The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-01-15
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The New Gold Fields.
The reports Of vast discoveries of gold il
western Kansas have excited . new feve
for emigration in this vicinity quite equal t
the California fever in IS49. Not only il
this city, but throughout the county, ant
Indeed throughout the whole State, the Sta
pie talk seems TO be "Pike's Peak" ane
nearly everybody that is loose of foot and
can raise the means, S already beginning to
make preparations to travel on the opening
OF spring. If no adverse news arrives or
nothing untoward occurs to cool OF the fe'
yer, Kansas will see such rush in the
spring to her western borders as can be Ii
ksned to nothing short of the moving mass
cs OF the crusaders in the middle ages.
But how is it aboutthis discovery Of gold
De authentic reports from the mines bear
out the extravsgant rsmors On the subject
We have already published considerable on
the subject, and we have before Us mass
more of letters from the gold region, which
certainly appear to leave no doubt but tina,
gold abounds in Western Kansas, perhaps
net equal to California and Australia in ex-
tent and quantity, but certainly largely
enough to justify high expectations.
Here is an extract frem a letter Of a St
Louis man to the Democrat, irotn the mouth
OF Cherry Creek, Nov. 18th:
There is gold here, for haze taken it out
of The ground myself, but how much i,
Win pay pei Gay 20 tie man, 1 e.""ot 70.
say. There are some Msxicans washing in
wooden bowl near by, and are making
from two to three dollars per day. Water
Is very scarce. In the Spring, however, we
think it will pay to Dig.
We heard of men taking out from s. to
SO per day, but as have not seen them,
l cannot vouch for the truth Of it.
Oscar Il. Totten, of Jefferson City, writes
from the same place, Nov Goth:
The gold is here, and men are now max
ing frem IS to 81. per day, with pans and
rockers; but the best prospects have been
found in the mountains, and cannot be work
ed this winter, on account Of the weather
and water.
Capt. West, who left the mouth Of Cherry
Creek, Dec. 1st. reports to the Lcavcnworth
Ledger:
Capt. West reports that be prospectcd all
the creeks in the geld district, and found
god to exist in erery one Of than. He saws
miners are averaging ten dollars and half
per day, with very Indifferent tools to work
with.
Another man writes to the same cGper:
There is gold here, and plenty Of IL Ev-
cry one who prospects finds it, and those
who work all the time make good wages,
say from three to SIX dollars par day ; this
in the winter, when the days are short, IS
said by old miners to be good work when
done with the shovel and pan There h.s
been no heavy work commenced as yet such
as going down to the bed rock of the river,
carrying water through tho ground in ditch
es, and such work.
And here is an extract from "an old MI
ner' 20 the same paper:
After working and prospecting in the gold
Tetion for three months pabt. feel able to
give reliable account o. tue mines as they
exist 10 tell comprehensive truth in q
few words, ! may say that the whole region
is one immense gold field. Ii would seem
rs though the gold had first passed through
seive on high, and then become mingled
with the earth by elemental action. AL
though TO prizes have been found I am
cosn!Zant OF one miner taking out So OF
dust ia two o:dir airy days work on Cherry
Greek and have heard on good authority
reports OF better success on South Platte
ard ut the base of the numerous streams
which take their rise ii the mountains. In
fact, there is TO end to the prescious metal
| have thoroughly explored the Platte Ri
yer, Cherry Creek, and the South Platte.
Rio Grande and Colorado-haye been thro'
South PARK and surveyed the base Of the
mountains. In no place have / failed to
find gold IN digging. | have succeeded IN
securing with my own hands upwards Of
5000 in dust, aid think | shall be able mex
summer TO add cypher 10 this without
strainIng myself very hard.
And finally, here is what Mr.. Blackstone
reports to the Levenwor,h 7iDtes, Dec. 24th,
concerning the discovery Of gold in new
place. Says the paper:
Mr.. Blackstone with the charge Of a re-
turn train, with which he arrived at 4 h
Hollow, on or about Nov. go. lie here in
dulged in buffalo hunt and after an eycit-
ing chase, went 10 a small lake about SIX
miles from Ash Hollow, on the Plat river,
Ter the purpose OF getting drink. He was
here surprised at discovering gold deposits
in the sand, owes ninety dollars worth lie
picked up in few hours. One OF the mug
gets alone is worth so. and can lee seen 1T
the store of Russell, Majorn 4 Waddc:l, Oh
Main street.
Mr.. blackstone WAS accompanied by two
men when the great discovery was made
and proposes To return in a fortnight. Ash
Hollow lie distant from Levenworth but four
hundred and seventy five miles.
These extracts, we think, are sufficient
30 establish the fact Of the existence of gold
IN large quantities. The next question is,
what cut ii; is necessary, by what route, at
what cost, &c, can ernigrantS get to the
mines! I &c answer te these questions we
must reserve for another article.