Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-08-22
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL IN IDAHO.

4&18Hf &sk $3.50
Before We started On our. recent jeurre,
through the country se Northern Idaho W
made diksent inquiry in regard to the details
of the route and the trad FROM this Basin int
Warren's camp. From persons who had cone
from that place only few days befsre' and
from sthers, whs had made the trip one or two
or three years back, We likewise received infor'
nation respecting the trail. 50 that we should
De enabled to travel thither in tho most direct
and best manner. As we eventually found
on the trip that, despite all the information
thus received, description of the route, and
actual tarel Of it. were broadly different, we
propose to give the sum Of eur experience over
that particular portion Of the journey for the
benefit Of any whe may have to travel it for
the first time, as we had te. Only one or two
Of our informants aprreximated, in their di.
rectisns, to the trail as we found it, and it is
not improbable the same fault shah be deyel.
oped from our sketches; but we do. at worst,
claim the merit of having gone over the ground
we tell OF, and of having taken close notes,
each day, of what We saw aad sscertaiRed on
the way.
Accompanied by Chas TasscA. who lad run
the Deadwood Express during the Spring, We
started from this city on the afternoon of Sun
day, July Goth, at half past o'clock, with
good saddle animals, and q pack animal bear
ing the outdt-proyisions. &c,-neccssary for
the journey. by nightfall We reached Ostnes's
toll bridge, in Upper Payette Valley. Here
we stoDPed to sup. and 30 take good lonk at
the equestrian statue of Washington (ot which
We had beardl, executed by Mr.. Ostner In pine
wood. of nearly life size. This piece Of singu.
lar carving 10 ant yet finished. but it requires
simply the smoothing. elaborated touches OF
knife aad chisel. It is certainly fac piece
It artistic handicraft- The face and figure OF
Washington are admirably presented. and the
pose and shape OF the horse exceedingly well
gwen. Mr.. Ostner, who is plain modest,
unostentatious old gentleman. with large
family about him, seems to be the last man ca
Fable or so gifted in the soul tors art as Ia a.
complish 4 work of the high merit of this
statue OF Washington on horseback. After
fsasting the body at his table, and the vision
upon his art work. We went from Ostner's TO
Ew:nss, on the Forks Of the Paye,te, three
miles further on, which We reached at Q p. VI,
md there rested for the night. We had tray.
clcd % miles, by way OF Ccuteryillc, thence on
10 near Placerville, where our road bent 10 the
right, aud so on up the creek. over the divide,
and down into the Upper Payette Valley. 10
which mining and farming are both profitably
carried on. In the Valley are the fine farms
nf J. A. Abbott, and others, aud the scene. as
We travelled by moonlight, was pretty and most
pleasing, OF ripening fields Of golde5-topped
grain and broad meadows Of waving grass, CT. |
tending clear to the foothills. which were
rkirted and covered by a laxuriant growth OF
timber.
Monday. July 9th, wo partook Of a hearty
breakfast of splendid salmon trout, good cot.
fee, and other palatable inner comforts at Ew. !
ing's. and by half past eight o'clock were on
the way. We crossed the river and took the !
left hand trail. A right hand trail leads to
DeadwOod Basin. We met several just 10 !
from the Deadwood mines. on their way to
Idaho City On the route we saw meadows aud |
grain fields, all Of which bttok.ned rich soil !
and lucrative harvests. At Cooks, about two |
and half miles above Ewings, we overlook |
and thence on for two days bore company with |
q ranchman who had taken up land claim n
the Valley Of the North Payctte. About six
miles above Ewing's. at the crossing of 4 small
creek, stands a small deserted log cabin. The
plainest trail leads on to the right But it u
this trail the traveller bound to Warren's should
avoid. II il the trail sharp 10 the left which In
tn be taken. This leads up what is called Ben
nrtt's creek. and for FIVE or six miles the trail
is along the right high bank Of the creek. II
10 rocky, very rough, difficult trail At noon
we reached the head Of the creek, at the foot
10 high and very steep mountain, and there
we calnped for two or three hours, TO refresh
ourselves and enable our animals to feast upon
the very luxuriant grass which abounds there.
This n fourteen miles From Ewing's. AT 3
O'Clock We broke camp, crossed the bold, high |
mountain, and on the way our ranchman CON-
panion shot plump grouse. From the top Of
the mountain we obtained magnificent view
Of the Upper Payette Valley, through which
- - ts~val.A tha ovorsu~ hnfrra and fhis