The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-03-26
Pixies Peak bv. One who Saw II.

mines and returned, has furnished the Ne.
braska City Mems with a statement of facts
with regard to the prospects of gold in the
Pixies Peak region. Those who are prepar.
ing to go to the mines will find the follow
ing account of some interest. The write,
says that the south Platte route is tina best
and safest route to the mines The state.
ment seems to be Gerry plausible and may be
relied upon as correct. 1t shows that ter
dollars day is thc highest that is claimed
as an average, but in the majority of cases
1t vii fall below the amount. Taking into
consideration the expense of trip and the
high price of provisions and everything else
at the mines, from one to ten dollars day
Is poor pay aud at such rates and with sucl
expenses it will take man long time t.
get rich. Bat read the statement:
We prospected an area Of country l an
confident OF more than 900 miles in extent
and found gold wherever we tested The
earth. The whole time so far has been en-.
ployed in projecting, and no matter how
hatterIng the prospect was of any one place
nos, i. was not there, but Just ahead. Tn,
gold found so far, is fine float gold, cxcep,
on place at the foot of Longs Peak; ant
the anxiety has been to find coarse gold
which is believed to exist in the mountains
Our company ;raversed numerous SINAI
streams rising in the mountains, we follow
ed them up the canons till we were compell
ed to abandon the pursuit on account o.
snow.
Ihe float gold will average rom three te
twenty-five cents per pan. Experienced
miners say that with proper fixtures, sluices
&C., that ten dollars per day could be real
iz.d from the present prospect, and in view
OF TINS the company were at work when
lett, preparing sluices.
In our search over the country, we fell in
with numerous companies of men one par
~ in what is called the "Spanish DigCings'
told US they were making from one to seven
dollars per day; another told us they were
making five dollars per day, others aga II
two and three per day, which is unques-
tionablp true.
There was when lcft, from eight HIM
drcd to one thousand slcu there and others
arriving daily.
viii remark here, that in addition to
finding every indication cf gold about the
base Of the mountains, such a. quartz rock.
zen glass, mica, &c, III gay that Their,
the Climate is very saIuhliouS and healthy.
The Arrapce Indians whic, are campcd there
lave AT least 1909 horses. tie miners have
say 800 more, and Cu:.c 1000 oxen aud all
IN good round order. The grass IS good aud
green Throughout the winter. The country
IS also iui. Of w;'d game, f almost cvcry
kind. 1hrcc species 81 deer, elk, bear. g:.z
Ely and black; ranthers, wolves and noun
tain sheep. So lar as fresh lnca; j., concern
ed, all ::.incrs can be G.! supplied Tor Z .o..
time to come.
Bat the greater error all the miner have
fallen into, is the amount Of -four. bacon
coffee, boots and shoes, they would use in a
given length Of time. They have all under
estimated the amount. they are now get
ting short of these articles, and are anxious
y awaiting traders to come with supplies. -
Should they not get q supply soon, they will
have to adopt the mode Of living OF the il
brethren with red sklns-en meat alone.
met on my way in, two steam mil
bound for Cherry Creek. There is for.
tune, for lumber was in erca. demand, anc
worth $500 per thousand when left. 1ht
There are lmm forests oi pine timber
cedar, &c. in and about the mountains, arC
large bodies of cottonwood timber on TIE
streams. The soil, | know nothing Of, any
farther than a nutritious grass covers tho
whole surface. and people are now preparing
to cultivate il. In addition to the general
scrambling after gold, they have not over
looked that other interest peculiar to west
ern nen-vjz: the town site interest. There
are many towns laid out, and many already
improved. The town Of Aurora, had, when
left, $50 cabins erected, and as many more
in process of erection. | tell you when 900
or more, strong, res0!Etc men agree to do
anything, it is done. And when they agree
to build a town in place, they set fifty men
to cutting logs, as many others TO hauling,
and ike number 10 putting up. If our
good Uncle will give them anything OF a
show, then they will do well, but now they
have no nail or other facilities. 4 territory
should be organized at once; mail routes
established, and service pat upon them at
once.