The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-05-19

IN THE IDAHO GOLD MINES.
CKNTrRvILLE, Idaho Territory,
MARCH. %, 1865.
FRIEND DANEoRTH-We have had very
long, severe. cold winter here and in some
portions of the basin much suffering is exper-
fenced by the miners from neglecting to lay
| in sufficient supply of provisions for the
| winter. Owing to the great depth of snow at
South Boise there are many nearly starving,
as it is now impossible to get provisions. In
fact in all the towns in the basin there is q
great scarcity of grub" at the present time.
but in a few weeks there will be plenty of
| provisions as there are now hundreds Of pack
| trains" on their way here from Oregon.
| Over nineteen feet of snow fell here this
winter, and it has settled that noto 1t is over
sir feet deep on level and about two feet of
| it next to the ground is nearly solid ice. At
Boise City and Boise Valley the snow has all
disappeared. and the farmers are hard at
work preparing to put in their spring crops.
| So rich is the soil that in a few weeks we
may expect plenty of fresh vegetables and
garden truck" This may seem surprising
|
In the Boise Valley there is now large
Touring mill, foundry and machine shop
Three steam planning mills, furniture fact
DRY &C., &C., are being built. which, together
| with other improvements, will add much to
the attractions of Boise City.
Since our honorable governor (Lyon) "ske-
daddled'' for parts unknown, last fall, Lew
iston has retained the seat of government but
we expect in a short time the capital will be
removed to Boise City. where it properly bs-
| belongs.
| This country is likely to be well supplied
| with newspapers. There is now published
the Idaho World (dem) at Idaho City, and
the Idaho Statesman (rep.) at Boise City
| There is also a printing office complete now
on the way here, for a new paper at Alturus
county. 1t is reported that two will soon be
started-one at Owyhee and one at Ada
county. Good luck and long life to all of
them. The World and the Statesman have a
large circulatiap, and their columns are well
filled with adver tisements.
No robberies or murders have been com
united in this region for some time. In fact,
| this wild mountain country is fast becoming
civilized in comparison with what it was a
few years ago.
There is but little sickness here-conse-
quently nearly all the doctors have gone to
mining or practiclng law.
With merchants, lawyers, "bummers' and
loafers this country is well supplied. But
there is good opening here for farmers. me-
chancs and for laborers of all kinds. There
is also the best show here for young ladies
and old maids TO get married of any place in
the world. According to statistics there are
about fpe hundred and ninety-one men here
to one yoman Such a great difference be
, tween the number of males and females
suppose was never known in any other coun
try.
Notwithstanding the severe winter there has
been great deal of prospecting done. Since
the LIST of January over six hundred and fifty
quartz claims have been located and recor
ed, and nearly every man thinks his claim is
the richest that has been struck. AS the re-
corder gets SIS for recording each quartz claim
his business has been good.
There are most undoubtedly some rery rich
quartz leads in this country, and if one quartz
claim in ten that is recorded pays this will
prove to be one of the richest quartz coun-
tries that was ever known. There will, most
likely, be good many "agents" from here
in the states next summer to sell quartz /; but
| advise all to examine well before they buy.
A good lead needs no "puffers''to bring il in
to market, and n worthless lead the public
had better let alone.
This country is becoming as thick with
A quartz as flies in the summer time. 1t will
probably take several years to open and fully
develope the leads in order to know which
are good and which worthless.
i 1t Is estimated that there was over six
million dollars worth of gold dust sent to the
San Francisco mint and to the states during
last year. by the merchants aud miners from
Boise And | think it safe to say that there
will be twice as much more forwarded this
year.
There will be more water and much better
facilities for working the placer mines this
year than there was last.
Ii is estimated that there is now from
twenty five to thirty thousand men on the
way to the Boise mines from Oregon, Cali
fornia, &C., &c, and that about three fourths
of these are Irishmen. Most of the rush
will get in here 10 about three weeks. There
will not probably be any placer mining done
before about the 10th of April or the LIST of
May.
Owing to the Indian troubles on the plains
we have had no overland mail since last fall ,
nor hardly any California mail, until yester-
day, when there came in about four tons of
mail matter from California and Oregon
There is now three lines of stages running
between Placerville, Idaho Territory, and
Umatilla, Oregon, and it lie impossible for
them to do the business, such is the rush
There are two lines of stages about starting
to run from Boise City to Red Bluff Cal
There was considerable excitement here
last fall about the Kootnia Mines; and it has
since turned out that the diggings there are
rich, but not very extensive. The gold is
said to be worth $40 % per OF.
Among the Rock Islanders here / may
mention the following: Hon. G. b. Waite
Idaho Citv one of the hast lavvera here