The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-01-01
FOR tie Hsrald Of Freedom.

In my last left my readers at the foot
Of Pixies Peak; now let us resume our
journey. Fiut let us look a. the geology
of the country. The mountains around
Pixies Peak, and in fact, most Of the Rocky
Mountains are principally composed of
felspathic granite. In this section we find
many beautiful specimens Of sienite or
Quincy granite, and also porphyry, contain
ing large and splendid crystals of feidspar.
There are also beds Of gypsum and iron.
Along the base Of the Peak there is
small formation ofold red sandstone, often
sitting up in peaks two or three hundred
feet high, nearly perpendicular, forming
picturesque and romantic scenery.
Leaving the mountains, We turn to the
East, and again traverse portion of the
prairie. This is a deposit of drift from
one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet
in thickness, OVERLAPPING formation of
limestone similar to that of eastern Kansas.
Here We find antelope in great numbers.
and quite tame, so that one can easily
shoot them.
After going about fifteen miles, we turn
to the North, and go nearly parallel to the
mountains. The prairie here is more
rolling than usual, and covered with tall
waving grass, and appears to be quite fer
tile. In Spring and early Summer, they
are well watered with numerous small
creeks, which become dry later in the
season.
We soon come to large "pinery," stu
atsd on the divides between the Arkansas
and the Platte, and surrounded on all sides
by prairie. This body of timber, which is
from twenty to forty miles in diameter, is
of the variety known as Norway pine, and
will be invaluable for building purposes
when this country is settled.
| Soon we reach the head of Cherry Creek,
where we begin to find gold /; but it is SO
very fine, that it is extremely difficult to
save it without mercury. As we approach
the mountains, the gold becomes coarser.
Following down Cherry Creek to it,
mouth, we come to the Platte, at the cross.
ing of the Taos and Laramie trail. We
are now fairly in the mines, and by dig.
ging down almost anywhere, can find
plenty of the thin shining scales.
The Platte here is rapid stream, al.
most equal to mountain torrent, and il
{ about hundred yards in width. Tn.
other streams in this vicinity, tributarie,
to the Platte, are similar to it, only mos
of them are clear, sparkling and cold.-
Gold is found on all of these streams, and
on the highest divides between them
also, as far north as Fort Laramie, and
into the mountains indefinitely.
All the streams are timbered with sof
wood only, and many of them abound il
fish, of which the speckled trout is tn,
most common.
All through this country the scenery i
splendid, and the climate delightful. Thu
clearness, softness and transparency of tn
atmosphere give to the climate an en-
s chantment that few countries can boast Of
During the Summer, the heat of the da,
: is seldom oppressive, and the nights ar
!. SO warm and pleasant that sleeping in tn
= open air is real luxury.
Bidding farewell to the gold mines 70
the present, we start for another trip acros
!. the prairie, homeward bound. Our rout
b lays down the left bank of the Platte
The river runs nearly North, and almos
parallel with the mountains for about lift
. miles, We pass three old forts, the las
: of which is st. Vrain. Here the rive
makes bend to the East, and we leav
: the mountains at nearly right ANGLE
Down the valley of the Platte the noun
: tains are plainly visible for one hundre
miles; and Longs Peak, which is nearl
West, for one hundred and fifty miles.
After passing Fort ST. Vrain, the scene
: ~ gradually changes from the bloomin
:, verdure which surrounds the mountain.
!: base, to the sterile, barren appearance ofth
: desert. The timber also grows small b,
!. degrees and beautifully less, until it en-
tirely vanishes. For one hundred an
fifty miles there is scarcely any timber q
!. all, and the country appears very mucl
like the corresponding portion of the Al
kansas route, except that the desert is les
. marked, this being near its northsr
y !, boundary. As the timber disappears, tn
river spreads out into broad shallo,
stream, interspersed with sandbars, and
from one to two miles wide. Its bed !
of clear white sand, and is continual
: washing down.
All over the Grande prairie the face q
the country is very level and NE air ver
clear, so that appearances are very de
ceptive and distances misjudged. Tn
uninitiated will often shoot quarter Q
half mile at game. Antelope are dil
tinguished two or three miles and Buffal
five or six.
). From the crossing Of the South Plat
> to Fort Kearney, one hundred and sixt
miles, you notice but little difference i
!. the landscape, except that the bluffs alon
!. the river are more abrupt and often termi
e nate in conical peaks. As you approac
= Kearney, the land becomes more fertil
= and the timber more plenty. Soon afts
you pass it the hard wood commences
and you find the rolling. fertile prairies Z
d eastern Nebraska similar TO those of Kan
"a IL l.