Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-03-16
Discovery of Gold in Oregon.

On the 22d day of October, 1861,
three California miners, viz: Messrs.
Littleield, Griffin and Scrivener,
found themselves in what is now
known as Griffin's gulcb, short dis
lance south of Baker City. 1t was
in the evening and they concluded to
camp for the night. Observing the
close similarity between the adjacent
hills and the gold region of their
State, they concluded to prospect for
the precious metal. Accordingly Mr..
Griffin took his pan and shovel.
and after some little prospecting
got color. Darkness interfe. ed
with further prosecution of the work
until morning. when all returned to
the spot, and after digging to a
depth of about four feet, reached
dirt that PANIED fifty cents and up
ward to the pan. As a matter of
course they were greatly excited.
They took out more than a hundred
dollars of dust and then started to
Walla Walla to make sale hereof
and purchase supplies. On their
way their horses and mules strayed,
and they were compelled to walk a
hundred miles over rugged noun
tains and through country inhab-
tied only by aburigines. Arriving
at Walla Walla, they made many
fruitless attempts to sell their dust,
on account of doubts being enter
tanned as to its genuineness. They
were fortunate, however, in finding
Mr.. Isaac Kaufman, in tue firm of
Kaufman, Haas & Durk heimer, of
Baker City, who purchased from
them the first one hundred dollars
ever taken from Eastern Oregon Sc il.
Mr.. X. soon after took the same to
Portland, placed it on exhibition,
and ventilated the news through the
newspapers of the city. In the fol.
lowing Spring. that of 1862, miners
and immigrants came fiocking to the
new Eldorado. In the town of Au.
burn, the then center of mining
operations. over 700 houses were
erected, and it was during this year
that it reached its maximum of pros.
perity.
The gold in Griffiu's gulch was as
drop in the bucket. Dozens of
other mines were discovered and
claims located in the vicinity. Ex-
element everywhere was intense,
and by no means confined to one
locality. Gold was soon discovered
in the Canyon City, Granite creek,
Malheur, Mormon basin and various
other districts, and several large
camps sprang into existence. The
discovery of gold in the Boise basin,
Idaho, soon after happened, and the
tide then turned in that direction.
From the Odd day Of October,
1861, dates the beginning Of the
growth of Eastern Oregon aud
Washington. At that time the pop
ulation east of The Dalles consis-
ted almost wholly of wild and I'M
tutored savages. Now we have cit
les, factories, mills, and industries
of all kinds, and thousands of pop
ulation. To these four men, Little.
field, Griffin, Scrivener and Kauf-
man, Eastern Oregon is primarily in
debted for this change of condition,
and their memory should long be
kept green. Of course, had gold
not been discovered, Eastern Oregon
and Washington would, in time,
have come to the front aud assumed
the place among the States which
they inevitably must; but there can
not be the least glimmer of doubt
i'll the mind of any man Of ordinary
intelligence and discernment that it
has advanced their interest many
decades. Gold always has been,
and as long as it retains its ex-
changeable quality, will be, the
greatest stimulus to Immigration,
the greatest incentive to labor, and
the chief element of a country's
prosperity.