The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-03-02
LETTER FROM PIXIES PEAK.
The MOuntains--Gulclles Quartz Leads..
Enthusiastically I'm the NIines.-l:lO-
riOUs Weather..Mill Mems Associations
Col. Backus.-Clear Creek..NIarkets.

riOUs Weather..Mill Mems Association
Col. Backus.-Clear Creek..Markets.
Rocky MOUNTAINS, Feb. II.
quite easily in our mountain Dorado, and each
days experience is only demonstrating, more
fully and clearly, that no region of the world
contains heavier deposits of metallic wealth
than the country now ''known to fame" as
spikes Peak" To be properly developed, how
ever, the character of this region ought to be
well understood. Although the Southern Mines
the country between the affuents of the Ar
kansas and Colorado rivers-abound in
'gulchss" whence heavy auriferous deposits
have already been dgged up, and which will, du-
ring the coming season, add millions of dollars
to our nations aggregate wealth, our chief re-
lance for permanent prosperity must be in the
leads Of gold-bearing quartz which intersect the
mountains, bearing N. E. and S. W. over a vast
extent of territory. In these leads we find
"gold in position )" they are rich beyond preee-
dent, and, when properly mined, and the quartz
subjected to the process dictated by experience
and scientific research, aided by the proper ap.
plication of capital, are yielding, and will con-
tnue to yield, very rich returns, and cannot fail
to become sources of immediate remuneration
and constantly increasing wealth.
These statements are based, net upon the san
guine speculatons Of hope, but upon the result
of two years. experience and close observation.
The mills which have already been established
and put in operation, in various mining districts,
have passed through the ordeal of inexperience,
and god-saving is now becoming the "rule" in
stead Of the exception" l will not devote
now the space that would be necessary to in
stance individual cases going to show the accu-
racy Of my statement as do Not deem it neces-
sary. Our mills have been troubled this winter
by the scanty supply Of water, in most Of the
districts, but upon the opening of spring this
source of complaint will be obviated. In the
meantime, the proprietors have been preparing
against any annoyance of this kind in future, by
boring artesian wells-an experiment that has,
in the very first instance, proved complete sac
cess, and b, building capacious reservoirs. The
sine qua non of success, an abundance of galvan-
lied copper plate, has been generally adopted,
and the result is that quantity of gold, varying
from $50 to $500 cord, is saved from the pull
verified rock, A large amount of quartz, quar-
ried this winter, has been accommodating upon the
miners hands, from the inability of the mills to
do much work; 90 that. upon the opening of
spring, you may expect, from me, reports that
will fully corroborate all that have stated.
The news that has just reached US, by tele-
graph. of the probable organization of our Ter
ritory, under the name of Colorado, appears to
occasion considerable rejoicing. The name that
was proposed, "Idaho,' woald have given gen
eral dissatisfaction, and we thank Senator Will
son for his motion to 'strike out"
Two tragedies occurred recently at Mountain
City, the particulars of which You have already
seen land probably copied from the Rocky
Mountain News, the great leading journal of this
country. The only object have in abiding to
them is, to enter disclaimer, on behalf Of the
Mountains, against having these cases taken as q
sample of mountain morality. So rare, indeed,
have instances of this character heretofore been
in the mining communities, that it has passed
into a proverb-"Denver for blood and the
Mountains for peace.
The weather for several weeks has been love-
". Not a cloud to obscure the warm bright rays
Of the sun, and dry, balnay, bracing atmos.
phere, enveloping US with its health-insuring
serenity. No rain has fallen since September,
md of the snow it can only be said, it has not
Been so abundant as to occasion more than TEN.
,orsry Inconvenience. Except about fifteen
lays, all told, Of cold weather, ] have never
zen such weather in any cline.
The mill men in Nevada District-the local..
y where are congregated the greatest number
f mlls--hsye formed themselves into On Asso-
iation having for ito object mutual improve
nent and instruction relative TO quartz mining
nd appliances for saving gold. Our mutual
riend Col Backus, of your city, is President of
he Association.
The locality that will attract the greatest rush
f capital and enterprise, the coming season,
'iIl be along Fall River and main Clear Cresk,
rom Ave to ten miles 8. w. of the Gregory
)iggings Some very rich leads are being open.
d all along these streams, and within two
months from the date hereof, . number of tun.
els will be commenced. It would astonish any
No not acquainted with the rapidity of the bro.
ress or decay Of mining localities, to witness
no improvements that few short months have
lready made along the valley of Clear Greek.
n.Z.so.. ~ al Kinda rontinna Ho ~ .,..:A.