, 1864-01-02
From Our lei aate oorrespondent.

HE'LL NAIE, L. l., OGC. lSU, lOOO.
EDS STATESMAN II write you again,
Just as the mail is about leaving, SO as to
keep you posted as to the goines on " in
this part Of the world Winter already APP
pears to have set in, for ten inches of snow
fell in this valley on the evening Of the 10Th
Noy., and it is now clear and the air is full
of frost How cold it is we do not know, as
we have no thermometer; we judge by our
feelings that it is down to " freeze-oh." The
small streams are all frozen over, and the
people are showing their appreciation of the
first coming of the winters snow by sleigh
ing, etc su ... a.sr
The opening ball of the season was given
at Mr.. Shaw's, on Thursday night. 1t was
attended by the elite of the valley, consist
ing, on the part of the ladies, of Mrs. H.,
Miss W., Mrs. and Miss NJ, and-two ladies
Of pure American blood, formerly from Snake
River. The gentleman portion of the COM
with mixture of halfbreeds and Ameri-
cans, as usual in frontier settlement. AS
may be imagined, the dancing was not of a
very recherche style; continual round OF
quadrilles, inteTspersed with jigs and one or
two stag dances, formed the evenings enter
tainment. At A. NJ. the supper table was
spread in an adjoining cabin, and we adjourn
ed to partake of a collation. of cold beef,
served in large tin pans, bread strewed around
loose on plates, coffee not quite SO well pre-
pared as hotel coffee usually is, and pie OF
dried apples, with a crust somewhat like
leather, which formed the principle portion
Of the food but with the high prices reign
ing here, it could hardly be expected that a
very extensive feed could be set out for the
moderate sum of two dollars and half, with
fiddler thrown into the bargain. At about
p A. M, a small muss was started in the
dancing hall, caused by bad whisky, which
disturbed the harmony of the scene for few
minutes. When quiet was restored the
dancing was resumed, and all went on as
usual, until the female portion were tired
out, when quadrilles ceased and stag dances
were the order Of the night until daylight
when all hands returned to their homes, tired
as usual
1t is now the time of year when but little
news is ahoat from abroad, and we are obliged
to get up news for ourselves. The mines
are freezing up, suppose, and this month
will bring down many miners here to winter
Flour is already up to20c. per pound, beef
is 15c. to Zoe, and everything elsei in pro
portion. Kootenay mines are very quiet. !
have seen a party who have been up in that
country this summer, and they say they are
going back in the spring. They report pros
poets of forty cents to the pan. This was
found in dry gulch, where there was nc
chance to run any water; but they think
they,ca find good diggings A party O
Frenchmen have already returned from
there, bringing with them some five or siz
hundred dollars in dust. In the course o.
this month we shall know something more
definite in regard to this region, as a party
has gone up from here to see what he car
see, and report accordingly.
AS the indefatgable mail carrier has biz
dogs harnessed up and snow shoes ready fol
his start across the Bitter Root Mountains,
must close this letter, and will write yOr
again when same more news comes withir
reach of Yours TRULY.