The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-05-12
The New Territory of Idaho.

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Idaho is an Indian word. signifying "Eae
Gem Of the Aountrins.'' y an appropriate
name for the magnificent empire which, by
the organic act of Congress. dated March
Sd, 1868, bears this appeilation. Carved
out of Washington, Dacotah and Nebraska.
and bounded north bv h, itish America,
east by Dscotah and Nebraska, south by
Co'orldo and Utah, and west by Utah, Or
egnn and Washington. it contains sa6, 900
square miles. being times as large as New
York, and five times the size of New Eng
land. The Rocky mountains divide it a
little west OF the central line. It is the
fountain head Of many Of the great rivers
of North America, whose waters flow into
the Gnlfs Of Mexico and California, the Pa
cific Ocean and Hudson Bay. The Mis-
souri,. Yellow Stone. North. Platte, Samnon,
Colorado, Saskatchewan. and the great trib.
utaries Of the Columbia, have there source
amid its mountains. The Yellow Stone
and samon are wholly within its limits.
On the west side IF the noun tains. and at
the junction Of the Clearwater and the
Snake River, is situated Lewiston, the lar
gest town 10 the territory. and the princi.
pie capital, up to which point the Snake is
navigabe for steamboats, Of light draught.
thus making continuous line of naviga
ton from the mou OF the Columbia, with
= r # ~. H.-s aa j. H H'
the exception Of two portages on the latter.
called the ''Dalles'' and The Cascades. -
Its newly found gold fields are the richest
and most extensive vet developed, and owe
their discovery to the reAux of the wave
fof gid seeking that have been rolling for
several years from the older States toward
the Pacificcoast. At Soda Springs rFort
Gorner) no north of Salt Lake, the East
ern Iana, Westerr currents of emigration
meet and pour into Idaho in one cSsnnel
From the East by way Of Platte valley, and
from California by way of Salt Lake. The
marvellous gold regions already discovered
have called from between thirty and forty
thousand settlers into idaho The terrific
ry imperfect!y organized, nnsurveved, and
large portion of it wholly unexplored,
hut the yields of the minds already opened,
on both sides of the mountains, places Ida.
ho on level with Colorado and Califor.
ni,, for the extent and richness of its au-
riferous stores The gold il found as in
California, both in guches AMI in quartz,
The yield Of the gulch, in which are loca.
ted Virginia, Nevada and Summit Cities
in Eastern Idaho on the tributaries OF the
Jefferson fork Of the Missouri, since its
discovery. in July last, is estimated to have
been at least halfa million dollars week.
Virginia City, built of hewn logs. few
stone buildings excepted, and hut of few
days growth, contains some 5. 900 inhabi
tants, and is connected with Bannock CITY,
seventy miles south by two lines, of coaches.
Between the latter place and Salt Lake
City, about 500 miles distant, a weekly
four horse coach is run-fare, $50; time
eight davs. a Goverpment post route be-
tween these cities is to 90 into operation
the coming year, and line Of telegraph to
be constructed. Bannock City has school,
stores. saloons, and q city organization,
with courts. aldermen and other officers.
IL is an interesting fact that upon Grass.
hopper Greek, twelve miles northwest of
Bann ock. mines were found last August m
which are abundent evidences of ancient
mining. In mining shaft pine tree one
foot in diameter is growing and near by q
couple Of timber huts are still standing, but
bearing marks ofgreat age. 'a
The Territory Of Idaho affords great