Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-11-20
LEWISTON.

one Of the Brightest Jewels in Idaho's
Brilliant Crown Enterta,ningly
Pictured.
[ts Mining and Agricultural Resour-
ces-Railroad Prospects
Water Supply.
The distance from Uniontown to
Lewiston is ten miles, and a grander
drive is not to be found within the
boundries of the broad state of WASH
ington.
The road for the first four miles runs
rolling prairie, most Of which
is in high state of cultivation; then
suddenly debouching from a marrow
valley the glorious panorama of the
Clearwater and Snake river valleys lie
spread out at ones feet, with Lewiston
embowered in foliage two thousand
feet below, sparkling in the autumnal
sunshine like an emerald In setting
Of dull gold.
Far off to the south the beautiful
Blue mountains close the vista In a
smokey haze, to which the land gently
rises in a series Of gently sloping pla-
teaus from the narrow strip of bottom
land on which the city is built.
The road, plunging ripidly down.
wards, winds and twists al.ng the pre-
cipitou. sides of the bluffs, the view
widening at every step. The predomi-
mating color of the landscape Is a
golden brown splashed with great
daubs of lighter yellow, where the
earth has slipped away, looking for all
the world US If some giant artist had
been trying his amateurish hand with
titanic paint brush.
As one approaches the valley the
grade gets easier and the temperature
perceptibly higher and in few min
utes he is bowling over level road till
ut length he reaches the Clearwater.
Here he crosses on the ferry, established
in '62, for the accommodation Of the
adventurous miners, who first devel-
oped this section and, which, by the
way, is still operated by the man who
ran it then, as he is careful to inform
everyone.
The aspect of the city as one enteri
It is quaint In the extreme and al
though different from the towns O
eastern Washington. The streets art
everywhere planted with lines Of shade
trees, mostly poplar, though on'
notices frs here and there.
In the business portion the street
are well graded and sidewalked.
The houses are mostly old, though
very picturesque, with here and ther
a log bui ding of the pioneer day
vofed with hand made 'shakes."
There are, however, several fine bricl
blocks, and as there is now fire lilni
established the old buildings will grad
, ually be replaced with handsome brio
|, structures.
;. Lewiston has never been visited b
q great confiag alton, such as deve
,, tated many Of her sister cities In Wasl
!, ington.
: The business part Of the city is bui
:, on level tract extending from tt
: Snake river on the west about two IN
half miles in an easterly direction
J, . picturesque and lofty bluff varyir
- in width from 800 yards to quart
of q mile.
: Building has been confined to th
!. area owing to the difficulty and 9
! pense Of getting water on to the platel
- to the south which has an avera
/. elevation Of eighty feet. This distr
!. will, however, be made available In
I. few months, through the enterprises
the Lewiston Water 4 Light compeu
~ which b now constructing system
!. water works which will give this pr
- ~ erty an ample and cheap supply
water.
An outline sketch Of the city's histt
!, will not be out Of place here and y
~ help many to understand how % Oh
- - settlement does not ct present occu
= . more important position.
FL Lewiston owes its inception to
party Of miners returning nom Pie
City, ninety miles up the Clearwa
Ms who established themselves at the n
70 Of navigation In the fall Of 1881.
mo The following year the 6alu
pie River mines were discovered -.
Ass great boom here was the natural col
ing quence.
md TITS estimated that twelve thous
the or fifteen thousand people were her
uce one time.
fos The prosperity, however, was =
lived, = the Boise Basin was dia
~ ~ cred In the fAll, and BY june Of
m most of the miners had left Tor