, 1859-12-23
PUGET SOUND HERALD.
1fRIllCOOI, v. 7, FRIDAY, DEC. n, ISIa
nOUEEs 10 TINE sEGuEKA1EEE.
PoaF TowNsEND, Dec. eth, .

ROUTES 10 THE 5TlEXLkAMEEE.
PoRT TowNsEND, Dec 9Th, 80.
M. EDEFoa: As the discovery Of gold ct the
eimilknmoon mines Is creating somewhat Of an
excitement On Puget Sound, would you oblige
your rsadsrs and the public BY informing them
% ths bet and nearest route therei
Ths shove note Of induiry came TO hand
soma weeks since, and would have been
answered sooner, had not the pressure Of
Other matters preclnded Il. Wehave taken
some troable 70 obtain information not only
Dom persons who have been with the BOun.
daEy Commission, in the vicinity of the Simil'
kamssn mines, but also from individuals who
have traversed that region Of country, start.
ing both from the Sound and from Columbia
River. Ths great distance it Is necessary
travel, in ssarting from Columpia River,
renders any roEss from that direction i'm
praciiciblsin the iace Of the close proximity
of he mines 70 Puget Sound. The road t.
ken By he Commission, Is seen on the map,
would seem better than all others; but per
sons Who have been on the road, with the
Commission, tsll Us that IL cannot be trav-
illed By pack trains, owing 70 the extremely
rugged nnturs Of the country. Next to
thess We have three starting points ftom the
Sound each Of which has greater or less
claims 70 consideration. One Is from the
snohomIih River, BY good Indian traIl, We
are told. over which parties can reach the
open country beyond the mountains in three
days. and IN Two more (making Eve days in
aIl) gat % the Simllkameen. On reaching
ths open country beyond the mountains,
line due north leads direct to the similka-
moen. This We truly believe TO be deci.
dodly he besi route that Is known; being
only about one hundred and fifty miles from
he 1lnrting point (lhe forks Of the Snoho.
a1l skyuhamish) 70 iho mines. At this
1lnrii1g place. however. no supplies Of any
k'ldcan Be obtained, and parties taking
lhIl route would Be- obliged 70 procure every
ding needed for mining a. we'll as subsis-
tcnc. at the last town they quilted prior 10
going 10 he SnohomiSh The next route is
ihai from s1aillo Va The snoqualmoo pass,
and lts oihar 4 from stsilacoom via the
Nnchos pa.n. The merits Of these two
p1l'1s have been discussed at great length,
N tines pas and, after careful analysis Of
ih1 arguments. pro and con, BY tie friends Of
carA. We have come 70 he conclusion that
fhsif advantages are about equal. L e q
vel % slnle. here. that he trails from ihese
r,r1cs est Of he monniains, LEAD mi direc
i'on PRECISELY opposite that which Il Is necos-
nlf V lnke 70 reach he similkameen. Both
81, god mountain passes, and both lead
d'r,o,ly into gold bearing country large in
extent and lich IN he precious metal, as has
ben abu1dnnily demonstrated BY parties
r.n'ng through. e. Soss for Frases River.
AZ lhc1e 4 good government trail from
eIe'|ncoom. running through Seattle which
InI1Ilccll he Snohomish near the forks,
~ h1-i cour1o would be 70 obtain he sup
r''u q aih1r q he Two towns named, and
I1a.e one Or he other tie starting point.
n 'he above uo have given briefly al
q. Information We possess relative % routes
70 10 nov mines. free from feelings Of par.
cllily o. preiudios. Thoss desiroua Of
f11lhsr information are invited 70 examine
maps IN our olioe. prepared By Surveyor
onual Iliou and By Typographical Engi.
neaIu under he orders Of The seesetsy Of