Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-03-02
THE FREE PRESS
FRIDAY, :::: 8: MARCH ., 1888.
IN OPEN LETTER.
Request to the Lewiston Board of Trade to
Memorialise Congress- Behalf of the
Salmon River Wagon Road Bill.

To the Honorable Members Of tn,
Board Of Tr01e, LeWiston, Idaho,
GENTLEMEN The citizens of Idaho
county have witnessed with much sat
isfaction the organisation of your hon
orable body and the earnest interest
and enthusiasm you have manifested
in inviting the attention of capitalists
and immigrants to the dormant re-
sources of the great Clearwater country
in the development of which we are
jointly interested with yourselves. In
deed, so closely are the commercial
interests of Idaho county bound up
with those of Lewiston that, without
further preface, | solicit the aid and
CO. operation of your honorable body in
its official capacity to two subjects which
we OF Idaho county regard as of the first
Importance, and as the initial steps
which must be taken before there can
be any speedy or permanent develop
ment of the resources aforesaid.
The first OF these subjects-not the
| most important of the two, but the one
demanding most immediate attention
is the project looking to the building of
wagon road from Camas prairie to the
Little Salmon Meadows, seventy miles
distant. 1t may be proper to state here
that We do not ask of you financial as
sistance, but simply that you give the
official sanction of your honorable body
to q memorial to congress to be used in
facilitating the passage of the bill now
awaiting congressional action author
izlng the construction of this proposed
road. The matter has been in abey-
ance for many years. 1t has never been
deemed impracticabe by those acquant-
ed with the route over which it will
pass, although the difficulties of its
construction have at times been greatly
exaggerated for political effect.
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 twenty-five
miles to a point two miles below the
mouth of the Little Salmon river; then
crossing the main Salmon either bv
ferry or toll bridge, and thence proceed
ing up the Little Salmon TWENTY-FIVE
miles to the old Packer John " bridge
and point of intersection with the Lit
Sol ! ~
road running southwark. The building
of wagon road over this route is not
formidable task, and the difficulties in
the way of its construction are more
imaginary than real, and will be found
obstacles to be easily overcome when
confronted with earnest determination.
Heretofore the project has been viewed
through cracked spectaces. 1t was sur
veyed in 1878 by Capt. Force, U. S. A.
who estimated the total cost of the con-
structlon of d military wagon road over
this route at $4,000. This amount is
asked for by the bill on behalf of wi hich
the people of Idaho county beg YOU to
memoriali2e the present session of con-
gress. The first twenty miles of the
road-from Camas prairie to Salmon
river-can be built for $4,000. The re-
naming fifty miles can easily be COM
pleted for the remaining sum, including
culverts and turn-outs. The ferry or
toll bridge at the crossing of the main
Salmon will be established and main
tanned 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 thorofare in Idaho
territory. 1t will be passable for travel
the year round. The highest altitude
1t Will attain-at the head of the Little
Salmon Givide-is assumed not to ex-
ceed 5000 feet, with a natural 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 will be situated in a semi
tropic climate where snow seldom falls
anu rarely Stays on tne ground oyer
twenty four hours. Indeed, winter
communication over this road can be
maintained as easily as between Lew
iston and Mt. Idaho. and with less dis
comfort. Several legislatures of Idaho
territory have memcrialized congress
to undertake the construction of this
road, but the measure has never been
properly presented nor earnestly push
ed. Indeed, owing to the transient
character of the mining industry and
the population engaged therein the con-
struction of wagon roads in those days
was not regarded as an urgent necessity.
But in these later days this section has
advanced so rapidly along the line of
pprfnaDnnt davalonmant tbot biob uvavs