The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-09-22
An interesting Letter from Montana.
HELENA. NJ. I. Sept. S, 1866.

81 FRIEND WALKER: This is a very heaithy,sO
rather wholesome. place, too much so for doctor
have but little to say to you in regard to th
country. more than said or minated in my last
Confederate Gulch is, or at least has been, yer!
: rich One company brought to this place enough
gold to stall a six-mnle team, including the SAT-
in which it was, hauled. This have been told by
many. Another company of six brought to thi
place enough gold to weigh twenty two hundred
pounds. This / saw They have, taken 1t down
the river. There were six men in company but
the greater portion of the gold belonged to three
of the party. They left with guard of over
thirty armed men. That guleh is said to be yet
'frich, but the water has failed. The mines about
Virginia City are more favorably spoken of than
they were some time ago. These are the only
/ rich mines that are any way extensive in this
conntry, so far as know !; and they are compare
dtivey worked out. There are tolerably good mines
in this vicinity but not sufficient to support the
place. aud there isa scarcity of water. The ditch
is not yet in, and will not be this Fall. Mr..
Douthtt anda Mr.. Davies bought into claim
near the city and are doing tolerably we'll
1 / would say that this country has been very
much overrated as a mining country, andit will
not pay as q farming country. The grasshoppers
eat all the vegetables. Some distance from here,
| it isthe best grazing country 1 have ever seen.
| AS. I stated in my last, they will have to make
more discoveries, and the quartz turn out better
thanI anticipate, or this country is 'sgone in
institution" =
There are immense stocks of goods here and the
MS hove bonD fhono hOD
ces, except -four and few other articles in that
line. They are now beginning to weaken and
many talk of holding over. They are still going
on with their stone buildings and many of them
are fine and costly. l think this will be good
country for some years for limited number Of
people. The people are. and have been, leaving
in great numbers the great majority by the way
of Fort Benton. Fare from this place to St. joe,
$50 in Macknaws, which leave fifteen miles from
here. stage fare to river included. a1e9i
Nearly all the noted theatrlcaIs have gone down
the river, Phelps first Bray's to-day-Jalia Dean
is to follow in a few days. They are all literally
played out"
Con Orem and Hugh O'Neal had prize fight a
short time ago. 0rem victorious by a''foul.n 4
About three hundred persons left some time ago
for Wind Riyer-Jeff Standifer and old John
Rogers were among them. Many persons are also
leaving for Green River. The mines there are
said to be tolerably good many of the Idaho
men have gone and more are going. learn that
many have left Idaho for Snake river. wish
them success. "a ~ 9Ea go
l have done but little since have been here
There has been but little sickness, and the ma jor
ity of the people here who have money are "ten-
der feet" and employ Butternut Doctors, who
have been schooled in Denver. Tenderieet are
those who come from the Atlantic side, the ma
fority of whom wear moccasins (they are clseGper)
among the prickly pears, which are very numer-
GUS. They call self risers after the selfrising
-four. which appears 20 be new to them. = =
Many Of them get Cayuse ponies, pair of moe
casins, leggings and Mexican spurs, and saddle
with toe Tenders !" saddle kiyer,n handy bags"
and "tail binders" and leave on a prospecting
tour. They soon return-the hours are lonely" |
leave for Benton and go "beyoud that bourne"
from whence they will never return. la
The election went Democratic. There are too I
many Of Prices army with us to be outfanked-
The weather has been quite cool for some DAYS |
@-.e ~ Z. p # ~ y
but is again pleasant. There is but little mining
going on as water is scarce. There is considera-
bic gambling going on in Helena. / never have
been so tired of "a place in my life as of this !;
IL does not suit me; l am going to Salt Lake in
couple of months, or less, to see how like old
Brigham and his followers. Many have gone be
fore, and as DR.. Pearson said, "among them some
gentlemen" There will be large crowd there
this winter and a chance for fighting People
who wish to leave here can do so in any direction,
as teamsters are returning home and stage COM
panies will soon be sending their stock to "the
other side to winter, with the view of bringing
passengers in the spring. The stage line TO Fort
Benton has been withdrawn--the stock being too
much worn down and the season too late to re-
place them with other. - .H.-
Give my kindest regards to Atr. - and tell
him would not advise him to come here as there
Ire many here now who are sick at the stomach
Rhine, from San Francisco, has $40 900 worth of
goods on the way, and was taken sick the very
lext day after he got in. He will be sicker yet
before be gets rid of goods. There is many a
FendeFfoot as sick as he is, but it is becoming
chronic with them.
The greater portion of the population of this
place and vicinity, who have money enough, will
cave here for the withdrawing those detail ned
~ business and the class too poor TO go, with a
ew who will remain to be here soon in tt spring.
Phis is quite town and presents lively appear