Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-08-24
Letter from Pixies Peak.
ITrAH TERRITORY.

UrAH TERRITORY, /,
Frving-pan Gulch. Head waters OF the
Arkansas River, July 9TH. 1860, J /
Mr.. Error: Being resident Of
your county, and having numerous friends
and acquaintance there who would Ike
to hear something reliable from this re-
gion, win you allow me, through your
columns, to give little of my own ex-
perience.
| 1 left Orleans county October 18th,
1858, bound for Boone county, Iowa,
where / resided until April 18th, 1860.
/ then started for the much talked-of
gold diggings in the vicinity of Pixies
Peak. l reached the foot of the noun
tains near the South Platte river, june
10th. On the 18th I went to Denver
! City, situated on the Platte, at the mouth
of Cherry Greek. This place contains
nearly 1000 buildings, some of which are
very nice brick ones. On the 18th l
started for this place, and crossed Clear
Greek at Golden City, which is -four
ishing little town, containing upwards of
100 buildings, situated at the junction of
the roads from Boulder, Gregory, Platte,
TarryaIl, Blue River and Arkansas gold
mines; also from Denver City and the
Platte Valley route. / arrived al this
place June 18th, and have prospected
| some, and worked five days. Wages are
from $3.50 to IS per day for miners in
: the Arkansas mines; in the Gregory
r mines, wages are $3.50 to IS.
Now, as for the gold stories of thi:
country being humbug, as many of the
c people of the Eastern States think, ]
g can say it is no humbug at all. On thi'
= gulch, (which is called Frying-pan oil
lie account Of the first pan of dirt beins
lie washed in frying pan, from which wa
!. obtained seven cents there has beel
at taken as high as Sl,75 from one pan o
4 dirt. This gulch is on the west side o
: the Arkansas. California Gulch lies OPP
e posite to it on the east side. There ha
te been taken out from one claim, in on
!, day, with eight men, from $500 TO 81 DOC
" would not, however, have the reader
K, of this think that every one does sue
60 big licks." Some claims don't pay
N One old gentleman by the name of Coll
w came here last spring, stopped six week
ng cleared fifteen hundred dollars, and hs
now left for home.
I'm must give you list of the prices
ut some things here, so you can see no
" much it costs to live:
u Flour, Mexican, Is to 20 cts. per Ii
cd American, 20 to % cts; corn meal,
nj cts; pork or bacon, So cts; beef, 9
~ Il cts; beans, Is to % cts. Irish p
lew tatoes, Is to 25 cts; Maple sugar, 75c
his Muscovado, 40c. coffee. 40c. soda, 40c
~ !, tea, S1,50; rice, 25c.; pepper, SOC
yon spice, Soc; salt, 25c. eggs, 81 per dol
ok butter, 81 per h.; milk, 25c. per qual
mem shovels, picks and pans, So each; tt
ers, irons from IS to S14 and other thin
res in proportion.
- The gold of this country is mostly Fl
etc, though l have seen one piece NO.
ring about eleven dollars. Many perst
ers come here with the idea of picking
len nuggets from the size of hickory nut
nes,' goose egg and not finding such, ii
noid become disheartened, and conclude it
90 all humbug, and leave for home. ]
as for me, / never made money with
the working for it, ard don't expect to b.
Tiers L. WALKER