Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-03-13

| A. F. Parker. editor and proprietor
OF the Idaho County Free Press, pub
llseed at Grangeville, on Camas
Prairie, in North Idaho, in an open
letter to the Lewiston Board of
Trade, solicits the aid of that body,
in its official capacity, in the project
looking to the building Of a wagon
road from Camas Prairie to Little
Salmon Meadows, distance of sew
enty miles. Financial assistance is
not asked of the Board, but simply
that it give its official sanction to a
memorial to Congress to be used in
facilitating the passage of the bill,
now awaiting Congressional action,
authorizing the construction of this
proposed road. The following is an
extract from Mr.. Parker's letter to
the Board of Trade:
"The proposed road will run from
this prairie to point on Salmon river
one mile above the mouth of White
Bird creek; thence up the north side
of the main Salmon river about twen-
ty-fve miles to point two miles be-
low the mouth of the Little Salmon
river; then crossing the main Salmon
either by ferry or toll bridge, and
thence proceeding up the Little Sal
mon twenty-five miles to the old
"Packer John" bridge and point oi
intersection with the Little Salmon
and Payette Lake wagon road run
ming southwark. The building of a
wagon road over this. route is not q
formidable task, and the dificultie.
in the way of its construction are
more imaginary than real, and will be
found obstacles to be easily overcome
when confronted with earnest de.
termination. Heretofore the project
has been viewed through cracked
spectacles. 1t was surveyed in 1875
by Capt. Force, U. S. A., who esti
mated the total cost of the construc
ton of military wagon road ovel
this route at $4,000. This amount
is asked for by the bill on behalf Of
which the people of Idaho county beg
you to memorialize the present session
of congress. The first twenty mile:
of the road-from Camas prairie to
Salmon river-can be built for $4,000
The remaining fifty miles can easily
be completed for the remaining sum
including culverts and turn-outs. The
ferry or toll bridge at the crossing o1
the main Salmon will be established
and maintained by private enterprise
The road will be kept in repair by
the counties through which it runs.
This road will, when completed, be
the most travelled thoroughfare in Ida.
no Territory. 1t will be passable fol
travel the year round. The highest
altitude it will attain-at the head oi
the Little Salmon divide-is assumed
not to exceed 5000 feet, with nat.
ural grade along the streams. The
altitude of this prairie is 5000 feet
that of the Little Salmon Meadows is
1000 feet. The road up the Salmon
river and Little Salmon canyons viii
be situated in semi-tropic climate
where snow seldom falls and rarely
stays on the ground over twenty foul
hours.
In addition to the agricultural in
terests awaiting the development
which will follow the completion o.
this road there are innumerable ledge:
of gold and silver and other mineral.
along its route, which will remain for
ever valueless until means of com
municatlon are opened by which ma
chinery can be transported to the
mines for their working and develop
ment-a process which would largely
augment our population and add ;
variety of new industries to our ma
terial wealth. 1t is country of var.
led resources and of manifold posi-
bilities, but it's time for discovery ant
development will not arrive until it il
made accessible"
Mp KJNcSJEy saws the peODle o