, 1858-06-25


to Thompson's River Gold Mines, was held
in Olympia, on Thursday the 18th, inst,
when, on motion, Mr.. Woodbury. was called
to the Chair, but having declined, b. F.
Yantis was elected in his stead, and VIM
H. Wood chosen Secretary.
The Chairman stated the object Of the
meeting, and gave full detail Of the route
via the Snoqualmio Pass and pronounced it
to be an excellent route to the gold mines
on Thompson's river, particularly for the
animals Mr. Yantis resides east Of the
Cascade Mountains.
Mr.. Wagner, just from the mines on
Frazsr's river, (at Fort Hope stated that,
from all the information he could collect
from reliable sources, the route Uia the Sno-
qualmie pass was the only practicable route,
and that gentleman of the Hudson Bay
Company, who had travelled by that route
from Fort Nisqually (near Steilacoom,) }
fifteen times, asserted that the Snoqualmie
pass was the only practicable route to
Thompson's river and ddUissd all Americans
10 go that route instead By The l0ay Of Frazer
rirer, stating that there was good grazing
all the way for animals.
Mr. Lewis Ensign stated that about so
or 90 pack horses could easily be procure
here, at from $50 to $50 each, aud was
certain that many more animals fhorses and
mules, could be had by giving a few days
notice. Mr.. Ensign resides in Olympia.
Mr. Fcrd said that he travelled from
Fort Hope to Fort Oolville and knows the
country thoroughly, and he knSws the Sno-
qualmie pass to be lat presently the only
practicable overland route, and preferred it
to that by Frazer's rver--also, that there
Is excellent grass all the way and only one
stream to cross, which, at this season, is
very shallow. He has no doubt but that
gold will be found between the different
starting points and the Pass. Mr.. Ford is
a resident Of Seattle.
The Chairman stated that be knew an in
telligent half breed who brought party
to Thompson's river, and after few months
again met him, when he had $40, 900 or
$l2, 900 in dust.
At the request of several gentlemen, s.
Garfield, Esq, came forward and read a
letter which he had just received by mail
from Bellingham Bay, informing him that
Capt. De Lacy, Civil Engineer, had found
three passes over the mountains, (by the
Whatcom route, and had selected the most
southern pass-that there was an Indian
trail across the mountains there, and that
with 80 men, the road would, in all proba-
bility, be finished in a week; also, that two
pack trains would start across the noun
tains at Sumas Lake the day after the let
ter was written.
One Of the gentlemen present, citizen
Of California, declared the Bellingham Bay
trail was humbug; that "a week, accord
ing to their scale, was a very indefinite pc
riod Of time, and that no person, ether than
those ioRO had tO1on-LOts for sale, would say,
tru!hfully, that it was at oil practicable to
make road from Bellingbam Bay to
Thompson's river. He also said that Mr..
Garfield had somo town lOtsfor sale at Bel
lingham Bay.
Messrs. Frank Matthias, A. Terry, L.
MerriIet, William Tidd, VIM. H. Wood,
and others who have oil returned from the
mines on Frazer's and Thompson's rivers,
report that the route by Frazer's river is
attended by great risk, danger and trouble,
and that the Snoqualmie pass is the nearest
and best route to the mines.
On motion, ordered that so notices be
printed, inviting oil those who intend going
to the mines to join the companies now
forming at Seattle, Steilacoom, and 0lym-
pia, to leave on the goth inst.
On motion, ordered that the Secretary
furnish a copy Of the proceedings to the
Pioneer and Democrat and request pub
lication.
On motion, adjourned sine de-
b. F. YANTIS,
Dhoir1dn