The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1866-05-21


as the new or old mines OF Idra and Alma
den. Nt ~
ABOUT THE COUNTRY IN GENERAL.
With the advantage OF some observation,
and much inquiry, arrive at the conclusion
that the waters of the John Day have been
less prospeoted than the distant section on the
head; waters OF Salmon River. This is easily
accounted for: the population of the country
is sparse, and it is quite impracticable to raise
prospecting parties strong enough to ira
verse these mountains, infested, as they are,
with the most willy and murderous Indians
on the continent. AS body, miners are pro-
verbal for reckessness but the idea of being
suddenly extinguished some .mornng about
daybreak is too much for even the most fool
hardy. In this country, Sin the midst of life
we are in DEATH" and at some unexpected
moment man is liable 10 be beset by half.a-
dozen "yellow-go- and incontinently
killed in his boots by fight of arrows, or
peppered over by rife or Hudsons Bay
musket. On account of this unsettled state
of affairs, whenever man makes some money
he usually leaves the country and thus, to
the evils Of chronic Indian war; is added a
steady and exhausliug depletion of the best
part of the population, and a corresponding
| drain on the means which would otherwise be
largely applied to the discovery and develop
| ment of the mines and the Improvement OF
agricultural lands.
| AS grazing country, the foothills of the
Blue Mountains are not excelled by any other
part of the Columbia Basin and to an abupd
ance of grass and water is Joined a climate
by tar the most moderate of any that know
of in the same latitude. A sufficiency of ara
BILE land is TO be found conveniently located,
and nothing is wanting but the subjugation
of the Indians to render these hills and
valleys the. Arcadia of the Northwest
The f'rming interest is already very great
and solid improvements aud well-cutivated
fields attest the prosperity of that portion Of
the community A grist-mil has been erect.
ed at John Day City, at the mouth Of Canyon
Greek, and with seven cents pound the ad
vantage of the Dalles market, the growth o
wheat must prove the most remunerative bus
mess in the State.
THE FALLAcY OF MILITARY PROTECTION.
There is no more erroneous idea than tha
the military ever can or ever will subjugat
the Indians. You may carry on "a war Q
posts for City years against the Snakes, an
they will still be eating government mule
and citizens cattle and horses almost in sigh
of the military camps. History proves tba
;; Indians never were subjugated BY regular sol
diery. In New England, the savages in MAJ
, ragansett Swamp sunk under the unpai
prowess Of the psalm-singing Puritans, an
,, in Wisconsin, Blackhawk's warriors. fled be
: fore the militia of the country, who wer
dressed In "butternut trowsers" and "linsey
woolsey" hunting shirts. The Florida In
dians were never beaten except by Gentry
u Missourians, and in Texas the rangers inlic
ed vengeance on the Comanches, with nothin
for pay and " corn. .pone" for rations. Ma
v Anthony Wayne did defeat the Indians
!, Ohio, but he did not subjugate them; TWEEN,
= years after the battle on the Maumee the san
8 Indians were again defeated by Harrison vii
?, raw Kentuckiaps and 0hoans, on the san
ground. On the Spokane Plains, the COME,
,e Grated bands Of Palouses, Spokanes and Coz,
a d'Alenes gave battle to q superior force of E
N gulars, and were defeated and if this is "su
,r jugation,a" 1t is the one, solitary instan
n that occurs to my memory. But subjugatio
r. in my, opinion. means something more.
e. means the defeat of the Indians, the perm
,. nent occupation of their country by a pr
,,e ductiye population of whites, besides hol
il ing the Indians in position where til,
"a lives are absolutely at the mercy of tht
- conquerors. To bring about this state
in affairs, we need more population; and un
a we have it, occasional murders will be p,
~ ~ petrated by the Snakes, and occasional ban
hAu a l,a IN x,,;1l lo ekoIo