The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-02

From GUY NJ. SALISBURY, formerly VI N
land, MIMI, who has recently returned nom
Virginia City, and is at present stopping At 'ne
Merchants Hotel in this city, we learn so"ie
interesting facts concerning the gelo country
of Idaho and the emigration thereto. MIR.
SALsBuRy left Virginia City the 18th OF July
and coming bv the express coaches to Salt
Lake and thence by Holldays mail line
through Denver to Atchison, reached Chicago
in eighteen days.
THE INDIAN WAR.
At the time Mr.. SALISBURY came through,
the Indian war had but Just commenced. A
few emigrants had been murdered and attacks
had been made upon their trains, but, for some
reason, the Indians hesitated for some weeks
to interfere with the mail coaches, Git was sup
posed because they looked upon them as es-
pecially under the protection of the Great
Father,) and, though himself and companions
expected and prepared for an attack they were
not molested.
THE EMIGRATION.
When he left Virginia city a few of the first
immigrants of the season had reached there.
Between Salt Lake City and Denver he met, it
is estimated, about twenty-five thousand per-
sons, nearly oil of whom were bound for Ida
no, though some were going to Arizona and
California At Atchison he was informed that
from one thousand to fifteen hundred had gone
up the Missouri river during the season. Add
to these the large emigration that has gone
overland through Dakota, and it will be seen
that the emigration from the States to Idaho
70 full fhnuSqnd
Numbers of last years emigration were prepar-
ing to return home, and more would be glad to
come if they could, though the war and the
drafts make some of them contented to remain
there and do the best they can, while the In
dian troubles on tine plains will also prevent
their returning. Of those who went up the
Missouri river early this season, a large portion
were discouraged by delays on account of the
low water and the Indians, and came back with
out going to the mines.
GAIT FIsKs REPRESENTATIVES,.
Our informant was told by few of the men
in Idaho who were in bad luck and discOur-
aged. (and these he says constituted a majority
of the population. that it would be unsafe for
Capt. FISK to show himself among them, but
he thinks, for all that, that the Captain could
90 there and run no risk. Notwithstanding
that some of the unlucky miners consider
themselves to have been deceived by the Cap
tains representations of the richness and eX-
tent of the gold mines, Mr.. SALISBURY consid-
ers that the Captains report was entirely cor
rect, and his anticpations of further rich dis
coveries were justified by all that was last sea-
son known of the country.
THE QUARTZ MINES.
Bannocll City remains nearly deserted, the
bulk of the population being on the Sinking
water At Bannock, two quartz mills are in
operation, one running by steam and the other
by water. The latter is reported to be doing
biz paying business. He believes, from all he
saw and could learn of the quartz leads, that
the goId-bearing quartz will pay we'll for work.
ing and is in sufficient quantity to support
large population. But quartz mining requires
capital to put up crushing mills and to pay
workmen, and few of the gulch miners make
sufficient fortune to attempt it, and hardly any
of those care to remain in the country after
they have made their pile.
THE GUICH MINES.
The paving gulch diggings are now believed
to be entirely confined to the Stinkingwater
or Virginia City gulch. The country has been
prospected as far east as the Yellowstone.
Here, where it was believed extensive and rich
diggings would be found, careful prospecting
developed no paving dirt. There is but very
little gold on the Yellowstone, not enough to
pay for working.
WHO ARE MAKING MONEY.
The large emigration to Idaho will result in
many thousands being badly disappointed.
The miners generally are not making money.
Those who are making money are the carriers
of freight, few of the rancho men, the claim
spectators and those who were early on the
ground and secured the first choice of hest
paying claims on the Stinckingwater.
WAGES AND PRICES.
Wages paid to laborers and miners were DC
to SO day. Board was $18 week. Flour
rency Grccnbacks were bought at so to GO
cents on the dollar.
MINNEsOTIASS.
Captain Maxwell, formerly of st. Paul, was
At Virginia City, doing well, and holds quartz
claims out of which he hopes to make his for
tune. Mr. Cashier of st. Paul was keeping an
eating and boarding house ana billiard saloon
at Virginia City. and doing good business.
Tom. Conner, of st. Paul, was manufacturing
buckslin goods at Virginia City and making
money by it. JACOB OuRvIDER of Hudson,
Wis, had good prospect on the Stinkingwa-
ter and was bound to stay. Mr.. PRENTICE. of
Lakeland, was in the hay and rancho business,
about twenty-five miles north from Virginia
City and doing well. Mr.. SALIBuRY, for the
short time he was there, appears to have done
well enough. He brings with him several
fine specimens, and among the rest valuable
ring manufactured by an Idaho workman from
the native gold, which is a beautiful specimen
of workmanship.
NEW GOLD COUNTRY.
Early in July large number of miners were
leaving Virginia City for the Dacottineau coun-
try (probably the country of the Cootanies,
west of the Mountains) in British Columbia.
1t was reported that gold discoveries had been
made there, of four or five long gulches. each
as rich as that at Virginia City. By this fall,
returns will be made from there, and if that