The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-07-25
Correspondence Of the North iowa TINES.
Letters From Pixies Peak.

| Correspondence Of the North Iowa TINES.
Letters From Pixies Peak.
| DENVER, June 25th, 1860.
, Dear Times Having enjoyed the sight
of the elephant" for some time, it may be
that description of him would not be un
interesting to your readers.
Restlessness and love Of locomotion ap
pears to be one of the most prominent fea.
lures in the character of our citizens. Fol
whenever the magical word Gold is heard
it finds an active and eager response from
all parts of the country. The exciting cry
of Gold in the Pixies Peak region has in.
deed been heard throughout the length
and breadth of the land Judging from the
thousands and tens Of thousands that are
now toiling amid these inhospitable noun
tain regions, and from the towns and cities
that are springing up at their BASE
| Among those, most remarkable for rapid
progress, is the city of Denver. Consider.
ing the disadvantages under which it has
labored-its isolated position, and the
barren nature Of the country-its progress
has not been equalled by that Of any
town or city in the State, when in posses.
sion of every natural advantage.
But little more than year ago, it con-
sisted of only about hundred log cabins,
aud few adobe huts; and not one of
| these could boast of the luxury of a win
dow or floor. There are now not for from
fifteen hundred houses; consisting of about
twelve hundred frame, two hundred log,
| forty brick, and few adobe; forming
quite a respectable ensemble Of architect
ure. The number of permanent residents
is 1000, while very extensive influx and
efflux Of miners, transfers, freighters,
Mexicans, Indians, &C., make up several
thousand more The streets present about
as busy scene as those of your marrow
city" did last autumn. Huge trains of
freight wagons roll through the streets
and discharge their loads of machinery,
provisions, &C., at the mammoth ware.
houses-the ceaselcss tide of emigration
pouring in, dotting the grassy slope ad-
| Joining the city with their white tents,
herds and wagons-the vast crowds gath.
! cred at the express offices, awaiting their
turn for their mails-the swarm that crowd
the numerous auction stands, and pour in
and out of the many gambling hells, with
which the city is cursed-hardy, weather.
stained uoyageurs from the mountains and
plains, with their pack animals filing
through the streets-the large number OF
Indians, who keep up lively traffic in
buckskins, moccasins and robes-formine
altogether very strange and interesting
scene.
Streets are formed by enterprisine small
dealers, who have opened temporary places
of business in tents, and from the rear end
of wagons. Some have for their stock in
trade only single, long g-nosed black bottle,
with tumbler or two; others can boast OF
quite respectable array Of decanters,
! filled with the various colored fluid tighten
ings-dealers in notion and gimcracks,
clothing provisions, &c, while the me-
chanic phys his trade in the shadows of the
cotton wood grove, with which the city is
lined to the north and east.
The vicinity Of Denver is of highly
picturesque character TO the west is the
wild and grand mountain scenery, over
topped by the high peaks of the snowy
range with their white caps Of eternal
snow. The mountain sides in many places
are covered by forests of pine, fir, hemlock
and spruce, The highlands intervening
between Denver and the mountains, have
interviewer with their grassy garments
many of the beautiful wild flowers that
compose the Flora Of the Rocky Mountain
regions. Among those that most captivate
the eye, is a deep red flower of the globular
species Of the cactus, and the delicate red
and white variety of wild roses.
Free fights, stabbing and shooting af.
trays, are numerous. Two murders have
occurred here within the last two weeks
The courts established under the ''Provis-
ional Government" have in each case ta-
ken hold of the offender with a vigorous
hand They were tried one day, and the
sentence of death passed and executed the
next. After being found guilty by the
Jury, the matter was placed before the peo-
pie for an expression of their opinion
The trial in each case was distinguished by
dignity, order and calmness.
There are at present two papers pub
lished in the city; weekly, the Rocky
Mountain Neus, and a daily, the Rocky
Mountain Herald. The effice of the .Nens
is somewhat sgularly located, being set on
piles in the middle of Cherry Gre eek.-
The editor had, have no doubt, an eye to
his own interests in its location, for it is
the boundary line between Denver and Au-
raria; and as the strife between the two
places was very active at one time, he no
doubt took this course to conciliate both
parties.
Mining prospects are not very encourag-
ing, Notwithstanding the very cheering
news that always appears in the papers
published here and in the outtitting points
for this region. Gulch mining, except in
a few instances, is proving very nnprofta-
bic. The surface dirt in some diggings is
paying from 81 to S. per day to the hand,
but a few feet from the surface and the
"color" is lost altogether.
The Arkansas diggings arc paying the
best now, as far as gulch mining is con-
cerned. From what have heard, and as
far as my observation extends, ] cannot but
come to the conclusion that, as far as gulch
mining is concerned, it is humbug to
ninety mine out of hundred of those who
arc engaged in it,
Thousands are returning from the noun
tains, who went out as soon as the weather
would permit in the Spring, and have
prospectcd faithfully; and not one in
hundred has made grub"
Thousands are now here with their fami-
lies who would be glad to return to the
States, had they means.
The number of emigrants arriving and
departing is now about equal. Among
the large delegation here from "Old Clay
ton," do not know one who is making
anything of Importance. Wages in the
mines are $3.50 per day and board; in a
few instances, as high as So is paid for ex-
perienced miners. Work even at these fig
ures is very hard to be had. In this city,
mechanics get 50 to 81 per day, where
they are so fortunate as to get work, and
pay 81 to $40 per week for board. Many
have been compelled to work for their
board.
1t is on quartz mining that the future of
the country depends. Those who have
quartz mills in operation do not find them
to yield near as well as was expected