Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-01-29
Arrapaho City, South Platte, X. T.,
November 18th. 1858.

two weeks since our arrival here, at
which time l last wrote you. Since
then we have been at work, building
cabins and getting ourselves into good
winter quarters. There are two in
company with me in my cabin, one a
Virginian, the other a Missourian.-
We get along first rate together, work
during the week, and Sundays, act like
people in the States, that is, where
there are no churches, visit around and
do nothing, in the evening we read two
hours in the Bible, so you see we are
not quite heathens out here. We have
laid town, one mile square, in the
mining region, the above is the title
have prospected some and find the
"Color," as it is called, almost any
where, am building a rocker, and shall
go to work next week mining, and will
advise you Of the result. Some men
who are mining below here few miles,
are taking out, with a rocker, about
five dollars per day to the man, there
are very few mining at present, being
mostly engaged in building cabins
Companies are arriving every day from
ali parts Of the Border, Kansas City:
Wyandott, Leavenworth, Nebraska and
Iowa. There are now over seven hun
dred men on the creek. Left Hand.
a Cheyenne Chief, sent us letter yes
terday, saying that his nation would
not trouble us for the present, but that
they must have satisfaction for intru-
ding on their hunting grounds and dig
ging their gold. The weather for the
past week has been beautiful in this
valley, although it has showed nearly
all the time in the mountains of which
we are at the base. This valley will,
before another year, support a large
population. Game is abundant and
consists Of Anteopes, Deer, Wild Tur-
kies, Rocky Mountain Sheep, Grisly
Bear, Panthers, Wild Cats, Beavers,
&c. A company of us start into the
mountains tomorrow for a weeks hunt,
Frank Sluman, Of Waukegan, will go
with us.
What interests you most of course,
is information in regard to the gold
that exists here. Well, the divide be-
tween Cnerry Greek and South Platte,
from the mouth Of Cherry to the noun
tains seems to be all the ground In
which there has vet been found any
gold; but we all think there is some
places where this gold comes from, and
where there is large deposits. On this
divide there has been some rich leads
struck, but most claims do not pay over
five dollars TO the man per dav, with a
rocker, what men are here now, will
dig the country all over III one season,
and unless more diggings are discover
ed, they will not pay by the next fall.
For any one who has an anxiety to
cross the plains and spend a summer
in the Rocky Mountains, next season
will be the time to come; it is one of
the widest trips man can possibly
take, and a healthier country never was,
we think. / am SO fat that my cheeks
bulge out like little country boys,
and my clothes are too tight for me to
wear comfortably. There are great
many here, who say they never wish to
go back to the States. | have seen old
mountaineers who have been out here
% years.
Some of the new Corners say that
they are exhibiting in St. Louis, Jumps
Of gold weighing 3 ozs. Now, there is
shenaaeigaae going on, this thing is done
by speculatars in town property out
here, and on the border, and should be
denied by all the papers, it never was
found in such Jumps, within a thousand
miles of Pixies Peak, and the origina-
tors Ct such stories, to advance their own
private end, should 5e znachea, ant, the
emigrants who come here next spring,
will, if they find out the originators Of
those stories, do this thing. These
Jumps, if indeed any have been exhib-
tied, were made by melting the dust,
either in Kansas City or St. Louis of
this be assured. I don't want one of
my friends fooled by what they see in
any Of the papers III St. Louis, Kansas
City, or any other border town, for
from what [ can learn, these papers
contain not word of truth. Another
thing, the Journal Of Commerce at Kan
sas City blows a great deal about the
advantages of the route by the Arkan-
sas, while it is not SO good as any of
the other routes, the best being to fol-
low Kaw River and Republican fork to
the Platte, and from there follow the
river directly to these parts.
From Council Grove to Bent's Fort
by the former route, there is not wood
enough to build fire to cook by, trav-
elers having 10 use buffalo chips as fuel.
| w alter is also very scarce in DlaceS
By the latter route, however, there is
plenty Of wood and water all the way.
I would prefer the Republican Fork
route, even in mid-winter. The start
ing point, by either route, would be
Kansas City or Wyandott
! Now. tell any of nv friends who