The Shasta courier., 1862-04-05
Going to the Mines.
PORTLAND, O, March %, 1862.

PORTLAND, ", March =, loOZ.
EpIroRs Courier my first letter, ow-
ing to the departure of the steamer sooner
than was at first announced, was hurried
to rather an abrupt conclusion. will now
endeavor to give you little more Of the
mines and miners. / have heard nothing
more here in regard to the richness of the
mines; the richness is generally conceded,
but many of the Oregonians have no conf
dence in the dlggings being extensive. An
old resident of this place told me that the
truth of the matter is, the merchants and
business men of Portland have no faith" in
the mines, but dare not say so publicly. As
to my own opinions, I haven't got any
There are so many conflicting stories here,
that it bewilders a person so that he cannot
tell what to believe. But / assure you, you
have heard all the good stories. l have not
heard good gold story since left Califor-
MIA. The Salmon River and Orc Fino dust
can be seen at Wells, Fargo & Co.'s, in this
place. Out of about $3.50 Salmon River dust
weigh twenty five cents, and probably one
fourth of it is what We would cal -four dust
There was some little quartz to be seen, and
it appeared not to, have been much washed.
The Oro Fino g6ld is very similar-perhaps
a little coarser and little smoother.
In my opinion, there will be several thou
sand persons here this summer, who will moi
obtain enough of either kind to buy their
salt. The rush perfectly astonishes me.
have seen Zen from every part of California,
and they say the crowd has not commenced
to come. There has probably been eight OF
ten thousand men in and about Portland, the
Dalles, and Walla Walla, within the last two
months, all bound for the mines, and in all
probability twenty thousand more will be
added to that number within eight weeks
That one out of hundred of this number
can make more than living, | do not be-
lieve. The result will be a great deal Of
suffering. Why, there are many here now,
to my certain knowledge, who have not twen-
ty-fve dollars, and many others who have
not one hundred dollars, which is not sufh
cient to take mar to the mines for month
to come. One fellow, just from the Atlantic
States, had the impudence to say that the
miners would not let them suffer, if they
could manage to get in there. Self pre-
servation is the first law of nature" and there
are but few who can more than fulfill this
law
| spoke to-day with two men who were
frozen ON their way from John Days River
to Deschuttes, distance of forty five miles.
They have lost nearly half the foot from the
toes back. They say that the first of May
is soon enough to leave here for Salmon Riv-
er, and perhaps ten days sooner would do
for other localities. Notwithstanding, hun,
dreds are starting every day for the Dalles,
ninety four miles by water, which is as far
as the steamers run yet, on account of ice.
From this point the miners proceed through
ten inches of snow, generally on foot, the
stages not yet running, to Walla Walla.-
From there they go in every conceivable way
from g shank mare,' hand sled or jump
er, to three-legged, one-eyed Cayuse; and
some two hundred have started from here in
small row. boats for Lewiston, 393 miles, in
tending to haul their boats around the port
ages.
Some of the Shasta county boys here have
gone up the river to the Dalles, where they
expect to pack from. / shall probably 60
within week. Flour is worth Sl2 per cwt.
at Wall. Walla, and other things higher in
proportion. The latest news from Salmon is
that the snow is six feet deep, and every
thing very high-from 81 to 81 25 per pound.
Board of very common kind, Mt first
class house in Portland, is $40 per week.
Cayuse Eorses, so poor they can scarcely
walk, soil from sixty to eighty dollars. Other
things here are about the same as in Shasta.
Farewell until SIN on the road again.
SHASTA