Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-03-06
VAN wINKLE SLEEP BROKEN

1t Is not actually possible to tell wheth-
er there is any considerable quantity OF
gold in the Ceur d Alene mountains or
not. People have been running after
what will very probably prove phantom.
A small quantity of gold was taken out
at one spot last fall, and before any ex
animation of the country, worth the name
could be made, snow began to fall and
ever since, the elevated and rugged coun-
try in which the mines are supposed to
lie has been buried so deep that no ''pros-
pecting' has been possible. Yet men
have been rushing in by dozens and hun
dreds all winter. When the snow dis
appears it may be found that the district
is grand failure. This, indeed, is
highly probable result.
With the wide circulation that paper
has, if an article had appeared in that
paper editorially three months ago, we
are of the opinion it would have had
very salutary effect in checking the ex
travagant excitement that has been pro
duced all over the country, from the Pa
cifc to the Atlantic, and staying the great
preparations that have been made to 90 to
these mines in the early spring, as well as
the vast preparations to receive this i'm
migration and supply their physical neces-
sites when they arrived. Some of the
most glowing accounts of the richness and
extent Of these mines, have from time to
time, heretofore appeared in the Oregon
ian in the shape of correspondence over
anonymous signatures and no doubt the
statements made in that correspondence
have had much to do in creating the
present fever all over the country, and
desipe and determination to visit them
We concedc to the Oregonian the great
influence it has throughout the country
in moulding opinion. But notwithstand-
ing that influence, now the storm and
fever has been gathered up, and the great
preparations have been made by the Ore
gonian and other journals, we doubt very
much that the article quoted above will
have the influence to allay this storm and
fever. 1t will be likely to run its course
and hundreds and perhaps thousands will
find themselves broken in health and in
pocket in consequence. We do not say
that the Oregonian is to blame in wait
ing this length of time before giving the
public the facts as it has done in the above
quotation, although the same facts existed
at the time of the first deep snow fall and
, have ever since remained about the same.
Many weeks ago the TELLER cautioned
the public to the effect that up to the
time of. the deep snow fall. nothing had
been disclosed there that warranted
any rush there, or any preparations to go
there with the expectations of finding Il
rich camp. The TELLER published some
letters from a correspondent in camp,
who expressed a hope that the camp
would prove prosperous aud productive
but always saying that but comparatively
little had yet been disclosed to warrant
any certainty in matters and that nothing
could be determined till the snow had
disappeared. 1t is claimed, whether true
or false, that upon the fact thae a small
quantity of gold in places had been found
there and few base metal quartz lodges,
the North Pacific Company's agents have
famed up much of this excitement, by
: causing publications in the newspapers,
and circulars to be printed and extensive
) ly distributed, setting forth extravagant
= statements in regard to the richness and
extent of these mines, for the purpose of
= inducing immigration and making bust
: ness for their road. We see by dispatches
e that several large combinations of miners
4 from the other side have made special
o rates with the company to take them
through at reduced rates. Already hun.
dreds have come. A gentleman who came
: through over week ago informed us
f that over one hundred miners for ~CGur
dAlene came through on the same train
with himself If "Old probabilities
which the Oregonian now refers to be-
u come true, the amount of disappointment
IS that will be experienced will make the
: imprecations and curses against the coYn-
a try and all that is in it, loud and deep,
and if, as is claimed, that the mines fail
y ing. these immigrants will be left here to
l. seek other employment from the force
J. of their in ligent position, they will not
4 become a class Of labor that will be Of
great benefit to the country, on account
, of their dissatisfied condition, arising from
= the misrepresentation and deception used
to get them here.
The Public Land committee renor, Inv