Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-08-02

| interesting Aettef from FORMER CltlZen.
IA friend permit copy the following letter from
CnAs. SIycLETARY, an old and wellknown resident Of
this place.-Epsl
CALIFORNIA Gulcn, Colorado Territory
| .... -. July LIST, 1861. (
have not been in the Pixies Peak region
for over one year, and have mot as yet made
my fortune. perhaps may by fall be able
to save sufficient to pay me for my time.
spent the winter in New Mexico on wild
goose chase, at a place known as the St.
Quaw pronounced st. Wau) humbug. The
trip cost mo about three hundred dollars, a
good horse, besides the enduring Of great
many hardships, which has in measure in
jured my constitution. | arrived here again
on the 18th day of May last, and have accu-
mulated some little means since my return.
| am satisfied that this is going to prove
rich mining country. Fortunes have been
made here, and moro will be made. passed
through many laughable and some rough ad-
ventures in my trip to New Mexico. That
is the most miserable, God-forsaken country
on the globe. The men are low thieving la
zy scamps; the women are all nymphs of
the pave, and you cannot imagine a more
miserable, low, and vulgar state of society
than there exists. spent three months in
Taos, and became familiarly acquainted with
Kit Carson, who is, perhaps, one Of the finest
specimens Of rough, free hearted frontier
gentleman that can be found any where
The Pixies Peakers that wintered in New Mex
leo received at his hands that courteous civ
lily, that frank and generous liberality, which
in many cases arose from need his unboun-
ded knowledge Of the mountains, and the
dangers therein to be avoided, was freely
placed at our disposal. He is heartyUnion
man, and is, perhaps, the only honest gov
ernment officer, excepting Col. Candy, in
New Mexico. His acts of kindness will long
be remembered by the Pixies Peakers.
The emigration to this country is not near
as large this season as last. The reason is
l suppose the difficulties in the States.
think there will be as much gold taken out
this season as there was last
There are some very rich claims being
opened about twenty miles from here in what
is called the Buckskin 10 Diggins. think
| shall locate there soon. l am about buy
ing claims there. Many of the so-terrned
silver lodes are proving upon their being
worked to be rich gold lodes
This country is field in which young
men with good constitutions and with sober
and industrious habits, can in few years
acquire competency. l would advise no
others to come. Provisions are compara-
lively speaking, plenty and cheap: Flour
ten dollars per sack and other things in pro-
portion. Last year at this time flour was
worth twenty-five dollars per sack, and other
things in proportion. Wages are about the
same they were last season, so that you will
see that the laboring class will do much bet
ter this season than they did last.
There is some considerable sectional feel
ing here, but men from the North largely
predominate if we were any ways nearly
divided we should have bloody times here
judging from the feelings manifested by the
few Southerncrs here. Now and then dis
union flag is seen, but they are not permitted
to float long.
William Gilpin the Governor of this newly
erected territory recently arrived here. He
paid this Gulch flying visit, upon which
occasion we had speeches, big supper, and
dance. at which buckskin coats, red fan
mel shirts, silk and calico dresses mingled
promiscpously.
R. F, Patt, of franklin county, Mr.. Ma
son from ShelIrock, Butler county, Charles
Fisher from Cedar Falls, and DR.. Arnold are
in this Gulch. DR.. Arnold is practicng med
icine. I believe they are all doing well, I
think Fisher is accumulating considerable
money.
Sunday here is a sort Of gala day, and the
miners generally assemble at the lower part
of tho Gulch, on what is called Sacramento
Flats, some for the purpose of buying needed
:" esiS', o'hS'o " 5"AAoio, uHu ooii'S AoI tiiS
purpose Of getting their fill of poor whisky,
ard the day hardly ever passes without sew
eral dog fights, and men fights. In fact
there is one continual state of excitement
along the street here all day.
Ny intention now is to start for Cedar
Falls about the first of September. shall
return again, if alive and well, to this conn
tro in the spring following. Give my re-
spects TO all inquiring friends. Write me
the news, and please occasionally send me a
number of the GAZETTE. Let my friends see
this letter and oblise, &c.
Very respectfully yours,
CHAs. SINGLErARY.
DocToR B was particularly vaip of his
oratorical abilities. He was always awake OF