The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-04-09
From Carson VALLEY.
Carson CIrY, N. T.
March 4th 1864.

This is pleasant spring evening, and as
have nothing particular to do, I thought
I would devote an hour to you.
So far, We have had delightful winter,
only two days sleighing, and no three days
IN succession but what men could work
cut If doors comfortably with coat off Peo-
pie here did not expect this, as last winter
was 50 hard and rough, bu. arm told BY
old pioneers, that the present rs q sample
Of what the winters have been heretofore.
When came ttrough.this valley in 1852
I should say eleven years ago, there vas
nothing here but sage brush, not habita
ton save one, IN this whole valley. Now
ID ~ built up with towns and cities, and the
husy hum Of machinery resounds through.
out the valley, and the smoke Of the quartz
mills can be seen curling up from behind
the hills in every direction. Then the tide
Of emigration was all towards the Pacific
Every body was going west Then, IL used
to be, "westwsrd the Star Of empire takes
its way. N"w the "StAr Of empire" having
found the nltisaa thule of it's western pro-
gre.s on the shores of the Pacific. il retrac
ing ~ steps. It's course now il eastpard,
rewards the lands which few years ago il
carelessly passed over. IA unworthy of its
dominion. Fifteen years ago its march to.
wards the setting sun was stimulated by
the discovery of the gold fields Of California
and a powerful State was reared as il by
magic upon the shores ofNthe Great W. stern
Ocean. Nov the uHiyers.f treasures Of the
Eastern slope have lured it back across the
Sierras md the Cascades. and here, amid
bleak mountain wlds and desert places, it
rears towns and cities, and lays the founda.
tons of future great and prosperous States
From British America on the North 10 Mexi.
co on the South, the tide Of emigration is
pouring eastward in never ceasing stream.
Tie gold Pacers Of the uppe: Columbia and
it. tributaries have attracted a swarm ot
hardy adventures, who, ever pushing .heir
researches have already extended their line
of mining camps almost to the base Of tho
Rocky Mountains. These rude pioneers
are the advance guards Of civilization. In
their path follows the trader, the profession.
al man, the agriculturist. Substantial build
ings spring up beside the miners rude cab
in, soon families flock in, and pleasan,
homes, and churches, and School houses
and all the enginery Of moral AMI socia
development are established. and there
where late Savage beasts and still more
savage men" made their wild hannts, arc
pleasant towns and Furnishing farms and
the Surroundings. civilization and refinement
Already the cities and mining camps of the
upper Columbia number their population b,
thousands, and the settlers are demandini
the formation Of the new State Of Idaho
"Gen Of the Mountains" II is probahl,
that they will he adm tied before long. Tn,
progress OF Nevada Territory has been re
markable. When it was organized, two
years ag" its population was sparse, it.
rich silver lodges. discovered but few
months before, were undeveloped. its bleal
and barren hills offered no inducement t.
the settler But the spirit OF adventure hai
been awakened by the one or two rich dis
cnverics, prospecting parties explored tn
hills, snd discovery followed discovery il
bewildering succession. A rehearsal Of Cal
ifornia in 40. These silver mining districts
now famed throughout the world for tbei
extent and richness, are being rapidly filed
up W ith pernla. emit and retineu popula
ton.
Enterp Using explorers and prospecter.
have discovered the precious metals IN re
mote sections OF the Territory, (Reese Rive
and HUMIDITY and hundreds ard Thousand
of emigrants are pouring in. Already it i
proposed that our young Territory shall pu
on the robes Of State sovereignty, and ado
another Star to our now "blood stained ban
ner." Ou- present is bright, our future
who will pretend to foretell, and sti tn,
living tide flows eastward. Already it in
vades the sail of priest, dden Utah, and tn,
knell Of the blasphcmous Brigham who Ia.
enslaved that Territory in the bonds of ig
norence and superstition is already sound
ed.
III few short years the whole country
from the Sierra Nevadas to the Missouri
river. will DO covered with the homes Of
free happy and enlightened people, and
many, Of even our old mon, will live to SEE
and marvel at the resources which Ameri
can enterprise and industry will develop
from the now gloomy widernesses and bar
rem plains, and in that day, the 'iror
horse" will 60 snortiny through from ocear
to ocean, tugging his train Of cars laden
with the riches Of China and Japan, LOADED
at San Francisco the largest city in ,hs
world: Then the dan gers Of Cape Horr
will be Forgotten, AMI man can steam al
the way from New York to Jedslo. But
am drawing this out to long, anil mus
talk some Of other matters. There is q
new wonder on hand here now. what dt