Boise news. (Bannock City, I.T. [Idaho City, Idaho]) 1863-1864, 1864-01-23
From the Washington Statesman
HELL-GATE, |. T., Dec. lst, 1876

fELL-GATE, l. l., dec. lsC, 1865.
EDS. STATESMAN Il write you again, Just
rs the mail is about leaving, so as to keep you
posted as to the 'goings on" in this part of
the world, Winter already appears to have
set in, for ten inches of snow fell in this val
ley on the 25lh Of Nov, and it is now clear
and the air is full of frost. How cold it is
we dc not know, as we have no thermometer
We judge by our feelings that it is down to
'freeze-o OH" The small streams are all frozen
over, and the people are showing their APP
probation Of the first coming of the winter 5
snow by sleighing, etc,
The opening ball of the season was given
at Mr.. Shaw's, on Thursday night. 1t was
attended by the elite of the valley, consisting
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 gentlemen portion Of the COM
pany was made up of French principally, with
mixture of halfbreeds and Americans, as
is usual in frontier settlement. AS may be
imagined, the dancing was not of a very re-
Cherche style; continual round Of quadrilies,
nterspersed with iigS and one or two stag
dances, formed the evenings entertainment.
L A.
adjoining cabin, and we adjourned to partake
of col alton of cold beef, served in large tin
pans, bread strewed around loose on plates,
coffee not quite so well prepared as hotel
coffee usually is, and pie OF dried apples, with
a crust somewhat like leather, which formed
the principal portion of the food but with
the high prices reigning here, it could hardly
be expected that a very extensive feed could
be set out for the moderate sum of two dol
lars and half, with a fiddler thrown into the
bargain. At about two-and -a-half A. M, a
small mus 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 re-
sumed, and all went on as usual, until the
female portion were tired out, when quadrlIes
ceased and stag dances were the order Of The
night until daylight, when all hands retired
to their home, tired as usual.
1t is now the time Of the year when but
little news is aAOat 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 to twenty cents
per pound, beef is Ii to 20c, and everything
in proportion. kootenay mines are very
quiet. Ihave seen a party who have been ap
III that country this summer, and they say
they are going back in the spring. They re-
port prospects Of forty cents to the pan. This
was found in dry gulch, where there was
no chance to run any water; but they think
they can dnd good dggingS. A party of
Frenchmen have already returned from there
bringing with them some five or six hundred
dollars in DUST In the course of This month
we shall know something more definite in re-
gard to this region, as party has gone up
rom here to see what he can see, and report
AS the indefatigable mail carrier has his
logs harnessed up and snow shoes ready for
Ills start across the Bitter Root mountains,
must close this letter,and will write you again
when some more news comes within reach of
Yours TRULY.