Idaho semi-weekly keystone. (Ketchum, Idaho) 1884-1885, 1885-08-12
Communicated.
Since the completion OF the Ketchum

Since the completion Of the Ketchum
wagon road, last season, Alturas and
Custer counties have been drawn nearer
together. The distance is SO short from
Wood River to Salmon River that the
interests Of both counties have been
greatly advanced by the opening Of this
new avenue OF travel and commerce.
When once there is mail service estab-
lished between Ketchum and Challis.
the business interests Of the two locali-
ties viii be further advanced.
From Ketchum to Challis the distance
is estimated to be from seventy to sew
enty- five miles; some put it us high as
eighty and in all that distance there is
Creek and Lost River divide. twelve
miles from Keichnm. The rord, how
ever, over his divide is vide and solid.
ana the grade as light MS that over main
submits generally in this country.
At the divide and near the dollhouse is
| the Custer and Alturas comfy line, and
there the waters Of Lost River make
their appearance first in a group OF
| springs i'll the woods, from which soon
after ii running stream is noticed, fol-
| lowed little further on by lively
! brook, which gradually increases as it is
| fed by small tributaries on either side,
| until large creek Is formed. Zen miles
| from the summit it is no longer ere
| but big, dashing stream Of so respecta-
bic volume and activity that it is recog-
nized as the head water Of Big Lost
| River. However, it has not shown any
| signs as vet of being lost, but it meets
stree III utter stream coming out of the
course, until bridges of no mean eize
are required tn span it, This historical
river. known aud visited by tue trap
| pers and hunters as long go as the days
! Of Bonneville and his Intrepid adven-
| turers. is IL large river fifty miles from
its suuice, aud fifty mics or less further
on down it appears to become Devil
dered in the lava and sage plains, and
| longing ior its mountain home, literally
! lays down am dies in the head and
! sands OF the desert. Or, more practlc-
| ally speaking, this great, beautiful river
that giaddans the heart of many ii settler
and rancher, and gives life to the noun
tain hetds OF cattle. horses, sheep, ante
/ Iope AMI dear that Stake their thirst
the broad, life teeming valley further
up. suddenly vunishes from sight like ;
| sweet dree m and is lost mid the cavern:
aud crevices of the lava flow. From til,
puint OF sinking the river keeps it:
course fur beneath the surface for dis
lance OF fifty or sixty miles, and tiiei
rises to sight again on the banks O
the great Shushone River, i'll thu
folm of II series of gurgling. ice cole
springs. There ARE no trout i'll Los
River, but II species of white fish a
large and delicious rs the finest brool
trout swarm its waters.
Going from the summit down for dis
lance of ten miles considerable prospect
ing has been done, and number o
promising groups of galena Lodges hav'
been located aud some work done. Ol
the East Fork OF Lost River are also som
promising prospects After East Forl
unites with the main stream, the latte
becomes much enlarged, and the vale.
opens out to IL half mile or more il
width, lich in meadows of choie
grasses. 1t has now assumed the form
of a valley, large and beautiful Twenty
six Eliles from Ketchum we are ut kol
ler's Riverside station. Here the stage
halt for change Of horses and the pas
!; sengers are given rest and refreshmenl
KEYSTONE.
Looking This Way.