Year: 1862

AUBURN, Oregon, July 20, 1862.


EDS. STATESMAN The Powder river mines
have at last become fixed fact--a place where
miners dig gold by the ounce. The prospects,
which seemed all against the country last spring.
are now reversed and the future is hstterng
enough. do not intend to paint a fancy sketch
nor to touch the reality with so bright a tinge
that those elsewhere who should be content to let
well enough alone, may become at all dazzled.-
For miners who understand the business, and who
have not claims elsewhere, Powder river is the
place. There is, however, one drawback TO
mining now in many of the gulches-the scarcity
of water, and unless the bitches now being con-
structed are completed soon, mining operations in
some of these places must be for time entirely
suspended. This difficulty will soon be remedied ;
for the gulches are rich enough to justify compa-
nies to construct bitches, and l never saw min
ing country anywhere enjoying better water priv
ileges in respect to bitches than this. There are
two bitches now being brought in from Elk Creek.
which will afford water for about one half of the
claims in this immediate vicinity, and there is
some talk of a company being formed to bring in
Powder river. This will probably not be done
this summer, and it is possible that we will have
an ntermssion on some of the gulches for a couple
of months, or until the fall rains set in.


We have reports of new discoveries every day,





excitement now is in the direction of John Days
river where good dggings have been found on
Granite creek, and two or three other tributaries
of John Day. river Parties returning have in
formed me that the prospects there are no better
than those obtained here, but that water is plenty
and thereforethe facilities for working are at pres
ent better.


Prospecting parties have lately gone up Snake
river and report fair prospects-how " fair
have no positive information, and only give it as
one of the reports of the country though in truth
the cry of humbug," when applied to any local
ity here seems about "played out.


l learn that there are some twelve or fifteen
wagons on the way from Salt Lake City to this
place, loaded with -four We will welcome them,
for nothing like competition in the trading line
will so greatly benefit the +" honest miner" But
Oregon and Washington should make the effort
at least to keep out competition from Utah.


| am also told that the vanguard of the emigra-
ton has already arrived in the Powder river val
ley. Those who have arrived report that the
number on the road will equal that of 1852. As
they must come by Powder river we will most
likely have a large population here this fall; for
would not fresh arrival from the east who would
not become excited at the sight of virgin gold "
be an anomaly indeed | am glad for them, In
Decd that their arrival here will be so opportune.
Auburn is becoming place of some import
ance. There are some fifty to sixty houses, and
two hundred and fifty to three hundred inhabt-
ants in this place, and 1t is fast filling up. The
traders are doing well, and the only regret of
miner is that there are not more of them here


We are slightly civilized too. Wehave preach
ing here every Sunday. There are some three or
four cd. D.'s here, who conduct the exercises
During the week some Of them engage in mining,
and others in saving lumber with whip-saw, and
your correspondents word for it, they work well
for new beginners.


| l would not advise any one to come to these
mines now; but this fall they will find plenty of
water, and plenty of ground to work. Let such
as come here see that they have supply of pro-
visions for the winter, so that they can be here
early next spring.


Yours, MINER.