Year: 1865

many cases, the whole after-life of thousands Of
men, without much examination. Let it be
known then that these mines have already en-
riched many but that the country is one having
many and peculiar difficulties, among which are
the scarcity aud high price of provisions and
the depth OF the diggings- often running to sew
enty feet or more. 1t is almost out of place to
say that man who has the comforts of life had
better stay away from these mines. Those who
can think of nothing else to do may better their
condition by going to them. If any of the first
named class should go, they desrspe to fail, the
other to succeed.


AS TO cLNArR.


am informed that winter fairly sets in on
the upper part of the western slope by the last
of October, but on the other side the climate is
scarcely more severe than in Walla Walla or
Northern Oregon. However, the drifting claims
will probably be worked all winter, thus afford
ing much employment to miners.


As TO SOURCES or SUPPLY


The older settlements on the Pacific side aud
the States of the western frontier are now in
competition to secure the trade to the new
mines. For two years the difficulties in the
navigation of the Missouri river have prevented
the delivery of sufficient supply of merchan-
disc at Fort Benton to meet the demand of the
active and highly lucrative mining trade The
present year the arrivals of provisions at Fort
Benton would not keep starvation off for two
months. Seven steamers reached Milk River,
one hundred and eighty miles below Benton and
over twenty large steamers discharged at Fort
Union, five hundred and eighty miles below
Benton. The seven steamers at the mouth of
Milk River were attacked by Indians and at last
accounts had discharged cargoes and prepared
for vigorous defense of the boats and goods
1t was thought that the section of the Missouri
from Benton to Milk River could be navigated
three or four months in the year by steamers
built expressly for the trade. Two of this kind
were constructed-the 'Deer Lodge" and "Ben-
ton" They have failed to answer expectation,
and urgent necessity has driven the mercantile
community to look to this side for supplies


CAN THIS DEMAND BE MADE PERMANENT.
1t is now nearly demonstrated that Fort Union
is the head of navigation on the Missouri From
| thence there is FIVE hundred and eighty miles of
land transportation to Benton-one hundred
and twenty more to Silver Greek (the nearest
mines of Importance to Benton)-on hundred
and thirty-fve to Helena and one hundred and
fifty to Blackfoot All the country below Ben
ton is infested with hostile Indians, and steam
boats must literally fight their way from Fort
Union, and even below. The question resolves
itself down TO four hundred and fifty miles
against seven hundred-frst prces-means of
ansportation-prices of stock and quality of
goods. If the people on this side move in the
matter it is possible to attract to themselves
vast and increasing trade-enriching thousands
if they miss of doing this, they will lose many
thousands of their best producers whose earn
ings will go east for supplies.


HOW TO DO IT-How NOT TO DO IT.


How to do t.-Establish one line of travel
and spOrtation-drop the boarding house
policy of attracting to places off of the best
and most direct road and aim only to send ev-
cry person and thing by the quickest and cheap
est conveyance. Above all, be content with
small profits, and await the issue for complete
success.


How not to do it.-Continue the boarding
house policy-deceive men into going out of
their way to buy "cayuse" of you-quarrel
bitterly about the merits of rival commercial
points and waste twice as much money on four
roads as will build one good one.


PUBLGooLA