, 1855-08-10


day to the man. II is the opinion of some
of the settlers in Colvillc valley that con
versed with, that il the country was thor
oughly prospectcd the mines would prove
as rich as any ever worked in California
but of the correctness OF this opinion it was
impossible for me to judge. The settlers
think the Indians will not dare attempt to
prevent the Americans working the mines,
treaty or no treaty.
"This much do know from personal oh.
serratio7, that all the tribes Of Indians from
Fort Walla Walla to Colville, and the
lakes iR the British possessions are strong
| ly opposed 10 the Americans working the
mines. As to going to the mines, | have
no advice to give. Every person must cx'
ercise his own judgment in the matter"
In this connection, We take pleasure in
transferring to our columns cOmmunica-
ton of L. BALcH, Esqr. of Steilacoom, now
in San Francisco, published in the Cdt0Hicle
in that city The comments of the editor
Of the Chronicie, which We also transfer, We
admire for the dispassionate GOODNESS and
fairness with which it presents the subject
to the people of California. ..
The Oregon papers generally, and in par
ticular the OregoHjaR, Portland advise
Californians that the best route TO the new
ly discovered gold mines at Fort Colville,
w. r., is by way of Columbia river and the
Willamette valley. A correspondent here,
however, writes us OH the subject, and
states the shortest, easiest and best route
for Californians to the new mines is from
any of the settlements on Puget Sound
Our correspondent has exhibited to us origi.
nal letters, and extracts from them, from
DIR. j. B. Wcbber and II. c. Wilson, Stella
COON, in which they give an account Of the
discoveries at Fort COlvilc As these let
ters although interesting, contain nothing
new in regard to the mines, we refrain from
publishing them. The statements Of the
writer's coutiTm generally the stories that
have appeared in tho Oregon papers, and
which have been published in the Chr0Hi-
Gle. II appeursto us that too little inform
alton has yet been given to induce any Cal
ifornian to seek fortune far in the interior
of Washington Territory. In our own
mines, we generally know tho best and the
worst that can befal the adventurer. In
the Fort Coville mines, we have perhaps
already been told the best---but the worst
may considerably exceed our Expectations
and fears. However, iffolk, forgetting the
Kern river aud other recent disastrous gold
expeditions, feel inclined to try fortune in
the far North, We gladly give them the
benefit Of our correspondents information
in regard to the best way to reach the Ft.
Colville region. He says /: 20 r..~
These mines have beeu false
| ly represented by some of the Oregon pa
. pers as being in Oregon Territory, and at a
very easy aud convenient distance from
Portland and Oregon City; and, according
ly they recommend miners to make their
outfit at those places. Being pretty well
acquainted with that section Of country, /
would state, for the benefit Of those inter
ested, that the discoveries have been made
in Washington, not in Oregon Territory,
and very great distance from Portland
and Oregon City. 1t is only necessary to
persons interested to refer 10 the maps oi
the Territory to convince themselves, be-
yond doubt, from which point it would be
most convenient for them to ct out and
start.
would state for the information Of the
public, that good military wagon road
has been completed from Steilacoom, on
Puget Sound, to Fort Walla-Walla on the
Columbia river in the vicinity Of the gold
mines. The total distance Is 225 niles
Over this road, immigrants from The East
ern States for two seasons have passed with
their rickety Wagons and WORKOUT teams
safely into the Puget Sound country. l
would also, for the Information Of those set
ting out for tho mines in Washington Ter
ritory, state that supplies Of every kind can
be had on PugetSound, either at Steilaeoom,
Seattle, or Olympia; and that these are
the most convenient points to fit out from,
1 Very respectfully, .'sI, =, .,. =
I ! LAFAYETTE BALcH.