, 1860-02-10

now stopping) in time to operate the o..
ing mining season, is by going up the cb"n
mel Of Frazer river on the ice, Of tbe ns,..
tibility of which the boldeSt cannot but ~,
ineredulous. Wishing to avoid the ns,sN
sity of such course, l, in company vii
two gentlemen that were delegated 6v
large company Of miners wintering at "
toria, who where anxious to cross over :.
the Similkameen mines, last week r.So
over the road, leading from this plar,OSe0
the summit Of the pass, in order to oscoS
tain the precise condition Of the road d.
ring the winter months. We found ~.
road in excellent order, with but obesESa1
Of snow in the deepest place, and thai, I'M,
mediately after one Of the most s,Ivor.,
storms of the season. My companions ~
formed me that they should fit out immo
diately, and there is no doubt but tbero
will DO small companies forming and paSS
ing over to those mines daring the remain.
der Of the winter.
One word more as to the facilities A.
obtaining supplies at this point and | bITs
done. Having been sojOurning in M.
ueighborhood during the past two ,moptbS.
am satisfied that animals and produce
can be obtained in the adjacent country H.
supply any demand that may be made, apd
from the Impressions have received Of tia
inhabitants, am convinced they will not
sacrifice their reputation an general adl
vauccment by demanding exorLiInnt pricoa.
There are several extensive stores in thO
place, containing everything necessary-Sor
miners outfit, the proprietors Of which
can afford and seem determed to sell at.a
low, if not lower rates, than at any other
point on the Sound.
Should nay remarks prove advantageous
in directing only few Of the many Cali
fornians, now emigrating to these northern
mines, into the proper route, shall b
well rewarded. aai
AN OLD MINER.
We will conclude this article by giving
the following extract from letter received
of Mr.. s. ENsIeN, as to the preference Of
routes Mr.. e. is well known here, aud
his assertion is fully corroborated BY the
testimony Of Mr.. LEWIS A. MULLAS,
(brother Of Lieut.. MuLLAN, in charge Of
the wagon road expedition young gen
tleman perfectly familiar with the countty,
from the Columbia river to the northern
boundary. Although be owns much prop
erty in and about the Dalles, he hesitated
not in saying that the Snoqualmie pass Sas
The route to the Similkameen mines.
DAILEs, Oregon, January IS, 1850.
FRIEND FURsTE:-.a ALSO. ...4...iF f5si
l am stopping at this place for q few
days, waiting for the weather 10 moderale,
preparatory to going back to the SimiIka-
meen mines. The Pioneer, containing On
extract from my letter to Mr.. Ayers q
Olympia, had reached Fort Colville before
my departure to this lower country. Think.
ing the people on the Sonhd would IKE 10
hear from me again, l take the oppoftnni-
ty to write few lines in regard to these
mines. First:-I will say that therproI
prects are very rich, but small in extent.
1t is now ascertained that seven miles on
both sides of the river will richly pay but
nothing further is known about il, there
being no time to prospect before the cold
weather set in. The weather has been very
cold in that region, during. this mouth.
At Fort ColVille the thermometer stood 22
degrees below zero, and continuing below
the freezing point from the 18th Of Oct, 70
the time l left for this place. The snoW
was four inches deep on the Similkameon,
Dec. 18TH, at which time party left that
place for Colville. There were seyentymen
wintering there, but il they Attemptedto
wash pan of dirt, the pan would freezo
to their fingers; so nothing moro will 30
known about the diggiRgs untiTthe snoW
disappears in the spring. II any body
from the Sound is desirous Of coming out
to the mines, would advise them; IN the
Grst place, to consider the matter well, be-
fore they start, for oil must risk the chan
ces, tho same as have; but II determined
to come, they should como tho Snoqualmio
route to upper Yackama valley; takeA
trail to the north, scrOssia high mountain,
until you reach Wenachee river; crosby
canoes, and then follow the trail northward,
to tho Mothorn river; then follow the bank
Of tho Columbia to Okenagan; thence up
the Okenagan to tho Simikameen. SeVpn
miles from the crossing Of the Simlknmeeh
is where the first gold was discovered
When you get there, enquire for Ensign.
aud il be is not gone, you wilP find him
abeut thore. YOus, n1.i
...aaI Da SHERLEY ENSIGN
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Book NorcE.-We received some time