Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-07-18
idaho COUNTY.
"A Brief Descriptive Article
Of its Agricultural and
Other Resources.
HOMES FOR IMMIGRANTS.


Aoehc '~Ouh'y OCtuDiC5 'nc iIedTb Vi
Idaho. and it extenls fion Oregon
on the west. to Montana on the east
Take map of Idaho and follow the
Snake river down to Lewiston. Lewis
ton is situated at the junction of the
Clearwater and Snake rivers. A few
miles above Lewiston is the mouth of
Salmon river. From Lewiston trace
course south-easterly between the Sal
mon and Clearwater rivers, and in forty
miles you will be In Idaho County. For
the first twenty miles out from Lewiston
the road runs over low-lying dry prai-
ries, which are thickly settled and then
commences the ascent Of Craig's noun
tain. The stage road passes LakeWaha,
alovely sheet of water Astounding with
trout. and enclosed by low hills which
are timbered with pine, fir and tamarack
This is the fdvorite summer resort of
the people Of the surrounding country,
and stage station and post-onice, called
Aleda, are established there. From the
Lake the ascent to the summit OF Craig's
mountain is made by an easy grade, and
in few miles ride over lovely meadows,
broad prairies and fertile table land all
fringed with timber, the boundary line
between Nez Perez and Idaho counties
10 crossed. Here the country slopes rapid
ly towards the Clearwater on the left,
and towards Salmon river on the right
The average elevation of the table lands
on Craig's mountain is 800 feet above
sea level. The highest point on the
stage road is 4 254 feet above sea level.
Running creeks are crossed at frequent
intervals. The soil is black. and the
grass IL green and grows to great height.
THE cRAIG's MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENTS
The settlements on these table lands,
which are locally known as Mason's
Prairie, Soldier Meadows, Lawyers
Canyon, and Willow creek. commenced
three years ago. The land has proved
very productive, although owing to its
altitude the spring is more backward
than in other localities. A few miles
further is the post-ofice of Rustic The
largest sawmill and shingle factory in
Idaho county is located here, which
supplies probably one half of all the
lumber used on Camas Prairie At Rus
tic, the ascent of Cottonwood Butte is
commenced. This is II slight elevation
which serves as land.ma for' miles
around, and separates distinctively the
Camas Prairie country from that of the
table lands we have just crossed. The
Butte is covered with magnificent
growth of pine and fir, and through a
constant avenue of these green-plumed
forest monarchs the road winds for two
miles to the summit.
BEAUTIFUL. SCENERY.
And here we must pause awhile to
take In the lovely features of the most
beautiful landscape under the sun. For
the whole of the great Camas Prairie is
here xposed to view, and the observer
gazing over its broad townships of the
most fruitful soil in America will won
der why so little of it is in cultivation,
and why railroads were not built to it
years ago. The one question answers
the other.
General Oliver o Howard, who COM
msnded the military Department. of
the Columbia" in former years, Visited
Camas Prairie in 1877, and thus wrote of
the view he obtained from Cottonwood
Butte:
6, . -.
opens out before you as YOU set your
back to Craig's mountain and look to-
ward the south east. The straight road
in your front leads from yoil tn Cotton-
wood, Grangeyille and Mt.Idaho What
beautiful stretch of rolling prairie
land Where is there richer soil or
liner prospects? Towards the right is
the"Snake country" The S lmon hich
flows north westerly, sempties into the
Snake not more than twenty miles ia
the south west. The Cottonwood, head
ing near by, runs easterly into the cur
vilinear Clearwater, twenty miles Off
and the Rocky canyon creek, close by,
shoots out south west to join the Salmon;
while White Bird makes its remark bic
canyon. and empties into the Salmon a
few miles further up that river. This
country is as well watered as Eden, and
much longer under cultivation.
When the Pacific railroad systems
shall be completed, the Cdmas prairie
will not be despised.
PEN PICTURE OF CANVAS PRAIRIE.
A. F. Parker, ex-editor of the Ne.
Pesce Ne,cs, published at Lewiston, saw
Camas Prairie for the frst time from the
same point in May, 1881, and the scene
inspired him to write the following Per
Picture of Camas Prairie" which ha,
been widely reproduced as an artist,
specimen of descriptive writing:
The tender lights of an afternoon SUI
bathed the landscape in mellow tints a
we obtained our first view of Cana
prairie from the summit of the Cotton
wood hill on Friday, last. The seem
spread before us was one of ent rancinj
beauty. At our feet lay the broad AM
beautiful prairie, with its undulation
and gently swelling slopes softened b,
distance into the appearance of Il great
tranquil inland sea. Stretching away +
the eastward, the dense greenness OF it
vegetation merges into the dull gray 0
the hills, which in its Turn yanishe
into the blackness of the timber-cla,
mountains in the background. The ey,
ut first rests with feelings of refresbinen
upon the luxuriant hue of the vegetation
with W hich the praifia il daeE ad unti