The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-07-16
From the Gold Diggings.

al The Bass ef he sso,sy Range of MeaRoek,
Aoustdins, Wcst Of tho GREGORY Gold Dig
= gings, 20 miles Zast of the Middle Park, ana
400 miles Of tie Head Of Grand Riser, a
Iridatsvy OF the Colorado of tho West.
Correspondence Of the Me-. Repubucau
q Tuesday, Jsue 81, 1859.
Is A much speculation has been had relative to
the gold diggings Of the South Platte and
It's tributaries, l take pleasure in giving to
you the result of my investigations, since II
have arrived in this part Of the countrysup to
this date. ~
Ibegau my labcfs At Fort Bent, a synopeis Of
which. covering about two hundred sheets Of
this size, will be furnished you by my wife, to
whom it vas sent for copying, having been com
PEELED to write in my buggy whilst on the road,
giving description Of all that country between
the Fort and the head Of Cherry Creek, from,
the divide Of the Fountaine qui Boilleau, aud
the tributaries. q The South Platte to Denver
City. Il, will be perceived from the observa-
tons referred to,a that all that porten OF coun-
try, with some exceptions, has bee n formed BY
deposits made from volcanic eruptions, of which
| shall be more fully prepared to give you an
accurate account after l have gone over more OF
the mountain regiOn. and which reserve For a
future article. At pre1ent, desire to furnish
you evidence of the gold fields of this region,
of which have only investigated small area Of
the mountains.
You will readily perceive. from the observa-
tons made on the plains and tributaries of the
South Platte, that the gold found in those To-
calities not drift, but transitory, such as is al
ways found among transtorys rocks, and the
gold of Cherry creek is all OF this character.
thus showing that it mast have had some origi-
nal source. This source has been discovered,
and AhoH oh IF:
developed, and fully, as far as the Gregory
digging are concerned. These late discoveries
add no new feature to the geological condition
of the mountains, this side of the Snowy range
but proves that the view have taken OF the
origin of the gold found in the slopes and
streams of the eastern face of the mountains
10 true and cannot be controverted. This is
not all the evidence that can be adGuced in
support of the position l undertake to assert,
regarding its geological condition; the scoria,
lava, pumice. horn blende, porphyra, de
tached particles Of trap and otLer rocks,
found as far east of the base of the mountains
four az hundred miles, gives to the geologist un
nistakeable evidence Of the huge volcanic erup-
tive throes, that has made the plain proper J
baTen waste.
y The cratic disposition of this part of the
Rocky Mountains, bounded on the North by
made SO by volcanic upheayals, to an unex-
peritnced hunter Of minerals, makes il dill
cult task for him to discover at what place he \
should make his prospect-and thus failing he
becomos discouraged and quits the task he has
to perform. The California. miner
looks for gold in the gulches and alluvium of
streams-but here he is foiled, and he quits the
il despair Many thousands of per-
sons have returned to the States, and their
homes, with the full conviction that there are
no derosites of gold here il sufficient quantities
TO pay them for their Labor, and dis brings me
10 that which have seen, that. which my
own hands have proved, and that which all the |
world may rely upon. l have only visited the |
Gregory mining district of the mountains, on |
The north fork of Clear Creek, a description of
the character Of which will here attempt to
give, together with the richness OF the iodes |
discovered and future prospects. at present |
there are about five hundred sluices in opera |
lion, with varied success in the precious ORE
The sluices on the Gregory lead, for which the |
company paid $4,000. are taking out daily |
81 600 and apwards Other sluices are paying4l
rom ten oents TO two dollars and hall. psr /
pan the Burronghs lode pays sixty-nine cents i
'n al average 70 the pan, in making hundred !
BANS. Tho time these sluices have BEEN in |
operation have been as follows: Four sluices |
IN the Gregory lode, three weeks; the Russell
ieorgia Company, same time the Aubuchon
OF Florisant, St. Louis), ten days, pays $50
lay; the South Bend, Indiana, Company's
luices, three weeks. pays from Is 90 TO 81 so q
lay: other claims that have not been fairly
poned, and who age washing the dirt from the
op OF the mountains, are making from ~ 90 70
20 . day 70 the hand the Illiaois Company are
nAkfug large wages. l have examined the
mammoth quartz lode, and end it to be very
ich; this 10 partially decomposed The Gre.
DRY lodeis the richest yet discovered. Now.
here is no exaggeration In this statemtnt, and
ere will remark, that although look upon
MS small area ot the mountains as the richest |
old field ever saw o. read OF, do not wish it
, be understood by tbe masses, that there are !
ads for oil who eouAe here equally as rich for +
rem, but I will tell them in plain terms. tina. !
old is here, but SO erratic ia its disposition in
Ie mountains that it takes energy, perseyer- | /
zoe, priyaton and capital to work it out. and / Z
10 following will show bow near the truth / | I
,me. The gold 10 not found in quantities suf- h
,ient to pay in the alluvial bottoms or gulches.
it from the tops oil high mountains, and exists il
ieAy it lodes or leads. These hills. are steep b
ID very dii6cult Of ascent aud descent rugged '
ID clothed with . thick growth Of pine, and
here the mines alluded TO are situated deep
thin the mountain ranges. to approach which, p
~ steep and rough mountains have TO be
mbed, deterring the timid from advancing to 4
Ike discoveries, and those viii carry back bad 4
ports respscsing the mines ana condition Of d
; oountry. All volcanic countries more e. &
. are esrAtic, and the best geologists have &
a puxsled % make them eat Il u nov ],
- Main nnnnaensnees thu ekneanfar NJ ahasa / Il