The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1866-07-07

fact that Oroville is north of Marysviile and that
that the stages for the whole northern country, ia
/ Gliding even the line that was turned aside from
the direct line to Chico centre here to make con
neciion with the railroad. knowing this it was with
! feelings entirely friendly that we pointed ont the
fact to the Marysville Association and it for
doing that their President opened mis- vials cf wrath
and Misrepresentation upon Orose and Groville
roads. The effect has been to aroase the teamsters
OF Butte, Plumas and Lassen, and they are prepar-
ing to assert their rights. In the coming fight
the teamsters at Oroville viii have the advantage
OF the railroad, and the superb roads travelled by
the stage lines from, La Porte, Quincy, Taylorvie
SusanYile and Chico, and the result will be that
the Marysville Association will be confined to the
legitimate points Of supply from that city.
Notes Oregon aud Idaho.
A friend, who has been sojourning for some time
in Idaho, furnishes US the following from notes of
the country, and the trip:
Our voyage. hence to Portland, Oregon, on the,
since ilifated, Brother Jonathan was pleasant nd
, speedy is usual with coast steamers
With lower Oregon was delighted as to the coun-
try. but with the people was not. 1t is truly the
Egypt of this fertile coast and deserves more
liberal-minded population, to protect and develop
so fair land.
Beyond the Cascade Mountains, the country is
radically different From deasely timbered coun-
try. below this range of mountains, all is barren,
dry sandy desert, above and east of them, until
you rea ch the Blue Mountains. By the route trav
eled, toward Boise City, this beautiful mountain
range is one hundred and fifty to one hundred and
seventy-fiye miles east of the Cascade range.
found many old familiar shrubs and plants on these
mountains, which called up fond memories of oldeu
home. Among these was that rare plant, the lady
slipper (Cyp1pedium).
OFF of these mountains, we descend down the
eastern slope into Grand Ronde valley-a lovely
spot of earth, and somewhat famous from the re
port that JOHN CHARLES FREMONT, in his Cover
land Expedition in the year A. D. 1916. two or
three years after the hardy emisrants had broken
plain road through this wilderness, on which the
veritabe explorer travelled, from the North Platte
River to the Columbia and fu lminat ed TO the world
his tronderfui discorsries. From Grande Ronde,
up a sharp ascent of several miles, We emerge into
the Powder River Valley country; an elevated sec
ton, of rather rigorous climate, bat good for
farming and grazing purposes.
On the North East Powder River, at the head Of
the main valley, and where the B,ise road leaves
to cross low divide to the head waters Of Burt
River, stands the thriving little village of Baker
City.
A Mr.. BAKER owns a quartZ mine and mill here
which is destined soon to make him millionaire
if he sticks to it, as think he will. Burt River
is not entitled to be called river, the water
privilege, for it is continuous gorge from head
to mouth without even one redeemiag quality. No
mines, no timber, no land and hardly fish, where
trout in other streams are plenty in all that wild
country. From MILLERs station, on Bart River.
the road passes point of high land, four miles,
on to the Upper Snake River, just at OLDs ferry.
This is the lower point of navigation on the Upper
Snake River. Upper is used in contradistinction
to that portion of the river from this point down
ward TO lis mouth-a portion of that grand old
river which has never been known to have been
passed even by the Indian canoe. so wild and stu
pendious is the gorge it passes from here on its
oceanward course through the Blue Mountains.
Forward now we bound in our coach and four
up the Snake River-the steamer est then
to the Payett River, and onward up that river TO
point nearly opposite old Fort Boise, aud cross
some low rolling hills, to the Boise River. Up
the latter river in delightful and rather extensive
valley some twelve miles where alight at Boise
City, the Capital Of Idaho Territory. On all three
of these rivers just named, is much fertile bottom
land. The climate is much milder, l think. than
that of Nevada. Farmers produce fine melons.
squashes, corn and the best of root crops, wher-
ever facilities for irrigation are to be had
GOVERNMENT MATTERS IN IDAHO.
l found his honor, DEWITT c. SMITH, Secretary
of the Territory. at Boise City, gloriously besotted
nd wholly unfit to attend to any business, and as
little disposed to do, as he disqualified to act
Before anything could be affected with him, and
soon after my arrival, he performed the most COM
mendible deed of hi. Ife-dropped down dead, sud-
denly. This lett his, aud government matters, all
at odd ends to tall into the hands of irresponsible
outside parties, and his political enemies, who, it
seems, made of the favorable opportunity, left
nothing of his to his friends, nor of Government
funds to Uncle Sam.
joint Legislative Committee was appointed to
investigate this matter, and after several weeks in
cessant labor, they found that the snug little sum
of eleven thousand dollars (pnblic funds) had es-
capped upon the wings OF the wind Dut Wlefe IL
lodged they failed in their report to say The com
mittee left very strong impression, however. upon
the minds of those who read their Report TO the
Governor, that DEWITT c. SMITH did not use that
money. q. S. Marshal ALvoRo testiies that he
called on II. C. gibson, present Secretary, soon
after the death of Secretary SMITH, to get some
money to defray his expenses over to Lewiston, on
pablic business. and that gibson told him Al
voRp) there was about elerea thousand dollars of
public money in CRAWFORD, SLooUN i Co.'S safe,
but that he (GILSoN) could not touch ii until such
times IS he could receive word from the Treasury
Department of the approval of his official bonds.
This evidence is copied in the Committees report,
well some other testimony equally as pointed,
! going to show darky on the conduct of the pres
/ ent Secretary, in his connection with those public
funds.
However Mr.. gibson may stand in the est:Gaa
ton of those concerned in this matter or whether
he be innocent guilty OF the pecalation, / have
no right or disposition to say: bat of his couduct
with me as public official, must say he has act
/ ed in very bad faith, not alone toward me but TO-
ward the Government that has placed in his hands