The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1865-12-14
TOO MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.

AOO MAN '1AtON6 AN r1AGs
The very important gold discoveries of the
past year are so many in number, so exten-
sive and so rich, that it puzzles the pros
pector to choose in what direction he should
take his chances. Connected with these dis
coveries there are SO many routes of travel,
steamboat enterprises and road improve
ments, that it seems impossible for man to
exactly make up his mind as to where he will
make his fortune next year. The two most
extensive fields of operations are the mines
of Montana and those of the Columbia. of
the respective merits of these two countries
the public know, as much as the newspapers
have published, which, although enough as
to quantity is rather deficient in quality, in
this far, that while every word may be true,
there are many others equally true which
have never been told. The whole truth is
very important to proper understanding of
affairs, and most old miners can very easily
see that there may be wide difference in
! hearing part and then hearing the whole
truth in relation to any gold field.
IL I'LL uufcubuIC|j WIN w BO W ohS
or the other of these sections the coming
year, will carefully examine their respective
merits, he will find himself in the position of
Yellow-plush, when seated between the two
beautiful ladies, " feelink fur all the world
like donkey between two bundles of 'ay."
After balancing all arguments which can be
offered in favor of either, he will arrive at
the conclusion that gold is plenty in both
places, and very coarse. When that is said,
the adventurer, will have to take into con-
sideration some other things connected with
these mines. One is, the comparative prices
eff provisions ;another, the climate; the means
of reaching the different mines-the cost-de-
gree of comfort-what state of affairs he will
find at the two places-the social relations of
men, and according to the tastes, necessities
and degree of information given will depend
the movements Of miners during the coming
season.
All this rests to some extent in the hands
of the people of this country who may by
timely representations give the next years
immigration o direction Which will tend tt
build up the local interests already estab
lished. To do this, it is required that al
1 should take an interest in bringing to ligh
' the information obtained by actual explora
> tious of the interior. The practical sug
> estions of men who have travelled over an,
prospected through country are worth in
fiuitely more than the speculative theories O
men whose observations are bounded by th
towns in which they live. In this country
Il information is too often derived from ne
who have no practical knowledge of mining
- and whose judgment in regard to interio
4" communication is ofbut little value. Anothe
. should have for its leading object, the esta
y blishment of the best Tines oftraye1; th
: elucidation of the pecuiarities of the prir
cipal mining districts the faithful repr,
sentation of the principal mines of the cour
- try, all compendiously arranged for the fl
struction and guidance of merchants, minel
'' and men of enterprise generally.
al PUBLIC SCHooL.-The following is the r
y port of the Dalles Public School, for Il