, 1857-07-24
Letter from Judge YaDtIS
CoLvILLE VALLEY, W II
June Is, 1857

June Is, 1857.
Editors Pioneer aad Democrat.
| have an opportunity, and I enh..
it, of redeeming the promise msds sce lug
1 left Olympia, that l would give Won w "ueh
information | could get in relation ~ "aS' aS
mines in this vicinity. Ny time bas 'ne
so completely occupied since; NV Ios.4ia zen
that have not had time to visit riL
in person, but l have news from us -,Lue
almost daily, all of which agrees tba, lSll ~
only reason the miners are not doIns s 'us
generally, is owing to extreme high W. "sH
That the gold is there, they are sof;ss.5' 5'
and when the water leaves the b,s.
posed, which will be about the last -
August, they will make good y. ". VI
Those who are interested in the rocat's
Gently completed, are making from tor :.
fifteen dollars per day. The other rsc.s'
not yet in condition to>receive the we,..
owing to the giving way of the bapLs 1
some parts Of the race, but that will ha
repaired this week, and those interested a..
very Sanguine that it will pay well Il -
it will furnish water for allaihe minsr. ~ ~
the river. 1t may appear rather straDS.
that high water prevents miners from do;es
well, and yet the want of it proves tSs
same difficulty but it will be recoIeetsS
that the races furnish water for wasb0s
the dirt on the mountains side Ton fss
from the river to be carried, in order ~
make wages, and yet the dirt is said 10 ~
rich. No new discoveries have been m.ds
this spring on the Pend 'dOreille. bat tbsrs
prevails great excitement throughout ths
valley at present, owing to the return N
VIM. Pion, well-known and responsible
half.breed, who left early this spring IA
prospect the country between the Columbia
and Fort Hope, on Frazar's river, who r..
ports having discovered very rich mines on
a stream northwest from Colville, some siT
or eight days travel with pack animals
The stream is called by the Indians Slim
Shwap. Mr.. p. says that within four
days travel Of Colyille he prospected a
tributary Of the Okenoggen, and found six.
teen cents to the pan, but either Stbu
Sh%ap or Thompson's rivers are much BET.
ter, without saying what was the exact
prospect. He returns Immediately, taking
with him at least two-thirds Of the Canadi.
ans of the valley, which, together with ny
knowledge Of his character for vetaeity,
satisfies me perfectly that the mines Of that
region are rich.
Mr.. Mcdonald, formerly of Fort Col.
vile, in conversation with me two yeau
ago, said to me that the country living
north Of Fort Colvile had the appearance
of being a much better mining countryth than
any in its vicinity. But the Indians cf that
region have forbid any Americans from
coming into their country, as they fears Q
war will be the consequence. apprehend
that if the report be true that the mines
are as rich as California, the Americans
will pay but little respect to the commands
/ Of the savages. l would leave for that
country tomorrow with the Canadians, i
it were not that the presence Of an agent
is Indispensable to the peace and quiet Of
the valley though hope the same cause
Of disturbance will not again prevail that
is, presence of whiskey. When / arrived
in the valley, it was expected almost daily
thdt an outbreak on tne part OF the lnul'
ans would take place, but stop being put
to the traffic, peace prevails
Should any persons from Washington
intend coming up, l would say to them to
come provided with sugar, coffee, tea, salt,
&c, also other small articles that cannot
be got here, sufficient 10 last them through
hard winter, and make their calculations
TO spend the fall and winter in The mines,
as that is much the best time for mining.
When have more news from the north
| will write more fully, but at present must
conclude by saying that regret that !
cannot be with you on the day Of election,
as feel much interest in the result.
Yours truly, ~
r r YANTIg