The weekly union record., 1864-06-25
Letter from Lewiston, Idaho Territory

Lewiston, May 90, 1864
Having had time to look about aud post
myself regarding the mines, will give the
conclusions at which have arrived.
The mines throughout this section, for
distance of l60 miles from here, embracing
Warren's DiggiDgs. Florence, Elk City, Orc
Fino and Slate creek, as well as many other
points, are mostly in a state of development
True, some of these mines have been worked
for two years; nevertheless, think the future
will bear me cut in my opinion. The principal
mining done so far has been in the creeks and
bars almost entirely, the hills not having re-
ceived much attention. The want of capital
has been one cause of this, but another and
more potent cause is that the class holding the
paying claims in this country is principally
composed of prospectors-men who will strike
out into o new country, make a hard ard dill
gent search of the creeks, etc. for gold, enduring
hardships ard privaions of all kinds until the
precious metal is struck, and then work just
enough to supply them with grub. clothes, and
last but not east-whisky. Thus, the yield
of gold has not been so great as might have
been expected and therefore men with capital
have hcsi'ated about seeking an investment
here. But now, as the mines are better known
ard the hills are becoming prospected, the
capital necessary TO develope the immense
mineral wealth of this Territory is gradually
finding its way here. bitches are being con-
structed, the old prospectors are selling ont and
seeking new gold fields, and the mines are being
gradually Caitorniai-ed- by no more ex
pressive term can l explain the systematic
methods of mining now being inaugurated in
all the mines Of this section. More than this,
the country has not been prospected. Save
here and there, where some gold seeker chanced
TO find it in large quantities and in the imme
diate neighborhood of mining camps, there has
been no thorough prospecting. Up and down
the Snake river, from the mouth of Palousc 10
Salmon river, on nearly every bar miners stop
during the winter months, when unable to get
into the mountains, and with rocker" or
grizzly" make from S5 to $40 per day but,
when spring opens, Off they go in search Of some
FL Dorado where gold is thickly strewn. Were
these bars worked as well and faithfully as have
been the banks Of old Feather, the amount Of
gold would be immense. and there is room
enough for as many as can come. But do not
think that all who come will grasp fortune.
and steady, perseveripg efforts. AT present,
news from the different minpg localities is very
encouraging; work is lively, and labor in de-
mand-wages ranging from s. to 81.
This place is very dull this spring, although
the news from the kootenai mines is enlivening
it some. Some 400 head of horses and mules
have left for there in the last two weeks, and on
Saturday last two six mule teams started out
These 60 as far as the Pen D'Orielle (pro-
nounced Pen DorG,O, from whence is a good
trail directly TO The mines-some l60 miles.
Should these mines prcve as good as the first
accounts would indicate, il will build this town
up considerably. there being from 40 TO so
miles less land travel BY the Lewiston route
than any other. Already, the class spoken of
in former part Of this letter are selling out
and leaving for the new d'ggins- Every day
they can be seen starting out in bauds Of two
or three, with one or two kiuse or Indian ponies
apiece, and grub enough to last three or four
months. These men seem to know no other
JOY than thus to strike of into the woods,
camping out and living as rough, if not worse,
than the Indians who iphabit the country
through which they roam. These mines are
situated Oh and near the kootenai river, one
of the tributaries of the Columbia, although
gold has been found upon several creeks 10 the
immediate vicinity of the first discovery The
gold is of very fine quality, very much resem-
bling the scale gold that used TO be taken ont
on the bluff at Oroville. Messrs. Hurley L Co. /.
asSayed some, a few days ago, that was was
worth 1896 per ounce The mines are on the
direct range from The Carriboo TO those Of the
Boise Basin and Intervening mines. and are
another link in the grea, golden chain that
extends along the entire Pacific slope. But,
even should the best news We have prove true,
ii is no dead thing" one car hit upon his for
tune by going there. The seasons are very
short and the winters very severe, and person,
if be has to spend much time in prospecting,
will get but little chance to work the first year.
Yet every day men are disposing of claims that
pay from SIS 10 $50 aud SIS for a trihe, and
leaving. A company is about being organized
io' he p7rHose o. prospecting he hea1va,e.s