The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-05-19
IOWA. SATURDAY MAY 10. 1860.
r-sn the Racfy Ksznszsa xews, - sass-
AFFAIRS IN AND ABOUT .PlKE1 PEAK.

r-sn the Raeky Ksznszsa News, - sass
AFFAIRS IN AND ABOUT -RlKEs PEAR.
wIArHxR AND MxHs-
The heavy snow Of last wssk has checked
for time, mining operations, and blocked
, up, o. rendered almost impassible with slosh
and mud, uost Of the mountain roads. Al
Gregory the fall was from one t. two feet,
and On the mountain passes this side, still
deeper. Even st Golden City on the plain
the snow ss one time astained depth Of
six inches. The snow has coutinued to fall
more Or les every day in the various
districts Of the mountains visible from this
city.
This seyere weather has discoufa gsd many
OF the new comers, and started few Of
them on their home road.
Work in the gulches and bars has gener-
ally caused ws learn, except along the valley
Of Clear creek, which 10 very low and the
snow melts almost ~ rapily as il falls. The
mines At Union, Spanish and other bars
along that stream are doing remarkably
we'll. N. J. Dougherty with four men is
taking out from fifty to one hundred dollars
per day; in one day reaching one hundred
and tw0 dollnrs. On the Spanish bar three
mSteok ont sighty-fve dollars in one day
last week.
On the mountains in the same vicinity a
rich lead was struck on Thursday last BY
Thos. Pollock. 1t 10 called the Pollock lead
and prospects fifty cents to the pan within
six inches Of the surface.
We have not heard from the other mining
districts since the storm.
The rosd to the Park is filed with snow,
on the divides this side and beyond the North
Fork Of the Platte, though the valley of
that stream 10 said to be clear Of il. The
travel is difficult and We advise emisrants
to remain upon the plains with their stock
until the roads are open and dry.
Tha feed IN the mountains is poor and
scanty at b@t, at this season Of the year, and
now that the grass is to great extent COW
cred With snow, horses and cattle can hardly
find subsistence. At the same time but
little can be done in the way of prospecting
or opening mines now, and probably not
for some weeks to come. After the long
continuance of fine weather for several
months past, it will be strange if we do not
have stormy times until the tenth or twen-
tieth of .lay. The great quantity Of snow
falling will furnish abundant water for
summer work, SO that the present delay is
really of incalculable benefit to the country.
A fortnghfs work in August or September,
with a good supply Of water, viii be of
vastly more importance than . months
operations now. A general scarcity of wa
ter must have been the result but for the
timely fall of snow.
THE sorru PARK.
Very indefinite ideas Of the above named
region exists in tho minds of most persons
even in this country. 1t has been variously
reported as small park, and again as a
vast region. A recent journey through it
has somewhat enlightened US upon the sub
ject. The South Park proper-as we con-
slider it's crescent shaped depression in
the m mountain regi on ,extending nearly across
two degrees of latitude--from 3S to 10
and having an average width Of, say thirty
miles. The outside of the curve is to the
west, and is bordered along it's entire course
with lofty snow-covered mountains.
To the eastward and inside Of the segment.
the country gradually changes from the
gentle slopes Of the Park to the abrupt and
rugged peaks. In the Park is the source of
the South Platte, and its tributaries drain
its entire surface, spreading out like the
ribs Of fan, and the Park itself may be
likened to the fan, taking the Platte for the
handle.
The surface of the Park is not quite so
high as the loftiest peaks this side Of il. vet
it is scarcely below the general level of the
mountain country. Wide valleys border the
larger streams, and between them and the
ridges and irregular hills; some of them
well deserving the name of mountains. The
hill sides and valleys are we'll grassed, and
the higher ridges timbcred with spruce,
pine, and pinion timber, with groves Of
aspen on the moist and springy slopes, and
about the sources of the little streams.
Many very beautiful prospects, and fairy
like scenes may be found in the Park, its
rivers and lakes, grassy slopes and pictur-
esque groupings of rocks and trees, but the
most magnificent and Of all is the snowy
battlemcnt walling it on its outside circum-
ference-stretch, from southeast by south,
west and north to northeast, single unbro-
ken gitteripg chain.
To the eastward, inside the points Of the
crescent, the country is broken into irregular
surface, perfect chaos of mountains and
marshes, hills and wales, rocks and trees,
and all their concomitants.
As the mountains generally resemble, in
general contour, the swells of the ocean, 80
this portion resembles q chopped sea,
comparison which will be readily understood
by all who have seen blue water.
The Park abounds in fish, deer, and ante
lopc; turkies, beaver. marmots, etc. Noun
tain fruits grow in the greatest profusion,
and altogether no pleasanter place place be
found to loiter away summer month.