, 1858-07-23

I
is q combination Of persons in Oregon, who
are direetly and personally interested in
the Dalles route to the mines, and who, re-
gardless Of truth, honor or honesty, are
eoveneRted to s'oear, that that is only d.
rect and practicable route, and tha all 9TH
ers are humbugs Were this not so, where
The necessity Of purse Of $1,000 or $llOO
being raised for Capt. Robertson, in order
10 have him recruit q new company p
Were this not 50, why is it that certain
steamboats, have been in the habit Of Civ
ing mining adventures free passage from
Portland to the Dalles, but should they de-
sire to return, can do SO By paying their pas
sage IN fill both IOays? The fact is, that
our neighbOrs on the south side of the Co
lumbia appear to be determined to fOrcs
the travel TO the northern gold region, by
the way Of the Dalles, at all hazaFds--re-
gardless Of the interest or safety Of the mi
ner,. and alike regardless Of all other routes
no matter how much better, nearer or
safer they may be.
Hence we believe that the report Of the
discovery Of rich diggings on the Nah-chss,
the Yakima, &C., to have been prompted
through selfish and interested motives, for
the bene6t Of the Dalles route--for the pur-
pose Of getting large army Of miners in
to the Indian county--eompelling them to
clean out" the hostile Indians in their
track-giving the appearance Of safety to
the trail--and this, too, for the pecuniary
advantage Of few sharpers, bloOd-suckers
and spectators about Portland, the Dalles,
sc. As before observed, there may be an
abundance Of gold in the Yakima country,
but the late report in circulation on the sub
Iject is no evidence TO US Of the fact.
II would perhaps be regarded as ungen-
erouS in, Us to include all the steamboat
lines and newspapers published in Portland,
in the eombina ton to which we have allu-
ded, but from careful perusal Of the ed
itOrial matter Of those papers for the past
three or four months, the HRiHitiatsd would
naturally be led to suppose that II the eter
nal salvation Of all the inhabitants upon the
globe depended upon their eOngregating in
the northern gold region, there tOas no other
cay gipeh under HeausR SOhereby they could
Be saved, bSt By taking The Columbia river
route, By aOay 81 Ghs DalieSi g aaa'
g Az far as adventarers to the northern
mines from certain parts Of Oregon are con
ceFned, (aside from their liability 10 be at
tackled by the Indians and the Dalles route
Is doubtless the most inviting bnt for those
who seek that region, coming from CaHfof-
MIA, OF elsewhere, in ocean steamers, the
rOute by way Of Puget Sound and the SnO-
quaimis Pass is altogether preferable. 1t
costs adVenturers from San Francisco no
more 10 be landed at Victoria, Port Towns
end, WhatcOn, Seattle, SteilacoOm or Olym-
pie than It does 10 cross the Colambia river
bar, and once in Puget Sound, the mining
region can be reached either through Frazer
river, orthe Nah-ches or SnoquOlmie passes
Of the Cascade mountains and it is simply
idle and ridiculous for any person to con
tend, that the mining district can be as cEeap-
" supplied through the Columbia, where
three trans-shipments Of stores must be made
between its mouth and the Dalles, as BY
way Of the Sound, where supplies can be
packed for the mines directly from the holds
Of steamers and sailing vessels 'ia1
Concerning the various, nearest aud most
practicable routes to the mines, we here
give the opinion of Mr.. w. H. PEARsOS,
who. but short time ago was very excel
lent authority with at least one Of the Port
land papers, on all subjects connected with
vOyagewriEg upon the plains and mountain
trSvel His letter is dated" SnOgu0l-
Mis Pass, July sth, '5s:"
/ /" Ed. PiOnssr and D,moerst.
Having every reason 10 believe that the attempt
will be continued 70 deceive and humbug the mining
public by gasss and Ocers 10 the most direct and
practicable route 10 the mining districts OF Frazer
} and Thompson's rivers, consider it a duty which
owe 10 the American people, 10 give them q cor
rect statement in regard 70 the starting points from
these Territories California &c-that Is the northern
portion Of that state. For miners and stockdriYers
the roate by way Of Seattle and the Snoquamie Pass
! is the best Stock can be driven from any part Of
northern California through Oregon directly to Seat
tie TO this place. (having Of the best habors on
Puget SOund) stock also be shipped from Cafor-
MIA Altogether think Seattle the best starting
point to the mines 10 either Territory The next best
is BY way Of Vancouver. The third is by way Of the
White Salmon Indian Reservation, by the Lacammas
plain. the base Of Mt Adams. An Of these trails
fall into, intersect the SnOquamie trail east Of the
Cascade mountains. There g a road opposite the
Daes Of the Columbia, leading 70 Priests Rapids,
and crossing the Columbia at that point recrossng
little above the Okanagan. speak Of these trails
from actual travel and the geography Of the country
Yours, respectfully,
r W. Il. PEARSON