, 1865-08-04


EDS. STATEsMAN:--Snce | last wrote you we
have all been going, going, and now find our
selves clear gone out Of the region Of country in
which VIC had hoped TO find basin, magniii-
cent in its dimensions, and abOunding in rich
minerals, outrivaling the Boise or indeed any
other place. Leaving Trout Creek we climbed
high ridge Of mountains with the snow still
lying on its summit, and worked our way
north -eastery with our axes through this tim
bered region for upwards Of forty miles, which
distance we accomplished in six days, crossing
two ranges of mountains and then found our
selves near to the main north fork of the Coeur
Alene river, While Wilson and the azemen
were forcing their way up the side of a ridge
covered with thick timber, Gordon and myself
went down to the stream before mentioned
which is about fifty yards wide and two feet
deep, with current Of about -four miles an hour,
then asCended to the top of a slate mountain
where we had an unobstructed view Of the coun-
try for upwards Of fifty miles along the river
The bottoms were narrow, say from quarter Of
milet mile in width, timbeged with heavy
cottonwood fir and pines. The mountain ran
ges were high, rugged to the n w and
rounded to the West and S. W., with spurs de-
scendinC to the bottoms of the draining streams,
timbered from foot to summit and sloping Steep
ly down to the creeks. The lines of the water
courses were plainly marked in the depressions
of the mOuatain spurs and to the westward for
thirty miles toward the headwaters Of the river
there were no indications Of basin ofany kind.
To the east we could look down the river for
twenty miles and the same features presented
themselves. Bluff rocks from an hundred to an
hundred and fifty faet in height bounded the
river on eth er side and ''no bottoms" Of any
account were seen The rock was slate and
metamorpLic slate and neither quartz or washed
gravel appeared. Looking on this scene or
mountain panorama long enough to leave it da-
guerreotyped on our memory, we descended the
mountain and returned to camp somewhat dis
couragcd. After hearing our report, nearly half
our prospecting party concluded to abandon the
search, and accordingly they lett for the mission
the next day. Wilson still wished to proceed,
and some of US also wishing to see all of the
country said ''go ahead, we will go on for a
few days more;" so bidding good bye to the
"crawfshers" we turned our axes again into the
timber, while Wilson weat on TO explore. When
he returned to camp, he was much pleased, he
had been up the river and had found quartz ad
tafnituz7, the river bottoms were large and wide,
the mountains we've opening On either side and
we were nearly to 1.-The BASIN SO he and three
others were to start The next morning to explore
the basin while the rest CT the party were to
move camp mp the river about two miles and
await his return; accordingly We moved and
spent the evening Of tue Sd July and part Of the
glorious fourth, in sinking our usual prospect
hole. struck water ana MS usual never 'r2ised q
color, and then rested to await the return Of
the adyance party. When they came INTO camp
thcy reported chat they had been UP the river
some fifteen miles and found it to be all alike.
They saw considerable quartz il not more, but
were unable to obtain even q colCr. Asit would
have exhausted our supplies TO have cut up 10
The forks Of the river it was useless to try to 60
on. no o. her alternative remained but TO return.