The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-03-09

DESvEa CIR. Feb. 3, 1861

PIXIES PEAK.
DESVEa Chr. Feb. 3, 1861.
| arrived in Denver O. the 4th day of Jrly.
Ny FIRST impressions Of this place were
favorable. After spending q couple Of DAYS
/ here, took passage to the mountains ard
the mines. Teak plsaty ot time 70 lock
through the naini3g Districts. aud became
| satisfied Of their richness. then returned
70 Denver. aad On the Isl Of August engaged
IN the auction and commission business,
which is now being CONDUCTED under the firm
| Of Barton, Higgins & Collins. This place
was first settled with persons mostly from
eastern haasas, and large portion from
Leagenworth. The supplies for this region
/ OF country come directly or indirectly from
/ 81. Louis. IL appears 70 me that the busi-
ness men of Chicago have not exercised that
shrewdness and foresiaht for which they are
uoted, in letting ST. Loais secure to herself
| what Is already the largest and most desira-
| bic trade vest Of Lake Michigan At ,he
| present time there are agents Of several ST.
Louis houses here busily engaged soliciting
orders and thereby securing the business for
another year. Is business SO good 10 Chi
| cago that the merchants cannot spend time
to Investigate this matter? Or are they
ness of this Pixies Peak country by large
shipments of gold dust being sent 10 their
counters? Ii the latter. | fear thev will
wait in vain, unless they open trade with
this country without delay. Is Il strange
that so little gold finds its way to Chicago.
when all our supplies come from another
quarter? The gold wlllfo!Iow in the chan
nels OF trade TO a very great extent. II
| 70 n -.
what is required or used for trade it is no
more likely to be sent to Chicago than else
| where. No -four viii sell as first qua!itv in
his city or in the mines, unless it has the
| St. Louis brand. This appeared very
strange to me when first came into the
| place. | thought | knew what good -four
was, but Insver thought of c. curing for St.
| Louis brands when | was in Chicago. |
| thought got \ No. -four ut a stone mill
| IN South Water street. ! see no reason
why Chicago should not secure a very large
share Of this trade. The railroad through
Iowa should be completed at once. This
alone would do much to secure to Chicago
the Pixies Peak trade. Large quantities Of
| merchandise are sold IN Chicago every year
At great sacrifice, on which the owners
might realize large advance by sending
them 10 this market to be sold. am salts
led that but few, if any, of the merchants of
your city know the amount of business done
in the Rocky Mountain country.
The farmers of Missouri and Iowa find
this their best market, and are sending their
lour, pork, lard. butter eggs and fruit to
Denver, getting &l2 per hundred for flour,
$22j for pork, so for butter, and for other
articles In proportion. Teams and loads
which cost at the river about $500, (three
yoke Of oxen, one wagon and about 1000
pounds of nour,) have been sold here at
auction for from 500 to $500, and by so
ioing the owners make quick trips and large
profits. 4 train with from twenty to fifty
wagons, and from 60 to $50 yoke Of oxen,
can in this way be made to pay the owner
we'll. Those that follow reguirr freight
ing business use much larger wagons and
carry about 5000 to 1000 pounds, and
have six yoke # cattle to each wagon, and
from twenty-five to to thirty wagons to a
rain.
Mining has been conducted this winter
with great success. The gulches have many
Of them been worked all winter, and proved
very rich. The mills have run most of the
| time, and are saving larger quantities of
gold by some new process just introduced.
The prospect is good for a large yield of
gold the coming season. Some very rich
discoveries have been made within the last
few weeks. This is great field for real
estate speculation. Lots are cheap. Prices
range from s. TO $1,000 each. Building
ma erial is cheap. Bricks $40; lumber $50;
rents are high, buildings costing $500 rent
ing from 5000 to $1,000 per year, according
to location. The Improvements are very
good, q large proportion of the buildings
Oting brick. Society is much better than it
was last spring. The Sabbath is generally
observed, and places Of business are closed,
and tho city quiet on that day. Churches
are plenty and well attended-often crowd
I'd. The NJ. E. Church, north and south,
Episcopal, Presbyterian and Catholic, all
have regular worship every Sabbath.
Neare now receiving news by telegraph
to Fort kcarnoy every other day, getting il
here in three or four days, from all parts of
the States. 1t is expected the wires will be
through to this place early in the spring.
Business in this city is good for the season
of tic year. The State troubles are much
talked Of, and often warmly discussed in
this place, as We have the whole Union rep |
resented here. Even the slave. holder with |
hs slaves Is here.
The weather in this place is fine. The !
past week has been as pleasant as May; no .
fires needed, store doors open, people sit
ting outsidein open ar and uncomfortable |
with an overcoat on. ~ fact, it is hot in |
the sun. have no advice % give any one
about coming to Pixies Peak. lot al! do ,
rs they think best. Some do well scne do
not. The latter generally get cheap pass
age back. have no fault to find with the
country in any way. 1t suits me.
Ii. BURTON.