Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-06-04
ANOTHER ROAD nNTnRpRIsE,

Tottatcn people the Potlatch country il
open direct to Lewiston BY wagon road,
It is proper to discuss 4 new road enter
prise, leading to good country little
further east, and in delta Of the north
and south forks Of the Clearwater.
We have before described this country
on several occasions, and called tho Ill
tention OF the public to its advantages
as an agricultural country which must
become tributary to Lewiston. Il ii 4
district comprising an area Of from twen-
~ to twenty-five miles north and south,
by about thirty miles east and west. II
has recently been surveyed BY the govern
ments aud contains some Of the richest
soil in all north Idaho. II il intersperscd
with both timber and prairie in about
equal proportions, If We exclude some un.
dergrowth which will not require but
little labor to convert Into good tilla-
BILE land. Much Of the timber will make
good merchantable lumber. Tho whole
tract il generally well watered. Its CHI
mate il as mild as that Of Camas Prairie,
being At lower altitude; although the
snow IN winter lays longer upon il by
reason Of the timber belts running
=.
through It, obstructing tho passage d
the warm winds which prevail during
winter on Camas Prairie, much Of which
is comparatively level. 1t is indispcrsed
with several Camas swales, the principal
Of which is called the Weippe, which
name Is also given to the whole section,
terming il the Weippe camas grounds.
From this section emergcs the 10 10
trail leading to Missoula, Montana, cele-
brated for being tn, route taken by Jo-
ieph and bis people:swhen thcy left Idaho
in 1877.
The question which we desire to-
discuss in this article is the practicable
ty of uniting this section OF country with
Lewiston, via the Clearwater, and maxi
ing it a good practicable route, both win
ter and summer for wagons. By the
construction Of the road from Lewiston
to the mouth Of the Potlatch, great por-
ton Of the difficulty IN opening this
route has already been overcome. There
yet remains section which will require
labor IN descending from the table lands
Of the Weippc to the Clearwater, either
at the mouth Of Jim Ford creek or that
Of Gro Fino creek, both Of which descent
can be made with easy grade and com.
.parativcly little labor Another portion
OF the route unless tho table lands are
again ascendcd will be between Fir Bluffs
and the mouth Of the Big Potlatch,
intcrsecting the route already constructed
Lewiston. We do not suppose that
much pecuniary aid could at present bo
derived from the inhabitants Of Lewis.
ton in opening up this road, because but
few Of the people are sufficiently acquain-
ted with the value of this tract Of coun-
try to be induced to give largely at the
preseut; hence it viii deyolye upon the
settlers Of the Weippc country aud in the
mines near Pierce City, to inangurate
and push forward this enterprise, which
in our judgement would largely redoand
both to the mines and to the agricultur.
al portion Of the Wcippe. We say
this, that were there to day good wag.
on road extended over this route IRON the
mouth Of the Potlatch to the Weippe,
that in less than six months the Weippe
would have an addition to her popula-
tion of at least $50 persons, who would
engage in agricultural pursuits and stock
raising, and who would add largely to
the wealth and prosperity of Shoshone
county, and their trade with Lewiston
would be no inconsideral source of wealth
to the people of Lewiston, and would
constantly be increasing from year to
year.
To those who will reflect upon what
we have said, and investigate the facts
to which we have called attention, we
commend this enterprise as one promis-
ing as good results as any which can be
undertaken in that section Of country,
and we hope to be able to wit
ness immediate forward results from the
investigation made; and we suggest that
those parties living in south Shoshons
and are acquainted with tho facts, that
they describe as clearly and fully the.
character cost and value of this enter
prise to the people Of both Shoshone and
Neg Perce counties. The columns of
the TELLER viii always be open to fair
and honest discussion of this enterprise.
FROM LEWISTON.