, 1861-05-03
From the Portland Times, April 24th.
Nez Porce MineS-RCpOrt Of DR.. ThIbOdO.
LAPwAI, NEz PERcEs AGENCY, l
April 18th. 1851. {

|
April 18th, 1851. !
A. J. CAIN. Esq, Indian agent:
Sr:-Pursuant to your instructions of
the 3Oth March, l left the Agency, accom-
panied by G. H. Armstrong, Esq, Special
Indian Agent, and a small party, to exam
inc the newly discovered gold placers in the
Nez Perees country. The trail follows up
the valley of the Lapwai for about twelve
miles, passing Mr.. Wm. Craig's ranch, then
ascends a high mountain, crossing the foun-
tain heads of several small tributaries of
Clear Water. Upon arriving on the sam
nit Of the Blue Mountains, l was agree
ably surprised to find gently rolling table
land dotted with medium sized pines The
soil is rich black loan, and imagine
that it would yield as good crops as any Of
the Western States. About six miles be-
low the forks Of Clear Water we crossed
very deep canyon, with small stream run
ming through it. Mr.. Craig informed me
that it was about fifteen miles to its head
About Eve hundred feet above the,leVel Of
the -rirer,- -On. che west bank or The canyon,
there, is a large quartz lode appearing
above the ground, white, rose, aud decom-i
posed green quartz. About three miles be-
low the forks the whole appearance Of the
country changes from the Basaltic forma-
ton and fossil rocks, you pass Immediately
into grey granite, quartz, gravel and boul-
ders.
The appearance Of the beds Of the
streams are likewise entirely changed. The
South Fork Of Clear Water is about l50
yards wide, and the North Fork about 100.
The current 10 both is very rapid, and the
banks are covered with small yellow pine.
The distance from the Agency to the Forks,
according to the trail, should estimate to
be about 35 miles.
We crossed the South Fork and follow
ing the Clear Water for about six miles,
arrived at the mouth of q small rapid
stream, called by the miners, Oro Fino
Greek, and by the Indians, Tawn.
The soil at the mouth Of the river Is a
rich black loan, and several Indians have
gardens here. The bed Of the creek is
composed of decOmposed granite, small
quartz, etc.
Following the creek for about four miles,
through barren valley, we crossed q small
stream and then assembled high mountain
and Travelled on high table land close to the
creek. The trail is very uneven and bad,
owing probably to its not having been made
more than two weeks
About 30 miles from the mouth Of Orc
Fino Greek we crossed a small stream called
Quartz Creek. Its bed, as the name indi-
Gates, is composed Of small quartz pebbles,
etc. Before arriving at this point We sew
erHl times passed through snow, in passing
through green timber, Of from four to FIVE
feet in depth, through which the trail had
been shoveled.
After leaving this creek We entered green
timber where the snow, on q level, is be-
tween four and Eve feet deep, and sufficient
ly hard to sustain the weight Of a man.
Ascending O gentle inclination and de-
scending for distance, in oil about FIVE
miles, we arrived at an open space, called
by the miners, Oro Fino Flat. 1t is about
800 feet wide at its widest part, and about
two miles long. The hills on each side are
quite low, not nearly so high as those
about the Agency. The timber on them is
small, and composed of white aud yellow
plue Anu Ut.
forgot to mention before, the first white
pine saw was on Orc Fino Greek, few
miles from the Clear Water.
Nearly all the trees through this region
are small. was informed that on the
South Fork Of the Orc Fino there was q
grove of very large cedars. saw on the
ground where the miners we're working, the
trunks of white pine and cedar which they
had cut through in opening their claims, Of
from three to four feet in diameter. 1t is
quite evident that many years ago the trees
had all been destroyed by FIRE.
10 ascending the Orc Fino we crossed o
number Of small streams having as good in
dications of gold as the Orc Fino Flat
itself, but were unable to perceive any
emptyiGg in from the south side. None ol
these streams have as yet been ProsPtcted,