, 1865-09-29
Money Market.

BLAoKFoor AND KooTENAI.- Mr. D.
V. Waldron writes us from Fisherville, Koo-
tenai mines, under date of Sept. 18th, as
follows
l arrived here from Blackfoot on the 9th.
Was Z days in coming over; distance, about
400 miles Blackfoot is good country,
rich and extensive-another California,
believe Provisions are selling reasonably
there now; but | think they will be high
and scarce during the winter and spring.
Flour is selling at $23 per hundred bacon
6Oc. per pound sugar 45@5gb.; tea 45c,
per pound, and other articles in proportion.
The weather was cold and stormy, and there
was six inches of snow on the mountains
when crossed. Ishall stop the express to
Kootenai and will hereafter make two trips
per month from Walla Walla to Blaekfoot.
This camp may be said to be "gone in"
/ do not think there are over one hundred
people here now. The claims are all giving
out and everybody is leaving the country in
disgust.
Kerby and the other two men who were
arrested and imprisoned here for passing
counterfeit dust have escaped. They locked
the jailor in their cell, took his arms and
left for parts unknown
THE following is an extract from letter
from Mr.. R. S. Jones to Mr.. Jeptha Arri-
son, of this valley 1t bears date McClel-
lans Guloh, Montana Territory, Sept. 8,
1865:
!" We arrived at Hellgate on the 4th of
IL orto to1
"prospect" up the Big Blackfoot We
failed there to find anything worth staying
by, and at length made our way to Ophir
Gulch, a tributary of Little Blackfoot
Here is quite an extensive and rich mining
region. Virginia City is $50 miles east and
south Of this; Helena, or Last Chance, is
80 miles east, lust over the main chain Of
the Rocky mountains. PricEly Pear lies
over in the same region On this side is
Ophir, Washington, Jefferson, Madison and
Mcclellan Clutches, all accounted rich, and
plenty Of good unpgospected country. [ am
at present on Mcclellan, working for 81 per
day, and shall remain as long as the season
will permit, which will be about two months
This is the most pleasant mountain country
4 ever was in plenty Of chance to keep
horses, and entirely free from the flies, which
are such great pest in British Columbia
/ think that another season this region will
make big noise. You people Of Wala
Walla are very blind to your own interests
that you do not open the Mullan road, as
your produce would find ready market
here Your -four sells here to the Pill
grims" as prime Oregon, and it is really
very creditabe to your people. It brings
$28 and $50 per hundred here, while
the Salt, Lake brands sell at S22 and $23.
There is very little in market, and guess it
will be wortha dollar pound before spring.
Beans sell at Csc. per pound As to other
"truck," the distance is too great, and Salt
Lake and Bitter Root can supply US cheap
er. AS to opposition from the States Oja
the Missouri river, you need not fear that,
as even groceries brought up on pack ami
mails from the Columbia river are sold at less
prices than those shipped up from the States.
Bacon is an exception, it selling at go cents.
| trust the crops in Wala Walla valley are
good. We viii look to you next year for
our supplies, and if you will consult your
own interests you will cut out the Mullan
road and secure the trade of this region,
which promises to become second Cali
fornia. Most Of all the Kootenai men are
coming in now also numbers from Boise"