Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-06-20

principal tributaries OF the great N'ear'
water itself are not defnately known.
With the opening Of the reservation
wagon roads will be built, and the gradual
development of this new country will
reveal sources Of wealth undreamed Of,
because unknown, in these primeval
soltudes. 1t is a vast country. Take
Idaho courty, in the heart of the terri
tory. 1t is 200 miles from north to
south, and an equal distance from east
to west. The main Clearwater flows
along its northern boundary, while the
tortuous Salmon river drains through its
heart. The water of Snake wash its
western base, and the tall submits of the
Bitter Root divide, rearing their pine and
cedar tringed crests in the sky, from its
eastern boundary and divide it from
Montana. This vast region is occupied
by only 1000 people, and its taxable
property is less than Sl,000,000. Its
principal settlement is the Camas Prairie
country, my own beautiful home, aud
Camas Prairie is really only little strip
Of good land adjoining the Nez Perce
reservation which the Indians somehow
overlooked when they selected their
reserve. In this little strip $500 people
have made their homes. 1t is without
exception the most prosperous agricul-
tural community in the Northwest, and
it shows evidences of Improvement and
material progress that are really startling
to those who know the circumstances
which have attended its settlement and
occupation. Every pound of its freight
has to be hauled over the Craig's noun.
tain from Lewiston, distance of sixty
miles. A bloody Indian war once ragged
here and the graves of seventy five
victims are still kept green and their
memories cherished by their surviving
relatives and friends Houses and stores
were burned, property destroyed and
stock driven off, nor has the government
ever paid cent for the damages then
incurred. But in spite Of these cruelties
and spoliations the sturdy settlers
remained, and in twelve years Of untiring
industry and deprivation they have
covered the scars Of war with the fruits
of peace, aud the landscape to- day pres
euts to the eye as beautiful a pastoral
picture as ever was; gazed on BY !, ths
infinite 10 the lovelies Wales of Judea
What has been done on the twolv.
townships of Camas Prairie will b,
repeated again with infinitely less o.
hardship and toll and far less expendi
ture of money and muscle by the new.
corners who are fortunate enough Il
locate homestead claim on the surplu
lands of the reservation soon to b,
thrown open. 4
1t is safe estimate to say that full,
three fourths Of tho reservation il arabl
land, and that the remaining fourth i
valuable for its timber, or for mineral.
or for grazing purposes. 1t is principal
ly prairie land, with gentle slope from
the foothills of Craigs mountain to th
Clearwater. 1t is a country as larg
and as fertile as the great Palouse regiol
and had the reservation never existed
would now contain larger population
with more products, enterprise and civil
izatiou than anything the Palouse ca
" boast.
Il Sach is brief, but imperfect, pictur
. Of this new Oklahoma, a region whic
has hitherto been monopolised, to th
detriment Of the whole country,
Indians. aud now, happily, soon to b
= brought under the domination {
" Caucasian energy. There need be q
fear that the allotment will not be mad
n ~ for these Indians perfectly we'll unde
. stand the situation and have long bee
ready and willing to accept the severals
. system. For many years they ba,
y abandoned their tribal relations and live
" without q chief. Many Of them Al
citizens BY naturalization. Others q
ordained ministers Of the Presbyteria
" church, and the tribe can show MOI
;, members who can read and write ii
- English language than and other tril
" outside the Indian nation. They are
no means blanket Indians, but homes
:. reliable, enterprising, industrious IN
- loyal.
Those people who are coming from th
eastern states, to fiud homes in the II
= Northwest, should not fail to come I
" Lewiston aud Camas Prairie, for her
- = they arc most likely TO be suited. tn
n Mes Perce country Is somewhat iaolatsi
]. il Is true, but it is 10 such localities thu
Of the best public lands that yet remain q