The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-12-25

of the mountains, and in Deer Lodge
Valley. Cottonwood City, on Deer Lodge
River and Prairie, is a village of two or
three hundred Inhabitants. This is the
home OF John Grant, wi o, himself, as
well as his father, has been heard OF by
all Rocky Mountain men. The village is
thriving, and carries on profitable trade
with the mines, where they sell their pofa-
toes at 25 to 90 cents pound, and other
produce in proportion.
On the Gallatin River, sixty miles from
the Stinkingwater, cattle and vegetables
are also raised, and the soil is very rich,
with favorable climate The agricultu-
raj region of which the Gallatin River
Valley is part, extends for over,a hundred
miles in each direction, and would support
an immense population. Farther east, on
the Big Horn and other rivers, is farm
ing country of immense extent, said to be
equal to the best lands of the Northwest.
NEW ROUTE PROPOSED
Capt. Fisk suggests that now he would
like to try new route to the Idaho mines,
which, being more direct, would save
few hundred miles in distance. This route
would be, starting from Fort Ridgley or
St. Cloud, almost direct and with the 45th
parallel, following, beyond the Missouri,
the Divide along the headwaters of the
Little Missouri and tributaries of the
Yellowstone.
In ordinary seasons steamboats, can as
cend the Missouri, the Yellowstone and
Big Horn rivers to within two hundred
miles of Virginia City by good roads. In
favorable seasons, small boats might ap-
proach still nearer by the Yellowstone.
In conclusion, we give some items of
local interest, obtained from Capt. FISK
by the Press: ..-,
ST. PAUL BOYS AT THE MINES.
Captain Fisk gives q very encouraging ac-
count of the Saint Paul boys who went out in
his party in 1862. He saw them all and re-
ports that without an exception they are doing
we'll.
N. P Langford is Postmaster at Bannock
City (Which was founded by Minnesotians) and
is member of the Idaho Legislature from Vir-
ginia City district. r. G. Knox and John B.
Spencer are partners in the building business
at Virginia City. They are doing well and
have had good luck Pine lumber is obtained
from the various water power mills in the re-
gion of which there are four at or near Ban
mock. and three at Virginia City, which is 60
miles east of Bannock. The logs are hauled
down from the mountains in the winter on the
snow. Tom Connor is at work tailoring. He
was making lots of money at making and fac
ing buckskin suits for miners. DR.. c. w. Bid
die was practicing Dentistry and speculating at
BannOck. A little daughter has been added to
his family recently
Judge I. F. Hoyt is on his way home, not
having been successful. Limpey Castner is
keeping boarding house at Bannock City. He
is making more money than the miners do.
Miss Donnelly, who went out in his family, has
married a miner. Ladies are scarce in Idaho
and many young men would set up households
could they get wife to grace it.
Charley St. Clair and Mike Dobbins are min
ers at Fairweather's Gulch. 9. w. Iddings is
a miner at Evans Gulch. They are all taking
out the nuggets In fine style. Thos. H. Clarke
has gunsmith's shop at Virginia City. Capt.
Maxwell has billiard saloon at BannOck. JAS.
Marsden of Mounds View township, and Al
bert Egnell of Rice Lake, are mining at Prckly
Pear Valley. The Cobbs, father and son, are
poets are good. r. NJ. Spencer is at kees
River, Nevada.
THE REST OF THE MINNESOTIANS.
All the Saint Anthony boys are well pleased
The Little Falls delegation are doing exceed
ingly well. James Fergus and o. j. Rockwell
are miniag at Fairweather Gulch on a claim
that yields them 500 each per day clear profit
VIM. SturSis has a Saw Mill near BannOci
John Ault, of Fort Ripley, is builder at Vir-
ginia City. The only casualty happening to
them was the supposed death of VIM Mitcher
and 10 Brown, Of st. Anthony. They went out
to hunt lost stock, and were never heard of
again. These are the only deaths, SO far as
known, among the whole Fisk darty of 1862.