The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-26

TIE WESTERN GOLD FIELDS EARLY OPENING
OF THE SEASON.


"~NN 49,
We publish &c. day a very extensive and interestine cor.
respondenoe from various points in the new I'll Dorado Of
the West-theg gold fields of Kansas and Nebraska. With tbs
unusually early opening of travel, both by land aud water,
active evidences Of a large emigration in that direction
are presented in all quarters of the country. The reports
of the richness OF the gold product, though variable and
sometimes conflicting, are in the main highly favorable
while, as to the richness of the soil, the salubrity OF tho
climate, and beauty of the country, there Ii no differ.
ence of opinion among those who have narrated their OK.
peiience.
The letters from our correspondents In our columns
this morning bring the intelligence from Pixies Peak
down to the latest period. Allowing something for tho
spirit of exaggeration common to travellers and adyen.
turers, it must DO admitted that the latest reports from
the mining districts are most fattering, and are c.Icula.
ted to evoke the passion for gold-seeking in all adven,
turous breasts. But it must be remembered that these
glowing statements often come from land spectators,
parties interested in town and village sites, and in the con.
struction of railroads. We give them, therefore, for what
they are worth, leaving the public to Judge for Themselves
as to their veracity. Il "a
One writer, for example, described the yield of gold to
extend almost unbrokcn over millions upon millions Of
acres. Another declares that he ~prospected carefully
over a distance OF 200 miles, and found the precious metal
everywhere TINT he tested the earth. Another proph.
esies q return as high an twenty dollars a day to each
miner provided with proper Instruments, sluices, aud 80
forth. OF course, these accounts must be taken with a
pretty large grain Of salt but at the sumo time the fact
may be assumed as established, that the gold fields Of
Kansas and Nebraska are fruitful enough to tempt the
young and hardy, who have always made the pioneers OF
our western civilization. There il no doubt, then, as wo
have predicted before, that there will be an immense emf.
grafton westward during this spring and summer. The
early opening of the rivers and lakes, and the genial sea-
son which has already dawned upon us, will give a vast
stimulous to emigration, the effects of which will be fell,
not only at that point to which it is directed, but all
over the country. The Eastern and Middle States will
furnish their portion of the men who are destined to
5uild up towns and cities in the desert, to compel the
yet untrodden earth to give up its golden treasure, to
crowd the rivers of the distant territories with the
landmarks of commerce, and fructify the prairie and tho
mountain. From the South, also, no small share Of q
similar class will pour into Kansas, Nebraska, and Arizo-
ma, attracted by the gold Of the former Territories and
the shining silver of the latter one. ~
II the favorable reports continue to multiply for a few
weeks longer we shall probably see the largest emigration
towards the West this snmmer which has been witnessed
since the rush to California some ton years ago.