The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-09-19
MISCELLANEOUS.



Fl. MARY, U. 7. Aug. 10, 1860.
Dear Col. A trip to the Blue River, by
Pixies Peak and the South Park, will we'll
repay the traveller for his labors. Leaving
Denver in following up the South Platte, to
the foot Of the mountains, thence pass up
Plum creek-traveling south at the base o
the mountains, pass over the divide to Mon
ument creek, Ia tributary of the Arkansas)
which is very appropriately named, being
beautificd with monuments, old walls, castle
rocks and pillars which bear a cNse resem-
blance to the incest order of Corinthian
architecture tall and perpendicular
with slender base and capped with huge
blocks of granite, conical mountains, on the
top of which an old tower Of solid cement
reminds one of Noahs Ark resting on the
mount, fine parks of grass watered by liv-
ing streams and groves of pine dotted round
about, which would easily eclipse in beauty
Hyde Park or Boston Common. Leaving
this stream, we pass over to Colorado, a
town of about $50 houses situated on the
Fountaine Qui Boulle, and at the base OF
Pix IS Peak.
Near town are the famous Soda Springs,
or Folntaine Qui Bonile, three in number
and severally situated on conical mounds at
the top of which, deep oritices discharge
the water and gasses keeping up constant
ebullition. This water is so strongly im-
preynated with soda that we mix it with
four and make most excellent bread with
out further ''rising" material. Here we
start into the mountains, and pass over the
first range, ten miles being very rough, but
withal, fair mountain road finally the
hills are less lofty, parks and groves scatter
ed here and there for sixty miles, when we
descend into South Park, a deep basin in
the mountains about ten miles across and
blessed with an abundance of grass and
water.
West Of the Park lies Hamilton and the
famous Tarryall diggings. Blue River lies
to the west l 6 miles, and beyond the Snowy
Range. A fine May morning for the trip
but the roads impossible for horses, and the
only mode of conveyanca is on foot; "Now
comes the tug Of war" To ascend the
mountains five miles at an angle of 45 de.
grees, carrying tools, &C., for prospecting
wade through snow-drifts feet deep, climb
over rocks and through brambles, for ten
hours, will bring you on the divide which
separates Kansas from Utah. Here we pass
down on the Pacific slope, where the snow
lies deeper than before and at last halt al
night, tired, wet and cold rcpose under
the boughs of fir tree, and commit our
cares to the muses.. We arise in the morn.
ing, shake the snow out of our boots and
plod our weary, weary way. This is pill.
grimage indeed romance to the novelist
but is soon reduced to stern reality, to tn,
gold-seeker on a prospecting tour. Later
in the season good road his been grad d
over this range, and ornamented with sevc-
raj toll gates. Early in the spring much
excitement prevailed on Blue River. Claims
were made for ten miles either way from
the Fort, canals dug and rivers turned for
many miles-but later, Il csc diggings have
been abandoned for the gulches. The bed
of the river prospects a 'good COLOR" yet
the dust is too fine for working. There are
some rich gulches tributary to the Blue
the principal of which are the Indiana, iii
nois, French. Niger, Gihson's, Gold Run,
Galena, Brown, Lagrange, Pugh's, Georgia,
Humbug and American. Many dry dig
gings have been worked successfully, where
water can be obtained.
Some gulch claims pay well. The discov.
cry claim on Gold Run, by Weaver. & Bro,
of Illinois, pays as high as 81, 900 per week,
and often $3.50 per day. Highfeld, & Co.,
who discovered Georgia gulch, have taken
out 1915 per day /; other claims pay well,
but many have expended hundreds of dol.
lars and then abandoned their claims be-
cause they didn't pay Humbug gulch, is
no "Humbug;" it is but 1900 feet long. vet
there are about twenty long toms running
which average $50 per day, when properly
worked. Nuggets worth $40 are not un.
common here, and Oh Niger gulch $40 have
been found in one piece. Excellent quarz
leads have been discovered, and near Tarry-
all three silver leads which prospect at the
rate of $3.50 to each ton Of ore. These
leads will meet with early attention next
season and may prove rich resource to this
country.
Ihave only spoken of the few good dig.
gings here and the few lucky miners who
own them-but shall not mention the many
thousands who have done nothing, and who
90 home poorer than when they started for
the "Peak."
Much energy and good luck are required
to lead to a fortune here. and according tc
the present appearance Of things, there will
be many discoveries made through the
mountains which have been partially pros
pected west, on the Colorado river, for several
hundred miles We live on Hope (bread
and bacon includcd) and all expect to return
to the States immensely rich; the result can
be seen among the stampeders.
Yours ever,
CHARLES II. BLAIR.