, 1866-02-16


We are permitted to make the following ex-
tracts from private letter, received BY MA.
L. Brown Of this City, from Mr. R. Fl. Johns,
who leit here for Helena, about the 10th Of No
yember, last =
| GgELENA, January 18th, 1866.
of eur trip up here, wish to say but little.
We came ola Pen D'0reille lake, and were to
attempt to describe the advantages and beau
ties al of that delectable route, might perhaps
| he accused of prejudice or Partially. am ia
| tbis respe,t.somethinr like certain notorious
svearer. who. on some occasion Of extraordina-
| nv vexation, failed to indulge in hisusual pro-
| Snc expletives, seriously declaring :hat he was
nnable To do the subject full Justice. So with
this Pen d'Oreille route. We were twenty-eght
days of hard travel, with good animals, in ma
king the trip, and II there be any worse "Pur-
gatory" here or elsewhere than this route !
shall have to see it before | can believe it.
The town of Confederate, on Confederate
Gulch, about s5 miles from this place, Promi-
ses to be a numbere one mining town, and in my
Judgment is supported by the best and most eX-
| tensiYe mining ground in the country. The
main gulch is about twelve miles 10 length, but
number of other gulches and creeks, which
are very nearly as large as it is, empty into it.
This Gulch, with its tributaries, will support
a very large mining population, to say nothing
The gold in that locality is not confined to the
bed of the streams, but is found 10 the hills, the
| bars, aud even on top Of The mountains, and is
| rich beyond description. | saw q load of dirt
washed out, which was akenfrom shaft, sunk
near the summit of the mountain, which paid
near $1,000. One claim on Montana bar, (Con-
federate Gulch) sold last week for SIS, 5,OO0.-
Some Boise miners were the e'purchasers. OF tue
| other camps, Mcclellan, jefferson, Lincoln,
Washington, aud BlackfOot, it is useless for me
to write. They are all good, but have been
badly worked. They have lately "struck it
rich, - in the hills in Lincoln and Jefferson, aud
some say richer than ever Mcclellan was. At
all events, miners who own ground ia any of
those gulches, feel perfectly satisfied, aud will
not sell at any reasonable price. Elk creek, and
Bear Guleh, discovered by keenan, and party,
last fall are all good, and claims on Elk creek,
! have lately changed hands at from 5000 to
$500. In fact, the country is beyond doubt
the best mining country in the world, and |
think next season will prove it so.
We are now in the tremeHs of another STAN
pede, aud such a skedaddling as there has been
! for the last two weeks would make a man doing
credit business feel awful sick. This excite
ment is headed for Sun river, tributary of the
| Missouri about sixty-fve miles from this place.
The weather was very cold here from Decem-
Der 18th to goth. Mercury froze as solid as a
rock, and we had no means of ascertsning the
moderated somewhat, and we are able to keep
partially warm in tight room, with good fire.
This is a very quiet place. No 'Chiefs" here.
| presume it is owing to the pecuhar climate.
learn from member of the Viglantes, that
their organization is in full force, that it now
numbers 10000 in the Territory, and is con-
stantly increasing. From all that can see and
learn, the organization is as perfect as the Par
| isian police system, and has been the great
moral balance wheel which has Kept the coun
try 10 anything like civil or safe condition
| and though, no doubt some bad men have found
their way into it, yet, it is controlled by the bes
men in the country and is great social and
personal safeguard to the civil and honest por
tion of community, while it is terror to the
lawless and desperate class who always congre.
gate in every country.
found my own matters all right, though
somewhat exaggeratedi yet am perfectly salts
fed.
Quite a number of new camps have beer
struck since my arrival here and | have nc
m9Fs xi5 he n, assSSsfTSdfsEs5 srs
llprospectng all the time.
N The cost Of living here is not greatly in ex
fess Of Boise rates. though many luxures of
FIRST class euiSme are not TO be obtained at any
price.
lf Mr.. Walter Barrett got in three days since
Hooking as though he had travelled a rough road
b very rough weather.
P. S.-A heavy stoTm commenced this morn
Ing and still continues, Snow about Is in chez
heep, more coming, and mercury going into solic
tyinter quarters.
The Sun river excitement is steamboat.
! twenty men returned to-day who pronounce it 3
grand consolidated, irst-class blk. Many per
ions must necessarily suffer from this fearfu
Storm, as they walked OFF without taking tint
TO prepare themselves properly.
send this per favor Of Uncle Sam, ria Sal
Lake and Boise city, as the letter expresses ar,
uncertain, and also toO expensive for any othe
than important business letters.
Yours, &C., R. II. JOINS.