Year: 1866




doubt whether there ever has been rush
equal to that now going on to Montana.
From every point of the COMPASS they drih
by hundreds and thousands, and the cry rs,
g Still they come q" The excitement prom>
ises to depopulate portions Of California,
and from our own Territory, as well as the
adjoining State, the rush is unprecedented
The stages that leave here, go out loaded
down with passengers, all bound for Black
foot. In addition to the usual conveyances,
men of enterprise have placed passenger
trains on the route between Walla Walla
and Blackfoot, and those trains 90 out daily
with full passenger lists. The fare charged
BY these passenger trains, through to Black
foot, is $50. At this figure the passenger
is furnished his provisions. As near as
We have been able to figure, the passage
through from Walla Walla to Blackfoot, all
expenses paid, will foot up 800. Where
provisions, 1t can be made for much less. In
connection with this wild rush for Montana,
we have this to say, that while it may be
well enough for the looss-footed and unem-
ployed to strike out for the new mines with
the least possible delay, we much doubt
whether it will pay tOgive up paying and
established business in order to try ones
luck in the mines. Be the diggings ever so
rich and extensive, so great is the rash that
they are bound to be overdone, and thou.
sands will be necessarily doomed to disap>
pointment. We must bear in mind that
the rush for Blackfoot is not confined to the
Pacific States, but the excitement has ex>
tended to Colorado and the whole tier of
Western States, from all of which tide of
immigration is already steadily tending to-
ward Montana. The different currents thus
meeting, it cannot be otherwise than that
mining and everything ellie Will be overdone
in Montana, and that of the vast host now
rushing there thousands will be doomed to
disappointment We make this remark for
the purpose of awakening reflection. The
man who owns good land claim in Walla
Wata Valley, and tills it carefully for the
next six months, we doubt not will be better
of than his neighbor who joins in the rush
for Montana and takes his chances of wins
ming prize in the mining lottery So, too,
we doubt the judgment of the miner who
gives up good claim, or paying employ.
ment, and helps to swell the grand rush.
Our exchanges from Boise and Owyhee tell
US that already the drain of population is
beginning to be felt and fears are enter
tertained that these rich mining districts
will soon be deserted. There is an old says
ing, that bird in the hand is worth two
in the bush, and certainly it is no part of
wisdom to give up a certainty here for an
uncertainty in Montana. Even now cons
mon labor in the mines of Washington and
Idaho commands five and six dollars day
higher average than is paid in Montana
We submit these views with no desire what.
ever to arrest the stampede for Montana 1t
is in the interest of those who in the end are
to be the sufferers, that we write. When
the reaction comes, and come it must, our
own and the adjoining Territory will be the
gamers. The surplus population of Mons
taua will drift this way, and we shall thus
obtain the population required for the works
ing of our mines and the settlement of our
country 1t is thus in the affairs of men,
as in nature present evil is but the pre-
cursor of permanent good.