Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-08-30
FROM MISSOULA TO LAKE
CQEUR d ALENE.

The distance from Missoula to Spokan
Falls is 2jS miles, and in all this stretch
Of country there is no possibility Of any
considerable town growing up. As soon
as the Missoula valley is left behind, the
Flathead Indian reservation is entered
Once out Of this fair and ample domain,
from which white men are excluded, the
railroad enters the narrow gorge Of the
Clark's fork river, and follows it all the
way to Lake Pend dOreille. At Para
disc and Horse Plains the mountains
yield little level ground by the river
side, and there is room for few farms.
At Heron there is little level bench Of
three or four thousand acres where the
railroad company has established a divi-
sion terminus in the midst of dense for
est. Here village of train men, track
men and mechanics, and the trades-peo-
pie and saloon keepers, who find occupa-
ton in supplying their wants, has grown
up during the past few months. The
shores Of Lake Pend d'Orsille are all
forest or steep mountain sides Before
leaving Northern Idaho you get out Of
the woods and cross many beautiful pra-
ries, each one vast and wonderful how-
or garden in the month of June In
fortunately, these prairies have gravelly
soil as rule, and not much of their
areas il valuable for agriculture. In
their midst stands the pretty county seat
village Of Rathdrum; eleven miles dis
tant is Lake Occur dAlcnc, and the mil
itary post Of the same name. The site
was selected by General Sherman person.
sonally, and the post bears the reputation
in the army of being the handsomcst in
the country Its broad parade ground,
faonting on the lake, is faskcd by groves
of evergreen trees, in the midst of which
stand the houses of the officers, the quar-
ters ofthe men, the hospital and store
houses, and neat little chapel. The
dwelling of the commanding officer, Gen.
Wheaton, is flashed within with the ma
tive woods of Idaho, showing their nat
ural colors, and the furniture is made of
the same material by the skillful hands of
enlisteg men. Particularly handsome eff
fects in color and grain are obtained from
che mountain cedar. Less grand and
wild than Lake Pend dOreille, Lake
Occur d'Alenc is more attractive by rea-
son of its park-like shores. It is shaped
somewhat like letter T, and after sail
ing up it about thirty miles on the little
steamer owned by the government, one
can push on up either the St. Joseph's
Or the St. Mary's river as much further
nto the heart Of the mountains and
through magnificent forests 1t was not
easy for me to refuse the kind invitation
Of General Wheaton to make this novel
voyage, and to say, as one to do to 80
many hospitable appeals to diverge from
a fixed plan of travel, "somc other time"
For the benefit Of tourists let me add
three thing to this connection: There is
a good hotel at the lake, near the post,
aud boats for rowing and fishing; the
drive from the railroad to the lake
leads across the prairie which, in early
summer, when l crossed it, was the most
beautiful natural hower-garden l ever
saw and finally, at Rathdrum, whore
the cars are left, there is a cosy little hos
telry, where one gets fresh eggs, creamy
milk, golden butter, and the only good
cup Of coffee it was my luck to drink be-
tween St. Paul and Portland
r. U g