St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-03-17
The Gold Mines.


No doubt there is gold in the soil or
Just above the bed rock beneath the
soil of Western Kansas. The intrin-
sic probability, based on the undoubt-
ed and abundant production of the
shining ore on the opposite slope of
the same great mountainous region,
combines with the direct, positive tcs-
timony of scores Of living witnesses,
to place this fact beyond question.
Though the Pixies Peak" region
has as yet been inadcquately prospect
ed, we believe it will be found less
prolific in gold than the mining region
of California. We infer this from the
geology and topography of the coun-
try, and also from the fact that the
average yield thus far has been meagcr
indeed
Still there is gold in Western Kan
sas-probably great deal of it-and
tens of thousands will soon be in hot
pursuit of it. Some Of these will
doubtless come back with money in
their pockcts-thrice as many with.
ont n ccnt-whilc good many will
not return at all. On the whole, we
do not believe the emigrants to "Pikc's
Peak" in 1859 will average a net
yield of fifty cents per day over their
expenses from the time they leave
home till they get back again. We
cannot doubt that nine-tcnths of them
might do decidedly better, and make
money easier, to hire out for the best
wages they could command Just where
they are to-day, than they will by GO
ing to Pixies Peak. We say this.
with no hope or desire that any who
have caught the gold fever will be
cured by anything we can say. Like
the daughter, whose mother had seen
the folly of dancing, and wished her
on that account to leave it alone, they
will insist on seeing the folly of it too.
There are certain popular manias for
which experience is the only cure.
Gold-digging is one of them. So, in
stead Of seeking to dissuadc any, we
urge all the infected to go ahead.
Those of them who are good for any
thing will mainly return cool, sober,
reasonably wise, and convinced that
potato-digging is Il much easier and
surer road to wealth than gold-digging
The other sort will, for the most part,
not return at all.
OF course, we do not think it ad.
visahle for men who can find work
on this side Of the Missouri to go ro-
wing after gold to Pixies Peak. We
agree with "a friend who dryly OBJ
served that he didn't want to 90 to
Pixies Peak after gold, as there was
more of that article in Iowa than
he could get hold Of Whoever has
useful employment that affords him a
decent living may far better stick to
it. But there are thousands Of in
vcterate idlers, loafers, gamblers, tip
piers, rowdics and other ne'cr-do-wclls
in the country, whom we would gladly
incitc to strike a bee line for Pixies
Peak at once. Not being able there
to live on other mems earnings, they
may he constrained to dig a little
gold, every ounce Of which will be so
much clear gain to mankind. Judge
Lynch will deal with some of them ::
their own vices will dispose Of others
so that a good many Of them will new
er come back. We wish such would
az, go
Whoever is bent on going to the
new diggings should buy IA through
ticket by the cheapest line from his
residence to the Kansas frontier.
Which line that is, will depend upon
his present location. Those who cross
Iowa will generally fit out at Omaha
or some other Nebraska town on the
Missouri. Those who may go through
Missouri to Kansas may try Lcavon-
worth, Atchison, or any Of the smaller
border cities, or may buy their outfit
at Lawrence. We hear all sorts of
stories as to the respective advanta-
gcs of these rival towns, and cannot
decide between them. Whoever is
going should be on the Missouri by
the lst Of April, ready to push across
the Plains as soon as the grass will
subsist cattle. And be sure to start
with no animal which is not in the
very best working order.
As to localities in the diggings, it
would be absurd to proner advice. 1t
will be time enough to talk of them
when you reach the Missouri There
you will be pulled and hauled al! man
ner of ways, and be forced to listen to
any number Of incredible and contra.
dictory stories. We say, make Pixies
Peak your goal. until you shall have
ample reason for divcrging on one
side or the other.