The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-08-18
Matters and Things nj the Gold
NlhmeE.
AuRARrA, K. T., july Is, 1859.

4
AuRARIA, K. t., July Is, 1859.
EDlroRs GATE CIrY :--Agreesbly to a rash
promise, made before leaving Keokuk, send
you the result OF fortnight's observation OF
men and things in this much talked of region.
say rash promise, when you consider the
heat Of these midsummer days and the other
inconveniences attending correspondence in
a log cabin Is by 6, piled to the top
with such heterogeneous mass of baggage,
old stores, buttered camp utensils, mining
tools, musty firearms, men and dogs, as de.
fees description.
We arrived June 30th, after favorable
trip most of the way over the North Platte
road, with diversion of about two hundred
miles up Lodge Pole Greek and down the Fl.
Laramie and Santa Fe trail, which we espe-
cially engaged on account of the abundance
of antelope.
During the greater part of our journey we
were met by the most diseouraging accounts
from the immense returning emigration; but
as We approached this place the matter be-
gan to wear different aspect, and upon our
arrival we found that great revulsion had
taken place within three weeks owing TO the
discovery of the "Gregory diggings," and
subsequently, of Russe's and Jaekson's dig
gIngs. found these towns,-Auraria and
Denver, separated oaly by the dry bed OF
Cherry Creek, containing ordinarily about a
thousand people, almost deserted. everybody
having gone to the mines.
| have just returned from tour OF about
100 miles among the mountains, embracing
oil the principal mining districts. found
IN one place continuous line of cabins and
tents for three miles, and it is estimated that
there are &c, 900 people scattered through the
mountains.
There can be no doubt that gold, in rich
deposits, is to be found all through the noun
tains, though the scarcity Of water will, in
many places, prevent it's being worked with
out great outlay in turning streams &c. Gold.
bearing quartz of the richest description il
daily discovered. OF THE products OF the va
rious leads, can only speak as / learned j,
from those working Thorn, with the exception
of the "Russell claim, J" where saw the pro
duct Of one days work with q sluice panned
out, amounting to eighty dollars, mostly
coarse gold with several Jumps weighing from
one to four dollars. They work three suices
and for the last month have taken out up
wards OF pound day with ten men. They
claim still larger results at the Gregory and
Spanish mines, but cannot speak from per
sonal observation. In great majority OF
the claims they are barely paying expenses
Mining operations must close by October LIST,
and, in view Of this, the amount of money
required to buy good claim already opened
the severe labor of working it, and especially
of hunting up new claim, and the high price
Of provisions, (hour 20 cents per b., bacon,
sugar and coffee 40 cents,) l should not ad-
wise any man who can make a support at
home TO come out, at least this season.
have no doubt next year will deveope richer
mines than any yet discovered, and that, with
better facilities and improved machinery, the
yield Of gold from this region will come to
compare with that of California, Australia
and the other gold-bearing districts of the
earth Yours, DE w.