Delta chief., 1884-04-09
CGuR D.AELNE.
An Interesting Letter from Delta
County Man.

BELKNAP, MONTANA, March 27, 1884.
To the Editor of THE CHIEF:
Wishing to make good my promise / write
you few lines in regard to this part of Gods
footstool When l left Delta l promised
many to write them, but they affected to be-
lieve that any thing would write to the CHIEF
would be slightly tinctured with wind, how
belt it Will have to pass for whatever it is
worth as time is 100 precious here to write all.
In the first place can't say that am well
pleased with the appearance of the country,
as it is nothing but dense forest from the
main summit of the Rocky Mountain range
to this point, and is reported as just the same
on the west until Spokane Falls are passed,
when small patches of prairie are to be seen.
Furthermore, am of the opinion that it is
sckly here, from the fact that the altitude is
but little over $500 feet. The snow here is
at least four feet deep on the level, and when
the sun shines out hot the steam rises ut
once, and dense fog is seen to gather and
s.ttle over the country. notice that nearly
every man coming here from high dry alti-
tude like yours, is ut once stricken with n
bad cold, which without fail, disables him
for work for few days. The topography of
the country, as a gen ,ral thing is broken and
undulating. The timber is principally fir
and white pine, which makes excellent lum-
Der. Belknap is, the principle forwarding
point on the Northern Paci6c railroad con-
tiguous to the great CGur d. Alene mining
country, and of course is doing a land office
business in the way of real estate. Lots COM
o,I lac ,c loil
currence. Lumber is only sl7.00 per NJ,
shingles $3.50 per thousand. Men are coming
in by the hundred every day, the majority of
whom are fiat broke, and of course if they
fail to get job leave cussing the place.
Wages here are $500 per day and board, if
you can get job, but so many men are COM
ing in that fear good times will soon be
overdone. A great many men are bewailing
their bad luck in coming hither, saying they
left good jobs to come to what they now be-
Gcve to be one of the grandest frauds ever
gotten up. Eagle City is the principal town
of importance on Pritchard creek, there being
over 5000 people in it, mostly men, there
being but three women there, and with
sed their departure from this point in male
habiliaments. No, l never laughed, it was
Shyaanaugh. The trail from here to that
point is well b oxen as men are passing over
it daily with sleighs and toboggans. Pack
animals go over early Of morning on the
crust. Men get "a LOO day and board to per-
senate the little animal known in Delta us
the sburro." OF course this will play out as
soon as the snow melts, which will be soon.
The rates of freight between here and the
| mines, is % cents per pound, some as high as
40 cents. A joint Of common stove pipe, over
there, sells readily at $3.50; onions, % cents
each. A small sheet iron stove, 5000; ;'egss,
$3.50 per dozen; potatoes, none to be had
Meals 100, and you get a cup Of coffee and
slapjack, and aresnot allowed to grumble
either, or you are fred out Of the camp.
Rich finds are of daily occurrence, and the
| country on Pritchard creek is stalled, rcstak-
! ed and staked over again, which will result
in much litigation, which is music to the
Judges ear. think this will be one of the
richest camps ever known, yet advise no
| one to come US it is already overdone, and
still coming in. On the contrary, l say
where man can get $500 per month back
east and boarded, to stay with it and pay no
attention to cxcitements. Be sure and i'm
press this upon the minds of your readers. j
am acting as reporter. Tor liar rather), for the
Belknap Enterprise, company paper, at
$500 per month and board.
w. Z DEAN.
North Fork Items.