Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-12-24

stream. Road middling Warm this af-
ternoon, but cool breeze was blowing.
Wednesday, 4ugust l3. Roads rough
up and down-rocky Passed fine
sulphur spring. Drove about Is miles
and eamped on Burch creek, three miles
from its mouth, where We met 500 Of the
lst Oregon Cavalry Regiment, who are
out after the redskins. They are fine
and noble looking set of men and if they
come across Mr. Indian, cold lead will be
used to advantage, Or l shall be mistaken
They are commanded by Lit. Col Murray
We have driven about Is miles. Very
warm day. Good grass to night
Thursday, 4ugust IA Drove 7 miles
and came to Burnt river, which We have
crossed 3 times to day. Road rough-up
and down-steep pitches-rocky Drove
about 10 miles in ALL Camped on Burnt
river, which runs in a narrow valley be-
tween high, broken bluffs Our drive to-
day has been over the ground where Van
Ormans train was massacred by the In
dlans tvo years ago. Good grass
Friday, august Is Continued in Burnt
river valley shis forenoon. Crossed it 6
times, and the north fork times After
| dinner, left tie river and drove five miles
ali together. Road rough-up and down
| rocky, dusty, little good Warm but
| pleasant
Saturday, August Is. We droue about
10 miles this forenoon, and left the last
| branch of Burnt river Next water we
| came to is Powder river, which we reach
ed about p. NJ. after driving about Is
miles this afternoon, over up and down
but good roads. Warm-iu fact hot. Men
and stock pretty well fatigued to night
| Fair grass.
| Sunday, 4ng. H. We laid in camp and
Monday morning 4ug Is, we started for
the town of AUBURN Is miles distant
which is located away up in the Powder
river mountains, in thick heavy pine for
rest, and in the midst of the mines. The
| ii-oo Us SoVii was DuIIt mere some GlUht
weeks go. There are now about 80 here
and they are springing up like mushrooms
every day By the time cold weather sets
in Aurburn will be town of at least IOC
good log cabins. 1t has now population
OF about 400 or 800 and is increasing dai
! ly. Ihe mines, as near as | can ascertain
are very rich, but cannot be worked ex-
tensively at present, on account of the
scarcity of water A great many claims
are idle on account of the dry season, but
those that can be worked pay from an
ounce, to 2 and 3 ounces to the man Gold
has be en- discovered along Powder river
about so miles, and also on Burnt river
% miles from here and John Days river
80 miles west. The general impression
amongst the miners here is that this is br
far the richest gold country known al
present on the Pacific coast There are
a good many Californians here Also a
good many from the Salmon mines. |
have talked with quite number of Sal
mon river miners, and from what | can
gather the case stands about as follows
The mines that have been struck on Sal
mon river are about $50 miles from Fort
Walla Walla, and are all in basin in the
mountains about 20 miles square These
mines are very rich, paying from $50 to
$1,000 per day to the man, but this ground
| has all been claimed There are from
10000 to 10000 men there and thousands
are prospecting through the mountains,
but as yet nothing of Importance has been
discovered, except this basin. The town
of Florence is the commercial metronalis
of the Salmon mines Wagons can be ia
| ken from Walla Wal'a to within about sc
miles of Florence, but no further-this
80 miles strip has to be packed over and
is a very rough pack road, which makes
provisions very dear there, -four ranging
from so cents to 81 so per ID, and other
provisions in proportion.