The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-07-07
Idaho Territur1.


white population of about 10000, and
from present indications, WILL in anothe
year, contain population of 100000
1t is by far the largest and the most at
tractlve of our western territories. |
was organized last March. from portions
of Washington, Dakotoh and Nebraska
and is bounded on the north by British
America, south by Colorado, Nevada anG
Utah, east by Dakotah and Nebraska, and
west by Utah, Oregon and Washington
1t contains an area of 32S,323 square
miles, being more than six times the size
of the State of New York. It's name.
'Idaho," is an Indian word, signifying
"the Gem Of the Mountains"
There are two sections at present pop
ulated, remote from each other and isola-
ted, separated by the Rocky Mountain
range, and Inhabited by persons from diff
ferent sections. The western settlements
were peopled by gold-seekers from Cali
fornia, Oregon and the British Posses
sions-the northeastern settlements are
filled up from Colorado, and the States
bordering on the Mississippi river The
present indications are that the territory
will soon be divided, making two or more
large, prosperous, and wealthy States
rivalling California in wealth and popula-
tion-which will soon ask admission into
the Union. 1t fact, the area and resour-
ces of the Territory would seem to war
rant the erection of FIVE or six States from
the territory at present embraced within
it's limits
Western Idaho, or that portion border
ing on Washington and Oregon, was first
settled by gold-hunters from the Cariboo
Mines of British Columbia, who discov-
cred rich placers in Eastern Oregon aud
Washington, and, penetrating eastward,
found the precious metal along the Clear
water, Salmon, Boise and Snake rivers.
A rush of eInigrants from California, Or
egon and Washington soon followed
Many, of course, returned disappointed;
but it is estimated that not less than
twenty five thousand still remain. Some
moderate placers were found in various
localities but by far the richest was in
sink or basin near Florence, where few
men realized immense fortunes in a short
time from surface mines.
Lewistown, the present capital of Ida
ho, is located in the junction of Snake
and Clearwater rivers. 1t is also the lar
gest town in the territory, though it will
probably not long remain So With the
exception of two portages, the "Dallas"
and the Cascades" there is continuous
line of navigation from the mouth of the
Columbia to Lewistown Bannock-a
Scotch name-on the Boise river, is a
town of considerable size, in which
weekly newspaper is published. Orc Fl
30 and Elk City are also important towns
in this section
The settlements in Northeastern Idaho
are at this time attracting most attention.
In the spring of 1862, enticed by the re-
ports of rich placers on Salmon river, an .
immense emf gration started to that cOun- ;
Try from the western States and Terrific
-ies. Disappointed in their expectations
many of them returned; others concluded
% cross the mountains and prospect the
country about the head waters of the
They found more or less of
he precious metal as they proceeded, un-
il finally their expectations we're realized
n finding rich places on Grasshopper {
Jreek-one of the tributaries Of the JEFF f.
erson fork of the Missouri River-about /
hree hundred miles south of Fort Ben ,
on. A town was located there, called !
BaGnock City-named after prominent {
ribe of Indians inhabiting that region.
Che tide of emigration set thitherward ,and
3annock soon numbered its population
" thousands Soon after another dis
overy was made on Sinking Water
Jreek-another tributary of the Jackson
fork-about seventy miles northeast of
which proved to be the richest !
,lacer ever discovered in the Territory,
f not in America. Another town, called q
Tirginia City, was built up, which now ..
ontains about FIVE thousand inhabitants
the most successful mining community
n the continent. :
The surface mines of Idaho are aston :,
shing rich The disintegrating process .
as probably been assisted by powerful =
lacers, crushing the rocky strata, and q
eparating the gold on larger scale than l.
D lower ATTITUDES. :,
In some Instances nuggets weighing !,
hree or four pounds have been found,
nd as much as IA hundred dollars have
cen taken from a single pan Of dirt
;ut few lodges of quartz veins have as ~ ~
ct been found, and these are not much %
orked 1t is generally supposed that y
i the country east of the Rocky Mour-
ins washed by the Yellow Stone and its
ibutaries is auriferous, and that thou 10
md of rich placers will be discovered to n,
yerawe or subdue the savages.
There are several powerful and savage
ibes of Indians inhabiting that region, :,
nong whom are the Bannocks, the :.
makes or Shoshoners, the Nez Perces, III
!e Flatheads and Clackfeet. They are
unfriendly to the whites, and particu-
rly hostile to such as they imagine to to
Of LII II g cold