Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-03

Correspondence of the Baltimore Commercial
CENTRAL Cry, GILPtS Co.. CoLoRADo. !
December 10Th, 1867.
On the morning Of December 9TH, lett Denver for
this place, forty miles distant in the heart of the
Rocky Mountains, aud the centre of tho principal
mining region of Colorado.
The stage fare was six doarsffteen cents per
mile.
The road runs direct from Denver to the foot of the
mountains, twelve miles across the plain The noun
tain road ascends and deccnds long, Steep rocky hills
and winds along the edge of precipitous mountain
canons in manner quite appalling to weak nerves.
but the drivers skiIlfu and the trained to
the service that accidents less frequent than
on the level roads of the Plains
Central City appears to contain two or three thou
sand people, and is remar kable place when its
wilderness in 1855 it contains several banking
houses, several hotels, many stores some of them
priek and stone. machine shop, Masonic hall. daily
and weekly newspaper, several quartz mills billiard
rooms, probably dozen drinking saloons, and the
foundation is laid for stone church. 1t is located
the two unite and form Gregory guca. In the latter
the first auable discovery of gold was made in the
Pixies Peak country, all this region formerly
called, by Georgian named Gregory.
The hills, or m0utains, rise rocky and abrupt from
the gulches, and buildings are erected where room
can be found or made for them to stand.
A mile above Central is Nevada City, near the
Nevada Gulch, containing few hundred inhabi-
tants and large number of quartz mills; and a
mile below, at the junction of Gregory guich and
Clear Greek, is Black Hawk City about one-half the
size of Central. but containing numerous Quartz
mills, among them of the largest and most val
liable that have been erected in the mountains
Within distance of three miles from Central City
the principal gold mines of Colorado and it is
doubtful if another district of equal size is known in
the world that contains large quantity of gold
Richer mines exist elsewhere and more extended
gold bearing territory but for the number and value
of rich lOdes the vicinity Of Central City is probably
unsurpassed.
From this place TO the foot of the mountains is
twenty eight miles, and it is fifteen miles to the d.
vidinr summit of the range. The elevation above
the sea ye is stated at eight thousand five hundred
feet, about one and half times greater than Nit
Washington IN the White mountains. and water
boils at 1862 OF fahrcnheit's thermometer.
The high peaks III the main chain of the Rocky
mountains arc covered with perpetual snow, and
the plains visible from great distance. My first
glimpse of them in early morning full one hun
bred miles away bat they appeared no more distant
than after had travelled sixty miles toward them.
The Great plain extends to the foot Of the range,
from which the mountains rise rs abruptly the side
of house. Their name of Rocky Is well deserved,
for they are of almost barren rocks piled one
npon another everywhere III this vicinity. showing,
distinctly the actiGT of fervent heat. Some
cred with struggling growth Of pines, and some with
shrubs and small trees.
Almost every variety of metal is found in them and
at the foot are vast beds Of buminuGs coal of excel
lent quality. Coal is cheaper in Denver than in Bal
timore Mines of iron and abundance Of unsurpassed
ire clay are found in close proximity TO the coal
EXPLORER.