, 1866-07-06
Letter From Pen d.oreille.

PEN DOREILLE June 22d, 1865.
En- SrA7EsNAN:-I arrived at this place on
the goth inst, travelling via the Mullan road j
expected. from what had heard, to find bad
route. but was agreeably disappointed in finding
such good grade and such abundance of grass
and water. On the Spokane plains passed the
last of the victims of the White Bluff delusion-
five OK wagons-who tried to cross from the Col
vile road to the Mullan road and failed, and
finally went back to Cow creek and took the
Mullan road to the Lake. They say they have
travelled double the distance that it is from Pa
louse to the lake; l say the last, because l aP-
preheud our teamsters can beinduced to try that
route 1t is surprising that SO small a man as
Booth could humbug so many intelligent men.
Yesterday crossed the lake and up Clark S
Fork to the Cabinet, Co miles. The lake is a
good sheet of water for navigation, and Moody 5
boat is a success. The scenery is both grand
and beautiful 1t is a hal ny retreat to the trav-
e,er to pass along on steamboat through a
rough mountain range, instead of clam6erng
over the rugged peaks, which are yet covered
with snow.
| understand Messrs. Abrams, Iumhson and
others are about to build two more steamboats,
to navigate Clark's Fork. The first two run
from the Cabinet portage to the falls at ThOmp-
SOM prairie; the other from the falls 10 Jocko-
making the entire navigation OF lake and river
about two hundred miles. On this route will be
two pOrtages-One seven and the other two
miles. The te minus Of navigation, at Jocko,
is within Gj miles Of Elk creek diggugs. This
route entirely avoids the mountains; ana think
every business man mast see that if the western
slope ever gets the Montana trade ii must be by
this route, and none other. This route Is open
in the Spring almost as SO Il as the Columbia
river, and can be Travelled with safety until De-
crmucr, while the Mullln road over the mOun-
tains, and the road from Lewiston, are closed
from October tO.thc middle Of June. The qucs-
tlou Of opening the best route to BlacktJOt-One
that can compete with the Missouri river
should not be traurncled by local prejudice. 1t
is matter Of too much importance to the whole
country. To secure HE Montana trade to this
side is HOre valuable to Us than the traffic fall
our other mines, and none will be SO directly
and imme mediately benefited by it as NalIa NHlla
Valley. Walla Wallo must be the base for sup
plies and operations; and it is immaterial wheth-
cr the traveller o: freighte: turns to the left at
the Spokane, and goes to the lake, 20 miles, or
takes the right hand road over the mountains.
Either way the freight vii! go from PdiOusc
laEdinEor WGl,Ull,
heard report yesterday that about % men
were engaged in mining at rhompson's prairie,
and that one Of the packers had sold out part Of
lis cargo to them. | give this as heard it,
without knowing anything about the truth Of
thc report
Since Moody has reduced the price on his
boat most OF the trains have gone this way. |
suppose the stormy weather (Suowing in the
mountaius) has operated to send thcln this
way.
start in few days up Clark's Fork-will
write you again. WALLA WALLA.