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


DEAR SJR:--I failed to see you in
Lewiston. My kilograms obliged me to
|eaye at once. The captain thinks it
probable we may meet the Spokane
to-day upward bound, and | hasten to
scribble brief account of our trip to
send you. You win have to charge the
chirography to the way the boat per-
forms in rough water.
We left Mt. Idaho on the morning
of July l6, six men in all, with six
saddle aud five pack horses, and camp
ed that night at Little's ranch, The
next morning four men and the train
were sent to Long Bilps, and Eurick
and myself went to Kamia to pick up
our Indian guide. He was supposed to
have been engaged two days previously
ana to be waiting for us. All I know
of the matter is that we never laid
eyes on him and could find no one 10
take lis place till late that evening,
when we secured Dick, who agreed to
come next day. We laid over at Long
Bills on the 18th waiting for Dick aud
another pack horse. Both came on the
afternoon, and we started up the river
early on the 10Th. We did not reach
the forks Junction Of the Lo Lo and
middle forks until TIE evening Of the
Goth. The animals were heavily load
ed. and ae had consi loraLje difficulty
about fordiug. No sleep either Of the
nights, in consequence Of the gnats,
which kept r.en and horses on the rack
ali The time. We left the river at
these forks and did not s:s, fe it again
until the ovenine Of the 26th, (e1oept
on foot trail made by three of rs, J
this date Bringing us to what Eurick
called the upper folks, place we re-
named Elk prairie. Our trail led Us
over very rough ridges, many of them
covered with snow and maintaining an
elevation from G,500 to 1900 feet
above tide. We campcd over night in
the snow. The first day out from the
forks was up hill all the way, and our
animals we're SO tired out 1t was decided
to lie over day at that camp. Three
of us walked to the river directly south
of where We we're and found it distant
IL miles and 5000 feet below the
camp. We had no water, and it was a
very hot day, and coming home was a
fearful pull. ! gave out myself and
had to lie down and 60 to sleep and
game near spending the night out 10
the brush, just reaching camp at dark
This Elk prairie was the furthast point
either 0. our guides had ever reached
and the end of our trails. We made
Lit $50 miles from Lewiston, rose FROM
! Lewiston 100 feet, average not quite
II fesA per mile. There was no OBJ
stacle for q railroad anywhere between
here and Kamia that we had seen. The
basalt gives out Just at the eastern
boundary ef the reserve. There were
plenty of f5ng fats by tae river, and
the side hills were not bad. The grades
so far we're beautiful. We could see
up stream some ten or twelve IN les, and
it was broad fat covered with cedar
Everything looked very favorable, and
We started up stream in a very enthu
siastic condition. We had no trails
above here and were often forced on tC
the side hills by the burns and fallen
timber. Our progress was very slow
We met nothing to discourage III
until the afternoon of August list
when we suddenly came upon rock
bound canyon, with high cliffs on either
side. Half days exploration satisfied
us that it was impossible 10 get horses
through this canyon, aud We climbed
the hill on the north side of the river
and took to the ridge again. We mad'
the mouth of the canyon 30 mIie
above Elk prairie, rise / 800 feet, aver
age grade A feet per mile. The strean
hero. was still so feet wide by foo
and half deep. We kept the ridg
until the 5th. when We struck brancl