The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-02-27
p. r. Letter from Stewart Of ElkaAeB--
Quartz Mining. Health -BYssHects--
SILVER Mines.

Ed. Times Thinking few words from
the Rocky Mountains at this time of th'
the year might, prove acceptable, I hav'
taken the liberty Of writing you. Yo,
need not make up your mind to hear any
thing either lofty or sublime, for although
there is enough here in this wild mountain
scenes to farnish theme for the pen Of q
poeticai man, yet as I am not naturally in
clined that way, I shall be content to make
a plain statement Of facts and leave the rest
for those who have more time and talent for
such writing Ileft Elksder May 9Th, 1860.
for the far famed Pixies Peak Gold Region,
but as nothing differing from the experience
Of other emigrants occurred On my journey
hither, shall not attempt description, but
pass over the time intervening between my
leaving home and my arrival here. We
arrived at Denver July Goth, and at this
place about the 25th of the same month,
where have remained since, or rather
where have called it home, for have
spent some considerable time in looking
around the country, which has thoroughly
confirmed my preconceived opinion that
there is money to be made here in the.
Rocky Mountains by those who have stout
heart and willing hand those who come
here expecting to pick up fortune without
any exertion on their part had better stay
at home for they will never succeed here.
am at the present not making much more
than living, but have all the faith in the
world that a rich harvest awaits those who
are here to commence work in early spring.
The gulch mining is not very extensive in
this region, and what there is, is very
treacherous, some claims paying we'll while
others (side by side with them) will not pay
bread. Quartz mining is the principal bu-
siness Of this country, and to give you some
idea of operations in that line, will inform
you that counted in Nevada Gulch, the
other day, Fifty One Quartz Mills. Imade
an estimate that they would each crush
three cords Of Quartz in "a hours, when
they have water to run, which they have no.
now, but will have in the summer, from the
consolidated ditch which is taken from Fall
river, near the foot Of the snowy range, and
perambulates nearly all the mining region.
The quartz taken out here yields from fifty
to three hundred dollars per cord. Nevada
Gulch is the most business gulch that arm.
acquainted with, but there are numerous
other gulches that arc doing an extensive
business in crushing quartz. There is Greg
ory's gulch with several mills and quite
number Of Asasters busy grinding quartz.
Then there are Illinois gulch and Leavcn.-
worth with dozen mills each, and last
comes Russers gulch with its numerous
branches; each branch having name and
all doing considerable business, the main.
gulch having some fifteen or twenty mills,
nearly all at work, some running three
stamps and some more, according as they are
supplied with water; all supplied by springs
at present. They will have water enough
in the spring when they fill the ditch again..
There is no lode that know of that is
worked a: the depth Of fifty feet but what
pays, but many get discouraged because
they cannot get pay as soon as they strike
the crevice. The weather is extremely fine;
men work with their coats off almost every
day, but there comes along now and then
Northwester that makes them shoulder
their coats and start for their cabins; such
days arc not frequent There was one of
my ncighbors came in to- day and wanted
to weigh some gold dust that he said he had
taken from piece of quartz that would not
more than fill large tea cup; after it was
pulverized it weighed three pennyweights
and sixteen grains. 1t was taken from tho
Topeka Lode Claim owned by Mr.. Thatcher.
The greatest excitement hele at present is
the Silver mines on South Clear Creek and
Fall river. They were discovered about the
middle of August; there has been speci-
mems sent to different Assay offices in diff
erent cities and always get good account
of rich yield, and that from the top rock
which miners call the blossom rock there
has been some assaycd here in the noun.
tains and it gave rich return of silver;
there are some that have got finger rings
manufactured from silver thus obtained
I understand that there will be several
Shelters erected in these Districts early in
the spring. There arc plenty of wood and
water for machinery. 1t is expected here
that these silver regions will be the great
point of attraction in the Spring. There
were two claims sold here last week for
four hundred dollars, without there being
one days work done upon them. Bonafde
sale and the money paid; the purchaser be-
ing satisfied from having had it Assayed
that it was no humbug. saw quartz taken
from the Colobus Lode in Cumberland Dis
trict two feet from the surface, that gold
could be seen in small particles with the
naked eye; but with all the glitter there is
in gold it costs great deal Of hard labor
to get it; sometimes l think it costs all it
is worth. l think never saw healthier
country in my life, Notwithstanding this,
you will probably see now and then a re-
turned member of the Croaks's family who
will tell all sorts of yarns about the climate
beiEg unhealthy and so on, but there is just
as much truth in that as in any homesick
report and no moro. The air is so pure
here that one can sec to the distance Of one
hundred miles with as much ease rs you
can two miles in Iowa. AS to the state Of
society it is as good as one could expect in
country like this, but in addition to such