Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-12-06
TsE DACoTAH GOLD M,NEs.l
situation Of the Nlisere, an Life
Ameng the Miners.
BASxock CirY. Daeotsh Territory,

November "a, 1863.
EprroRs DEMocRAr.-Onr new min.
ing district is $50 miles north from Salt
Lake City, on branch Of the N ssouri
River, which we named GrassboPper
Creek. We are 125 miles south from
Deer Lodge, on Klllgagc River, and $40
miles from Fort Benton; about fifteen
miles from Jefferson Fork Of the Ma
souri, River.
There are over three hundred miners
in our locali,y-all apparently well sat
i.fed. Miners are making from $40
down to nothing per day. A miner
that hire. ont to work gets four dollars
without board. Everything that We
have TO l'uy is up to very high figure;
-four s35 per 100 pounds, coffee S .35,
sugar 81 10, beans, salt, potatoes and
vegetables % cents per pound; boots
$l5 and S25-rubber boots-none, but
when here sold for $50: tea $500 per
pouud clothing and miners tools quite
high and scarce.
One large train Of wagons left this
camp Fix weeks ago to bring back flour
and miners supplies, and is expected
back daily. Several small trains OF
wagons have left, some to come back
this winter, Others in the spriug. We
expect large emigration ont here then,
as suppose there will be very hat,eIiDg
stories told by those who returned to
st. Louis.
Gold was found here in paying guam
titles on the 25th Of August, since which
time miners here are doing very well
| Nearly Eli were broke when they got
here, and the first thing was to fad a
place to make the price of grub, winch
was done very soon. Lumber sold at
| first for 40 cents per foot, and is now
selling at from 20 to 25 cents. The
mining is principally on bars, or old
channels Of the creek, from to 80 feet
above the present bed OF the creek. |,
also pays on fla!s, AMI | suppose it will
pay III the bed. have found very good
pay below low water mark.
These mines seem to be spotted, and
suppose some places viii paw well.
There are aiso gulch or d'y digglngs
which pay very we'll for hauling TO the
w.ter. | cannot say how extensive
these mines will prove, but at presen,
| gold is found for Elk miles on the creek
The largest piece taken out. that we
know OF, was worth $40 The larges,
[ have taken out was worth 81 80. The
first three. pans of dirt ! washed from a
high bar, 80 feet above the creek, aged
$3.50, bnt it seems to pay best on the
rim rock. Gold is found here generally
in tie bed rocks, without paying any.
thing in the gravel or sand on the bars.
This locality is very healthy. There
has been only one case oftyphoid fever,
and that is expected 10 terminate ia.
tally. The weather is quite pleasant in
the day time, but generally frost every
night. The Indians say there will not
be much snow here-say inches deep.
| We have had very little rain this sum
mer. The miners have very comiorts-
ble honses, generally built OF timber
which grows from three to twelve miles
#. Tie houses are 6,st covered with
poles. then with grass and willows, then
4 thin layer OF muttar, OF thee or four
nchts, then five or ak inches OF dirt.
1Tbc Iadians that lnhablt this part are
BAnhOcks aud Snakes. A large band o,
them passed through this place. We
all paved one dollar each, aud bought
Of them three beeves, sugar, coffee
bread and tobacco. We had no trouble
with them. They we're about three
hundred strong, with 5000 ponies and
mules. They Invariably beg and pill
ter when they get chance.
There is flat country aud somewhat
marshy between Us and the mountain
This country is not adapted Tor raising
vegetables, bnt may raise grain. 1t
seems to be dry aud parched up.
would not advise any of my Davenport
friends to come ont here, lest they nigh,
b disappointed, like those who ti3ckea
to Salmon River but goods will sell
high 10 the spring, II the markc. is not
overstocked. We expect to have trouble
with the Indians on their return from
their buffalo hunt. There arc several
miuers out prospecting, and If the
mines prove rich or extensive, | shall
let you know.
\ new express starts tomorrow foI
Salt Lake City, which we hope will
continue running. We get but very
few newspapers, and they are old, and
ell at one dollar per copy. wish YOU
would send me copy of the weekly
DEMoCsAT AND Nsws. Direct to Ban
mock City, Dacotah Territory, vid Salt
Lake City. Ths letter costs me one
dollar to Salt Lake City.
l remain you.e, ETC.,
| LAWRENCE kEALY.