Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-06-22
A TRIP 10 BOISE cITy.

Ils
did style and with high speed. A delightful
day was vouchsafed, and everything was fa-
yorable. At CoOper's Minnehaha Ranch we
stopped to water the horses. and the moments
stay gave opportunity for brief but pleasing
survey of the pretty place Mr.. Cooper has there
built up in the lap of wilderness, An air Of
charming cleanliness and neatness everywhere
pervades the house and grounds, and the sweet
music of the bubbling. ripping waters OF the
Minnehaha as they leap and frisk over the peb-
bly,, rocky bed, adds its CHEEKY influence to the
scene. Away from the Laughing Waters, .
and soon to Davis, and right along until we
reached the Halfway House of Russell There
a quick luncheon, and then, with a fresh team,
for town. Slowly up the high, long hills, rap
idly down the grades, and speedily along the
stretches of valley or undulating road, OH we
sped; then the Summit hill was climbed weari-
", and there below us, miles away, seeming
like an ocean grit by mountains, lay the Valley
of Boise. It is grand and picturesque view,
and in this approximate harvest season the
cultivated Valley, all green and beautiful be-
low, with the great blue and grey and grizzied,
rocky looking mountains, about and all around
it, here and there capped or tipped or patched
with snow, the pretty conceit of the poet
Summer smiling in the lap of Winters en-
chantingly Illustrated.
The Summit reached, AID. gave the word to
his team, and away the stage ratified down that
one, continuous, long nine miles grade into
Boise Valley entering just where Uncle Sam,
by his agent military, Major Pinckney Lugen-
beel, few years ago planted and built up the
new and handsome military post OF Fort Boise
And word right here. Lately the road has
been diverted from just above the rising ground
occupied as officers quarters, and made to
lead around to the left in going hence, and this
diversion was made by the Post Commander.
But in turning off travellers and teams from
the old road, he failed to have his men properly
put in condition the new road, and there are
one or two places left in it, admirably calculat-
ed to break axletrees and otherwise disable
wagons.
Along down the canon from below the Toll
Gate House there are several dwellings and
pretty garden spots. The Government garden,
about two miles above the Fort, is an exceed
ingly fine one, and the soldiers in charge have
wrought it to high condition of cultivation.
There we saw every variety of garden vegeta-
bles in forward growth. At the "Stone House"
Orlando Robbins has also an extensive garden
patch. A hundred feet or more on the hill
side, to the left in going, ditch is being dug
by the Fort people, to bring water from the
creek. The work is rapidly progressing
The stage hauled up in front of the Overland
House at a little past 2 o'clock, afternoon-the
quickest trip, we believe, of the season. At
that widely known and now very popular hotel
we took up bed and board. Griffin & Els
worth maintain it in really excellent style.
They set good table and their rooms and beds
are the best we have seen this side of Port
land-the former well ventilated and clearly,
the latter entirely free from any wee small
crawling thing to hinder good repose and sound
sleep.
Boise City does not present the active, busy,
busting appearance to the stranger that is al
ways visible in Idaho City. It is quiet, staid
place, more like an interior rural country town
than mining camp. And ON every hand we
heard complaint there of dull times, scarcity
of money, and lack of trade generally. Still,
it seems growing, substantial town, and so it
is, no doubt The merchants ought to prosper,
certainly, for goods are sold there at much
higher prices than here in Idaho City, and dust
and greenbacks are taken there at much lower
valuation. No matter how good the gold dust
is, in Boise City only $14 per ounce will be
given for it in trade, and legal tenders 60 for
no more than Is cents on the dollar. With
these facts so apparent we cannot but wonder
that persons who leave this Basin for Lemhi,
Montana, or other points, will await their ar
rival in Boise City to purchase outfits. The
truth is they can buy in this city every article
they require, and pay even Express charges on
it, and then start from Boise City with it,
cheaper than the same thing can be purchased
there.
During our stay we called at the First Ma
tional Bank of Idaho, and the President, Mr..
DuRell, kindly showed to us the various newly
invented stamping machines, &C., which are
rannired In the banking business, on notes.