, 1860-08-31
CoLvlLLE, Aug. 5, 1860.

interesting P0l''Ou VI "1suiHe'Ou ASi'F
tory: =
CoLvLLE, Aug. s, 1860.
EpIroR MoUNrAINEER According to
your request, beg to offer you few items
regarding Colville. its productiveness as a
farming country, climate, prospects, &C.,
such as residence of three years enables
me to give. In 1857, Colville Valley con-
tanned resident population Of about thirty,
aud floating population of not over eighty.
At the late election for county officers, l04
votes were cast, aud very many having the
right did not vote. Tho population is
steadily increasing.
AS o farming country, it for excels
either the Dales or Walla.walla, and every
claim that can be regarded as very good is
taken up. There are still good claims left,
but they are back from the valley, or on the
Spokane Although the winters are cold
and long, the snow usually commencing
about the goth Of November, and remaining
until March, with the thermometer some
tines as low as 25o Fahrenheit, yet the
sky is nearly always clear, the weather
bracing and no wind. In summer the heat
is often 96o to 1902, and on the 30th July
last, reached l040 in the shade and 1889
10 the sun.
Tho crops this year are far the best l
have seen, and the climate, as the land is
broken up, appears to change. 1t is get
ting more showery in summet, hence the
fne crops this year. That the farming has
hitherto been Of the most negligent style is
iudisputable, but the example Of few good
American settlers now there, will cause the
French Canadians, IrquoiS, and Red River
halEbreeds, either to sell out and go farther
from the settlements, or they must improve
their manner of farming. &aWheat, oats,
barley, potatoes, corn, peas, onions, turnips,
beets. salads and melons do well in the open
air, but The two latter require net over
them OF night to protect them from the oc-
caSional night frosts Of early July. About
$4,000 bushels will be the crop Of this year.
The climate is one of the heallhiest in the
world fer oil except consumption. The
presence Of both Boundary Commissions
and the U. S. troops must ensure good
markets to the settlers for the next two
years After they 60, the mining districts
in close proximity will drain the Valley Of
her surplus products. Laborers are scarce
and wages high-$3 per day. .,.
At present, the Pen dOreille mines are
not much worked, but many men who left
in 1858 for Frazer river, have returned and
seem satisfied. A party are working near
the Ceur d'Alene Missionary 40 miles
from it-apd one OF them james Cassidy,
told me they made from 50 to SIS per day
TO the hand. On the Lower Pen d'Oreille
wages can be made, and often good strike.
The Rock Creek mines are evidently
good, and this putting aside mere reports
and taking men by their actions. All who
go there from Colvile return for their
friends and go again, and even the greatest
croakers say that many are doing well;
whilst of course, as in all mines, some are
not making expenses. ....
Tho American Boundary Commission are
in the Kootenais country. The British
Commission have two parties in the field
one, under Capt. Hague, coming east from
the Similkameen, and the other going east
from the Pen d'Oreille river through to the
Kootenais country s.g 11I ..rJ
The present price of goods at Colville is
as follows: Bacon, 97k TO 45c; coffee, Acc;
sugar, SO to SOC; tea, 81 per Id; wheat, So;
cats, 81; barley, 81 SO; potatoes. $751; tur-
nips, So so per bushel; hay, $l2 to SIS
per ton. | will hereafter give you more
items. Yours, &C.,
II. NJ.