Year: 1862

Letter from Oro Fino.


ORC FNo, June 12, 1862.


EDS. STATESMAN Having promised to write
occasionally for your paper, 1 must crave your in
diligence for my negligence hitherto. 1 arrived
in this vicinity three weeks ago, and was, indeed,
much surprised to find everything dull and prices
very much advanced from what they were year
ago however, as the Salmon river excitement
took off nearly all the original inhabitants, and
things looking so gloomy during winter, it is not
strange that change was apparent in nearly all
the necessaries of life and luxury.


The towns of Oro Fino and Pierce City, looked
like the abandoned ruins of Palmyra, with this
only difference, that the stone columns of Palmy-
ra are more lasting than the fallen logs of this
gion. Pierce City suffered more than this town
by the fall of snow-three of the best looking
houses in town fell to the ground, being crushed
down by the snow.


f" But a change has come over the spirit of our
dream" and now the miners, sick of Salmon, are
fast returning to their old love. In my opinion,
and after long and difficult search for claim
in the Salmon country. l am persuaded that
either in this section or in the neighborhood of
Elk City, superior mining claims, more extensive,
and far more profitable are to be found. No !
they are already open to occupation; and partly
ready to the miners hand. Hundreds are flock
ing constantly in this direction, and things begin
to assume new aspect; the dull towns are wax
ing up to life and bu usiness; the abandoned claims
are jumped or being worked, and pack trains are
fast coming into the mines.


On Rhodes creek every claim that was worked
last year are now being worked, or parties are
preparing to do so. The main Orc Fino creek is
fast filing up with miners, and several gulches
hitherto scarcely prospected, are alive with the
sound of the pick and shovel. A few days ago a
freshet took place in Orc Fino creek, filling up
large number of claims and causing great
amount of damage but the water as suddenly
subsded, and now the gold begins to make its
appearance in every manner, and in no small
quantities; times begin to assume their old ap-
pearance, and l will venture the assertion, that
this section will produce more gold this summer
than the far-famed Salmon Mines


In justice 10 gentleman of your city, Mr.
Haas, would say that rumor has been very busy
with his reputation in connection with the
death of Mr.. Harris, near this town. 1 have paid
some attention to the matter, and find Mr. Haas
entirely blameess, or at least innocent of any in
tention to bring his friend Mr. Harris, to trouble
or danger. The citizens here, with few excep-
tions, and those neither friends nor admirers Of
Mr.. Haas, entirely expunge him from any blame
in the matter. In fact, the details are so long
and unnteresting to your readers that will mere
ly mention that Mr. Haas has done more for Mr..
Harris than the world would give him credit for.
So much is due in justice to the fame of Mr.
Haas.


Locally and politically, we are progressive
people a Urtuous province and fast country
Yes indeed a year ago few unknown indivd-
uals happened to be placed in office, and they now
imagine that the county of Shoshone, Qately Or
ganized by the Legislature of this Territory be-
longs to them-ts finances, its welfare, and its fu-
ture fame is theirs. Verify the oldest inhabitant
may blush at the present state of things in this
neighborhoOd. And now, not satisfied with hav-
ing held on, Nhough rdiculously unfit they as
sumo to dictate to us what must be. Was ever
impudence so brazen before? Perhaps may
give biography of their lives one of these days.
1t will not be classical For the entire oligarchy,
perhaps with a single exception, snguarly
common-p lace. Their test is, "are you willing
to do as 1 want you ?" If the answer is in the
negative, out you go-you cannot hope for any
thing at their hands. The fact of the matter is,
that they have few miserable tools or dupes,
who possess no mind or soul or personal indepen-
dence, and who will, if successful do the bidding
of their masters Such, Mr.. Editor, are the gen
tlemen aspiring to political preferment in this
neighborhood. But alas their hopes are likely
to be nipped in the bud-their little schemes are
weighed and found wanting" In connection
with this matter, it is rumored by many that the
finances of this county require investigation
This is caused by the fact that the gentlemen
having control in the matter, doing large bust
ness in the sporting line and other nameless lux
uries all of which gives oolOling to speculation
True it is, in my humble opinion, that the county
finances are being disposed of in very loose and
improper manner. 1 give it as understand it,
that change becomes absolutely necessary.