, 1889-08-08
KOOTENAI FALLS.
One of the Most Picturesque and
Interesting Spots on the Face
OF the Globe.
Magnificent Water Power and
Grand Mountains Towering Far
Above the Clouds.
SPECIAL eonnrspospEscr RKyIEw.l

CAMP ON BOULDER CREEK, July co.
It would be difficult % conceive brief
outing that offers greater inducements
to the lover of nature, the roman tically
Inclined the prospector or the disciples
of Izaak Walton, than trip up the Koo'
tenai river. We leave Spokane Falls for
Kootenai, Idaho, seventy-fve miles dis
tant. There we take the stage to Bon
ner's Ferry, thirty-two miles, over very
fair mountain road. At the ferry we
debate as to our mode of transportation,
whether to pack our outfit on cayuses
and follow the mountain trail or take
Siwash with canoe and stem the current.
We decide that the canoe promises less
grief and affords better view of sur:
roundings, and 1t is adopted We dis.
patch a messenger TO the Indian village,
two miles below. who returns with one
of Uncle Sans wards, who, for q con-
sideration, agrees to furnish canoe and
motive power for n trip to the falls,
fifty miles distant. He Is a fine speci-
men OF physical development, broad
shouldered and sinewy limbed, as he ap-
peared arrayed for the journey in his
lldllNt ullNltcs-Ili upblSNluN'u pi,''H
clout, with his flowing raven. black hair
banged TO accord with a Boston girls
severcst fancy. The birch-bark canoe,
moderately laden, we start on our strug-
gle with the current of as handsome a
water course as can be found III any
land, clear, cool and of emerald hue,
with an average width of 400 feet and
with depth sufficient for steamboat
transportation except probably in the
lowest stage.
Captain Fry made trip of exploration
in the low-wuter season of 1885 TO the
falls with the steamer Spokane, drawing
three and one-half feet, very success
fully.
Our first camp is at the mouth of
Boulder creek. We find the creek fairly
alive with mountain trout; fifteen min
utes sui,ices to capture twenty hno ones
for the evening meal.
We spend one day examining the
property of the Boulder Creek Mining
Co. They have several very fine con-
centrating PROPOSITIONS which show up
remarkably well for amount of work
done, three well defined mines ranging
from three and one-half TO four feet car
rving so o2s. silver and 50 per cent lead.
The formation is very friendly TO the
occurrence of argentiierous ores lpre-
dict Il bright future for the camp. The
following day we reach the Eahk, where
quite camp of prospectors are found,
trout also are abundant Three deer
have been sighted ON the shore above,
the Siwash takes his Winchester and
soon returns with n fine buck. Deer,
| pheasant and duck being quite plentiful
our table is kept well supplied. Another
days ride and we reach the falls, having
been entertained en- route by one OF the
grandcst panoramas of most gorgeous
/ scenery to be found in any country.
/ Our first view of the falls is genuine
surprise, which increases upon investi-
CATION. 1t is puzzle to us as we con-
/ template this grand water power, to
think that in this day of avaricious
grasping 1t has escaped so long the
country of easy access both by water
and rail, and only eighty miles from the
| Northern Pacific railroad-the whole
route through a dense fine forest ol
elegant saw timber, which extends l0O
miles north of the falls,
Above the iutls the river Is 900 feet In
width at the falls II spreads to nearly
500 The first fall is FIVE feet, extending
from shore to shore 2C0 feet below Il
falls fifteen feet perpendicular. Here
| the river l. divided into three
channels by islands; they fall from
thirteen to eighteen feet; at the
foot of the island the channels unite
and are confined by perpendiculur rock
walls to width OF 100 feet, forming
rapids which for 300 feet in its wild
compressed condition, is fully equal in
| wierd terrific grandeur to any part OF
the whirlpool rapids. below the far.iamed
| Niagara. Here and 1900 feet below
| there are falls of from 10 to - feet, giving
a total fall of 65 feet in one.h half mile.
An idea of the power may be gained
| by the following comparison. The falls III
the Spokane river at Spokane Falls, W
] T., are claimed to furr .sh greater power
than the Mississippi at Minneapolis
| Mimi, and justly, no doubt. The vol
ume of water flowing over the kootena
falls Is fully five times that OF the Spo
kane river, fully 80 per cent of which car
be practically utilized.
On the north side of the river tn,
mountain rises abruptedly to n height
of 1000 feet, leaving no available town
site location, On the south side Dam,
Nature has been more Considerato, leav
ing a strip Of level land 600 feet in width
between the river and the mountain
which rises eoO0 feet above the rushing
waters. This strip extends some 300(
feet in length. Then the nature of the
shores is reversed, and on the opposit,
shore is u strip Of equal width, 1000 feel
in length, thus townsite capable o
accommodating from FIVE thousand tC
for the future.
The mountains contain numerou!
quartz leads, which one day will max,
mines, calling into requisition the power
that has for centuries encircled the
mountain air with its reverberations.
L. ]. Merrin of Spokane Falls has 10
Gated mining claims that extend to tn,
brink of the falls; he will find minera
and power in close proximity.
Just below the rushing waters W,
drop fly. The result is surprising. Il
proves not signal for a single trout
but for race OF the speckled beauties
who rarely wait for the bait TO toucl
water but vie with each other In thei
erinl flights, In very few moments
we lIad more than we could manage
ranging in length from ten to fourteen
inches. Such fishing israrely found.
On bald spur of the mountain below
but in full view of the foaming water
after their mighty leap, we found
lonely grave. The hieroglyphics on tn,
headboard indicate that a Chinamar
quietly rests beneath. John" proves L
have been placer miner who lost hi.
life in crossing the river several year,
ago. 1t was a picturesque spot but
melancholy thought to reflect upon til,
long wait amid his solitary surround
ings until "Joss" calls him home.
After pleasant rest of two days a
the falls We embarked for our home
ward journey, which proved very enjoy
able. Our old Siwash proved himself OF
the whole trip TO be professor Of nau
tical science. ID. A. g.
sanarnr pIu,,h