Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-07-29


this method of so doing.
That rich gold deposits exist along the
Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain chain is
now known to be fixed and indisputaole
fact. Fine 'tloat'' gold is found along all the
streams emerging from the mountains, from
the Arkansas river on the south to the Cache.
ala poudrc on the north-undoubted evidence
that the streams either head in, or cut their
way through, at some point or points in thei,
course, district rich in gold, yet remaining
in its original matrix, gold bearing Quartz.
May 9th, 1859, the first discovery of gold
in position" was made by John H. Gregory,
on little tributary OF Rallston's or North
Fork of Vasquez Fork of the South Platte
river, at point twenty miles in the mountains
from their eastern foot, and thirty five miles
northwest by west from the mouth of Cherry
Creek. The astonishing richness of these
mines has already been heralded to the world
in thousand letters and newspaper reports.
Having spen: most of my time in these mines
up to the day of my departure for the States,
and being personally acquainted with most of
the miners operating successfully there, l can
vouch for the truth of the published state
ments; so far as have seen them, none are
exaggerated, and the richest yield has not yet
been published.
For nearly one month from the first dis
covery, the development went on gradually
simply widening and extending in all direc-
tons from the starting point, or "Gregory's
Diggings." About the 10th of June, however
similar discoveries promising equally rich
were made almost simultaneously upon the
South or main fork of Vasquez river, upon
several of the tributaries of st. Vrain's fork
of Platte, and upon the slope of the snowy
range. As yet, none of these are sufficiently
tested to enable me to judge of their real value,
though l saw before leaving several hundred
dollars in dust from the new leads.
The same outside or surface appearance
which shows the position of these rich leads
now worked is known to exist on the Cache
ala -poudre, and Thompson's forks, and the
South Platte and its numerous mountain
tributaries; but they were observed by men
who at the time knew nothing about "quartz
leads" and sufficient time has not elapsed
since their character and appearance became
generally known to permit re-investigation
over so great an extent of exceedingly rough
mountain country, but the "washings" on
the plain and along the streams is evidence
which can point to but one result-that result
the same as on Vasquez--rich mountain or
lead" deposits above and beyond, rich
"placers" of float gold in the plain and in the
Valleys
believe this "auriferous" region to be CO.
extensive with the great mountain chain and
it's spurs or branches--perhaps not all equally
rich, but all containing understanding more
than thousand miles north and south, and
over three hundred miles east and west.
The same quality of ''foat' gold is found
on the Plates, Yellow Stone, Missouri, Fra
zer, Columbia, Colorado and Gila rivers, all
having their source in the Rocky Mountains
hence my belief
1t is frequently asked, "Why is there not
more gold shipped to the States?"
More gold has been sent to Mexico in pay
ment for flour and other supplies than has yet
come to the States There are no dealers
prepared to purchase dust in any considerable
quantity, and those who buy offer what the
miners consider less than its value. The
Express charges to the States are and must
necessarily continue high; most of the miners
are still we'll supplied with provisions or
money carried with them from the States, and
are not obliged to part with their dust; con-
sequently, it remains in the miners camps,
and there will remain until Fall, when many
will return home-probably one or more
representatives from every mining company
and bring with them their dust.
"Why do so many return from the mines
discouraged?" is another question often asked.
The first grand rush to the mines in March
last was. principally made up of the most
reckless adventurers, without any of the
experience or qualifications requisite to make
them successful ones. Hundreds of men set
out without any preparation to pull hand
cart or carry pack on their backs, an outfit
expected to subsist them on journey Of
nearly thousand miles over country Of
which they had not the slightest conception.
Other hundreds secured their passage by tens
or twelves in so-called passenger wagons s-that
is, they got their provisions hauled, with the
privilege of walking along the same road--all
these multitudes reached Cherry Greek out of
means. at a season when no kind of mining
could be advantageously prosecuted, and in
the mountains not at all they had passed
through severe and tiresome experience, and
were fit subjects for sudden and deep con-
| yiction of the error of their ways. A few
days brooding over their hardships, and
mutual interchange Of forebodings and opin-
| ions was sufficient to turn them Stateward; !;
the wave, once in motion, swept down the
Platte like an avalanche, carrying everything
before it, and gaining strength from its con-
stantlv accumulating weight-the lies of the
unprincipled giving tone and color to the
reports of all.
Since the first rush, those returning do so
from various reasons. Many find they have
mistaken their calling, mining requiring work,
to which they are consttutionally opposed.
Others are lost when they cannot hear the old
farm house dinner-horn or the tinkling of the
cow-bell. Occasionally, a man can be found
who is honest enough to give his real reason
for leaving the mines something as follows
81 have good home in the States, my family
is there, have good farm, can make living
and save a little over. What use is there in
my enduring all the hardships and privations
and running all the risk am here, for the
chance of little gold?" Such men | respect
most highly, and wish to urge my readers te
look at the matter in this light before setting
out, before breaking up and making long
and weary journey. If you do not, the time
will come when it will present itself forcibly
to your minds.
The cleaning star which shines so brightly
at thousand miles distance will almost
) sink from your sight ere you have Travelled
over the dusty plains, or will be hidden in
the rugged mountains before you have
climbed their rocky heights. Gold will seem
to have measureably lost its value. No ont
is exempt from this influence; no one car
reach the mines without feeling its efec
more or less, and shoud you enter the mine.
; and see men procuring their hundreds ant
!, thousands OF dnllars-handling gold lik'
bricks and stones. you will yet but prize il
less and the home you have left more. 't'
/ wisl, particularly to impress upon til
: minds of all the folly, the recklessnss sss ans
fool-hsrdiness which characterized the earl,