The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-24
\ w UNI VI WAhNlNG III PlhE'S
PEAKERS.
LEAvENwoRTH, March IL, 1875

LEAFEN "UkIHI MdTCn IL, 1909.
The advance guard of the army of emf
grafton to the gold mines of Kansas ha
reached the frontiers, and is preparing Il
push forward without delay. 1t has been 81
extensively circulated throughout the coun
try that gold in large quantities can be ha,
for the digging along the eastern slope of iht
Rocky Mountains, that an emigration ex
ceedng that of 1859, to California, viii
be likely TO take place this coming spring
and summer.
No matter whether the reports from tha
region be true or not, whether they were
in circulation by persons interested in towr
lots in Auraria, Denver City, and other en-
bryo towns in the vicinity of Pixies Peak
and Kept up by the merchants along the
Miss uri Rlver--I say no matter whether
there be gold there or not, the emigration
has commenced, and nothing short of visit
to the mines will be satisfactory.
Gold has certainly been found in Western
Kansas, but that the working OF the mines
will pay is yet TO be demonstrated.
| My opinion is hat it will not. Last sea-
son hundreds OF men were for months roam.
Ing through that part OF the country, digging
here and there, but not one OF them ever
come forward und stated that he had made
money there by digging. Hundreds have
also been in the mines during the whole Of
last winter, bat we have seen none Of the
gold which they say they have obtninedt--~
line pess is tneming with their Letters, all
intormln" the publ tina, the writers as at
i'fled that from three 10 ten dpilars can be
dug u? in day, and also tDlt the whole
country is laid "a, in town luis. This last
piece OF Information appei-s to a mere look
er-on to be tho motive power which induces
rhoa now 1T the minea to strive for Isrpe
tuigfatIpn.
trust that may be mistake4. pnd that
gold u.ay be found IN Quantities sufficient to
lndemhiy those who 90 there for the ..urd-
ships and expense of the journey, 'or il it is
not their sufferings viii be terrible.
Every day parties are leaving here for the
mines, although it is at least six weeks too
early to start. Some 60 with OK teams and
mules, while many 60 with hand carts, and
not n few on foot. carrying their provisions,
clothing and everything on their backs
How these people are ever to reach the
mines is difficult to say, for beyond the set
Elements there is a prairie to cross of four
miles in extent, where there is not
single hobitation where provisions or as.
distance Can be obtained.
1t wouIds seem that the Government should
lake some steps to protect these deluded
people. Thousands upon thousands are
rushing toward the mines, and most of them
will arrive there destitute of provisions and
the means Of obtaining them, even if thew
were for sale, but there are no provisions
in that part of the country. Everything is
obtained from New Mexico, and it is we'll
known that the supply in that Territory is
limited. Indeed, one hundred thousand eold
liggers (and | should not be surprised if
double that number went to the mines this
'eoson) would eat them out in a month.
1t would have been we'll had the Govern
ment sent last fall two or three confidential
agents to that part of the country, with or
lerS to examine the diggings, so that the
acts could have been spread before the
country. 1t is now, however, too late The
gold fever is now SO high that nothing but
personal inspection OF this new Ell Dorado
will ullay it.
The best route is up the Smoky Hill Fork
'la Leavenworth City and Fort Riv, not
nat 1t Is much shorter, for there is not over
'eVenty i've miles difference between any of
he rival roads leading to the mines, but this
quite is new one and has an abundance of
"ood' while the Santa Fe and Fort Keurney
rails have been stripped Of fuel by the i'm.
nense amount of travel that has over them.
City has has commenced in
.arnest to improve the road to Fort Rily.-l
Over $4,000 have heen raised raised for
his purpose, and 300 men are now at work.