The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-12

taxing tHe nht' ScrnOn rOdu, WHICH turns IN
to the Foot Hills a few miles south of Golden
City.
A person in travelling the trails and roads
first explorers ever found their way from one
place to another, to lay out trails. But to
the mountaineer the way is easy. The
mountains are formed in long ranges and
spurs from ranges, which run between val.
leys worn out by the rushing waters from
the snowy peaks. By starting from the
plains and mounting one of these ridges, the
surrounding country can be easily seen and
the ridge followed TO any distance. 1t was
mostly in this manner that the mountains
were first travelled later, the creeks were
followed. The later roads are more conven-
lent and most always preferred.
Upon turning into the hills, we commenced
gradual ascent, winding along the sides OF
a small stream for seven or eight miles, and
crossing several low divides, until we struck
the valley of Clear Greek, or Vasquez Creek,
as it was first called, after Louis Vasquez, an
old Indian trader and trapper, who first WIS.,
tied this country in the year 1885. 1t was
afterwards called "Clear" from the clearness
of its waters. Here we had the first appear
ance of rushing mountain torrent. The
creek winds its way through the mountains,
plunging and foaming over large boulders
and rocky inclinations, cutting its way
through almost perpendicular walls of rock,
and, occasionally, where the vally is wider,
flowing over small grassy flats. 1t is upon
these fats that the settlements are built
Town lots belong to those who FIRST lay four
sticks in the form of square upon the
ground they wish to occupy.
At the distance Of thirty-seven miles from
H., ,.oo,oJ vdohn email Of
few hundred inhabitants. 1t is mostly noted
and visited for its hot soda springs. At this
place again had the pleasure of meeting
our townsman, Mr.. VIM. Bell.
After fifteen miles more travelling over
very good road we arrived at Georgetown,
which claims q population of about 1000 in
habitants and is growing quite rapidly, judg-
ing from the number of new buildings going
up. In fact, the whole town seems to have
been built the present summer. Here, the
hum and ciatter of quartz machinery, the
passing of miners with pick and bar, aud the
occasional report and echo from blasting in
the mountain sides, betoken busy popula-
ton.
At this point the wagon road stops, altho'
there is one commenced upon the sides of
the higher mountains, which may be COM
| pleted next season. From here to Argen-
tine, distance of fifteen miles, narrow
| rocky trail is the only travelled path. Over
| this all goods for Argentine or Snake River
| are carried upon pack mules. The trail
along the sides of this valley is wild In the
extreme. Sometimes we travelled along the
banks of the stream, and, again, followed the
| trail over rocky projection, where it be.
| came necessary to dismount and climb up
through rocks and brush, to descend an
o-pollv YOar1innS moth on tho Otbar slla DO
casionally it would lead through dense pine
woods or over small grassy parks, yet gradu-
all ascending towards the snowy peaks. The
timber line upon the opposite mountains aP-
peared lower and lower as we advanced.
Through these trails nothing is heard but
| the roar of the plunging water below, or the
| "Wevo, Weyo" of the muleteers. Not an
animal is seen and even birds are very sell
dom met
Upon reaching Argentine we were upon
the timber line. There, the cedar creeps in
the form of a spreading bush upon the
ground and the stunted pine branches, most
ly upon the south or southeast side OF the
trunk, and, in places, are only barren poles
or lie upon the hill side, Frustrated by the
heavy winds. Flowers, in great profusion
and variety, give the mountain side the ap-
pearance of one vast garden. Their bril-
liant and delicate forms are seen far above
the timber line, and some even force their
way through the edges of the snow banks
upon the highest peaks.
Starting from the small collection of log
cabins called Argentine, the trail passed up
the sloping mountain side to depression in
| its crest, called Snake River, or Sanderson' s
Pass. This is about one thousand feet
above the timber line and is said to be the
highest and most difficult pass travelled in
the mountains. Though the ascent is quite
gradual upon the Argentine side, yet upon
! the Pacific, or Snake River side the descent
is as precipitous as sliding fragments of rock
| will allow.
The collection of six or seven log cabins
| at the head of Snake River Valley is called
Peru. Here, the nights and morning are
| extremely cold. Patches of snow are scat
| tered over the sides of the mountains and in
the lowest parts of the valleys. Their melt
| ing forms the Snake river. which empties
| into the Blue. The Blue empties into the
| Grand and this flows Into the mysterious
! Colorado of the Pacific slope.
Part of my time, while here, was devoted
| to visiting the newly opened silver mines,
which are in great numbers upon the hill
sides. Some are said to be very rich, but
none are yet sufficiently developed to amount
] to paying business.
Though mining mostly occupies the atten-
| ton of the inhabitants, yet politics are not
| forgotted. Twenty-Five votes are soon cast,
and no confusion disturbs the polls. Even
your humble servant, after a residence Of
four days, was allowed the privilege of cast
ing vote for Commodore Stephen Decatur,
as representative from Summit county.
At Argentine the day passed in more
| ciUilized manner. Here, twenty-four votes
were republican and seventeen democratic.
| Spreeing and whisky drinking were the fea.
lures of the day, and al night the yelling
and bowling of both parties strongly remind.
ed me of the more civilized communities of
| america"
Aside from this, the only topic. of discus.
sion seems to be silver and silver lodes, pros
| pecting, mining, &c. The chief question in
their minds seemed to be whether the Grip
Van Wrinkle" lode in "Grayback Gulch''
would pay as well az the ''Suky" or "Hunky
| Dory" lodes in "Gouge Eye Gulch," &C.
Yours truly,
| ScRIpsIT