Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-10-18
PIKE,s PEAK CORRESPONDENCE


since ] left your city for the Gold Re-
gions. (kocky Mountains,) and feel ii
my duty to write you that you may
know tfat | still live.
The DEMOCRAT AND News, together
with the Gazette, come to hand weekly,
aud | am at loss to know who to thank
tor them. But one word t. the individ-
ual and friend Please continue to
send them, if he has any regard for my
hungry political soul, and M desire to
hear of matters and things about home.
Oh that | could meet that band OF
choice spirits and pass an hour or two
~ in days passed and gone.
Does old Davenport still contain that
goodly number of whole souled gents.
whose pleasure it was to make all hui
manly happy, and Carter's ale scarce !?
Are there as many smiling countenauces
about on as when Florence was in your
midst! pray that it is So
Would you like to know of my trip +!
if 50, | will relate it in short, as fol-
lows:
On the 9th Of March, at the city Of
Omaha, seated in a we'll loaded wagon,
behind lively par Of what Frank Les
lie styles Iatriarchs Of the Sons Of
Malta, the word get was given, and four
long ears pointed for the Rocky Noun
tains, while our vehicle moved on at a
rate satisfactory.
Beautiful roads, fine, pleasant wealth
or and good health was our daily bless
ING.
A few days and the dnimules stood
opposite IT. kearny with their optics
fixed upon an object across the Platte
"a distance Of three m,les,) for some
minutes. We could not discover the
attraction which finally proved to be
the American flag. Imagine our feel
ingS that mules should discover the en-
sign of our country before the ,tandard
bearer of the ID. G. A. 1t ardS my
treat.
With a pair Of CARROTS long boots
your humble servant proceeded to ford
the Platte in order to ascertain tie
whereabouts of It's bottom. The trip
occupied an hour or more. When we
divided our load and made two success
iul trips, thereby finding ourselves at
the fort two miles drive and we were
at kearney City, where we pitched our
tent for two days to undergo wash, a
scrub and bake (not clam bake but
bread bake). After performing our
household duties our song was push
on, 60 ahead" On we went, with the
Platte on our right end the boundless
prairie on our lett. With good roads
and fine pleasant weather we made good
time. Nearly every hour we were in
sight Of wolves or antelope buffalo We
did not get q sight OF, although many
have been killed on the road since.
A description of one days journey on
the Plains answers for the trip. A few
lines written on the bleached SKULL Of a
buffalo was proof that nearly each State
had sent delegate this way. On the
22d of April, at six p. NJ, we pitched
our tent at the steamboat landing on
the Platte, near the mouth of Cherry
Creek, in the suburbs Of the city OF
Denver.
Denver, together with Auraria, (now
West Denver) was more of city than
VIC expected to find, and since that time
has more than doubled in buildings and
population. The manufacturing of brick
was commenced early this Spring and
generally speaking, that is the material
now used in building.
| One month was spent in fishing, hunt
ing and driving to and about the noun.
tains. During this time we discovered
some writing on the wall, which read as
follows :-"Locdte at Missouri City,
We obeyed, and ever since our house
has been on the corner of Main and
Russell streets, Missouri City. Thi:
city is situated on a divide between
Gregory's and Russell's gulch, and bids
fair to be the City OF the Mountains
SO far your subscriber is contented with
his location Of the mines and the sue
cess of the miners.
Some few have made fortunes, while
few have lost fortunes many have
made good wages, and many have made
nothing.
OF the mills: Il will venture to say
that within two miles OF US there are zoo
mills in operation. There was but on
when [ arrived here. At first the mill
did not pay, but by experience they
have perfected their machinery to tina
extent that now they are all paying ant
many Of them are fully satisfying thei
| nropriatorS