The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15
THE IDAHO MINES.
Letter from a Minnesotian OF
Cant. Fisk's Party Of 1862.

We are permitted to make the following
extracts from a private letter received in
this city: ,.
BANNoGK CRY. Sept. IL, 1868.
* / shall now endeavor to
give you brief sketch of my history since
leaving Minnesota, as far as my memory
serves me. l left St. Paul on the 10th of
June, 1862; reached Abercrombie on the
Cd or Sd of July; nothing of Importance
having TRANSFERRED. Left Abercrombe on
the 9TH of July and reaehed Fort Union
on or about the 7th of August. l will
here state that the road is good. We had
no difficulty with our leeds. We encoun-
tered large herds of buitalOes, several OF
which were killed for US, choice piece
being taken from each and the rest OF the
animal left for the wolves. The feed for
stock was plenty and very good. Some
of our cattle we're troubled with the hOof
all, ard would advise any man intending
to cross the plains, to guard against this
evil. Let me refer you for full particulars
to Capt James L. Fisk's report of the ex-
petition, which is as true and correct an
accoun. as can be given.
After leaving Fort Benton we struck
out for the Deer Lodge Valley, with the
intention of wintering there, but finally
brought up at Prickly Pear, about one
hundred and eighty miles from Benton,
where there was small party mining.
Not finding the precious metal plenty
enough there, we struck out for this place,
where, to our delight, we were agreeably
disappointed in finding good diggings.
AS others got sll the good claims,
went to prospecting, but not finding in
couple of weeks anything that would pay
I came back, and company Of six of us
came to the agreement that we would
build saw mill. We worked all winter
at it and got it running about the 10Th OF
April of this year. This has proved to
be profitable business. AT present my
self and brother have charge of the mill
and are doing an extensive business. We
are numbering, mining and teansing. l
en- making it pay.
A few words about the mines and l
shall come to a close. Bannock City is
nearly played out, so fsr as gulch mining
is concerned. There are quartz lodes
here, but as yet only enc quartz mill,
though / hear of several others OF the
road coming here. The quartz they are
working yields about three hundred tiol-
lars to the cord, which is considered
very good yield. There are in the gulch
about enc thousand inhabitants, and 81
the new mines, known as Virginia City,
there are about eight thousand people and
more coming. 1t is my opinion there
will be twenty thousand people here be-
fore winter sets in.
Now I Will state seine facts which have
come under my own observation. l have
seen $3.50 taken out in one dag by four
men. 1 have also seen 5000 to the pan
full of dirt. l could make some big
statements which are true, but such cases
are very rare. As general thing-to
estimate an average for those who are
mining in the new mines--they are max
ing about $40 day to the hand, which
makes all kinds of business lively.
Tell -- that freighting is very
good business here, and | will state the
prices of staple articles that he may judge
for himself: Flour, per bbl., $40; bacon,
SOC per h.; coffee, 81 per h.; tea, So per
b.; whisky, $5a1O per gallon, according
to quality; good long handled steel show
els, S14 each; picks, SIS; dry goods six
times as much as in St. Paul These are
the present prices, yet the market is fuc-
tuating and there is no confidence to be
placed in it. / would not advise any man
to enter upon the enterprise of freighting
goods here, calculating upon such prices.
Wages here, Sc day, and hands very
scarce at that.
do not wish to encourage you or any
one to migrate to this country, but I will
simply give my opinion. 1t is that man
who works for a living, voluntarily or by
compulsion, in these troublesome times,
can do better here than at home, and my
advice to working men is to come here.
Yours, PC, BRAY.
CONSUMPTION LaW--AnOther Rumor