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Three cents for hay, 1865
From a handwritten journal of Benjamin Ross Cauthorn’s overland journey by wagon train from Missouri to Oregon in 1865. From Trails to Utah and the Pacific, American Memory collections of the Library of Congress [http://memory.loc.gov]
At last we have reached Boise, the capital of this territory and the center of a large mining district. we reached the city the 19th, and after getting mules shod, etc., pulled about four miles this side and camped on no grass, and had to buy hay. Paid $ .03. Boise is a nice town of probably 600 inhabitants. It is not situated immediately in the mining district, but is headquarters for them all. It is to this country what San Francisco is to California. Boise is built on a nice stream by the same name, and the river is settled on its entire length. Many farms seem well improved while the fields are having an abundant crop. They grow corn here, but have to irrigate for everything. Boise is situated in Ada County and is the county seat. The election for county offices has just come off. The Democratic ticket was elected by 400 majority. The country near and beyond the Boise river is mountainous, and the roads the worst we have yet traveled. Most all they freight from Boise City to the surrounding mines is conveyed with pack mules, and it is a novel sight to see them putting on these packs. The packers are generally Mexicans ,and two of them put their feet on each side the girth and with a blindfold over the eyes they girt it so tight that the indentations must be two inches deep.