Nebraska advertiser., 1860-05-17
correspondence from the Mines.
FRIEND FuRNAs:
MOUNTAIN CRY,
April 25, 1860.

AAPAA - AOOO
FRIEND FuRNAs:
In my last / gave you a few items OF
what I observed in Denver City. We are
now located at Mountain City. about 40
miles west from Denver The first ff-
teen miles Of that distance across the
Platte bottom, brings us to the foot of the
mountains, where we find the lourising
village, about the size of Nemaha City,
called Golden City, situated on Clear
Creek, in a sort of a park between the
first range of the Rocky Mountains and
a range of bluffs called Table Mountains
1t is a fine location for a town, possess
ing many local advantages for trade and
manufacture of which the enterprising
inhabitants seem to be making good use.
Two miles further brings US to Golden
Gate or the mouth of the cannon where
we begin our toilsOme journey into the
mountains. Here is another small Gown,
containing fifteen or twenty buildings.
The road thence to this place, though
very rough and billy, seems considera-
bly, improved from what it was last sea-
son; for then as am told, teamsters fire.
quently were obliged TO resort to many
strange and uncouth devices in order to
make their ascents and descents safely,
and then they did not always succeed.
For instance, in order to keep right side
up, they would shift the wheels of their
wagons, by putting the fore wheels on to
the hind axle, or, where it was On a hill
side, they would put both the hind wheels
on one side, and then bride by dragging
a large pine tree top foremost, chained
to the wagon. For further particulars
in regard to this consult Horace Greely's
letters to the New York Tribune. But
things have somewhat improved since he
travelled this route, and should lie wish 10
make the trip now, he would find a tri-
weekly express stage coach TO convey
him up the mountains.
There are several towns in this vicin-
ity; none Of which seem to have been
laid out upon any plan, or built with any
other designs, than to afford a temporary
habitation for those who come here to OBJ
crate in the mines. The only places that
are worthy Of note, are Mountain City,
and Missouri City, adjoining each other.
The former al the head of Gregory Gulch,
the latter neal the Missouri fats between
Gregory's and RusselI's Clutches.
There are probably about five thou
sand people scattered about among the ra-
vines and Clutches in the vicinity of Greg
ory's and Russel's, within the space OF
about six miles square, or about the ex-
tent to which the mining operations have
been projected, all anxiously waiting for
the season to open, and for the quartz
mills to arrive, so that they may com
mence operations in digging and grind
ing out the Gold. There are bar w
good mills now in operation here, altho'
there are several little water machines,
called "rhaspers," that do a small BUSH
nessin pulverlzing the quartz; and there
is an unlimited amount of the stuff to
grind, and probable as much already taken
out of the Rocks as can be ground by the
mills that will be brought here the com-
ing Summer.
According to the bes, information l
can obtain, the quartz produces about two
hundred and fifty dollars 10 the cord. The
terms of grinding are either upon the
shares, or at from sixty TO one hundred
dollars per cord.
The best mining apparatus vne Can bring
to these diggings-that which will pro-
duce the most with the least labor, is a
good quartz mill. There is abundance of
work for all the mills that can be brought
here for years TO come.
In my next l will endeavor to give YOU
an idea of the extent and character Of the
mines thus far discovered.
Yours, &c., O. B. H.