The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-11-18
LETTER FROM MONTANA.

The following letter from Mr.. johnson Vol.
verton, citizen of Montana and well known
in this camp, was received a few days since
By Mr.. J. R. Totman. We have been per-
mitted to publish it with the assurance that
what is said can be relied upon as correct:
CoEFEDERArE GuLcn, N. T., Nov. l. '65.
Ma. j. R. ToTMAM-Sir: Ny two compan-
ions aud myself arrived at Virginia City on
the 24lh of September. Our journey was a
very pleasant one We came the Tim Good
ali road until we reached the Virginia trail,
and think that is the best route. rested
two days in Virginia and started alone for
Blackfoot. got as far as Helena, and there
learned of returning miner that it was a
very cold place, and that the mines are spot
ted; consequently concluded to change my
course and come here. The mines are much
better than expected to find. The forma-
tion and general appearance of the country
resembles that of California more than any
have seen. The diggings are from twelve
to thirty feet deep, with slate bedrock. The
gold is coarse and worth SIS per ounce. |
saw nugget, which was found in a ravine
some distance from the main gulch, which
weighed % 2-9 ounces. This gulch empties
into the Missouri river, ten miles from here
1t is one hundred and City miles from Vir-
ginia City and sixty from Fort Benton. The
mines were discovered last winter by some
Germars and ditch is already completed
which supplies the miners with water at 50
cents an inch, and mining is progressing
finely. The claims opened are paying their
fortunate owners big, and if the mines prove
to be extensive, next Summer this will be the
lyeliest camp in the Territory. Salt Lake
and st. Louis furnish the greater portion of
the provisions fer the mines in this Territory
at the following reasonable prices: Flour,
% cts. :. Tea, 81 Coffee I24 cts. Sugar, Is
cts; Bacon, 65 cts.; Dried Peaches, 90 cts !;
Beans, so cts; Potatoes, 9 cts; Nails, so cts.
Butter is worth 81 IS, beef-steak % cts, and
Lumber is selling at II cents foot, with all
other articles at proportionate prices.
Diamond City is the principal town in the
gulch. 1t contains ten poorly kept stores (if
all were thrown into one they would make
tolerably fair store) corresponding number
of whisky mills, three restaurants, three
bakeries, three butcher shops, three black
smith shops, three or four doctor shops, q
hurdy gurdy hell hole aud tailorshop. The
town is rudely constructed of pine logs, and
is very fair representation of the refine
ment of good portion of its inhabitants.
The country is full of gold and silver bear.
ing ledgcs, and great many people are af
Hicted with quartz on the brain. know but
little about the farming portion of the coun-
try except the beautiful valleys which tray
eled through as | came from Virginia here )
and so far as they are concerned, they are
equaled only by the valleys in California and
excelled by none. The climate is more Sc
we're than that of California, Winter having
already reared his hoary head on every noun
tain top and is frownng at the valleys below,
which have not yet put on their wintry robes
but are glowing in the bright rays of the
sun as he peeps through the broken clouds
which seem trying to Danish his presence
from the earth. X x x
Yours, fraternaily,
JOHNSON WoLYERToN