The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-03-21
Letter from the Gold ilines,

Letter from the Gold I1ines.
GOLDEN Cry, Jan. 4th, 1860.
Mr. John II. Andrick-De SIR
The holidays have visited US in our FROM
tier home, and brought with them goodly
share Of enjoyment in the shape Of dancing,
theatres, and tables furnished with luxuries
that would compare favorably with those of
the older settled States or cities Of the East.
But they are passed and gone, and we are
launched forth upon new year, and I will
commence it by writing you a short sketch
Of the prospects and improvements Of this
country for the past year. 'S'-.' '"''.
Golden City, my present winter quarters,
is located on the valley at the foot of the
mountains, and on either side Of the beautiful
stream, Clear Greek it is one Of the most
delightful town or city cites in the West
and is the center point to all the principal
gold diggings yet discovered in this vicinity
it being at the mouth Of the canon that
leads to the Gregory -Russells Gulch, Neva-
da Gulch, Gold Hill and Patch Mining Dis
tricts, and the only point to arrive at them
with loaded teams. The Fort st. Vrains,
Golden City 4 Colorado Toll Road Compa-
ny have located and laid out road, have
graded over the worst part of the noun
tains, at the present time, and will have it
completed by the spring emigration through
to Blue River, branch of the Colorado, so
that any ordinary team can draw twenty
hundred. This road leaves the Platte River
at Fort st. Vrains, sixty-five miles in a
north-easterly course from this place, and
passes over a level plain well supplied with
wood and water, through the village Of
Arapaho, situate four miles east of Golden
City. Immediately on leaving this point it
raises the first range Of mountains, passes
in south-wcsteriy direction, then follows
the "divide, Touching at Bergen's Rancho
and Spanish Diggings, on Clear Greek, 80
miles back in the mountains follows
the Lodge Pole Trail to the South Park, to
the Tarry-All Mines, thence over the divide
to the Blue River Diggings. Ft. st. vrains
is on the main Platte route, sixty-ive miles
northeast from Denver, and the emigrants
from all points on the Missouri River, and
from the Eastern and portion Of the South
ern States, must pass over this route to ar
rive at the mines; and by leaving the old
route at St. Vrains the traveller will save
twenty-five miles, This new road leaves
Denver and Auraria fifteen miles to the
: south they are situate fifteen miles south.
by-cast Of this place, on the plains at the
junction of Cherry Creek with the Platte,
fifteen miles from the mountains, and are
the largest places in the Territory. The
aourishing village of Boulder is situated
twenty five miles north of Golden City, on
the stream Of the same name, as it emerges
from the mountains; some twelve miles
north Of the village are the Boulder Mines.
The mines of this country arc yet in their
infancy; they have been but poorly pros
pected and that very limited, for the reason
that the cmigrants who came through last
spring were poorly supplied with machinery
and implements for quartz mining, and wi h
out funds and provisions; but there has
F been large amount of gold taken out du
ring the past six months, and some have
, made good fortunes, but nothing to what
will be taken out the coming season. Ir
the Gregory Diggings there are severa
quartz mills in successful operation, ant
l though they will be plentier in the spring
there will still be room. Two new lead
i have been discovered in the Gregory Mine
r within the last three weeks; and from m,
l experience in gold mining country, ant
: from the opinions Of old California miner
: who have spent several years in the mine
I there and the past year in our mines,
' think they will supersede California i
r richness and mineral wealth. Not onl
q q gold, but silver, lead, copper, iron, quick
. silver and coal have been found, in larg
G quantities the most of them. 81
n Golden City contains 100 dwellings,, 6 Va
!. riety stores, hotels, blacksmith shops,
cabinet shop, 2 butcher shops, bowling S:
IS loon, 2 saw-mills, l shingle machine, di'
L trict school, billiard saloon, whisky 81
Is looms without number, s lawyers, 4 doctor
jewelers. shop, and good supply of ca
= penters. rs #
:. rs aa* ~ H
4 lam satisfied with this country, and e.
pect to make some money this year. tt
winter, up to the present, has been the mo-
u u pleasant l ever saw. Nothing more at pre-
! ent. A Yours, GEO. S. AKIN.
~ Theodore Parker on washington.
= This gentleman delivered, in Boston,
a. lecture on Washington, which is rather di
n fhe reverend gentleman's notions:
Is "He (Washington) had great power
A. wrath. Inheriting the high, quick temp
: of his mother, in youth he was ''sudde
= and quick in QUARREL" in middle life h
" wrath was tremendous, sometimes gettir
{. vent in words, sometimes in blows. +
If never overcame this. Jefferson tells us
fe one occasion on which the President W,
r much infamed, and got into one of tho
4 fits of passion, and called certain man
+ .rascar-U do not think he mis- called hin
IS and said, BY -, had rather be in nj
Ier,.o IN <hop ~ v,xv ,,roconf cif,,a afiOnS Hon