Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-03-21
In CLEARWATER LAND.
Fifteen Thousand Square Miles
of Undeveloped Country.
VAST WEALTH AWAITING PIONEERS.
Mountains of Minerals Which VIII Yield Mil
lions of Dollars Return to the Capital
That Shall Open Them Up.
From the Oregonian.

mon river, Cpur d'Alene and Blue
mountains in North Idaho is a country
that, judging from the manifestations of
railroad and commercial explorers, is as
unknown as the wilds of tie Congo, or
the land of the mid night sun. Talk
with any man who reads as he runs and
he will give more intelligent account
of the resources of Africa and Siberia
than any Of the Clearwater country.
Tracking the enterprise of railroad
builders, we see operations carried on
for the developement of distant regions |
more zealously and persistently than at
home. The seeming studiousness With |
which our embryotic empire of wealth |
is avoided indicates more of grasping |
after glorification aboard than remuner-
alive business nearer home.
For twenty years this fertile nook has
been tilling up with sturdy people; our
best lands are fast being occupied; in
'dustry tiiumphs against heavy obstacles;
roses are made to bloom, and the valley
and hills are crowned wiki the radiance
and grandeur of lilies the hammer
brand is stamped upon mans energies
as far as observation reaches, and pro-
gress marks every expended effort. But
yet We are left with our labors I'M
appreciated, to enjoy them as undis-
turbed as are the cave jewellers or the
inhabitants in the land OF She. Our in
vitations to investigate our resources, our
petitions for the establishment of COM
munication by rail with the outside
world, are often met with the response
that we must Nat until fuller growth is
attained. From observations of recent
events in railroad building. we do not
believe this ia a correct rule. Let attex-
ton point to innum cradle instances and
the fact is revealed that vast deserts,
devoid of anything of value, wholly un-
developed, and trackless wldernesses
have been supplied with iron roads.
Such policy applied to this neck of the
woods would act like a boomerang, in.
juiing the manipulation equally with
the object at which il is aimed. Hall
the efforts exhibited elsewhere put forth
in this direction, would unlock treas
ures that would far outshine 'the wealth
of Ormut; or where the gorgeous East
showers on her kings barbaric, pearls
and gold" Our mineral deposits have
been sufficiently prospected and mined
to.enable us 10 know that they are vast
in extent and unexcehed in richness.
The W hole length and breadth of these
mountains is houeycombed with gold.
silver, copper, lead. iron, coal, lime and
marble. Why, away back "a enc Of the
saw-tuoih fastnes>eS, between the Clear
water and Salmon, stands bold, rugged,
.:lif-ribbed mountain of quartz, where
alittering free tol1 sets out in clear re-
lief, fascinating the gaze of the almost
lost behoider. This ledge has been seen
10y many mouutaineers, whose report
about its richness all agree. Yet it is
left untouched only because of its re-
moteness and inaccessibiity. A party
of pleasure seekers few summers ago
discovered twenty-five well defined
quartz lodges in a three weeks trip
through these M untains. One compa
NY of prospectors last year discovered a
rich bed Of ore on the Lo Lo divide, re-
turning to it the present season to fur
ther develop it, with the hope that ere
long some railroad company may acci-
dentally wake up to the exigencies OF
the occasion, and tap its hiding place
The mines of Warrens, Elk City and
Orc Elmo districts are comprised within
the limits named and are well establish
ed. and are each year increasing in de-
.velopment, notwithstanding the prmi-
tive modes OF operation.
L. Df
portion, indeed. as large as the state OF
Massachusetts,, must be DEVOTED to min
ing enterprises. The eastern part of thu
county lies for the most part 5000 feet
above sea level and therefore not favor
able for agriculture. The Salmon river
cuts great cash through these noun
tains from northeast to southwest, az
fording magnificent waterway for a
trunk line railroad, and along its ban k s.
where there are arabic lands, it is well
adapted to agricultural and horticultural
products. On the north side of Salmon
river the basins of Florence and L k
City were first discovered. On the south
side lies Warrens. These thinning camps
we're rich. They were discovered at a
time in mining history when all the i'm.
proved appliances were vel! known and
could be made available. The ground
was not deep or difficult. therefore great
quantities of The precious metals were
TAKEN ont in few years. Then follow
ed period of stagnation. The ineyita-
lie and perambulating Chinaman came.
lie was pleased with ground that the
"a hite man despiSeti: he soon acouirad
and has since retained a monopoly Oh
surface mining. But all placer gold may
lie traced to its original matrix in veins
of quartz. Accordingly. within a few
years numerous lodges of varying rich-
jess have been discovered in all the
mining districts. In Elk City, among
others may be mentioned the Buster
lode. upon which more development
work has perhaps been done than any
a. =. l.. I e