, 1865-08-25
The Little R1aokfoot Mines

Several parties arrived here on Tuesday
and Wednesday of this week direct from the
mines situate on the tributaries of the Little
Blackfoot river, which is near the western
base of the Rocky Mountains probably be-
tween 375 and 400 miles east from this
point, by the usually travelled route. Three
or four pack trains, which left here in May,
are among the returned, and intend to 60 back
with supplies 50 soon as they can get fitted
out, at the stores of the merchants on Main
street. The parties arrived do not give
+" Ger fattering" accounts of the diggings /;
yet they say the mines, are very good; but
not so extensive that "rush' would not
" over do" them. Many claims are being
worked on what is called the "Ophir Gulch"
on the Little Blackfoot, and companies who
had gotten fairly to work were making all
the way from SIS to $1,000 a day to the
hand. The gold taken from the hills or
mountain sides is coarse, while that far
ther down in the bottoms is fine in charac-
ter. There were some five or six hundred
miners operating in the mines, and the par
ties who came down say they met about
three hundred more going in from the Cour
dAlene country. Quite a town, called
Blackfoot City is growing up on Ophir
Creek The general tenor of the news is
about the same as that published in our is
sues of the 2lst July and 4th of August,
Since the arrival of the trains there has
been some stir in certain quarters here in
regard to the mines but from all we can
gather, this appears to result more from
the fact that there is a scarcity Of certain
kinds of goods in the mines than from
reports of the richness or extent Of the
diggings.
All of the four pack trains will start back
with supplies and goods of various kinds
between this and Monday Or Tuesday next.
They came down and will return by the
Ceur dAlene and st. Regis Borgia valleys.
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ARRIVAL OF IMMIGRANTS quite a
number of wagons with immigrants, who
have just ended their long journey across
the plains, have reached this valley this
week. They report that a full proportion
of the immigrants this season will, as usual,
make homes in the Walla Walla valley
Other wagons are expected in daily. Those
who have arrived appear to be in the enjoy
ment of general good health, and say they
have had successful trip overland Their
stock looks we'll, considering the long dis
tance it has travelled. The major portion
of these newcomers started from the States
Of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri.
We welcome the way-worn pioneers upon
their arrival at their journeys end. We
are glad to see them among us. Industri
Gus men and women, they will find, even as
times are with us at present, wide field
where thrift, energy and sobriety cannot fail
to meet their reward They will, Of course
find the general run of things" quite differ
ent from the code" to which they have
been accustomed in their eastern homes
but time, which sets all things even,
will soon teach them the temper of the
country, when they will very easily accom-.
modate themselves to life on the Pacific
coast
Another consideration may be mentioned
here there is no longer deficiency Of
schools They can now make selection
from a list of some three or four schools for
their children, some of which are now in
operation in the city, while others are to be
resumed in short time. Besides, the most
of the districts in the country are supplied
with school houses, and schools are also be-
ing taught in these at this time There
fore, the present body of immigrants who
have alrendy arrived here, and those who
are on their way to this valley, can have
nothing to complain Of on this score as has
been too much the case with the immigrants
Of former years.
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SELECT SCHoob.-Mr. c. Moore, assist
ed by Mrs. Julia Moore, will open Select
School, for boys and girls, at the Methods
Church on Monday next. Mr.. and Mrs
Moore recently arrived from the States, anc