Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-02-11

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su.cuvaas, Alsons Ter, Jss. II. 81.
n,ApSrR.- Since
have left home l have travelled several
thousand miles in search Of gold, but it
has not been my luck to get much Of it
yet though have seen It taken out At
the rate Of from $40 to 500 per day,
per hand but thousands have not yet
made their board. Those good chances
are scarce; but / think there is gold
enough in these mountains to make the
entire human family rich, If it could be
got. At almost every place in this Sec
ton by washing : pan Of dirt one can
obtain the "color." Quartz leads
abound, and have been worked many
years ago. There is one place about
twelve miles from here where there has
been something like one thousand pits
which have been worked some day
also large stone houses which have
.umbled down, and large trees have
gown up inside their wallis. When
those houses we're erected, or ~
whom, must forever remain unknown.
None Of the Indians or Mexicans in the
country have any idea or tradition -
to when, or by whom this work was
done; but there has been millions OF
dollars worth Of work done here by
some nation or people. AT the foot OF
one mountain can be seen where there
has been . great many furnaces built
for melting ore Of some kind. Some
mountains have been literally digged in
pieces, and great many tunnels run
iato the mountains horizontally. There
must have been an immense amount OF
money taken out here some day but by
whom, or where it went to, will, un-
doubtedly, forever remain mystery to
man. Earthern dishes have been dug
up out Of the ground to the depth OF ten
feet, and enamel and paint is yet per-
feet upon them and this is where there
remains no present signs that the earth
has ever been disturbed. These arti-
cles were found in sinking wells. Fight
of us have commenced to open one OF
these tunnels to see whether their
wealth has been exhausted or not. We
may find the gold to be very rich. There
arc some six or eight companies now at
work. think that in about two weeks
we will be able to tell whether there is
anything in these old tunnels that will
pay or not. l hope they may prove to
be rich, for want to get some money
before | 60 home.
am about two hundred miles north
west Of the north west corner OF Texas,
and about sixteen hundred miles west OF
st. Louis The snow is about fifteen
inches deep here on the mountains, but
none in the valleys. This can never be
scar;ify *stefo: "nfF hys s on account OF
be irrigated. Some places have not a
drop Of water for two hundred miles dis
lance. At some stations on the road
they have to haul their water thirty
mics, anI their wood fifty miles. Where
water can be got for irrigation, large
crops Of grain are raised. he Indians
make much trouble by stealing stock.
Grain and provisions are very high ;
-four, SIG per hundred; corn, 81 per
bushel; bacon, 60 cents per pound ;
sugar, 45c coffee, soc; lard, COO /;
onions, lOc per pound, and other things
in proportion.
There is some very rich dirt here but
there is no water to wa.h it; but !
think we shall lave some when the
snow melts in the mountains. There
re seven hundred persons in these
mines-al waiting for water. 1t never
rains here except in March.
The people are mostly from the
Southern States-al tor secession, and
they are certainly the hardest set of
men l ever saw. Their amusements
consist in drinking, gambling, fighting
and shooting each other-they dom;
value their lives at anything.
There have been some rich discoveries
made in the Navijos' country, but that
tribe arc so hostile to Americans it is
dangerous to 60 there except in large
companies. A great many talk Of going
there in the Spring. l may 60 with
them-cannot tell yet.
Weather is most too cool to do much
vet. think the day is not far distant
when Arizona will be known as the best
mining country on this continent. 1t
abounds in minerals of all kinds the
only draw back being the Indians which
are both numerous and hostile. They
are continually stealing stock, and when
they catch . man alone or unarmed they
are almost certain to take his ecalp. A
party, which went out four weeks ago at
ter some stool, had fight and killed Of
about twenty Of the scamps and took
sixteen head Of horses, having only one