The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-11-02

weary pedestrian. The business men of the
place took fright at our failure and sub
scription paper was at once started to en-
ploy man who professed to know the route
to lead party and
BLAZE A TRAIL
through to the mines. The subscription had
reached . good sum last Monday night when
your correspondent left the burg for Deer
Lodge, and no doubt before this sketch
reaches the public a blazed trail will have
been made into the mines from Heron Siding
at distance probably Of thirty or thir-
ty-five miles. The business men Of Heron
Siding are not lacking in enterprise, and if
such thing Ia possible they will see that .
trail Is put through. In this connection,
your correspondent would not throw the
least discredIt upon the efforts of Messrs.
Fred Weeks and Berry Davis in making .
trail to the gold mines. They are doing all
they can, and if human endurance and skill
will effect the desired end these gentlemen
will succeed.
THE DISTANCE
from Heron Siding to the mines is thought
to be thirty or thirty-fve miles. This is GER
tainly the nearest point. From Rathdrum
we append a memorandum Of the route made
by an old mountaineer and who understood
what he said, as follows:
Leaving Rathdrum, for thirteen miles q
fair wagon road up the canon; from the out
let Of Trout Lake for two and half miles
the road Is rocky and almost impossible.
From there to Fourth of July canon the road
is fair but mountainous. Through Fourth of
July for six miles the worst road ever trav-
eled. From Old Mission to Miners Camp,
where trail leaves Mullen road, very bad and
thirteen crossings Of CGur d'Alene river.
which cannot be crossed in the spring. Dis
lance from Rathdrum to Miners Camp, IS
miles; from Miners Camp to Pritchard creek,
q miles, total distance, 50 miles" 1 give
the above as indicating the character and
shortest routes when the Heron Siding trail
is completed, which may be accomplished
ere this reaches the public eye.
GENERAL SUMMING UP.
While down in that country your cores
pondent met with number Of men who had
been in the mines, and from every one moth
ing but the most encouraging reports were
heard. Berry Davis's claim cleaned up ten
ounces the last days run, among which were
two specimens weighing SO and S14 respect
lively. But few claims were being worked
with sluices, owing to the scarcity of lumber
and lateness of the season to make proper
The most that was being done
in the mining district was locating claims,
erecting cabins, and preparing for winter
Many Of the claims taken up were unpros-
pected, and even their owners were not sure
that they could "raise color" The town
of Eagle City consists of about dozen log
cabins-one store, two gin mills, recorders
office, and few miners cabins. The coun-
try is generally level covered with heavy
timber. Good judges estimate that ut leas:
ten out Of every hundred that stay there this
winter will die:.of pneumonia. This Of course
is based upon the hypothesis that the low,
damp ground will not prove conducive to
good health.
To sum up: Your correspondent is inclined
to the belief that there are rich diggings in
the Ceur dAlene Mountains, and that next
spring will witness q grand old-time stam-
pede into them. He Is footsore and weary
now, and for the present win switch Off
g. VIC.