Unknown to George Wright, February 11, 1862
General GEORGE WRIGHT, U. S. Army:
DEAR SIR: You are no doubt in receipt of a memorial* signed by many of our citizens asking for the presence of U. S. troops upon the wagon road tothe mines. I have taken considerable trouble to procure information in regard to the avenues which might become available to enable miners and supplies to reach the new el dorado. We can go with pack animals by a bad mountain trail from Grande Ronde direct to the present diggings, but it would cost millions to make a wagon road, and it is fully as difficult to get from Lewiston. By following the emigrant road via Grande Ronde and Burnt River, thence to Payette River, is some deviation to the south, but avoids all mountains, and as soon as Snake River is crossed it is all mining country. All the new discoveries are upon the South Fork of Salmon, and I have no doubt will continue in that direction, which would make the proposed road a central one. The steam-boat company will undoubtedly use all their influence to prevent this road being traveled, as they wish to carry everything by steam-boat to Lewiston. lam so well satisfied of the advantages of the proposed road that I would at once start teams if I thought I would not be molested by the Indians. The Snake Indians upon Payette River are the worst of the bad. They murdered the Ward family in 754, and many others whose names I have forgotten, and no small party ever ventures to travel through their country. With the necessary security I believe the country upon Payette River would be settled very soon, as the lands upon it are represented as fertile and beautiful in the extreme. I will not dilate upon the advantages the proposed road would give our town, as I wish it to stand upon its merits independently. We have had a winter of unexampled severity, and stock owners will suffer heavily. For the last forty days
it has been from 5° to 20° below zero, and many lives have been lost during that period. It is now beginning to moderate, and I trust is about to break up.
Respectfully, yours,