Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-01-29
From the Mountains.

there are few paying claims in New York
gulch, but the best has been worked, and
what remains is on the side of the rich
streak; this pays from two to eight dollars
per day. The soft side Of plank is not
very pleasant mattrass to rest upon, be-
sides our covering was insufficient to thor
oughly protect US from the currents of
chill air which had free access through the
numerous chinks. We feel little sore,
but protest that we spent comfortable
night, for we would not cast any reflections
upon the hospitality of our host. During
the greatest part of the year, thousands of
persons have no more than two pairs of
blankets, and whether in the woods or on
the prairie, when night comes on, each rolls
his blankets around him, nor thinks, unless
in his dreams, that sleep would be more
sweet or sound, were he reclining upon a
feather bed, walled in by brick and mortar.
A ride of three miles across park,
brings us to Oregon gulch. Here is only
one city, containing about fifteen cabins
and population of seven men and numer-
Gus cats. In this gulch two or three claims
are paying from five to twenty dollars per
day to the hand. Other claims will hardly
furnish grub. As the working Of ground
here requires but about three men, the
thousands of Montana are but little bene-
flied. This gulch is in some places sixty
feet deep. The streak ranges from two to
forty feet wide.. But little of the gulch
remains, which has not been worked
The gold lies mostly on the bed rock,
which is slate, and outside Of the streak
nothing more than fine color can be
found. Two miles further east and we ar
rive at Cave gulch. which We find resem-
bles canon more than any of the preced-
ing gulches we. have visited. Here we
find upper and lower town, and quite a
number of men, who are employed princi-
pally in working over some Of the rich
ground, which was carelessly worked at
first. In some instances good wages are
obtained, but generally it is not lucrative
employment. One mile up the side Of a
mountain, and one mile down the 9TH
er side, and we find ourselves in the no.
torious Maggie gulch. But little gold has
been found in the bars or tributaries Of
this guch. 1t is about twelve miles long,
and on the surface looks favorable. One
drain has been three years under process
of construction. 1t has reached depth
of about sixty feet, and has cost $50, 600.
Other drains have cost from five to TWEEN
ty thousand dollars, but are not so Deep.
This gulch is very fat, and on either side
the mountains are very lofty. 80
We hope that.good pay may be found,
for such energy, and industry is worthy
of great reward. Companies who under
take these prospecting enterprises are poor
laborors and men of capital, the former do
the work, and the latter furnish the money.
There are very many cabins being built
in this gulch, in the hope that pay will be
found. If the gu'ch proves valueless these
cabins will be deserted, and Maggie will
become like thousands of gulches in the
mountains, forgotten. q sT /.
Let us now turn our faces toward Helena
once more, we cross the river at Canon
ferry eighteen miles from the city, and as
we cross the plain we will consider who
has so mutilated the face of the earth, as
we have seen. Some man who has sever
ed the ties which bound him to home,
sought this country for wealth. He
sought in vain among those who had found
claims in Alder gulch, Blackfoot and Last
Chance He joins others of like circum-
stances, and together they commence to
run drain. Funds fall short, they 60
elsewhere and work for wages for time.
As soon as they get little grub they again
resume their undertaking. So they pro-
coed perhaps for years, and very often the
consumation of all is, disappointment.
Poor men have done most of the work on
this side the river. The ground has to be
drained and drifted, so men of capital do
not so freely invest here, as in places where
the ground is shallow and they can employ
many laborers. We will now settle down
to the enjoyment of the holidays, if there
can be any thing found to enjoy. A merry
Christmas to you is the wish of G.B.w.
! NORMAL School ENTs.-Tbe Cover
nor has sent to the senate the names OF the
following gentlemen, re-appointed as re-
gents of the Normal Schools:
| VIC. Whitford, of Rock County.
Hammer Robbins of Grant County.
| William Starr, of Fond du Lac County. 8
The nominations were referred to the
I Committee on Education.