Joseph Conway Hemingray
Letter Touting New Gold Discovery in Western Kansas
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[Newspaper] Publication: The Washington Union Washington, DC, United States |
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KANSAS GOLD MINES.
LEAVENWORTH CITY, KANSAS, December. 13th, 1858.
DEAR SIR: We have the honor to present you a specimen of gold obtained from the newly-discovered "El Dorado," in Western Kansas. This specimen is a part of several ounces purchased by us from two miners by the name of Russell, natives of Georgia, by whose adventures in search of gold the gold mines of Kansas have been developed. They left this city about the first of April last, in company with nine or ten others, and prospected the whole of that country lying on the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains, in the vicinity of "Pike's Peak," finding gold, in greater or less abundance, at almost every step. From them we have obtained the following information, which has been abundantly corrobated: 1st. The gold is found on the surface, and, at various distances, to the depth of eight feet. 2d. The "bed rock" has not yet been reached by any of the miners. 3d. With the rudest implements, they were able to obtain $2 to $5 per day. 4th. With improved means, such as "sluices" and "toms," there are "millions of acres" (to use their own phrase) that will produce $20 per day, and many places as much as $40. 5th. That this new "gold region" differs from California in this: The gold is scattered broadcast over a vast extert, and not found in "pockets," "gulches" and "ravines," as in California; thus insuring a support, at least, for every man that is disposed to labor. 6th. The specimen accompanying this note constitutes a part of the labor of the Messrs. Russell in "more than five hundred different places." 7th. The last place they labored was at "Cherry creek," 60 miles northeast from "Pike's Peak." This creek empties into the South Fork of the Platte, on the south side of that river. At this point, Cherry Creek, they found the richest "diggings." 8th. The distance from this city to Cherry Creek is "about six hundred miles," by way of the Fort Riley road and the Smoky Hill fork of Kansas river, which is "altogether (say the Russells) the best route." Very respectfully, J. C. HEMINGRAY & CO. HON. WARD B. BURNETT, Present.
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