GOLDfever in LEADville

LEADVILLE, May 25th, 1880.
ED. GAZETTE:-For the benefit of any of my Peabody friends, who are contemplating coming to Colorado to make large fortunes, I would advise them to stay at home. One dollar a day in Peabody is better than three dollars a day in Leadville, taking everything into consideration. There are thousands of men in Colorado who are unable to find employment, and those who do find it are generally poorly paid, besides running the risk of getting some of the diseases, that people are subjected to in this high altitude. I have visited several of the mining camps in the State and find them all pretty much alike. For a man who can afford to spend his money traveling, a trip to the mountains would be very fine. The scenery is the finest I ever saw, and beyond my power to describe, I have not found Leadville near so desperate a place as I expected, but can’t say very much In favor of its morality.
I see the dear old GAZETTE every week, and it seems like meeting an old friend to sit down and read the home news. I am very sorry to hear of the death of Mont. Weaver. I see a good many of the Marion county boys here, and all are in hopes of striking it rich some of these days. Fred Bush started for. Denver yesterday, and I presume you will see him at home in a week when he will post you thoroughly on Colorado and the mines. I am very much undecided as to what I shall do, but think in all probability, I shall be at home in a month to set my stakes in Kansas.
If you think it worthwhile, you may condense this letter and put it into the GAZETTE to benefit any of the boys who have the mining fever. For my part, I have got pretty well over it. The weather here is dry and cold, it freezes ice every night, and the mountains are covered with snow.

With kindest regards,
I remain your friend,

C. LYNCH.