, 1862-08-16
masbinoton 6tatcsmnn.
SATURDAY MORNING, AUG. l6, 1862,
The Mines.

AT no time since tie discovery of
gold in the upper country have we had so
much encouraging news, and that so well
authenticated, from the different mining To-
calities as now. The predictions made by
those who visited the region of the first dis
coveries at Colville, in 1855, that eventu-
ally there would be discoveries Of rich
mines in this northern region have been
fully verified, despite the theory of geolo-
gists that the country was too far north of
q certain line, and the assertions of gold
wise " old Californians" that the mining
region was not gold-bearing in appearance,
nor sufficiently washed by rains to occasion
rich deposits of gold; and to-day the
facts-the enormous yields of gold in the
mines already discovered, and the constant
new discoveries of mines at every point of
the mpass-sustain the assertion that the
mines of Oregon and Washington Terri
tory equal, if they do not exceed, both in
richness and extent, any mires ever dis
covered.
The letter published on the outside of
to-day's paper, from Warren Discovery
eighty miles southeast of Florence-while
it does not speak of enormous yields, and
invite the people in general to go and see
for themselves, really describes better
mining country, and is more inviting to
the adventurer than anything of the kind
we have ever published from any portion of
the upper country. The signers to this let
ter are all strangers to US, though several
of them have resided in this valley, and
are we'll known and vouched for by men
with whom we are acquainted Besides,
we have reliable information that they
have written private letters 10 their friends
here in which they give about the same des-
cription of the mines and their prospects as
in the letter published. For these reasons
we have no cause to doubt their statements
or to believe, as is too often the case, that
as spectators they have lent their names
to the promulgation of an untruth to en-
tice an emigration thither that their own
private interests may be advanced. Yet,
from the short time they have been engaged
in prospecting the country, we admit the
possibility that they may be mistaken in
regard the extent of the mines, and we
give their letter, together with the other
they come to US, at the same time assuring
those who may be disposed to 60 that if
the mines are as extensive as reported,
they need not lie afraid of being too late
if they wait few weeks for more substan-
tial evidence of the correctness of these
statements.
The news from Powder river this week
is also highly encouraging, and the number
of large specimens that have been brought
in to our city during the past few days
from that locality are sufficient to convince
us, if we had had no other proof, that
the mines there are rich. The discovery
of the quartz lode in the vicinity of Au-
burn-referred to in another columns
new feature in these mines AMI is proof in
contestible of their richness while it war
rants the belief that other lodes ola similar
character will be found in the country, and
gives assurance to the energetic miner who
goes thither that he at least goes to region
where the indications are all in favor of
his securing reward for his labor
The mines at Colville-a region hereto
fore supposed to be of little Importance
are also a" panning out largely and the
proof Of this is being received here in the
shining orc. We are informed by Mr..
Garfelde, who has just returned from a
visit to these mines, that men are at work
on the bars of the Columbia for a distance
of near two hundred. miles, making from
eight to sixty dollars per day, with rockers.
When the mines in that country were first
discovered, and for several years after
wards, it was supposed that gold did not
exist in paying quantities anyWhere below
the mouth of the Pen 'Oreille riger-forty
miles above old Fort Colville but the pres
ent seasons prospecting has revealed the
fact that good paying mines exist all along
the bars of the Columbia as far down as
the mouth of the Spokane river, and from
the old Fort down to this point miners
are now engaged in working more uniform
and better paying diggings than have ever
been found above that point.
At the late Washington Territory election Florence
precinct in the mines gave 900 secesh majority out
Of 800 votes tits said there were not to exceed 800
legal voters in the precinct. Lewiston gave secesh
majority and also Walla Waa so our informant says
Oregon Statesman
Touching the recent election result in
Walla Walla, the " informant above quo
ted is base liar. If he knew anything
about it, he could not have been ignorant
oeshe fact that so far from giving a seces- /
sion majority, there was no secession ticket
in the feld, and none voted for. Nobody
believes that Florence gave =" one thousand
secession majority" or that there "were not
to exceed three hundred legal voters in the
precinct" as more thaI that number are
known to have wintered there, besides
great many residents of the i errltory went
up early in the Spring. "Our l.1iormant
must be of that numerous class belo'" VINO
seem to be determined that secession Gle
4 l. IL 40 Jo,,;r,oto IN tha rDDar ooun.-