The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-02-23

| report tnat the eXc1temenJ is SILL on the IN
crease in the States. 1 think that all reason
able reports that you hear at present, will be
more than realized next summer
ANOTHER LETTER FROM MR.. WARREN.
additional Particatzars---Fulzer Accounts a5out
the Gold and C0untr.y-Prices of Provisions
Clotkfng, Lanaber, dc, d.
Through the kindness of Mr. Thomas w est,
We are enabled to lay before our readers this
morning, another letter from Mr.. Thos. War
ren, whose communications appear to contain
more interesting and useful matter than any
other letters that have as yet been published
-Kanses City Journal
MONTANA, Dec. II, 1858.
THos. WEST, Esq, Kansas City:
Dear SIR Since my last letter to you, I
have arrived here in the heart of the gold re-
gion, and am now able to give you my own i'm
pressions. I am snugly cabined for the winter,
and with the exception of frozen foot, am as
comfortable as heart could wish
My anticipations in regard to this country
have been more than realized, and although the
weather has been of such nature as to pre-
clude the possibility of mining to any great ex-
tent, still l have seen enough to justify me in
believing that gold exists in great abundance,
and that the opening of spring will disclose its
rich treasure to us. 1t is almost impossible to
find discontented, dissatisfied, or disappointed
man in the country. All are sanguine, and the
expressions of opinion of old California min
ers, that the prospects of a rich golden harvest
/ is not excelied even by the mines of California,
causes US all to look forward with joyful an
ticipations to the future.
My last was written under the disadvantage
Gus circumstances of no pen and ink, and on
the open prairie with the wind blowing a gale
Now, while surrounded at least with some OF
the, comforts of life, 1 shall endeayor to supply
the deficiencies that occurred in that letter.
In this part of the country, then, are some
good farming lands along the valley of Cherry
| Greek, Platte river, and towards the mountains
| Two fourishing towns are laid off five miles
below this, at the mouth of Cherry Creek, one
/ called Auraria, sfgnifying Golden Light, and
the other Denver City. Two and half miles
above this place, is another town known as
Nonpareil City, so that you see we are well
! supplied Rith towns. ifs
One word now in regard to supplies and
wants, and then for the mines. Provisions are
scarce, and prices are exorbitant. Flour is
worth $50 per cwt, and Mexican -four is worth
$50 to S25 per ''finagre," or Mexican measure
of 145 pounds. Beans are worth SIS per bush
/ el, coffee SO cents, salt 25 cents, sugar so cts
bacon so cents, and very scarce, beef Is cents
butter 81 ,25, venison 5, and other things in
proportion. Whisky is worth SIG per gallon
and Taos or Mexican whisky, S.. Clothing is
not in the market, with the exception of un-
dershirts, drawers and socks. . s..
/ Game of all kinds exists in the greatest
abundance, and many are having clothes made
out of the skins of wild animals. A large
number of the population have been and still
are engaged in hunting, and wagons are daily
returning from the mountains loaded with
/ game. ,.
And now for the mines As yet, but few
| have been engaged in mining, and those who
have worked their claims, have worked but
very little, and that, too, with very inferior i'm
plements, pans being the principal thing used,
although some half dozen have rockers dug
out of cotton wood trees. They have made
from 81 to SO per day. This is winter work.
with every disadvantage on their side. New
mines have been discovereda at Table Mountain
some twelve miles from this, the dirt of which,
it is said, pays fifty cents to the pan. A great
many have gone over there to take up claims
for the spring. The Cache lie Pool mines,
thirty miles North of this, it is said, are pay
ing very largely. The gold from the latter
mines is what is known as ''shot gold" The
Dry Greek mines are exciting considerable at
tention, and nearly all the claims are taken
along that stream. The gold appears to be
very equally distributed all over the country,
and it is impossible to dig to the bed rock any
| Where without nnQlnS Cne cOlOr. ne OeOfSla
Company acknowledge that they know of Dig
gings that are far superior to any have men
| toned, but refuse to make known their locality
nntn spring.
The name ''Pike's Peak" gold mines, is an
improper one, and originated from the fact that
the Lawrence company of prospectors were
/ dancing around Pixies Peak lastsummer, when
the excitement broke out They should be
called the South Platte mines. Pixies Peak
about eighty miles south of us, and Longs
Peak is to the north of US, and from here is a
much more prominent land mark. Over what
an extent of country the mines reach, it is i'm
possible as yet to conjecture, for the prospect
! ing in the South Park, and on the South wa
ters is as rich as it s here, but the jealousy of
the Utah Indians, has thus far prevented pros
pecting in that direction to any great extent.
| All the other tribes in this section are On good
terms with us, visiting us freely, and trading
their peltry for anything we have to spare
/ suppose do not exaggerate when L say
that at least five hundred buildings are now in
progress of erection in Denver City and Au-
raria, in anticipation of general rush in the
spring. ssr a
! A saw-mill is much needed here, and would
prove a rich speculation to the proprietor. In
ferior lumber, ripped out with whip saw is
worth $25 per 100 feet at present.
A very large ice house is being built here,
and our folks will have somethingto cool them
on during the heat of summer.
| To all who propose coming out here in the
spring, would advise them to bring supply
of good clothing and plenty of provisions, also
tools, whether they are mechanics or not.