The Placer herald., 1862-02-22
The New Mining Field of Washington
Territory and Oregon.


be rich in minerals:
The gold field extends without cessation,
from the northern frontiers to within few
miles of the Utah line, or all that space in
cluded between the forty,second and forty
ninth degree of latitude, and from east to
west all that section of land lying between
the ll2th and llSth degree of longitude.
Here then is an empire within ITSELF before
which California's sun will pale, and Col
umbia's Star must 90 down in obscurty.
Bordering upon British Columbia, and
southwark from the famols Cariboo mines,
are the Kootanay, Okinaoan and Blackfoot
nations. That the Kootsnay will one day
vie with Washoe for the palm in silver we
believe. In 1859, specimens of silver ore,
found IN that country were exhibited at the
Dalles, The ore was equal to any taken
from Washoe. Nothing was done how
ever to explore the country, although public
attention was called to the fact, through the
columns of the Dalles Journal.
Oknagan is rich in aluvial deposits, but
of the Bl ckfoot region nothing is known.
TO the south and west o. those nations are
the ColviIe, Spokane, Couer d'AIene and
lower Pen d'Oreille tribes, whose country
has been partially prospected and found to
be immensely rich The Colville country
too has for several years, been a favorite
camping ground for the miner, and we haz'
ard the saying that men have taken out for
tunes in that locality; even now miners in
that vicinity are making from ten to twenty
dollars day to the hand. The lower Pend
d'OreiIe and Spokane Indians have always
opposed any invasion Of their country by
the Whites Yet at and near the mouth Of
Spokane river, Judge lancev, Of BeIingham
Bav, and some 20 miners, have been at work
for six months, and we are informed making
from ten to fifty dollars day to the hand.
AS we descend, we enter the upper Pend
d 'Orelles, Flathead or Bitter Root, and the
Nez Perces countries. On the upper Pend
d dOreiles, men have done as well as at the
Nez Perces. Miners made as high as one
h ndred and twenty dollars a day with a
rocker, AMI Mr.. Stephen Senter an old mi
ner, now at Salmon, took out as high as
two hundred dollars dav, and worked
there until ordered away by the In 'ians.
OF the Bitter Root region we only know,
that al Fort Owens, aud on the branches Of
Cla"ke's Fork Of the Columbia river, gol
has been discovered as far back as SO.
Lieut. Donclson's command discovered gold
on the St. Mary's river, tributary of llel's
Gate river, in that year, and many years AGO
Major Owens found gold on he little Prick
" Pear creek, also in the l'lacktoot river
This section may be said not to have been
although little doub, exists in
the minds OF those to whom the country is
known, of lis great richness
OF the Nez l'erces we will say nothing
every body is familiar with them, from Elk
City to 0 o Fino, a distance of nearly one
hundred miles. AS we proceed sonthward
we pass into the Snake nation, through
which Snake river and all lis tributaries flow.
Fifty miles south of Clearwater, and run
ming parallel, is Salmon river. From its
junction with Mormon river to its mouth, a
distance of seventy,tive les, it flows north
west, till it empties into Snake river, about
forty five miles south of Lewiston. The
present Salmon River diggings are on a low
chain of the Bitter Root mountains, some
twenty miles north of Salmon River. TO
the South of Salmon river and east of
Snake river, is forbidden ground. All the
branches and tributaries of both Snake and
Salmon in that region, remains untrodden
by the foot of the adventurous miner. Sew
entv miles south Of Salmon river are the
Salmon mountains, where rises the chief
branches or folks of Salmon river, such as
Mormon, Pashamarah and other streams,
flowing north and west into Salmon and
Snake rivers. In that direction we antici-
pate important discoveries next summer.
On the west of Snake river and on the east
ern flank of the Blue mountains, are the
newly discovere mines OF the Powder,
Burnt and Malheur rivers. Forty miles
southwest of the mouth Of Salmon, and
thirty miles southeast of Grand Ronde Vail
ley is Powder river, having its source in the
Blue mountains. 1t is small stream and
runs northeast into Snake river.
Burnt, Maheur, Owohee and other
streams, having their rise in the Blue noun
tains, flow in the same direction eastwards
and northwards into Snake river. Fayette,
Bosse, Rocher and innumerable tributaries,
having their source in the Salmon noun
tains, flow in an opposite course, southwards
and westwards, into Snake river, all OF
which are supposed to be rich in the precious
metal. Still further south are the Bannock,
Shoshone, and Utah tribes or nations. Moth
ing is definitely known as to the auriterous
complexion of that region.
At the base of the Bitter Root Mountains
and east of the Salmon mountains, extends
range Of magnificent grazing and farming
lands. TO settlers this region offers induce
ments equal to any on this coast. These
settlements will not be more than one hum
dred miles from Fort Benton, and but few
miles from the head waters of the Yellow
Stone and Missouri rivers. From Salmon
diggings they will be but eighty miles, on
the proposed route to Fort Laramie. We
predict that one year hence all that section
Of country now a barren waste will resOund