Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-09-14

Since my last letter, written from Lit
tie Salmon Meadows, 1 have traversed
the entire length of the Weiser river,
taking in Council valley, Indian valley,
Salubria valley and the Middle and
Lower Weiser valleys to Weiser City at
the mouth of the river. These settle
ments are my old stamping grounds,
where, twelve years ago, prospected,
mined, hunted for and been hunted by
Indians, years before came to north"
Idaho, and the country was therefore IA
miliar to mine eyes as household words,
while the old friends all along the river
with whom l formerly summered and
wintered in those exciting times proved
to be as large hearted aud hospitabe as
of yore. At the Little Salmon Meadows
i remained over a day, the guest of Hon.
Calvin r. White, the pioneer settler to
whom his neighbors look to lead in all
enterprises tending to advance the in
terests of that country as much az we in
Idaho county look to Hon. LIP Brown,
Of Mt. Idaho-the guide, philoso pher
and friend ofus all.
My last letter spoke of the wonderful
changes which have transformed the
Meadows in eight years from an Indian
hunting ground to thickly settled re-
gion of prosperous American homes.
and in the settlements further down the
river still greater changes have everv-
where occurred. In Council valley, 80
miles from the Meadows, there is a large
and prosperous settlement of five school
districts where, the last time visited it.
there were but two residents, my old
friends, Messrs. Moser and Winkler,-
poor enough in those days, but now,
thanks to their own industry and the
prolific nature of their land, they are
comfortably circumstanced, and unless
all indications fail, will soon be able to
take the cars almost at their very doors,
when the Idaho Northern railroad" is
built up the Weiser and down the Lit
tie Salmon. All this in a country which
only eleven years ago, was occupied al.
most solely by Indians and "other wild
beasts" and which could only be
reached by trail In Council valley the
Nez Perces, Bannocks and Shoshone In
dams formerly came to trade, hold
councils, run horse races and dig camas.
Here killed my first bear, which came
foraging around my camp one night ten
years ago when l was carrying dispatches
during the Bannock war, and the site of
that lonely camp is now the center of
fine garden patch, with the most lus-
cious melons and finest squashes and
corn that ever grew. The whole valley
is enclosed and the settlements extend
up to the edge of the timber on the foot
hills of the mountains.
Indian valley, lower down the river,
shows similar changes, but in Salubria
a vertable transformation has taken
place, SO that it has changed almost be-
yond recognition. The valley here
widens out into a great basin of
what was formerly sage brush land, but
by the aid of irrigating bitches it has
been reclaimed and is now divided up
into small ranches which are in high
state of cultivation We, on Camas
prairie, can justly boast of our wonder
full yields of wheat, oats, barley, fax
and timothy hay, but l am free to say
that never in any country have l seen
Il heavier stand ofsuch products than are
raised on that formerly despised sage
land. The town of Salubria is about as
large as Grangeville and is a lively little
go-ahead place. 1t is indeed large
town for the comparatively small scope
of country upon which it depends, and
judging by that standpoint, Grangeville
ought to be six times as big as it is. At
l QUILTED for the mountains |
to the northward, and after several days |
returned with as much ore |
rs the mule could pack and started to |
Weiser to ship it off and record the To-
cations, being the guest one night of
Hon. Edward S. Jewett whose family |
are relatives of our Mr.. N. Markham.
and with whom Miss Susie has been Wis |
iting this summer. From Salubria south
ward the road was very hot and dusty, |
and travelling on horseback is tiresome |
work. The Middle valley has not adj
vanced so much as it's sister settlements, |
its soil is just as good and water
as easily obtainable. The valley of |
Mann's creek is largely devoted TO
and Salmon river at its best
cannot show finer fruit, either for size,
quality or flavor than is visible along the |
road. The squashes and melons grow
% enormous sizes, and on several occa-
sions when we stopped TO rest in the
shade of the trees, we, Bert and /, were
,iven the run of the watermelon patch
or 10 CENTS and never to my thinking,
10 melons taste better than when the
hroat is parched and dry with alkali
lust. Ten years ago in this same neigh
,oThood, an indignant rancher shot at
ne for attempting to steal some Of the
anne delicious fruit which | might have
'ot for the asking. At the month of
dann's creek, on the Lower w eiser, is
he ranch of the late Woodson Jeffreys,
vho learned me ell know of ranching,
nd with whose family we had the
'leasure of renewing old acquaintance
uring our stay in Weiser.
The town of Weiser is nearly as large
s Lewiston. The track and depot of
he Oregon Short line is situated nearly
mile from the town. When L saw it
asst, in the fall of 1880, it consisted of
tore, hotel just being built and
blacksmith shop. To-day 1t has 700 or
90 inhabitants and will undoubtedly in
me become one of the important towns
the territory. All the settlements
long the Weiser river. Little Salmon
leadows, the Seven Devils, Mineral
nd Heath mining districts draw their 8
applies from it, and also portions of
rant and Ra L ar counties IN nrac1- t.