Boise news. (Bannock City, I.T. [Idaho City, Idaho]) 1863-1864, 1864-09-10
SOUTH BOISE.

what is better, we have got back again. In
company with two travelling partners we Wis
tied, last week, the Bear creek District Of
Alturas. The road from this city TO Rocky
Bar or Esmeralda, lies over a very rugged
and mountainous country-yet is a much
better route from this Basin than any other,
it being only forty eight miles, while by any
other route it is not less than one hundred
and thirty. Starting from Idaho at noon,
welsucceeded in removing a very large sized
mcantan to our west and arriving at Middle
Boise river, atGlaze & Co.'s, where, for ST so
per meal and So night to hay for our horse,
we we're generously permitted to sleep on
sweet, freshly cured hay, without charge, J
and arose much refreshed in the morning
Starting out from this place at an early hour
we assembled the Middle Boise ridge, where
we enjoyed most extensive and beautiful
landscape, and appreciated in the highest
degree the application of the name of the
county-Alturas, for it is certainly in the high
heavens. At noon we stopped an hour and
caught nineteen trout in Roaring river. A
lew miles further on we stopped at the Noun
tain house and inquired as to the character
of the road before US, to which we were as
Sured in the most matter-of fact manner pos
sible, that it was a "perfect water grade all
the way in to the lodges" This was rather
? sumner, but being doomed to learn by sad
Experience what we failed to get by inquiry,
We continued our course over the divide be-
iween Middle and South Boise, and learned
Dr. atleast come to the conclusion that "Water
grade" Ia new term in philosophy meant the
greatest possible angle at which water could
pc said to run and not make a clear vault of
,he ground. Guided and iDpelled onward
more by the attraction of gravity than by any
notion of our own, we were fortunate enough
through series of someGsaults and sliding,
0 drop promiscuously from declivity into
he town of Rocky Bar. Rocky Bar is situa-
Jed in deep canon on Bear creek, a mile
boTe its junction with Red Warrior creek
ia the right, and about mile and halffrom
Elk creek on the left. Below the junction of
hese three creeks the stream takes the name
L Feather river, whichruns some six or eight
piles and empties into South Boise from the
rest. The name of the town of Rocky Bar
. called from the huge piles of granite rock
Ihich literally cover the fiat upon which it
located, is gradually being changed by
ommon consent, to that of EsmeraIda, which
C suppose is for the purpose of complying
18th the statutes making Esmeralda the
ounty seat. Upon the three creeks just
entioned, and the surrounding mountains
re situated the almost innumerable Lodges {
f South Boise. The want Of time prevented |
S from visiting many of the .mines-in fact, !
weeks time would not be sufficient to see ,
hem all. The Esmeralda, Confederate Star, c
Omstock, Emmett and Independence on the
orth side of Bear creek the Ada Elmore on
ne south bank of the same the Richmond, |
liver Star, Golden Eagle, Cuba and Flying Q
utchman on Red Warren, and Ophir on Elk /
'eek are among the leading lodges from
hich rock has been worked by the arastra
recess, and found to yield from SIS to $3.50
er tom The arastras-of which there are
xty to eighty in operation-are run by water !
over, the waters of the various creeks being 1
ken up for this purpose. They are situated i
such intervals along the streams as to al
4 no waste of fall; as soon as the water is
eleased from one mill it is taken out in
itch and conveyed to another. Among the
usiness firms, without disparagement to any, 4
e would place Cartee & Gates at the head l
pr enterprise and energy. They have large
team sawmill in operation, which is turning
ut all the lumber required in the market
nd to which they have recently added bat
FRY of FIVE stamps for crushing quartz-the 4
rst in the country--which was to be ready
)r operation on Tuesday of this week. This
ill do more towards developing the country
nd giving US standard of its wealth than
II the arastras now at work They intend
baking their first run from the Allure ledge. =
nd we shall look with much interest for the
asult billy & Dover seem to be doing the -
rincipal mercantile business. They have a
arge stock of groceries and provisions, and
it'll all, are gentlemen; we should like to
ae them prosper. We don't mean to say
ley have hotel connected with their bust n
ess but thew have n most hanny faculty cfI X