John McT. Gibson Family

The worked diggings commence about three miles above town, although the mines are said to be as good at the town as elsewhere. There are only some fifteen or twenty at work mining, the remainder being occupied preparing winter quarters. My ranche is in the bottom about 3½ from town; 1½ iles above my place, two mining towns are started, one called Arrapahoe City, the other Montana. The coutnry is laid off into mining districts and each miner is allowed a claim of 50 by 100 feet. Those who work steady are making from two to ten dollars per day, with pans. That richer mines are known to persons herer, none of us have any reason to doubt. The Indians have given us to understood that the richest mines are up in the mountains. Those who were here during the summer found the Utah Indians very troublesome and prospecting was not carried on to that extent that it will be in the spring. Old Californians tell me that the prospects are better here thatn they ever were in tat State.

Provisions and supplies are not very plenty, but with the supplies expected from Taos, (pronounced Tous) there will be enough. Mexican flour is worth from $15@12 a finagre, or Mexican measure of 143 lbs; American flour is worth $15, $20 and $25 per cwt., as persons want to sell out. Beef is worth 15 cts per lb.; beans 20 cts per lb; bacon 50 cts per lb; sugar 50 cts; coffee 30 cts; powder $1.50 lead 50c; wool socks $1 per pair; undershirts and drawers from $1.50@3, and other things in proportion. Gold is taken at one dollar a pennyweight for all necessaries.

Reports reach us every day of the richness of the mines in other directions. Mr. Goodman, a mountaineer of twelve years standing, showed me some gold, last night, said to have been dug on the Cache le Poole, about thirty miles distant. It was of the kind known as "shot gold." He told me that miners were averaging $30 per day. It is also reported that a vein of most excellent coal, six feet in thickness, has been discovered not far from this place. I give these as reports and do not vouch for the truth of them. In fact I shall vouch for the truth of nothing, except what I see. Every one here is in excellent spirits and every one here is alive with excitement.

F.W. Wynkoop, formerly of Philadelphia, is Sheriff of Arrapahoe County.

Pike's Peak lies 80 south of us, so that here we know the mines as the Platte River mines; Contrell;s reports are all corroborated, and more, too. There is but one drawback here, and that is we can never hear from our friends nor get a newspaper.

You heard of the steamboat train that left St. Louis. They arrived safe, and I am sitting in their ranche writing this. For the benefit of their river friends I will give their names: Oscar B. Totten, Theodore Parkinson, Wm. H. Parkinson, James B. Reid, Chas. Bahler John Harris, John Scudder, P.T. Bassett, Chas. E. Noble and Albert G. Baker. To see them as they sit around would form a picture. One is untying a bag of gold, two are grinding coffee, one preparing to leave in the morning for the States, one is roasting the ribs of a 'jump-high,' or deer, one is hoding Uncle John on his knee, and the balance are attending to various duties. Although a jollier crew would be hard to find. Our old friend Gen. Larimer is in the tallest kind of spirits. THe order of the day is hard work all day and jollification at night.

We anticipate great things in the Spring and I only hope our anticipations will not be groundless. There is but one law recognized here at present, and the presiding judge's name is Lynch.

Rogues are honest by compulsion.

Cattle Ranches are established up and down the river, for a distance of 40 miles wehere horses and cattle are herded at $1.00 per head per month. There is an abundance of grass throughout this region of country, where cattle can winter safely. The general appearance of the country is not favorable to the agriculturist, although in this portion of the country there are tracts of good land suitable for farming purposes. Farming claims are being taken up all around us although the claimants will have to await a treaty with the Indians and until the land is thrown in market before their claims will be valid. Some of the claimants will marry Indian women, and thus attempt to secure their claims.

SUGGESTIONS.

And first in regard to the route: The lower route is about 750 miles long, the upper one 550, therefore you save 200 miles by starting from Leavenworth and coming the Platte route.

If trains start very early in the spring let them come the lower route, but I would advise them to wait awhile, and come the upper route. Let all bring plenty of provisions and clothing with them, a good drug store, a hardware store with plenty of building materials, a printing office with a good job office attached, clothing and dry goods, in fact a general assortment would do a good business.

Sheet iron is in demand; lumber is worth fifty cents a foot, so that a good saw mill, shingle machine and lathe cutter would do a good business. A dagurreotypist could make his fortune here at present. There are many things that have slipped my mind that I do not htink of at present, but one thing is sure, there is room and gold for all who come. Let mechanics who anticipate coming bring their tools, as wages will be "high." Quicksilver will sell readily, and also retorts.

A number leave here in the morning for the States who will bring out their families in the spring.