Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-04-11
LETTER PROM TuH NEW COLD
A10ES.

LETTER PROM TuE NEW COLD
MIAEs.
YAsKror, April 9Th, 1868.
Error REGISTER I'll enclose you =
communication from the new gold fields 10
western Dakots-now Idaho. It 10 . lot.
ter addressed to r. W. HAoAxAx. Esq..
and written by GEO. DErw1LDER Of Mo.
brarsh. Mr.. D. is we'll known in your
city and BY your readers generally, as one
Of the enrly pioneers Of this section Of
country. His integrity and veraci.y need
no endorsement, and your readers will
eagerly credit any statements over his
signature. 1t is proper to add that Mr..
d. went to the gold regions last season on
the Shreveport via Benton. The subject
suggested in Mr.. D's. letter regard to
road being opened from this latitude on
the Missouri to the new gold fields is Of
the most vital importance to Northern
Iowa and Southern Dakota, and deserves
and should command the attention, active
efforts and liberal aid Of every business
man, land holder ~nd laborer between
Yankson and Dubuque. Very respectfully,
JAMES TUFTS.
HAMMOCK CRY, d. r, Feb. 6, '63.
DEAR Boil would like to shake your
kand k,,s -. sk.s I. >uS IS sha ru>sesnn I
wi: write you few lines. I an sound,
but not quite - fat - when left Niobra'
raq. have been travelling about in these
mountains and every now and then dig .
hole to sec what 10 in the bottom Of it,
Sometimes I fiod little speck Of gold,
and somesimes nothing but dirt sad rocks,
but almost invariably ind what 10 called
among nioers-''the color'-thst 10, one
or more speeks Of gold. Twas connected
with . party, joined for the purpose Of
building . dam, in order that ~ might
run sluice, but cold weather compelled
10 to discontinue our labors.
Everybody is after great strikes, and 90
am il they are to b had. II not, and
I get broke" will come down to good
paying diggings Gold hunting is strange
business. A man has got to work and
look, and look, to End it, and thea he
don't always see it. l saw six men wash
pan Of dir the other day that had $500
10 il. Some spots in The suich are very
rich. bu, NOT very extensive. The greater
number Of claims psy from q. 90 70 $500
. day 10 the hand.
A quarts lead found that ''psys big
They washed sl4.S0 out Of nine pounds
Of dirt, (rich lead .ha.). II il called The
"Dakota Lead" The mises extend about
six miles along the creek, and there sre
some dry gulch disg;ngs. They are now
digging ditch to Be completed BY the lss
Of May, for the purpose Of bringing the
water on the high banks, for sluics in the
Spring. The ditch will BE- eigb. miles
long, and the cost 10 estimssed u $35 900.
There are three cav mills going Up here
to Be running BY the 6rst Of May. l think
there are six hundred people here-quise
number Of families -four s.ores-plenty
Of gambling houses-two dancing schools
-oue boxing school, and plenty Of shoot.
ing going on. Four men have been sho.
dead, and two wounded, since have been
here.
Bannock City is on Grasshopper creek
= branch Of tho Jefferson Fork Of the
Missouri river, about 100 miles above the
three forks Of the Missouri At the
"Three Forks they are starting . town
II 10 supposed to be the most central point
and l think it will become importsn, if
there is ~ much gold on the Gal!atin
Fork ~ is supposed by every one.
I started for the Gallatin Fork in De.
csmber with some Flat Head Indians and
four mountaineers. We reached the south
side Of the Missouri river and saw about
sixty Snake Indians, when We thought it
policy to turn back.
Now is your time to get . road open
from Niobrara to the Three Forks Of the
Missouri. Up the Running Water, then
along the base Of the Rocky Mountains to
the Three Forks. saw some men that
came through from Fort Laramie to Fort
Benton last Fall and they say il is good
route for = road along the base of the
mountains. They came through with
wagons. Go to work, get train through.
and . mail route established, and it will
become groat thoroushfare. II the Leg.
isla.use is in session get charter for =
ferry It Fort Benton and Three Forks
They will pay, sure.
This place Is about 400 miles from Salt
Lake, $50 iron Fort Benton. aud $50 from
Walla Wslla. heard to-day there were
Eve hundred smigrants on their way 70
this place from Walla Walla.
Next SUNDAY there will b. 4 meeting