Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-02-01
Route to Salmon River Mines.
OLYMPIA, Jan. /, l.

I
EDITOR STANDARD: Since the dis
covery of gold on Salmon river. the
question has arose with those intend
ing tn 30 in search of the precious ore,
which Is the most feasible route of get
: ting there, more particularly with team
and wagon As many persons III this
section of country entertain n prefer
ence for that mode of travelling, who
may perhaps feel sufficiently interested
to read description of the Intervening
country, by one who, in the summer of
1852, had some experience in wander
ing over that almost unknown region
of country.
have no doubt of its entire practi-
oability by way Of Powder river; and
that portion between the Dalles and
where the emigrant road crosses Pow
der river, needs but little comment, as
it is generally y we'll known to all per-
sons who came to this Territory ria the
plains. From thence, there is a we'll
beaten Indian trail leading off in an
casterly direction, down the north side
Of Powder river, to its junction will,
Snake river, distance of about sixty
miles, over an open prairie and wild
sage country. The first twenty-five or
thirty miles is through level and fer
tile valley, to where Powder river en-
ters a deep canyon. The trail here
rises over an elevated sage plain and low
hills for fifteen or twenty miles, with
out water, when it again approaches
Powder river in the valley below the
canyon, continuing distance of about
twenty miles further to the bluff on
Snake river, which can, with some Ia
Dor, be made practicable for descent
with wagons, as l saw Indians ride
down it on horseback. The trail here
crosses Snake river, ascending the bluff
on the cast side, which recedes with q
gradual and easy slope. There is a
large Indian village built on the west
side, immediately above the confluence
of Powder with Snake river, which
was the last and most important village
seen in our descent of this river. The
Indians had no means of navi eating
the river except on RATS, made Of
rushes or other long grass tied together
in bundles, capable of floating four or
five men. The bluffs below this be-
came more abrupt; and about 25 miles
brought us to the mouth of the far
famed Salmon river, where it dcbouches
from high and craggy bluff on the
east side, through deep and narrow
gulch, down rocky slope some fifty
yards, to mingle its waters with Snake
river, which in many places through
this canyon runs in foaming torrent
About fifteen miles lower down the
Grand Ronde river cmpties in from n
south-westcrly direction. Opposite
Salmon river, the west bluff OF Snake
is about 600 feet high, which I ascend
ed to have prospect Of the country.
A well-watered and fertile valley ex-
tends from here westward to the foot
of high mountain or ridge, separating
it from the Grand Rondc valley on the
west, which mountain is visible from
the emigrant road. This course is the
most direct to reach Salmon river; and
this mountain or ridge can be crossed
by ascending the high land to the
south Of Grand Rondc valley, and con.
tinuing eastwardly until the summit is
passed, then again descending the val
ley below on the left, continuing down
it to the bluff Of Snake river, Keeping
on the south side of the streams cOnrs-
ing through it, to avoid crossing deep
canyon at the lower end of this valley.
The distance by this latter route es,i-
mate at sixty miles. Over this
ridge the country is Of barren and
volcanic nature, without water some
fifteen miles, and from which the coun-
try bordering on Salmon river is dis
tinctly visible. It's conical mountains
present in the distance the appearance
Of mammoth hay stacks, standing pro-
miscuOusly over q vast extent Of coun-
try with their bald tops looming mp
into the blue horizon: and far in the
southeast, one of those conc like peaks
sends up its curling wrcaths Of smoke
to minglc with the clouds, adding ma
terially to the grandeur Of the natural
scenery around.
GEORGE A. TlKEL