Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-03-10
CORRESPONDENCE
DEVISE CITY. K. Il. Z
February sth, 1860. I

DENvER CITY, K. 7.
February sth, 1901
LDuoRs UNION AND AWEBIcAN:
Gentlemen Coneludiug that in all probability,
few passing remarks from this remote part Of the
country would not be unacceptable. I propose to
give your readers faint idea Of the extent and
richness Of the mines Of the Rocky Mountains; also
the growing prosperity Of the country surrounding
these mines. In the first place, Denver and Aura
ria which have early been consolidated have sprung
into the magnitude of city though it seems as if
it were but day since the first mud covered cabin
was built in Auraria. Now, to look at their com
modious ware rooms, and well filed store houses,
that would do credit to any city in the States, and
to see the continual influx Of trade and the activity
of the merchants one would soon conclude that the
day is not far distant when this country win stand
side by side with California, in point Of mineral
wealth.
Its now but little over one year since the con
solidated cities Of Denver and Auraria conceived
the thought of town site or city ard at this ear
ly day it contains some four orve thousand mhaDl-
tants and the probability is that 1t VIII contain
more than thrice thar number ere this time next
year.
And aeain.we find Golden City, Cthe site Of which
was laid out about the middle Of June) to be quite
stirring place, a city IN prospect There are also
about one thousand wintering in the mines In and
about GREGoEYs, and Mountain City Most Ct these
are ernploved in working quartz Lodes preparatory
! for crushing in the spring. What we term Lodes
here is rather problem, at least not met with in
any other mineral country; these seem have been
formed from volcanic erupdons in these mountains
crevices varying from one to six feet inthe aperture
and by finding burnt quartz upon the top Of tn,
ground we are enable to find by digging from
one to ten feet, the creyices, out Of which W.
get the gold paying quartz and dirt. Tn
| quartz Of these mines IS generally of a rOttel
nature, burnt and perforated and thickly interwo
ven with fine wire gold or small particles. In man
instances you can observe it with the naked eye.
Those Lodes seem to traverse these mountain
as thick As the veins in the human system their e1
tent and richness is yet comparatively unknown
Some of those Lodes have been sounded to tn
depth of seventy-ve feet and the greater the dept
the better the quartz and pyrites Of iron pay. TIL
quartz and iron taken ont at that depth pay froT
four to six hundred dollars per cord when crushed
There are companies tunDeling under these mour
tains that have already found and have good PeasO
to believe they will find rich deposits Of golC
There are number Of experienced miners who al
of the opinion that these Lodes spring from on
vast consolidated bed and if that be the case Gan
there is a strong probability that it isl thes
4" Lodes " and the bed of these Lodes," viii
inexhaustible.
Next in Importance but probably not least, is Il
Gulch mines Of these mountains. First come Ru
sells and Nevada, which are worked more than an
|
for his labor. IhaYe known as high as three hui
bred and ninety-fve pennyweights Of dust taken Of
by six men to one rocker on Russell Gulch in OF
day, though that is exception. I til as ne'
as 1 remember, that about seven dollars day
the man was an averRge-sOme made more an
others less. In connection with the Lodes al
t / Clutches comes the dry and patch diggings. As
general thing they are paying fair wages VIII
I worked. Then come the South Park, Blue Rive
! and Colorado diggings, the richness and extent
. which are yet only partially known have SCI
considerable of the Blue River and South Pa
gold, which is undoubtedly as fine rs any Ia
ever seen. 1 know some claims, ow ned by acquail
ances of mine, that paid exceedingly well last SUI
. mer in that region.
! Well, a few words relative to our climate. 1 C
say one thing for this that can't say for any 9th
Northern climate-it is the most agreeable winter
have ever passed in any part Of the country.
q hare considerable snow, but Of such dry natu
+ that you scarcely find damp spot when gone, s.
no rains to trouble at all through the wint
, There have been but few days this winter that
man could not have gone in his shirt sleeves gu
+ comfortably.
There are new Developments being made eve
week in the mines, and l may probably write y
' again. Respectfully yours,
jNO. e. Work. of East Tennessee.