The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-01-22
For n1 Herald Of Freedom
WAw-zAzH-EE. (near Cherry Creek,O
December Is. 1858.

year, thus being rendered conversant with
the history Of Cherry Creek, from the
time of the first gold excitement to the
date at which write, trust that few
words upon the subject will not be ALTO
gether uninteresting to your readers, and
hence 1 solicit short space in your col
umns. |
Anterior to the gold mania, which is
now iercely raging, Cherry Creek was ia
nous only for its pure cold water, excel
lent grazing grounds, abundance of game |
and superior timber facilities; these advan o.
tages rendering it very desirable plac
for winter quarters-and thither the hum
ter and trapper was wont to bend his steps
upon the approach of snow.
The existence of gold in this vicinity,
however, has been known to the trade ms
living in the country, for some years, and
it has, at intervals, been procured in small
quantities, and sold in Philadelphia at the
rate of $19 60 per ounce, but the traders,
considering the Indian trade more lucr D.
tive and less laborious than mining, ceased
their banning" operations and hushed the
matter ,up-knowing, full we'll, that if the
facts were disclosed to the world, an i'm
mense influx of whites would be the result,
and consequently the Indian trade would
be much deteriorated- The secret, how
ever, which has so long and so faithfully
been kept, is eventually divulged (; what
the issue will be, time will show. At my
first visit to Cherry Creek, Dune, 1853 l
found but three persons there, one of whom
was hunting, while the other two were
prospecting" with coffee cups. Now the
population numbers some seven or eight
hundred.
/ have somewhere seen or heard it stat
ed that this excitement was gotten up by
traders, living in this country, for their
own personal aggrandizement That re-
port is not only false but absurd, since an
investigation of the case would clearly
show, that the more completely trad or
isolates himself from the whites, the more
successfully he is enabled to trade. Il is
to the Red Man and not to the whites that
he looks for gain.
Here is the burthen Of my communica-
} ton: There is gold here, and mining ,oill
, pay ,ceH to those tUho are able and t0ilIing to
rcork, and to such, / say, by all means,
come. But to lawyers, paper-city brokers,
) doctors, delicate clerks, politicians, and
| bar-room loafers, Ispeak the sentiments Of
, the people when say, we have no use for
you
: Three cities were established here in
one week, viz: San Francisco, Sacramento
and Auraria but it pains me to record the
demise of the two former, they having
"bust up' from a lack of that, without
which no city can prosper-houses. Since
the last fall of snow the "proprietors" are
somewhat dubious of the whereabouts OF
their cities, but entertain strong hopes Of
finding them so soon as the snow thaws.
Note to spectators Corner lots" are
now at discount. Pitch in!
The city of Auraria is in fonrishing
condition, numbering more than one hun.
: bred neat log cabins. 1t is situated upon
Chevy Creek at its confluence with the
South Platte from its situation it bids
= fair to become the city of the Territory
The lands on the margins of the stream,
are admirably adapted to agricultural pur
> suits-particularly The cultivation of root
and vegetables; but the heavy hail storms
:. SO common in this country, will prove veiy
injurious to grain. The season is almos
, too short to mature corn, consequently
early kinds should be selected for seed.
The country abounds in game, such a
black-tailed deer, antelope, hare, rabbit
turkey, pheasant, partridge, prairie fowl
!" &c. Immense herds of buffalo rang
here during severe winters.
The timber consists of sweet and bite
t cottonwood on the streams, pine in tn
S ravines and kanyons, and cedar upon IN
g mountains. The houses are generally bull
: upon the patriarchical order of architecture
a -"beams of pine and rafters of cedar" &c
A few suggestions in reference to til
q roads, teams &C., and have done:
u Cattle are the beasts of draft for the prai
. RE they will draw more, travel faster
and live on less than mules. They shoul'
70 not be less than five years old, and wei
broken.
Your wagons should be light, but strong
u Put in nothing but what you really need
II if you are farmer, your agricultural i'm
plements if mechanic, your tools;
miner, your sluices, cradles, long-tomi
:, &c. Bring good supply of clothing
=, blankets, &C. You will need them.
j. 1t would be advisable for emigrants
l. rendezvous in the settlements, preparation
a to starting, and organize themselves int
ot companies, thus affording each other mu
is tual defense against hostile Indians, an
ID likewise mitigate the arduous duties ap
bit pertaining to migratory camp life.
In travelling through the settlements Q
Kansas, beware Of "cut- offs ;" every far
mer in the Territory thinks it very de
sirable thing to have the emigrant rout
- :, pass directly before his door. He ais
i. wishes to have his farm situated upon
al creek, where there is timber. Now, un
l. fortunately, the road keeps the divides,