress. Council Grove, about midway
between the above places is represented as
lively town, and the last station where corn can
be obtained, for which Is cents a bushel is
charged Here Mr.. Lown informs us be saw the
last hickory and oak timber on the route. The
distance from Kansas City to the head of Cherry
Creek, is 725 miles. lie arrived on Cherry Creek
about the first Of June, the same day that Horace
Greeley got there.
They commenced prospecting for gold at the
head OF Cherry Creek, and could get the " color"
anywhere, but there was no water to work with.
Mr.. Lown reports but one sluice working at that
time, which u,ed all the water of the creek. Saw
no miners on the creek, other than the above A
saw mill had been built, and some 10000 feet of
lumber made, which was sold at $50 thousand
From the head of Cherry Creek to Denver City,
the distance is 10 miles an excellent road all
the way. Our informant thinks that with plenty
of water, So day could be made anywhere on
the creek. Denver City is an unimportant place,
being sort of fitting out station for Pixies Peak,
which is 100 miles southwest. The Pike s Peak
diggnSs cannot be reached from the north. and
they were obliged to go so miles further to get
to the mining section from the east side of the
mountain. The principal localities worked du.
ring Mr.. Lown's stay, were Gregorys, Jackson's
Spanish and Boilers Diggings He saw some
very fine specimens, reported to be from the lat
ter. Greene RUSSELL an intelligent Georgian
was working claim two miles above Gre rory's
diggings, where the finest gold was obtained.
lie informed Mr.. h. that the gold deposits were
entirely different from those of California, and
had to be worked in different manner. Was at
Grcgorys diggings two weeks, and the most gold
be saw was one lot Of from $500 to 500, which
bad been taken from the Gregory lead. or one
thing he was satisfied that the money ngyd- M
the digglngs was principally realized by a Jew,
in buying and selling claims. Mr.. Lown saws he
lett because he thought there were too many peo-
pie there-the number at that time was estimated
at from 10000 to 10000 Grpgorys diggings
Il
miners cannot work more than five months in the
year, because of heavy SHOWS.
He left Pixies Peak in company with eleven
others, on the 29lh Of June, and arrived at Salt
Lake ahont The fist OF August A Prussian who
left the mines three days after, and overlook them
at Salt Lake, reported that the diggngs we're
being deserted. and that many claim holders
who had purchased them on time, were throwing
them up because they did not pay, and frequent
law suits were the consequence. lie saw one
man who paid Gregory $500 for claim in that
lead, who after working faithfully for a week or
two. deserted it, without taking out a dollar
Gregory, by some means, had managed to become
owner of most of the claims. Dissatisfaction had
arisen in regard to it and the prospect was that
trouble would ensnc, in consequence. During
the stay at Pixies Peak he saw not more than
twenty Indians; they were very friendly, and
had come from the mountains TO trade with the
whites. Mr.. Lown's conclusion is that mining
will never be successfully carried on at Pixies
Peak.