smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

We have met tonight 10 do honor to distinguished
counryman-one who has done honor to you done
honor to the country of his BIRTH and been of eminent
service to the country Of his adoption. Applause 1t
not the fault of the country of his adoption that he
has not received the reward his services entitled him
That IN this case we may say that Republics are un
grateful, will strike you all true The republic itself
not ungratetu but of the scrubs that the pub
nc have put ID high places are devilish uugratefu
Laughter


desire It to be understood that make no reflection
upon the Chief OF the Dation-none whatever. | be-
lieve the President OF the United States to be an up
right, pure AID honest man, heartily desrous to dis
charge bis whole duty to the best of his ability and We
all know that Mr. Lincoln did not overlook General
Shields. Applause But it SO happered that the
small politicians of the Senate could merit in
brave General, and the reason you all know. II the
shades OF Webster, Clay, Calhoun, or BGnton and the
giants of DID, who made the Senate again visit
these halls aud behold the pigmies who supply their
chairs how they would excam for the condition Of their
Country. Applause


The present body OF distinguished Senators had not
the manness to say of Gen. Shields that be incom
peeDt. One said L. will not do to promote any
OF his family" There were only twenty-three wooly
heads in the army with the rank Of georAI of
hundred and thirty. This DIFF must exist long-
er Pray, who brought the war? The woolIy- heads
Who prolonged by their Interference with the army?
lhe w0oly-heads Wac rxpec1 to be benefit by It's
continuance? The woody Leads. Applause Why,
might ask, did they not make generals OF that
stripe? They would il they could, bat they hadn't
them.


Now if my friends father had go1e to Africa or him
self born anywhere else out in Ireland he could proba
bly, have been smuggled through the Senate but mas
much his father and mother white, and he was
born where they raise good soldiers, God help him
[Applarse.l


Ny friend, not only in Mexico but at Winchester,
where he alone managed Jackson Infused into the rank
the courage and spirit of his own daring and fearless
nature. The mastery defeat Of jackson succeeded
soon after by mastery retreat under PCT general Of
our magnanimOus Senate.


Mark what followed A statesman without speech,
soldier without battle AID o millionaire with nary
red, seated himself in tie Mountain Department. The
Pathfinder did not nd his path pleasant for he
left iu disgust Nevertheless, that General is deternn-
ed to have his way. Over and above his ordinary
allowance of staff Ulcers, be has ftyour officers
tached him, whose salaries reach the snug sum o!
$40 900. and is there hing wrong in that ? II De
Democrat, or if be had succs eded in whipping
the entmy, what howl there would be through he
land But will not talk longer, cries of go on ~
but will propose:


"Our Guest-Bravest of the Brave"
Year: 1862

king their beds anywhere, if without money in word
dong no better than if they upon hostile gou 3D.


AS lar as the community is concerned the arrival OF
way.worn and prison-woru soldiers was almost wholly
unexpected aid further than this the pecre of Rrt
mond have already devoted their time and rsources to
great extent to permit the indulgence Of the IDEA
that their public spirit be subdued under any r.
cnnsances. The authorities. fear, fad no apoI-
opists
Year: 1862

campaigning memory They have crossed the Atlantic
simply to recross it. And their presents sef to
the Of the calm observer in the somewhat piifu light
of that of political and military adventurers seeking to
trcAe Themselves with as little delay possible from an
unspcce ssful speculation.
Year: 1862




The mines about Elk City last fall we're paving
well enough to satisfy the majority of miners then
loc lted there but Salmon seduced them away,
and many who thought $40 and S15 a day as
good thing as they wanted" were dissatisfied
with the wondrous piacerS Of Florence. So excl
ted, indeed were the first corners to Salmon last
fall that friend Of mine who was there, COM
pared them to a lot of old hens, save that the
hens could beat them scratching around" for
so excited were they that they could nor-in most
instances-make up their minds where to locate,
for fear that each might not have the richest
claim Their condition was like Yellow Plushs,
while seated between the two beautiful ladies, of
whom he had but to take the choice, and couldn't
make up his mind His emotions are best ex-
pressed by himself: T" felt like donkey between
two bundles of hay"


But now the imagnations OF men are cooling
of, and $40 and 20 day does not look so small
So Elk City stock is on the rise


From that interesting burg | learn that my
friend Capt NJ. has built quite a CITY during the
winter months, and made many substantial i'm
provements, and only needs two or three quartz
mills to be located there to complete his happ-
ness


FROM THE MOUTH OF SLATE CREEK TO FLORENCE


The trail from the mouth of Slate Creek to
lOIenCe hds Deen ndue lOl-rOau Oy incense
from the County Commissioners, to Messrs De-
lashmutt, Seward and others, for the period of
four months. So far as | am capable of judging,
the parties are working IN good faith to improve
the road and merit the franchise which has been
granted to them. Notwithstanding this, there
are parties who find much fault with the arrange
ment, say there is no law in the Salmon mines,
that the County Commissioners have no right to
grant such franchise, won't pay toll &c. For
my own part, think there can be no other way
to improve the trails in this country, but think
the Territorial Legislature ought to make it OBJ
ligatory the holders of road charters and licen-
ses to spend certain amount of receipts on the
improvement of the road-recepts and expendi.
lures to he sworn to-and the proportion to be
expended to be awarded by the County Commits
sOners
Year: 1862

WE TAKE PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING TO
our old patrons and the public of Oregon and
Washington Territory generally that after two years
business we have established trade and facilities for
importing our line of goods that defes competition
also, that we are selling goods in line at San
Francisco Prices, and guaranteeing them to be
genuine our stock being at all times subject to the
strictest chemical analyzaton.


No Trade Solicited Except in Fine Liquors.
Year: 1862

The yield of gold in the mines is all that the
most sanguine defenders of the richness of them
ever prophesiad, but Notwithstanding this, it is
true that many men have been so unfortunate as
to not find paying claims OF those who have
come up from both the Willamette and California
l have known many instances in which men have
returned after a stay of week, and had made up
their minds that they would not pay One gen
teman of California had an affecting story to tell
of some friends wfo could not make expenses at
ten ounces day, because provisions were 81 per
pound. Presuming on the verdancy of this cor
respondent, newly-fedged miners of week can
tell him more than he has been able to hear or
see during five months residence in the mines.-
1t is a shame TO the manhood of men that the first
breath Of Encouragement should deter them from
giving the mines a fair trial Among the dis
couraged are many who never had any business
here-men Of wealth, for wi ON there need be no
sympathy, as that grasping spirit which yearns
for MORE when a competence is secured is best
rebuked and corrected by an unlucky trip to the
mines, and some experience in mining As fol
those who come here to pick up" money, they
have their own deserved reward. The ndustr-
Gus and unlucky miner deserves sympathy, but he
is seldom found in the corps of "growers."


The rush of miners up and across Salmon river
still continues, and is met by returning column
of rushers' who are rushing back-some to start
again in many new directions, and manr will con-
tnue to rush until their original starting point is
reached. At present it is out of the question to
reach the creeks to the north Of Florence, be-
tween Clearwater and Salmon, and until it can be
done but few discoveries this side of Salmon may
be looked for. The area of mining discoveries
about Florence is gradually increasing, but not TO
an extent to give claims TO all there, and in con-
sequence there is
Year: 1862

1t is much to be wished that the district court
for this county will take ample time for its first
session at Florence, and by making good begin
ming in the commencement to establish whole
some dread of the power of the laws among those
who may be disposed to "cut up any free niger
shines" To commence at the commencement is
always good and never better than in the first
application of legal restraint to the dishonest and
unruly H. NJ
Year: 1862

DEAR F-:-Accompa ing this letter
send you piece of Salmon river ice, which froze
so hard last winter that it refuses to thaw out in
this climate. With this piece of ice you can make
sherry-cobbiers all summer and have a small piece
left in the fall. If it proves of use, you may de-
pend on having a regular supply in future.


J. c."
But here we are in the middle of letter and
Year: 1862

The legislative assembly of Oregon con-
vened on the 9Th inst. We have no re-
port of its proceedings up to the present
time, but we judge from the various specu-
lations INDUCED in regarding the Senate
rial question, that this subject IS to form
the most important element in its proceed
ings. And this is not unreasonable, when
we consider that in addition to the usual
party and political strife incident to the
election cf u S. Senator they have in
the present contest a religious element, as
fierce and as eager for the mastery as the
other. The prominent candidates who are
said to represent these two factions are
Asahel Bush, il the political field, and
6 Bro" Pearne, in the religious Both are
fast and popular nags, and will individually
bring more votes to their support than per-
haps any other two leading men in the
State could do; thus making the contest a
formidable one on both sides. Bush of
COuAoC CApC " AOCC4NC INC O6uOCIdllC
vote,-and will doubtless get it if the can
vass becomes narrowed down to a choice
between him and Pearne, probably
some of the anti-higher-law republicans will
vote for him in preference to Pearne. On
the other hand, Pearne must rely solely
upon the republican strength for no demo-
crat will vote for a man of his peculiar po-
litical notions, whatever faith he may have
in his good intentions and although there
is said to be majority of republicans on


joint ballot, Pearne cannot rely upon this
fact for his election, for we are confident
that there are those among them who have
no sympathy whatever with his fanatical
and revolutionary notions. We feel an in
terest in common with the people of Ore
gon in the result of this Senatorial can
vass, and are anxious to see a competent
and liberal minded man chosen to fill the
position. A professional political wire
worker and intriguer would reflect no par
ticular credit upon the State in the Senate,
nor would man of narrowed and bigoted
views. 1t is to be hoped the choice will
finally fall upon third man, better fitted
for the position than either Of these prom
inent candidates.
Year: 1862

We would call the attention of the emil
grants and others coming into this valley
to the advantages presented to stock raisers
by the valley of the lower Touchet, for
grazing as we'll as for agricultural purposes.
This stream flows through a valley of
about quarter of mile in width, walled
on each side by precipitous bluffs. Its
banks are lined with cottonwood, birch,
willow, alder and hawthorne, afording an
ample supply of frewood. The banks of
the stream are high and are never over
flowed except at unusually high water, such
as was had last spring and even this sea-
son crops were butlittle damaged thereby.
The soil is productive and on each claim
will afford sufficient land to raise good
crop of oats for forage and fine garden
for household purposes. The hills are
covered with a never failing supply of
bunch grass, easy of access by the many
ravines leading from the valley to
the hills above But little fencing is re-
uuired to enclose the land. A fence reach
ing from bluff to bluff across each end will
prevent all damage from adjoining farms,
and the creek itself in many places forms a
natural enclosure. The never failing
stream keeps animals from straying in
search of water; the groves of timber give
them shelter in the heat of summer, and
the suns rays reflected from the black ba-
saltic rocks warm them in winter. No
lumber is needed for fences frewood need
not be hauled long distances, and a secure
retreat is to be easily found for all kinds
of stock Situated about equal distances
from Walla Walla and Wallula, with a
good road either way, or up the valley to-
wards the mines, but few points offer su-
perior advantages to the sheep or cattle
raiser. Several claims are already taken
up in this part of the Touchet valley, and
soon we shall see thriving settlement of
families in this portion Of our valley hith-
erto overlooked.
Year: 1862

1t is fact that farmers are generally poor mi
ners because, habtuated to a certain amount of
solid comfort at home, they are not prepared to
Withstand the peculiar hardships and prvations
of a miners life. The varying fortunes of mi
ner, particularly, have depressing influence on
men not experienced IN mining. Men fresh from
their homes, where there has always been an
abundance of the necessares of life, lack the fer
tility of resources that old miners display Being
unacquanted with the details of mining, to great
extent they are the last that can get employment
for wages, when fortune fails them. Besides, there
is no certainty in mining. The most worthy and
industrious are not always the most successful
on the contrary, the rule appears to be that for
tune often confers her favors on those who least
deserve them as if TO show how much value
Providence sets on worldly success.


But there is pursuit that farmers excel in, and
that is farming. This truism | use, because too
many farmers appear TO think gold mining their
speciality setting little store by their own legiti-
mate pursuits. Agriculturists, somewhere, must
supply the miners Of the Bitter Root range with
food, and it depends on the farmers of adjacent
districts whether Washington and Oregon should
do it, or those of California. Impressed with the
view that wheat must pay when flour is 81 and
50 barrel in Portland, | advocate stupen-
dous system of wheat growing. Convinced that
beef at Is cents and upwards, at Florence, is a
good article to raise urge the growth and fat
tening of beef cattle for this market. Knowing
that liberal prices-sometimes exOrbitant prices
are to be obtained in the mines for every article
of domestic produce l urge our farmers to stay
at home and mind their own affairs, for there are
enough who will dig gold, and who know how to
do it.


Walla Wala valley has the advantage of Ore
gon by the difference in freight from Portland to
Walla Walla, and for that reason every available
acre should be used next season by your farmers
Stock-raisers should endeavor to have their beef
and mutton in good condition for next spring, and
not send skeletons to market, as they did this
spring. to their own injury and to the damage of
consumers teeth and stomachs. Ask fair prices
for all things, and do not drive away miners by
starvation prices as you have done this year.
There viii be mines here when most of US are
moulderng in the grave, and good home mar
ket for years to come.


BY pursuing this policy, the Walla Walla and
Willamette vallies will enrich themselves much
more surely than by any sudden rush TO the mines.
Finally, let any man who has paying business,
or situation anywhere, stick to it, and leave the
field of mining enterprise open to the necessitous
and adventurous.


STATE OF IDAHO.


You have probably noticed rhapsodical effu-
sion in the Golden Age, Of some weeks ago, about
the new State of Idaho-that is TO be. The wri-
ter encourages his readers bv saving that the ef-
Year: 1862

New DIGGINGs.-Mr Curry informs us
that new diggings, which pay with the av-
erage Of the Powder River mines, have been
discovered between Auburn and Mormon
Basin. Also that miners, mostly emigrants,
are now at work making good wages on
nearly all the gulcbes which put into the
Powder river valley.
Year: 1862

SHORT SUPPLY OF PROvIsIoNs.-A
Powder River correspondent, whose letter
we publish this week, and in whose vera
city and judgment we have implicit conf
dence, assures us that there is not twenty
days provisions at Auburn at the present
time, and fears a total failure in the supply
for the winter. This is the uniform repre-
sentation of men who ere not interested in
the speculations of trade, and their state
ments are entitled to more confidence than
those of an equal number of spectators in
small way who are anxious to keep out
supplies in order to keep up the prices.
Year: 1862

We have information of a party going
to seek for gold in the Blue mountains,
some twenty miles distant from this place.
They go from personal knowledge of
its being good gold bearing region. We
are gratifed to see a disposi ton manifested
to explore in our immediate vicinity. AS
a general thing men expect results proper
tionate to the labors in their attainment,
in accordance with the theory that there is
more pleasure in pursuit than in possession,
which would be true if none of us had but
one object in life to accomplish.


There is no gainsaying the fact that the
gold mania-which has made and unmaGe
governments as well as individuals, and
has made the Pacific coast what it isis
infectious, and of that Pestilential charac-
ter that none attempt to flee from it, what
ever their antecedents may have been All
that can be done in philanthropic way is
for the victims to endeavor to ameliorate
each others condition as much as possible
Credulity has been one of the fatal Symp-
toms, and in regard to it, we will remark
that no people Of equal civilization and in
telligence, in the history Of the world, have
suffered as much as those of the Pacific
coast, and they have, as a general thing, so
far given up to it as to relapse into su-
perstitious condition, and rely upon luck,
so called in these vulgar times, but in Pu-
ritanical times, Divine interposition. "
The only antidote yet discovered for this
fatal symptom is a small compound of com
mon sense and practical mining experience.


1t has been determined within the last
year that the whole northern Pacific coast
abounds in gold deposits, and that there is
no risk in expending labor in seeking for
it in quantities wherever prospects have
been found. 1t is fact no less singular
than true that all the mining districts upon
the Pacific coast have been developed by
accident, and not from any efforts based
upon scientific or even ordinary business
theories.


Before the discovery of gold upon Fra
zer river, prospects were found upon the
northern and southern slopes of the Blue
mountains, which first induced the belief
that there was gold in this interior coun-
try. Upon every stream heading in these
mountains, upon this side, from John Days
river to the TucanOn, good prospects were
found and good mines are now being
developed upon John Days river. Good
prospects have been found, not only in the
gulch { 8 miles distant) in which Robes
steam saw mill was formerly located, but
at the foot Of that gulch, in this valley
upon Mill creek, in the mountains, and at
the head of the Tucanon. From these
facts, the existence or non-existence Of
gold, in paying quantities in these places,
is question of too much Importance to
the mining community to longer remain a
doubt for want of proper efforts to deter
mine it. We are satisfied the chances are
as good, if not better, for "strikes" in these
localities as for nelo diggings in any other
locality where miners are now working.
Year: 1862

A PUBLIC NEcEssITY.-Our attention
has been called to the necessity of the es-
tablishment of an assay office in this city,
and we would suggest for the benefit of
those who may be in that line of business
and desirous of profitable location, as well
as to meet an everyday demand of our peo-
pie, that this point possesses superior at
fractions for an assay Office. Being a CEN
tral point for the mines, the gold from most
of the discoveries first finds its way here,
and would be invariably assayed here if
there was an office established. Besides, a
great deal of dust comes here in bulk, and
it frequently happens in trading and max
ing purchases that men fail to agree as to
its worth, when they are obliged to send it
below. We are confident large assaying
and exchange business might be done here
if the facilities we're in operation.
Year: 1862

How IS IT T?-One Of our Auburn cores
pondents says that about fifty dollars has
been expended on the government road
over the Blue mountains from the Umatilla
to Grand Ronde, in removing few rocks,
and we are told by other parties that the
road is opened and completed. How is
this , We understood that the contract
for this work was let at the sum of five
thousand dollars, and surely adequate SER
vices for that amount of money could not
be performed in a week.
Year: 1862

The new canal was completed as far as Smiths
Gulch last week, but the supply of water is scant.
However, it is increasing, and with the rise the
springs will be a great benefit yet this fall.
Year: 1862

Some enterprising persons have completed a
railroad from the timber out of town to Florence,
for the purpose of bringing in supply of wood
1t will prove paying speculation if the popula-
ton here this winter is as great as it was last.