, 1868-02-07
corre.u0udguog,,----
slLvER CRY, OwYnEE, Jan. %, 1861


This town is situated between high mountains,
and appears to astouish herselfhow she came to
attain her growth Having succeeded in out,
whiting her unfortunate riTal--who possesses
far superior advantages remosing the county
seat, post and express Offices, aud established
The fact beyond doubt that she Is the place,
she nov knows not what direction to pursue for
the purpose of accommodating the building of
houses and stores and IN the end she will Be
forced to extend her limits towards her sister
Ruby. Silver City lays claim to population Of
Eve bupdred. She possesses something ike 2l
dry goods and general mercantile houses four
hotels six resAurantsj two drug shops; four
billiard saloons three butcher shops three
banking houses; three assay Offices, several bar
ber shops, and number of drinking SALOONS.
She is divided into two principal business Streets
Washington aud Jordan. Crossing Jordan Creek
where at one time considerable mining was
carried on--there is quite sprinkliug of private
residences, and within short distance Of the
Court IIouse, which, BY the BY, is handsome
structure, and speaks well for the enterprise Of
the people of owyhee county. Although the
county is heavily indebted, it is supposed that
by the aid of wise and honest officers, with the
rapid increase of the population, the coupty will
be out of debt in less than four years. Society
is 10 excellent state, and win contrast fairly
with any town Of her size on the eoast. Fhe
cities of New York, San Francisco, Portland and
Dllles have contributed liberally to our fsr sea.
It has never been my good fortune to reside in a
town where lovers Of tripping the Eight fantas-
tic toe were SO plentiful as at Silver City. The
present season has been ushered in with balls,
parties, and Ss yet there is no show of getting
weary. ...l--. .'f-ih. .aH f0I
-.-.s ID. .- .r.. MINING. -H.
ofcourse mining and prospecting is the chief
occupation of the Owyheean', and the prospects
look very hattering indeed. Nine mills, having
a capacity of one hundred and twenty stamps,
are engaged day and night crushing quartz from
the different lodes. The Morning Star Mill, the
pioneer of this camp, has 10 stamps Mueor
mill, 81 webfoot 5 New York and owyhee,
20 Lincoln, 20; Cosmos, 90; SchOubar, 10
Ainswortb, 10 Grensebach, 20. 1t is q remark
able fact that the great commercial city Of the
coast, has not as yet invested one dollar 10 this
abused Portlaud-has nearly as much capital in
vested, as the great East. 1t certainly has the
appearance that our neighbors down at the Bay
like to grasp every dollar they can get hold of
from the northern country, but prefer to lock
them up in their FIRE proofs, rather than 10 aid
in developing the bidden resources of the coun-
try. But this is not the policy to win 10 the long
run, as sooner or later they will be made 10 per-
ceive their shortsightedness. With the compile
tion of the Pacific Railroad, and the gaining
strength Of the Eastern capitalist in this country
the merchants and traders will soon see the me-
cessiIy of inHngurating direct trade with the
great commercial cities Of the East.
LEDGEs.
The most prominent ledges in this district are
the Poorman, Ida Bimore, Golden Chariot, Orc
Fiuo, Morning STAR Woodstort, Allison, and
number of others, the names of which have not
as yet learned. Suffice 1t to say that new dis.
coveres are daily made, and that Owyhee ranks
first among quartz districts.
TRADE.
Notwithstanding the above, business is not
very brisk. The merchants have all large stocks
II goods on hand, and the competition is carried
Oh extensively. The fact is, like in a good
many other towns, unde is ovrrdone.
CLIMATE.
Old Owyhceans assure me that never since
their arrival in this camp has dame nature be.
slowed such Cue winter season upon US as the
present. Although our streets give the unmis>
taxable sign of January, still the SUI shines in
all her glory, iufusing warmth that scarcely war
rants the belief. We wonder how it can be pos
sible that the Columbia is frozen over, and |
storms prevail in the Sierra Nevada.
ENTERPRISE.
Notwithstanding the above, Mr.. Beachy keeps
up his click The stages arrive and depart as
regular as if there was no Columbia froze over,
and no storms prevailing in the mountains. This |
Fact is mainly due to the enterprise of Mr. Beachy's
residing agent at this place, who may be set
down as the right man u the right place During
\ heavy drift of snow below Boonville, Mr.. Lob.
snsten spared no pains to have communication
reestablished, and with the aid of shovels and |
perseverance he succeeded. Mr. Beacby is GER
ainly setting an example to the o. S.N. Co.
which those gentlemen would do well to initiate
ny keep such an important river closed up
hree months in the year, when by means Of an |
ce cutter communication could be kept up all |
he year round But it is useless for me to |
rumble. II the people Of DdIles, UmatiIla, and |
Nulla Walla eau stand il, | certainly eau. Just |
low, BY means of Beachy's line, we receive our |
nail matter from San Francisco in 81 days, and |
rs see no show for the Columbia to open for
'ome time to come, would suggest to my friends |
'f the Portland press to send their papers and |
nail matter for this camp, via the Humboldt.
Meanwhile have no fault to find With the man
'gement Of the stage line from Walla Walla to
Boise City. The STATESMAN Is the only paper
published in the Columbia river basin that now
reaches regularly, and AS a matter of couseque
possesses host of friends in this locality.
GOSSIP.
As stated in my last letter, railroad talk is all
he go in this portion of u SIS domain. The
leading topic, however, is iu relation to tapping
he c. P R. at some point nearest to Idaho, and
extend her to the navigable waters of the Colum-
Dia. This project, of course, has given rise TO