Year: 1862

"The Statesman is mistaken in saying that Mr..
Abbott, of the Umatlla failed to get into the
Salmon river mines, by the Grand Ronde route.
Mr. A. did get in by that route, and further, made


a handsome speculation by the sale of his cattle.


Will our Walla Wala cotemporary make the


proper correction ?"


We publish this extract merely to show our


readers here-who know better-how diSinter-


ested the editor of the .HOunalneer is in this mat


ter and how much (or little) reliance can be


placed on his assertions 1t is not our province,


gae 6FP m RtSs t iRq a} aSalgaee are BIN t9


wise than sincere. But we do insist that before


public journalist assumes a position upon a sub
ject of so great importance as this trail matter


must become to the thousands who will visit the


upper country the coming season, he should be


better informed than the editor of the Mountain


eer appears to be. If he has been duped, by
spectators, or others, into the belief that such a


trail has been found, it is his misfortune; and if
he asserts this merely to 'carry his point" he will


in the end do himself injury and the cause he
advocates harm only. We have not presumed to
speak upon this subject from personal knowledge,
but have had the most ndsputable authority
for all that we have said in relation to it, The
Grand Ronde valley is only about forty miles
from this place, and during the winter several
persons have come over from there and informed
us that the party which went out last fall were
in finding practicable tral-or any
trail at all-from the Grand Ronde valley to Sal
mon river. These men have all told US that Mr.
Abbott did not succeed in getting his cattle
through TO the mines, nor even in finding
a suitable place to ferry them across Snake river
and was consequently compelled to winter them
in the Grand Ronde valley. We have given the
names of our informants, and by telling US that we
are mistaken" the editor of the .Moultaineer
simply says they have lied. Mr.. Abbott was him
self at the Umatla last week. and stated that his
cattle were then in the Grand Ronde valley. Will
the editor of the Mountaineer say that he has


lied also


By way of administering the "proper correc-
tion," we will say to the Mouataineer man,


rsthe will find thatitis always best Il observe the
Did MOTTO "Bc sure you are right then go ahead"
second, if be should succeed in inducing a few
hundred miners to try the Grand Ronde Route,
1efore a practicable trail Is found that way, he
will entail upon them a season of ofhardships, the
relation of which will damn the route so that it
will never afterwards be travelled third, if he isl
really so much interested in building up the
Grand Ronde valley as he seems to be, he will
ind enough in telling the whole truth about it
o induce emigration thither: 1t is said to be
good Agricultural valley; healthful climate is
to the Powder river mines-which bid
air to yield largely,-and it is believed that good
yold mines exist on the Grand Ronde river, and
throughout the whole Blue mountain range; and
inally, if there should be no direct trade" be-
ween the Dalles and the Grand Ronde valley, on
ccount of these advantages, there may, from its
be such trade carried on between that
alley and this place, and our merchants must
necessarily look to the lower Columbia for their
upplies, and thereby-though indrecty-give
o the Dalles the benefit of this direct trade"


DIsAPPEARINGs-Thes snow is gradually disap-
earring. In the valley, it lies at the depth of
en- inches, excepting where it was drifted. In
ONE of these places the snow is still several feet
eep. While we are all anxious to see the
round once more bare of its winter covering
his slow process is perhaps the best for the peo-
lie in the valley, as it will not be liable to occa-
on food The mountains are becoming quite
are, though the creeks in this vicinity seem to be
ut little affected as yet by the melting SHOWS.
We learn, however, that the COppei, and Touchet
re very high, and rapidly rising These streams
ave not been fordable for several days.