, 1884-10-11

Wagon Road to the Mines.
Ever since the presence of gold be-
came known to exist in the Coeur
d'Alene mountains efforts have been
made by ambitious towns within
reach Of the mines to construct wag-
on roads into the camp, and numer-
Gus places have been built upon the
mere strength Of a report that from
that point the mines were easily ac-
cessible. Belknap, Thompson Falls,
Trout creek and other places have in
time insisted upon possessing the
best route into the Coeur dAlenes,
and boOms followed the announce
ments, but other collapses have taken
place in each and every one of these
towns constructed upon the frail
foundation Of mOmentary imitation.
In spite of all Of the much vaunted
routes a passable wagon road has
never yet been opened up clear
through to Eagle city or Murray.
The obstacles TO be encountered have
beer such as to preclude the posi-.
bility of building wagon roads to the
mines without very great expense,
and those travelling and conveying
freight into the camp have relied
on the pack-train, or river naviga-
tion, the latter means doing a large
per cent. of the business. We have
always held that the only practicable
route to the new gold fields was from
Spokane Falls via Coeur d. Alene
city, and frequently pointed out the
reasons for the position we assumed.
The facts now bear us out in those
statements. That ill-starred and
badly managed organization, the
Spokane Falls and COeur d'Alene
transportation company, was on the
right track when its conveyances
carried passengers and freight over
to the mines, but its untimely death
prevented the managers from open
ing up the road that was proposed,
and which would haye been con-
structed had the company continued
in existence. While everything re-
garding the mines has been kept
quiet for the past few months, yet
there have been parties actively en-
gagged in surveying out route into
the mining towns. 1t has been gen.
orally understood that the want Of a
road, passable at all seasons Of the
year, has been seriously felt, and for
the convenience Of the travelling
public few men have been actively
engaged preparing to supply the de-
ticiency. Among the parties inter
ested in the scheme is c. c King, of
Occur dAlene city, who telegraphed
to Del Leisher, Of this city, that the
road was nearly completed, and in
quiring If the Falls could do any
thing to aid the project. Mr.. Leish-
er will take the matter in hand and
as he is an active and fait full work
er, and can show that the road is
bona .fde institution, we have no
doubt he will receive substantial aid.
1t seems that the projectors Of this
road have succeeded in laying out
highway, after long and careful ex-
animation, that gives direct wagon
communication with Eagle and Muir
ray, andover which the stage and
freight wagon has no obstacle to i'm
pede steady progress. They report
a splendid grade over the entire
route, no one place exceeding 100
feet to the mile. A man named
Smith has taken the contract to re-
move all logs in a space Of twelve
feet wide and clear out the brush six
feet in width over the entire road
for $1,000. When completed, which
1t will be in short time, a very fine
wagon road will be in operation
from the Coeur d'Alene lake to the
heart of the mines, which will be
open for travel all the year round,
giving Spokane Falls direct stage
communication with Murray and
Eagle. 1t is with great pleasure that
we note the construction of this road,
as the mines will be in prosperous
condition next year, and while the
travel will probably never, again be
as great as it was this spring, yet It
will be heavy for years to come.
Besides the miners will be large con-
sumers and the supplies will natural
ly be drawn from this point over the
only passable highway into or out Of
the country. 1t is another source Of
satisfaction to us, as it proves con-
clusively that we took the correct
stand last winter, although opposed
by all outside papers, in the assertion
that Spokane Falls would exist and
have a route into the mines long
after the opposition towns on the
railroad were dead and forgotten.
We regret the misfortunes that
visited our rivals, but in the heyday
of their prosperity they cried aloud
against the Falls, and in the over
confidence of sudden importance
thought they saw in the dim future
this city struggling along as a de-
serted village. We hope that our
citizens will encourage the new
wagon road, which is a reality and
not an experimental uncertainty, as
its completion means a renewal Of
the trade between this city and the
mines that existed in the early
spring.
Did not know His Address.
The followins>iteH, -we-cuIT from thJ