Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-01-15

time, and requested MIN 10 snow the
letter TO you. Since that time | have
learned but little in addition. Most Of
the time since We arrived, has been
spent preparing our winter quarters
and hunting for our winters store; SO
that, as yet we have had but little time
to prospect. The winter has been very
and if it continues we shall commence
mining Immediately. | have visited
the mines on the the Platte, about four
miles above the mouth Of Cherry Creek
where they are worked quite extensive
", one man professed to have taken
ont in three days :G5 and in one day
S35. Most of them were not very
communicative, which was good eyi-
dence that they we're doing very well.
AS near as | could learn they were
making from $3.50 to so, and some
SIS per day. They are now opening
mines for several miles above, but how
they are doing | have not learned. !
have met and conversed with several
men who have spent the greater part
of last sum liner prospecting, and they
1--WE very favorable accounts of the
country's resources. Where gold is as
generally distributed over the country
as it IS here there must lie some very
rich head quarters. BY shaking to the
bed rock almost anywhere in this vicin-
ity gold is found. All the gold found
on this side of the mountains, is scale
gold, but those who have prospected
over in the parks abort the head waters
of the Platte and Arkansas, say that
they fnl the shot gold there.
have not the least idea but that
this will prove to be very rich mining
region. hardly know what TO advise
in regard 70 bringing stock of goods
out here in the spring. Quite supply
is needed now, and very large one
will be needed in the spring. ! suppose
that one third of the masses are now
out of sugar, and great many out Of
coffee and thousand little things that
almost everybody forgets. The only
objection to bringing out stock OF
goods is that the market will probably
be over stocked. Selling goods and
saw-miIling, will probably be the two
kinds OF business over done.
Flour can be brought in from New
Mexico cheaper than it can be trans
ported from the States. Bacon will be
in good demand. Whlskey is at pres
cnt in the greatest demand. Williams
Of Crescent City, l understand has
been offered ST. per gallon for his
whiskey, Common II cent whiskey at
that An old monntalneer, by the
name of Smith, sold over $500 out of
one barrel Should you conclude to
send out stock, we will stand an equal
chance with others, the risk will prob
ably be not very great.
There is no doubt Of the richness of
the mining region, and the emigration
in the spring will be tremendous.
Please write Immediately what you
think OF the PROJECT. L Will go to
Omaha and bring out the train if you
think best.
We shall have monthly express to
Fort Laramie during the winter, CON-
mencing with weekly mail from
Omaha to Fort hearney, and besides
several expresses are being started to
Lcavenworth. All trains from Omaha
and the Northern route, have made
better time than by any other route.
If it had not been for the loss Of our
cattle, our train would have made
Cherry Creek in at least 80 days, and
our cattle would have been in almost
as good condition AS when We started.
While mule trains from Leavenworth
were 43 days out and says that the
distance is not less than 500 miles.
Gen. Larimcr arrived on the 18th, and
also officers commissioned 10y the Gov
crnor OF Kansas to lay off and form a
county. Reed, Harris, Bassct and
Capt. Parkinson, returns to st. Louis
for stock OF goods, and | shall send
this letter by him. All are well
Direct to Cherry Creek, via Fort Lar
annie. Yours Respectfully,
NJ. &. PRESTON.