, 1860-02-10
The SimIIIxameen Mines and the Route
thereto.

vi late VIC nave DceI dDIC W uCfOtO but
little space to anything else than politics,
legislative work and proceedings occupying
most of our time. Hereafter we shall de-
vote more attention to that which more
generally interests our readers develop
ment of our Territory's still hidden re-
sources, &c.
The subject which, at the present time,
most attacts public attention in this Terri
tory, is the discovery Of o rich mineral
country on the eastern base of the Cascade
mountains. The extent of this region has
not yet been fully asccrtained of their
richness, there is no doubt. Not a dis
couraging account has reached us from that
quarter On the contrary. every letter or
rumor which halls from the iSimakamcea"
comes to US laden with tidings of "gold in
abundance" similar in their purport to the
following extract from letter received
here, which We werO kindly permitted to
copy:
"The news from the mines is favor
able. Every report confirms the richness
and extent Of the mines. The miners are
making from 25 to 80 dollars per day
Fred White, Young, and Bill Parker, are
here Just from there, and are geing to pack
back some 40 animals, just as soon as the
weather will permit They have sll left
the government service. Blankensop, the
post trader, has left his post, at Colville,
aud says there is no use dealing out dry
goods to the savages, when in the course
of year, he can make his pile with pick
and shovel. A man arrived here, few
days ago, from the mines, with q pounds
of tho stuff. Every one roand here has the
fever, and there will bo grand rush as
soon as the spring opens"
Regarding the question Of Prodaetiueness
as now substantially established, it becomes
US next to ascertain the best route by which
wo may gOin easiest, quickest, and cheap
est access thereto. 70 our mind,-from
an examination Of the map, the locality Of
places which might bc nado starting points,
this question is no longer q matter for
problomatical solution, and we at once come
to tho conclusion that Seattle should be the
point of departure for all who intend going
to tho Smilkameen mines from this Terri
tory, as far south as Monticello. To those
residing above this point, these mines would
most unquestiOnably be most easy of access
via the Dalles. 10 the California miner,
alos, (in our opinioD) it would prove a saw
ling Of time and money to adopt tho former
route. From San Francisco to Seattle it
will cost him no more-eiLhor by steam OF
sail vessel-than from that place to Port
land, Oregon, and with this further adVnn-
tagc, that he will be landed at the very
point Of departure, without incurring the
annoyance and delay of two steamboat tran
shipments and one portage at the Dalles
and find himself saved IS miles Of land
travel, the difference between tho DalIcs
aud Seattle in distance. We mako this
statement without the least prejudice to
the interests Of tho people of the Dnlles or
Oregon, but from a knowledge which VIC
have gained from gentlemen better ac-
quaintod with both routes, than are those
Oregon editors who have been in tho habit
of stigmatiSing the Snequalmo pass and
route as another "Whatcom trail" humbug,
Concerning that trail, We are frank to con
fcss VIC were huns6Egged about as much as
the too incredulous but conGding miner.
who patiently waited from week to week
to hear Of the trails completion, and con-
sumed his grub on Whatcom's shores.
AS to the possibility of crossing these
mountains at almost aAy season of the
year, we give publicity to the following re-
port Of committee appointed at meet
ing of miners, held at Victoria not long
since. This report, We should suppose
would satisfy all except such as will not be
conviuced
SEATTLE, W. T., Jan. 81, 1860.
EdiLor Pioneer and Democrats
As the question as 10 which is the most
practicable route to tho newly discovered
gold mines On the Simmilkameen river has
been considerably agitated of late, We, in
order to satisfy ourselves of the practica-
bility of crossing tho Cascade mountains
via the Snoqualmie Pass, concluded to try
it at this, the most unfavorable, season OF
the year.
We left this place Jan. I4lh, well pro-
visioned and mounted for the trip, expect
ing to be gone from eight to twelve days
We found no snow until we reached Rat
tie Snake Prairie From this prairie saw
snow occasionally, but in no place more
than one foot deep, to within eight miles
Of the summit Here, having no feed for
our horses, and being perfectly satisfied
that there would be no difficulty 10 crossing
to the Yakima valley if we had wished, we
concluded to return. throughout the