The Worthington advance., 1879-05-08
LEAD VILE.

Letter, from NJ. B1ooks-7he Rush of
Fortune Seekers-Denrer-1he Lcod-
ellie Humbug-Stay aChe1e you are for
the Colorado as Seen by q
Rock County Man.
EDITOR ADVANCE: Taking the mid
night train at Wortllington, April 8,
found three Minnesota men on board
bound for Leadville. After brisk run
Of four hours we reached Sioux City,
where some IS or 20 more Leadville
men were in waiting for the Omaha
train, which, being on time, we were
soon flying south in the gray of a rainy
morn bound for the Land of Silver.
And if l was surprised to find so many
in waiting at Sioux City, for steam to
carry them to that New Eldorado,
Judge, if you can, my surprise on arriv-
ing at Omaka to find, not eighteen or
twenty, but whole acres of men, aye,
and women, too, having baggage re-
checked for Denver, on their way to
Leatlville. So great was the rush that
the u. =. train to leave at 1:45 p. m.
did not leave the depot at Omaha until
nearly p. m., and then the number
was so great that we were packed il. the
first and second class cars by count, and
eleven cars, with two engines, pulled
out for the Land of Promise.
Tie telated passenger, as we were,
sees but little of:tle Platte Valley until
Sidney is reached for breakfast. Sid
ney is brisk town, of say 1000 inl,abi-
tants with many substantial brick
blocks, hctels and work shops, and
since the Black Hills Stage Lines all
leave the U. z. r. II. here. it bids fair
to become il point of considerable note.
The twenty minutes being up the ''all
aboard" sounded and away we start for
Cheyenne where we arrive at 5 +. m. i'll
stead of 1:3O. in consequence Of break
ing AL axle under the tender. But llav-
ing one OF those little telegraph ma
chimes with us, the liz, e was capped and
soon from Cheyenne came all engine to
bring us.
After supper we leave the U. p. road,
taking the Colorado Central for Denver,
1856 miles, which we reached ut 1870 Il.
M, April II, to find every hotel oyer
run with Leadville emigramts.
Denver is a city Of some ~, 900 inhab-
itants, beautiful i'll its location and Il
marvel of enterprise and energy. The
grand outfitting point for Leadville and
all other mining camps north and west.
for many miles. Here 1 was taken
dowa with rheumatism and for several
days l was not able to proceed on my
intended journey to Leadville, and by
the time I was able to be out, had
changed my mind III regard to going at
once to the mines, rs snow still lay sew
eral feet deep all over the mountains,
and as it would not be off before the
middle of June and as prospecting cam
not be successfully carried on until the
snow is off, and as some 81, 900 men had
proceeded me, the half of which could
not possibly get shelter from the noun
tain storms, and as sickness prevailed
to an alarming extent, l concluded to
remain in Denver until the 18th or goth
of June.
But as days went by, was constant
~ posting myself in regard to the ex-
tent Of the mines ut Leadville andfrom
hundreds who We're returning, I learned
that til" mines were much over estima-
ted and all business at IeadviIle over
done. And from all could learn from
old California miners l have come to
the conclusion that a greater fraud was
never perpetrated the American peo-
pie than this le1dville Humbug, not
because the mines are not rich, flor
rich they most certainly are, but from
the wide spread advertising that Den
YER men and r. r. men have given in
regard to the ease with which all men
can get rich, wheE in fact all the min
ing interest is owned by capitalists, and
is OF no more use to 4 whole community
than is rich banking company, and
the idea of drawing 80 to 40 thousand
men into a small mining camp when
t,C0 thousand would he an excess, in so
short time, is simply criminal. And
to-day there are from 5000 to Z 600 Of the
men gone into that country without a
nickel, nor can they get a days work,
tra clothing and blankets to raise a
stake to get away, and my advice to
those who can possibly stay in tile
STATE is to do so until after the 18th of
June, when if they have stake to spare
!" piOSpcCCink, tHcH VIII De Time
enough. But remember that SO cents
day for du the labor that has been done
IN these mountains would amount to
more money than has as yet been taken
ont of them. and indeed, that would be
a larger estimate for the work done in
California. You never hear of the
thousands who do not make expenses
but only hear of the rery few who do
make any thing. So would say to all
who are doing any thing at7home, stay
there and take no stock in this lottery
business at Leadville.> J:H r