Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-05-25
AN~UNDISCOvERED COUNTRY.
The Great Clearwater Region
Of Idaho Territory.
An Undeveloped Section, Rich in Timber,
Minerals ,sGrazing Lands and Agri-
cultural Land Unsurpassed in
the Northwest.
Oreponian. Nav Ill

Grangevllle, arrived IN tne CITY lasC
evening and favored the Oregontan with
a call. These gentlemen are enthusi-
astic in their praises of the great Clear
water country, which they pronounce
to be highly desirable locality for i'm
migrants seeking homes, as it possesses
great areas of agricultural, pastoral and
mineral lands.
The principal agricultural section of
that country is Camas prairie contain
ing about twelve townships of the finest
land sloping from the foothills of the
Salmon river mountains toward the
Clearwater river.
ITS INHABITANTS.
The country is already well settled to
the extent of about 1000 people, with
an equal number scattered in the other
settlements of the county, which is the
largest in area in Idaho territory.
There was very large immigration last
/. year and the tide OF newcomers this
spring ia unusually heavy, with pros
poets that it will increase during the
summer to such proportions as to fairly
fill the country. In fact, the settlements
are already extending to the unsurveyed
lands toward the Salmon river.
A great deal of improved land has
changed hands of late, and the majority
of those who come to see the country
are go delighted with its fertile soil, its
healthful and temperate climate, and
the prospect of obtaining remunerative
home market in the mining camps of
ho nd 60 u
tains that they invariably remain and
send to the states for their friends to
follow. The soil is very fertile and of
such consistency as to permit the
raising of any variety of sod, a fact
which cannot be said of the light bunch.
grass soils of eastern Washington and
Oregon.
STOCK RAISING.
Camas prairie is situated sixty miles
southeast of Lewiston, and having no
other means of transportation than wag-
on roads with that point, the commune
ty must of necessity be self.sustaining,
and the inhabitants are therefore large
ly dependent upon stock raising, for
which the country is admirably adapted
the bunch grass foothills atl'ording un-
hillsides and low lying lands of the Sal
mon river and Clearwater canyons are
reserved for winter shelter. The loss of
live stock in the hardest winter eyer
known in the history of Idaho county
never exceeded ten per cent, while last
winter not single head was lost.
The live stock interests of that county
are well organized and rapidly growing
in Importance, and recent large impor-
tations of thoroughbred cattle will still
further enhance it. Over 600 head of
horses were shipped last month from
that county and found ready sale in
eastern markets.
ISOLATED FROM RAILROADS.
The long isolation of that region is at
tributable to the fact that it is located
midway between the Northern and
Union Pacific railroads, which are both
too distant to be of benefit to the coun-
try, and too near, in its present status to
justify the extension of an intermediate
line. There are, however, ample oppor-
tunities for expansion and development,
rs the virgin country awaiting explora-
ton embraces all the western slope of
the Bitter Root mountains from Cmur
dAlene on the north to Salmon city on
the south, distance of $50 miles.
The whole of the Clearwater basin is
similar to huge corral, of which Lewis
ton is the outlet. All the wagon roads |
in that country end at Mt. Idaho-the |
jumping off place of civilization-sixty- |
six miles from Lewiston, and all the |
travel and freight destined for the re-
mote interior is transported by mule |
trains. Efforts are now being made by !
4 10 Of hat 10
ritorial aid for the building of a wagon
road from Camas prairie by way of Sal
mon river and the Little Salmon to
southern Idaho, which will open up
several large bodies of agricultural land
along its route, and greatly stimulate
the development of that vast but little
known belt of rich country situated be-
tween the Snake and Salmon rivers, a
region which possesses the same genial
snil and climate as Camas prairie, to.
gether with the addition of rich mining
interests which are now idle for lack of
transportation facilities.
ITS MINERAL WEALTH.
Speaking of the mining interests of
Idaho county. these gentlemen said that
they were still in an embryotic state,
but were fast assuming prominence.
The principal object of their visit to
Portland, they said, was to endeavor to
secure low rate on ore shipments from
Lewiston to Portland, as several minos
in the Bitter Root and Salmon river
camps will make large shipments to the
reduction works this summer, provided
favorable transportation and reduction
charges can be assured.
The old mining camp of Elk city has
several rich lodges on which much
work has been done in the last year,
and several carloads of ore are awaiting
an outlet. The Bullion mine, situated
between Florence and the wire bridge
pm Salmon river. made several carload
shipments last year with favorable re-
,ul.s, and will be very large ore pro- .
lucer this season. The mine owners in
4 linn dict vict 100 roiIoc eonth Of Capooo