, 1866-06-22
I.e,,er From Pen d,oreiIIe.
PEN p'OREILLE, Juno IIth,


PEx D'OREILLE, June 18th, 1866.
Ed. STATESMAN Thinking few lines from
this place might be acceptable to you, and in ac-
cordance with my promise made in Walla Walla,
/ will give you few items regarding matters
pertaining to this part of the country. The pro-
iect of a road from White Bluffs seems to be
abandoned by even those most interested in that
embryo city. Late experience has demonstra-
ted the that no road can be made from that
point 70 compete with tina. via Walla Walla.
You will recollect that that was the opinion ex-
pressed by me in Walla Walla, and the reports
of teamsters coming that route this Spring, fully
instifies my Judgment. wish however, to cor
rect an impression that seems topreYi in Walla
Walla, viz: That the owners of the steamer on
the Pen dOreile Lake, have favored that en-
teIprise to the prejudice of other routes: Such
is not the case, and the use which has been made
of their names in connection with that route, is
l am satisfied, unauthorized by them.
notice in late issue of the STATESMAN, sew
eral items derived from parties crossing the
Ceur d dAlene route, that are, think, calcuia-
ted to create false impression regarding the
operations of the boat on Pen d'Oreille Lake.
Your informant says that no trains that went to
Montana via Pen dOre!lle will return that way
For the information of the party making that
statement, l will say that one large train has
returned, namely: Harter's, and express them
selves perfectly satisfied with the trail. As
regards the Courses of an outraged" "commu-
nity' being heaped on the heads of the owners
Of the boat, l am at ross to understand why
those who are engaged in an enterprise calcula-
ted to improve our means of communication
with the rich mining country to the eastward,
and facilitate the introduction of our products
to that country, shoGld meet with such public
execration:
1t would seem, also to be the opinion Of your
informant, that ''Mr. Moody had better tie up
his boat" Mr.. Moody evidently does not think
SO as she runs regularly three times per week,
and often makes extra trips with full loads! For
instance, tomorrow she has as much engaged
as she can take. The next day full load is also
engaged, and for the Goth she Aas already part
of IL load engaged. The CGur d'Alene route; it
appears from the same authority, "is in good
travelling condition, and pack trains and stock
getting on finely" Now what are the facts iu
this case have conversed with several just
across, ana erery one advises packers to go by
the Lake route One train is now on Wolf
Lodge prairie, and has lain there eighteen days.
Two others, Messrs McAulif Il Cronlys left
the Spokane bridge some three weeks ago, and
at the last accounts were at Mud Prairie, 50
miles from the bridge, having been three weeks
making that distance Two others, Messrs. Al
len Il --, started in on that route, and
returning, took the steamer and up~by the
Lake. On Friday last, two large mule trains
that had intended to 60 by the CUuf d'Alene,
left the bridge for the lake route, in consequence
of tLezrcpotts of returning packers. Yesterday
four trains turned off from the Mulan road and
started for the lake. These are facts that have
come under my own observation and can vouch
for the trnth Of them. Yesterday three packers
came down Via Cceur 'Aleue and report the
road in horrible condition. One pack train of
y animals in going over one point rolled 2l.
killing one. IN two places it is necessary to d.
vide the cargo, ASA mule cannot pack his full
Load Ga the summit the snow ii from three to
four lcet deep, and 1t Is now SCitenlng so that
trains will find it necessary to shovel their way
through. Upto the time these packers left MIS-
soula ferry, only three trains had reached there
via the Aullan route, while over , 900 loaded
animals went up by the lake before the boat was
completed, and COO packs have been taken up
by steamer, every one of which vent through
without difficulty or Danger. \ force of men
are now engaged in repairing and improving the
trail above the steamer landing. The streams
are all bridged and have not heard Of a single
instance of loss of animals on that route from
"rolling"
These, believe, are the frcts of the case and
can be easily substantiated. Mr. Bacon, Ex-
pressman, has just arrived via Coeur Alene
and reports Messrs. McAuliff Cronly's trains
still at Mud Prairie. lie met one train near the
summit that had been one month from the Mis-
sion. He fully confirms the report of the pack
ers mentioned above, regarding the road. Moo
dy Co., have reduced the prices on their boSt,
and think it safe to predict that for the next
month 6ve-sixths of the travel to Montana will
90 that way.