Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-09-05
McCartney's Report.

we puOiisn to-uay IcCaTtoey Nv
ter giving detailed account of his ex
ploration foi the pass in the Bitter
Root range. The report evinces good
degree Of fidelity in his Investigations.
and Ne are led to infer that he made
good use Of his time aud means for
making the discovery of the route for
Q railroad, and we should admit bis
conclusions as settling the question
against there being low pass had his
examination been 10 tie direction we
hsd expected, and were no, the testi
mony Of Col. Craig, Fred. Sherwood,
Maj. Owen, Long Henry, Dutch Pete
and several Neg Perce Indians greatly
conflicting with McCartney's statement
saying that there was mo place at all
on the main range lower than the
crossing Of the l.o Lo trail, which was
given to me as 1000 feet" As we
had inferred from few minutes con
versatiou with Mccartney as we met
him on the stage on his return from
Mt. Idaho we find that his report shows
that he took the Elk City fork Of the
middle fork above Long Bills place,
which was all unexpected TO US and
contrary TO what We had before learned
Of the route to be taken, aud that the
extent and force Of his explorations
were mainly confined to searching for a
pass leading out from that southern
branch. No one TO our knowledge ever
claimed that the pass existed in that
direction. Mccartney, however, claims
that he explored north along the base
of tine main divide for some distance,
and ~ far as he went he co1ld discover
no break or gap in the main range, and
he thinks he came in sight If the Lo
Lo trail not more than fifteen miles
distant from him, and tried - get
to that trail, but could not do
90 and had to return. The party
started on the 10th Of July and had
expended their time up to the l4th Of
Auguh, nearly one month, 10 a direc'
ton too far south. Mccartney says
that where he was at that time ''Both
branches and the main stream are in q
terrible canyon here, and we could not
get 10 to the water in any direction
with our horses. There was no food
and the train was on its last legs. Hal
day vas spent in exploring for ,
route /, reach the Lo Lo trail, which
was 10 plain sight not over fifteen inile'
distant, but no way could be found.
considcred the survey at an end here
q the north branch Of the l.o 10 hat
been explored" When at the lake o
which he speaks as found at thu heat
or the Elk City fork. he must hav
been Is or so miles south Of the l.
Lo trail crossiag Of the Bitter Roo
summit. From that point he could Sc
che Elk City trail. He then wen
north along the base Of the mountain
keeping ~ close as possible for 40 mile
and fonnd no break He followed
stream running north close to the base
found only one stream coming into
from the east. This, he says, was nc
considercd worthy Of exploration" b
canse, - We understand him, it e,
tendsl SOUTHEAST into the same grant
-sasgs they had examined. I.s mou,
vas 1880 feet above tide. From o,
Information received from suudry pc
sons years ago McCartuey's explor'
lions ceased near where they shoul
have begun. Tho pass has alwa,
been described to Us as leading OF
from small stream making into til
Lo Lao fork Of the middle fork, Mol
erly never reported here that ho d
seconded from the trail crossing Of Il
h, Lo fork to its Junction with Bou
der fork or any other fork, but sa
that his boat was stove before be HI
reached but few miles. He rev
claimed that he had explored tho ]
Io fork up from Long Bills to Il
trsil crossing, but claimed to the CO
trary, and that it was that part Of Il
Route he wished to examine so he con
get into the pass that he had discovers
sonth Of the Lo 10 trail by gong sou
on the Bitter Root side. He new
claimed and no one ever claimed
hing to our knowledge, that he found