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A Chicago Hoy Ftrmiog In the Cold eS ion.• The following letter w»i not intended for publication, bat it U eo good * picture of one phase of life in the new gold regions, that its writer, * Chicago boy, mast excuse ni if we allow our readers to look orer his notes, though designed but as private correspondence:Cactoa-La Port**. An£aitia,iaK.DaVaF.: You are looking, no donbt,about tbfae days, for a fulfillment of the promise I made yoa before 1 left Chicago, to write you. It would bare afforded me pleasure to have complied with Ibis promise long ago, but many circumstances prerented. Someot them I will give you now that you may.better judge of my necessity for an excuse. 'I armed at Denver on the morning of the 9th of July, where I remained only three days, whan I came to the determination to locate and take a section of land for farming and graping purposes. I started back down, the Platte rirer, on the opposite side from where I passed up, but a few days before, and after going 45 miles I learned that ail the good claims wero taken. I left Frank In charge of the oxen and wagon while I came orer to the Caehea-Lt-Poudre river, 15 miles on foot, and spent two days surveying, Ac., and. finally ataked out absut COO acres of Jand,s gre Frank one-tbird and a young man from Peansylrania, and taking the balance myself. 1 then went back tor them and returned to onr farms, where we hare remained in peaceable possession erer since.‘ I hare been extremely busy building log cabius, 4c . forming districts and associations, by laws, rules of government, Ac., until with-two weeks since, which I hare a strong force at haying: and this repaired all my time.Cachea La-Poudre is a Spanish word and signifies a place of hiding or concealing powder, and in an early day the French and Indians had supplies of this article concealed among the bluffs along this valley.The river it a beautiful stream of water which is clear and cold, coming from the snow covered mountains^ about 21 miles above us, and affords us all kinds of fish, mountain trout, shad, suckers, Ac.Thus, you see, we are 60 miles away from the Post 0£Sct, and bare been to DanTer only occe since tbs 12h of July. In my opinion, it was folly for ua to thick of mining with our amount of cspital and condition of health, together with the rain and water we would daily encounter in the mountains. I found hay commanded an ex-traxaeaatly high price last winter and spring, and alio that there would be a profitably increased demand this year, on acconnt of the vast increase of stoek, and to at once formed an idea that there waa more gold In grass, to me, thao in the mountains.It seems however that hundreds of olhershad the same opinion, and that there will be five toss of bay made thia year where only one wad last j howeTer, it brings now a large figure in Mountain City and Gregory and Easseli's diggings— $60 to $75 per ton. Should there be a usual proportional increase in price according to the adrance of tha season, by November I shall confidently expect $100 end $125 there. Oar I arms are beautiful and rery fertile, aa well as heavily covered with grass, and were they in “America,” sa we call the Fast, would be invaluable—almost.We have more grass than we can possibly cat this year, but shall probably put up one hundred tons. I made s contract with a man who baa a mowing machine and horse rake, to cut and put my grass in the stack for one-half, and he is to luroiah one-qusrter of tho proririons while here, and pay me and all the hands $2 00 each per day, and also $1.00 per day for the nse of my oxen. - *' ■ -■Wa have two yoka of oxen and one nice milch ew, and plenty of tools, Ac. So you see we get along quite comfortably. We have not sold any hsy jet, except one Load, for which we got $100. Our plan will be to haul twenty-fire or thirty tons to the mountains, as soon as we get through cutting sad putting up. It will take us until December to carryout our plans and dispose of our hay to advantage, when we hope to start for Chicago and the States.The journey from St. Joicph to Denver is by no means an easy one, although the new objects alongthe route attract our attention, and nearly make a*forget the hardships we hare to endure. Some portions of the way the country is besntiful, and others quite mountainous.- I have not time to give a minute description for I must write a few words upon another subject before I send this. The Indians are, as a general thing, quite friendly, although quite annoying wilh their entreaties for “Sag” (Sugar), “Vaco (Tobacco), and thtir disposition to steal hule articles about our camp. The tthiU Indians are more destructive than ths uatire and commit mare depredations. The quart* mines are generally turning out well, while the majority of “ gulch,” miners find it unprofitable.Some; however, hare good lnck and make well, while others lose time and money and find no gold, and return broken-hearted to the Stater. It is surprising strange to see with what foolith ideas some come here from the States within their heads. They expect to ahorel gold up as you would potatoes, apparently, and of coarse all'such are bitter in- their denunciations of Pike’s Peak. I think a man can make money here, but he needs capital to start with, as a general thing. _ R,
Newspaper Details
Chicago Press and Tribune
Chicago, Illinois, US
Mon, Sep 03, 1860
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Tk B.
USA 01 Feb 2025
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