Year: 1866

Country, its bed and banks being com


posed OF the fiinty material, while here


ana there were places in the distance


closely resembling large towns with


their public and private BUILDINGS all


composed of solid rock Fn;oyiSr' On


eAceuent meal at Buffers, We rode out


two miles and camped for night. our


horses grazing in bunch grass to their


breasts. Starting again at dawn. we


fode ten miles TO fine stream, where a


halt was made for breakfast. Here oc-


CURED quite a scene, and for few mo-


ments threw our camp into considerable


excitement. One of the party in remoy-


ing his saddle failed to unite the lariat


from the horn Of the same, and the horse


thinking all was right, started for the


creek. The rope tightening around his


neck frightened him, and the saddle


winch had been unsinched, falling from


his neck, added to his alarm, and away


he went, dragging the saddle after hin,


ON the horn of which was 4 peir of can,


tenas containing some ten pounds of gold
dust, besides other yaluables "There


was hurrying to and fro" about then.
and one face somewhat pale. as the horse
now wild with fright dashed away across
the rocky plain, the saddle knocking
against the rocks, and mixing things
promiscuously. The rope finally broke
leaving the saddle considerably broken
ana The cantenas torn, with the money
Sale. IL was a narrow escape, for had
the sacks got out, they never could have
been found, and the labor of two wears
would have been lost. The horse was
socn caught by lassooing him, and we
were presently again on our way. AT
this point we left the Mullen road. and
as my letter has already become too
lengthy, will reserve the account Of
the remainder of the trip to this place
and Portland for my next, closing this
with few remarks on the


MULLEN WAGON ROAD.


Concerning which so much has been
said, and so little done. Wagons have
passed over the road the present season,
and with little trouble, and the idea of
its requiring an immense sum to make
1t good, practicable wagon road. is faI-
laclous IN the extreme. To remove the
fallen timber, repair the grades, and re-.
corduroy the road where necessary. SO as
to make it perfectly good road in low
water, will not require sum in excess
OF three thousand dollars the construct
ing OF new bridges and repairing those
now standing, would require the sum of
not more than ten thousand dollars.
although the st. Regis d,Borgia and the
stream on the opposite side of the range
are crossed one hundred times by actual
count. They are not of great width.
however, and even were they not rebuilt
or repaired at all, it would affect the
route only for short period during the
spring. All the hills and mountains are
splendidly graded, and why the people
OF Montana do not undertake the clear
ing OF this great highway, and thus open
up route by which they may receive
their supplies at rates from one-half to
tWo-thirds cheaper than at present. is a
mystery unfathomable to all who have
ever been over the road. Goods of all
descriptions can be had at lower rates in
San francisco, considering the difference
IN quality, than at st. Louis, and freight
landed IN Helena and Virginia for about
the same rates as from Salt Lake, with
this route once open. Wheat is selling
here to-day at sixty cents per bushel,
and dull at that, while other articles of
produce are in proportion. Let Montana
and the Columbia river region unite
hands in this work if either section has
not energy sufficient for the small un-
iertaking alone, and push the matter to
I successful issue.


L would like to tell you of the rich
easts | am having on oranges, apples,
pears, plums, peaches, grapes, melons,
5tc., ETC., but fear twill allure you from
your mountain home, too. leave for
Portland this afternoon by steamer.
where | will write you matters of more
general interest than have been able to
compile herein.