Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-11-01
LETTER FROM SALMON RIVER
GOLD MINES.

MEssRs. EDIroRs.-Ths largest portion
Of the emigration from Pixies Peak or
Colorado, and . portion of those from the
States, are on this creek, near Big Hole
Valley, on the east side of the mountains,
dividing the waters of Salmon river aid
the Missouri, twenty miles from the sum-
mit,) the mines promise to be very good.
when properly worked. Is they will be, 90
soon As, the miners can get their suices
made; they are depending on the whip
saw for their lumber; the country chan.
ges its aspect, very much after leaving
Deer Lodge Valley, loosing entirely its
fertile appearance, except Immediately
upon the borders Of the streams running
through it; the artemesa and the cactus
being the prevailing growth; this is the
fifth discovery Of gold in this part of the
mountains, the indications are that the
whole range Of the Rocky, and other
mountains, extending to the Pacific coast,
are gold bearing. The men from Colora.
do, whom l believe to be the mos, expe-
rienced gold diggers in any portion of the
country, are very we'll satisfied with the
prospects ahead it is fortunate for the
country that nearly all of those who in.
tend to remain here are Of that class
men not easily discouraged, and who are
Injured to the exposures and hardship. of
mountain and miners life, (many Of our
friends took u look tit, and left for boue,)
this fact insures the rapid development of
the mineral wealth Of the country, and
also more certain information, by the sp-
preaching sEring, Of the inducements to
come here. The proportion of fertile land
is larger than supposed when wrote
my last letter. Nearly all Of the Valley
Of Deer Lodge and He'll Gate rivers is
sillable, producing wheat, barley and oats {;
then Peu Doreille Valley, one hundred
miles Northwest from Deer Lodge, is two
hundred miles long and from seventy to
eighty miles wide; Bitter Root Valley 10
forty.6ve miles long, and three wide !;
Deer Lodge Valley. thirty.6ve miles long
and three miles average width Beaver
Head Valley is about thirty miles in length
BY an ave rage width of ten miles; Prickly
Pear Valley is thirty Ave miles in length
and at out ten wide; Horse Prairie about
twenty by twenty the soil is generally
| + L. i -
Of the mountains, there are numerous
small vallies susceptible of cultivation
Any knowledge Of the country is confined
to a few mountaineers, and what they
know is very limited. 1t is in fact, nep
country, and remains to be explored, both
for its mineral resources and other advsn.
tages.
I have advised you already Of .
new road 10 this country from the Sweet
Water, or Pacific Springs, late arrivals
report it good, but that portion south Of
Snake River, dangerous to travel on &C.
coun, of the Green River Band of Snake
Indians, who have committed many dep
relations on the emigrants this season, u
train has arrived here that lost five men
killed, and two wounded, all from Colora.
do; they were attacked on the devide, be-
tween Bear and Snake rivers, Aug. l0th
about noon, the Indians being in ambush,
a portion only OF the whites were armed,
the fight lasted for nearly an hour, the
Indians lost seven or eight, they had cut
off two teams from the rear Of the train,
which they very deliberately loaded with
their dead and wounded, and drove off
They were we'll armed with rifles and re.
volvers, which they we'll knew how to USE
l heard Of their Purchasing two revelvers
from emigran's for which they paid sixty
and eighty dollars, in twenty dollar gold
pieces, of which they had good supply,
taken undoubtedly from emigrants whom
they had murdered. They are very bold,
having never yet, As we here express it,
been cleaned out by the whites, whom
they call squaws, who can, fight. They
uS"SA'C . osSoSsASf 0bu tui9A viii get II
this winter. The same party attacked a
California pack train, wounding Eve men
and killing twirtsen Of their horses. Mat.
Campbell was killed by them twenty five
miles north Of Ft. Snyder. He was known
to have large sum Of mon ey about his
person, his wagon partially loaded was
found in the road, near where he WAS
murdered, and brough. to Deer Lodge by
some acquaintences, he was from Denver
City. They killed enc man and won ed
two on the north side Of the FIRST Branch
Of Green River, about the first of July. =
Two men were killed seven miles east of
Antelope Spring on Sage Creek, on the
Satl Lake road, all Of whom were bound
for the Salmon River mines. These are
all, that have been able 70 collect, form
ing, 10 doubt, but small portion of their
| murders. but large enough to call down
the vengeance Of our people upon them.