Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-03-25
RRom InAao.

Tho Milwaukee Sentinel publishes state.
msnt received from q. n DAYS, formerly .
prominent business man Of Wisconsin and
one Of the 0rst discoveries of the Idaho gold
Mines, who is on his way to Washington
Hs recommends the rou,s by Sioux City as
the shortest and best route. The Sentinel
says:
ANY one can see by glance at the map
that the settlements in Northwestern iowa.
Northern Nebraska and Southern Dacotah
ara nearer the Idaho mines than any other
settlements east Of the Rocky Mountains.-
The distances given have been obtained from
reliable persons, who have been over and are
familiar with the route, and on the whole
route from Sioux City to Gallatin there Is not
. single mountain to cross, and after leaving
the Missouri there is not stream that il not
easily forded, except the Big Horn and the
Yellowstone, which have to be and are easily
fcrried. The Missouri has ferries established
at Sioux City, and the towns above up to Fl.
Randall. After leaving Sioux City, for the
first one hundred miles the route passes thro'
the fine and tiourishing settlements Of North
eyn Nebraska and Southern DacotSh. For
the next three hundred and twenty miles il
passes along the Fort Laramie road up the
Niobrara River, both sides of which have
been travelled by trains during the Pixies
Peak excitement Of 1863, and along which
there is wood enough, plenty Of grass, and
excellent water, and on the south side loads
have been taken, averaging 1900 pounds to
the yoke of cattle. From the Niobrara to
the Big Horn river, the route passes over a
coaatry often travelled by the fur traders, and
they all agree that it is 3 good route. G. l..
Tackett, a citizen of Sioux City, we'll known
there to be perfectly reliable, says he has
travelled the country with loaded OK teams
and pack horses and mules, and describes i,
Is high bench prairie, crossed with many
little sire ans and having plenty Of wood fol
trains, and al abundance Of grass, and the
fnsst water, and is first rate route. From
the Big Horn to Galatin you pass over a fms
prairie country, with plenty of wood, water
and grass the whole route, being nearly d..
rect--the most direct Of any one that has
ever been Travelled by teams. Mr. Boysnary,
guide we'll acquainted with the country, will
accompany the train, when all who wish to
60 With him can join there. \ Government:
escort will go along
A comparison with other routes shows tina,
the Sioux City route is from $50 to 600 miles
of land transportation nearer than the otl-
ers, and better route for wood, water and
grass, with much better roads Mr. Davis !
estimates the present population Of Idaho al
10000, and the gold dust in the hands of
miners at not over Is COO, 600.
The gold is usually found in gu!ches where
stream either now runs or has formerly run
and can be easily turned back in. At Viz.
GINA City there is a layer Of worthless dirt
come sixteen feet deep, which must be thrown
OF before reaching the pay Dirt in which
the gold dust is found. When Mr. Davis
left Virginia City, -four was $35 per HI ndrtd
pounds, bacon 40 cents per pound, and beef
20 cents. The price Of beef is comparatively
low, owing to the vast numbers Of wild cattle
which are found there. Board costs $21 per
week, and pretty plain board il is. toe. But
men get ten dollars day for labor in the
mines, and higher rates if they have trade,
or engage in business for themselves Farm.
ing is carried on with great success. Mr..
Davis mentioned Gallatn, Deer Lodge and
Bidiy Roost Valleys as places where money
had been made last year at farming. lie
thinks Idaho fully equal to California as an
agricultural region, but we must beg leave to
accept the statement cum grdno sails as the
saying is. Mr.. D. advises emigrants to take
cattle with them to Idaho, in preference to
horses, as they are more serviceable on the
route, and better property after reaching their
destination. There are Indian ponies in great
plenty at the mines, and they are sold at an
average of about $50. They are quite docle
being used for every purpose for which
horse is required in those parts.