Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-01-04
LETTER FROM PIXIES PEAK.

WTlte as SOON as Cal yet OUT vi OaiI.
Confidently, DoEs1IcKs, p. b.
LETTER FROM PIXIES PEAK.
MISSOURI CRY, Dec. Is, go.
KINDRED SPIRITS How are you !?
To my letter of September, l promised
to write you semi-occasionally OF mat
tiers and things in this rough country,
but approaching tie pressure Of political
matters with you, and your pious efforts
to prevent the Rail Splitter from assum-
ing the more digni6ed position of car
penter and cabinet maker, have not
trespassed upon your columns. Speak.
ing of rail spIittels and carpenters, allow
me to remind You that though many a
man would do honor to a rail platform,
he would be very much out OF place
when called upon to preside at carpen-
ter's bench.
There seems to be a very difficult job
in the carpenters line to be done-that
is to rebuild the frame work of this
noble country, SO that each of the thirty
three tmbcrs of which it is composed,
shall conduce to giving strength and
stability to the entire structure-tbat
each shall depend upon the othcr-that
each shall perform its separate office as
was intended when first hewn out and
put together by those noble builders of
former years. Their success is, perhaps,
attributable to the fact that they did
their work ION the square," They con-
ont in tie North just as good aid no
better than those taken from the South.
But while writing to you, l can but
think of the contrast between the labors
of the people in the States and those of
the people here; you in the States have
been seeking, and striving to elevate to
office, while we in the mountains, sur
rounded by the native savage and wild
beasts of the forest, have only sought to
pan ont the bright specks called filthy
lucre. In this avocation, many have
fully satisfied their ambition, while 9TH
ers have returned to their wives and
sweethearts, this country to curse.
At present, in guIch and bar mining,
there is but little doing. There would
be more were there sufficient quantity
Of water, e pause to drink The
mills are nearly half silent for the sa,ue
reason. The mills that are running, are
doing very well-by tar exceeding their
expectations. The improvements that
have been made in the gold saving
machines, have much increased the
yield per cord Of quartz, and it is now
clearly demonstrated that not to get gold
in this country, is no fault Of the ore,
but of the machinery to save it. The lat
ter is fast being perfected, and our
already large shipments to the States
will soon be doubled, ana l think
trebled. One year from this, and the
mountains will be full of mills, and the
steam whistles will mark the hour by
day and night.
Clear Creek, a stream running about
five miles distant, is now becoming very
attractive. The discovery of very rich
gold and silver leads are nearly every day
being made, far surprising anything YET
discovered. Of these facts l am per-
sonaIly acquainted, and am anxious to
see the day when I will be the propr;e-
tor Of a mill to locate in that section.
With a good mill and . years run, l
think that could visit you with a new
hat and boots.
The weather here is such a. you would
envy Us, did you know of it. Never in
my life have ever witnessed such sun
sets and such sunrises, with clear blue
sky, not q cloud to be seen. One can
only think of heaven when alone, admir-
ing nature in the mountains. 1t is not
cold, but fine temperate atmosphere.
1t wilt sometimes cloud up in an hour
and haf an inch of snow fall, and
in another hour all will disappear,
unlike anything that | ever before saw.
In fact, have travelled in nearly every
State, but never before did l witness
such weather in December.
Owens and King are we'll. Langley,
Barnes and others, of Rock Island, are
in good spirits. Hoops, Garvin, &C., are
at present on hunting expedition, and
looking at things favorabiy. They will
have trip both Of pleasure and profit.
Geo. L. Nckolls was here yesterday, and
the light of his countenance was never
better.
Game is plenty, but money is scarce
the constant remittance to the States
keeps us short.
George, would like to stop into R:s-
leys with you few minutes, and then
take a sleigh ride and call on Carter
and take = smoke. Adieu,
HopKrNs.