, 1888-05-17
As to the Extension of the SpO-
kane e. PalOuse Railroad
Into the Clearwater
Basin.
A Rich County TO be Added to
the Already Immense COun-
try Tributary to the Rail
road System Of which
Spokane Is the Hub.

Among the numerous daily arrivals at
Spokane Falls yesterday were Messrs. !. $.
Weller, a popular nj merchant of Mt. Idaho,
Idaho county, Idaho territory, and Mr.. A.
+. Parker, who will be remembered as the
editor Of the Coeur dAlene Eagle, the pio-
neer paper of Eagle City, and as deputy
mineral recorder Of the Occur d'Alene dis
trict before 1t became split up into dozen
or more districts. Mr.. Weller Is head Of
the firm of Weller & Wax, who have stores
at Mt. Idaho and Grangeville, at which
latter place Mr.. Parker is puol ishing the
Idaho Free Press, tho leading democratic
paper of Idaho territory. These gentle.
men come to Spokane Falls as representa-.
tive citizens of Idaho county TO discuss
with our people the project OF extending
the Spokane & Palouse railroad from its
present terminus ut Genesee to the grea
Camas Prairie, which lies between the Sal
mon and Clearwater rivers in Idaho county
The distance required to extend this rail-
road would be about sixty-five miles over
practicable grades, and in addition to the
Carnas Prairie, which is 30x45 miles, an i'm
mense area of undeveloped agricultural,
pastoral, mineral and timber lauds would
be added to the Jurisdiction Of Spokane
Falls by the completion of the proposed
railroad. 1t is u well known historical
fact that the original intention ofthe North
ern Pacific directors was to construct their
road by way Of Lewiston up the Clearwater
into the Bitter Root valley, and that
said intention was only abandoned
through ulterior movements, which detlec-
ted the n. Power its presedt course.
The Camas prairie is situated on the edge
of the Nez Perce Indian reservation, and Is
| a very large and exceedingly fertile tract Of
land. IL now contains about 1 500 fnh abi-
| tants. 1t Is the headquarters OF the trade
into the Salmon River, Florence, Warrens,
Elk City and Orc Fino mining districts,
! which, in early days, were very rich placer
mines, but of late years the quartz interests
have come to the front, and there are dis
tIicts there which promise to eclipse the
Occur d'Alene In width and wealth of
ledges when the country is made accessible
ard opened to civilization. At present all
the wagon roads in that country terminate
at Mt Idaho and Grangevilie, which are the
distributing points for the mountain coun-
try beyond and wherein the mines are sit
uated. The people of that long isolated
| section are very anxious for railroad COM
munication with Spokane Falls, which they
regard as the great northern metropolis,
, and will do all IN their power to facilitate
the task of completing the Spokane & Pa
louise railroad from its present terminus to
their shsns country nYs, ns They offer .os for
by way OF Spokane Falls. 1000, 900
bushels OF grain, l 0OO head of horses and
| Cattie and any quantity OF ore. In the
present condition of the country every
ponnd of imported and exported freight
| mas TO be shipped to and from Lewiston to
the Canaslprairie by wagons at cost of
one cent per pound, and from the prairie
! 1t Is packed on mules backs to the interior
| settlements and mines at u cost Of from one
| to four cents u pound, and as O natural ne
cessty the productions and imports are
| limited to the absolute requirements OF the
| population. With guarantee OF o railroad
| The cereal productions alone would aggrc-
| gate several million bushels of wneat, with
| u corresponding output Of other products
I for export.
Here is an opportunity for Spokane
Falls to add 20 her importance as u COM
mercial center an area of 20Ox200 miles.
The extension of the Spokane and Palo use
railroad rs suggested by Messrs. Weller
and Parker, would add to our jurisdicti IN
AL empire extending from Occur d'Alene
on the north to Salmon City on the south,
and from Lewiston OH the west to the Mon
tana territorial boundary line on
the east. 1t is region OF
vast but undeveioped natural resources.
The agricultural area of the country on the
south side OF the Clearwater river Is fully
equal to that ying between Lewiston and
Spokane Falls its fore Il Of pine and cedar
are OF the lurgest and finest variety on the
continent; its live stock interests are very
important, and its quartz mines, says Mr..
Parker, who is an authority On such SUBJ
jects, are going to develop larger and more
important nines than any that have yet
been discovered in Idaho territory, and
will prove an unfailing source Of revenue
to the projected railroad.
Since the above was written We learn
that NJ essrs. wieler & Parker have inter-
viewed several members OF the Board OF
Trade Ot Spokane Falls, and II Is under.
stood that official action will be taken by
that body to call the attention of fthe stock
holders Of the Spokane d Palouse railroad
To the benefits that will siise. both to the
railroad and to this city, from the compile
tion Of the proposed extension 1t ap.
pears to us to be the most important pro-
ject that has ever been brosched to add to
the welfare of this city and we earnestly
hope that the matter will be- agita ed until
q successful issue is reached. Both Mr..
Weller and Mr.. Parker left Tor their homes
yesterday afternoon, and expressed Them
selves willing to cooperate with our Board
OF Trade in advancing the Interests VI the
ruall