Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-06-10
TRIP TO FIR BLUFF.


Friday June +,h, 1856, being told that
she was to take trip up the Clearwater
river as far as Fir Bluff and return On
the 9th Found already on board some
ten or twelve persons, a part Of whom
were persons wno were interested in hav-
ing grain, consisting Of wheat, oats and
fax, shipped from the Bluff to Lewiston
and below. The weather was quite warm
though not uncomfortably so and especial.
" after the boat got in motion, and We
encountered the breeze created by the
speed Of the boat. The Baker made
good speed against the current Of the
Clearwater. The reading Of our barome-
ter told us that the average fall Of the
channel Of the river was about six feet
per mile. When we reached the Agency,
at about twelve o'clock NJ, our barometer
indicated that We were seventy-fve feet
above Lewiston. l think this cannot be
fully relied upon as correct, owing to the
thermomctrical difference in temperature
between the time at which we started
and the time when We arrived at Lapwai
When we arrived at Fir Bluff. our
barometer indicated that we had assembled
one hundred and Fifty feet above Lewis
ton, while the estimated distance was
twenty-seven miles. We had made two
landings between points to take on board
passengers. We arrived at the Bluff at
three P. NJ, making the trip in six hours
from Lewiston, or about four and one
half miles per hour against the current
Of the river. In some places the scenery
along the banks Of the river is fine, not
20 grand and majestic as that OF the
Snake and Columbia, but more suited to
cultivated eye. In many places the
verdure Of bunch grass, shrubbery and
trees, relieves the monotony and suggests
life, instead of barren hills, and rugged
promontories. Sixteen miles above Lew.
listen comes in the Potlatch creek from
the northeast through narrow canon
near the mouth of which are one or two
houses occupied by Indians. Up thi.
creek DIVORCES the Potlatch wagon road
leading from Lewiston to Julie,ta or The
forks of Big and Little Potlateh. -Four
miles above the Potlatch comes in the
Cottonwood creek from the SOUTH wind
ing through groves Of cottonwood trees
aud as seen from the deck of the steamer
presents fine fertile small valley, with
here and there fine Indian farm unde
fair state Of Indian cultivation Thi
valley extends back to the foot of Craig
mountain and by many is considered tn
garden spot Of the Nez Perez reservation
near this is double bend in the river
forming what is commonly called Dea,
mans eddy, where unskillcd raftsmen ar
liable to shipwreck with their RATS, or i
they escape this they may be driven OF
the rocks and shoals below at certai,
stages Of the water. As you come il
sight Of Fir Bluff which is high tim
bered bluff on the south side of the river
with deep indentation iu the hill, OF
the opposite side, which slope gently from
the river to the summit Of the Bi.
Potlatch prairie, where about one hun
bred and fifty ranchers with their familie
reside just north Of the reservation line
At the foot of this slope near the rive
Mr.. Mcfarland has q government per
init to construct warehouse for grail
for the settlers who live on the prairi,
outside Of the reservation. At this poin
the reservation line is nearer the rive
than At anyothcr point where the pralri,
is accessible from the margin of the river
and here is good landing and plenty o,
!e1 lend 10 the vicinity for teams EN-,
Jsd hauling grain to the warehouse
4 Mhas already a good substantial
~meAouse constructed, well rooted and
enclosed and ventilated capable of hold
ing about four hundred tons Of grain,
and he proposes to enlarge this to accom-
modate all there will be liable to be ship.
ped from this point during any period
when the water is at boating stage.
They are constructing a new grade to the
top Of the hill which will be much more
gentle, uniform, and even shorter than
the present one. IF the Whites owned
this site At Fir Bldff, there soon would
be : town here Of 20 mean magnitude to
accommodate the settlers living north and
east Of this point, and especially if a
steamer could be built so as to navigate
the stream nine months of each year, or
if a railroad show sonstrac,ed up the
Clearwater river. AbSsa a mile below
Fir Bluff and on the south side of Clear.
water is one Of the finest fats on the
whole Clearwater bottoms, itch land
never subject to drowth. But it is own
ID BY the Indians. and it will he n lnno