Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-06-20

coma, Spokane Falls, Walla Walla and
Lewiston, where it will always find a
ready and profitable market.
NO country can equal Camas Prairie
soil in producing oats and barley and as
these two articles. especially the latter
can be raised only in certain small dist
riots, 1t will make profitable crop.
Next spring the allotment of land to
the Indians on the Reservation will be
completed. and the balance thrown open
to settlement, and then this vast tract
of The finest land in America-a large
portion of which lies in Idaho County
will add much wealth and population
and aid in bringing our isolated county
into prominence. The Midland, Mani
toba, Lewiston and South Eastern u. z.
and Mp, and the Idaho Northern will
soon be operating trunk lines down the
Clearwater, Salmon and Snake rivers in
the near future.
The Indian raiders of 1877 destroyed
much property by killing and driving
off great numbers of stock, burning
houses, destroying grain and other losses
were sustained by the poor pioneers of
Idaho County for which the government
i responsible. 1t was the agents of the
government who precipitated andcaused
that outbreak, and while no power on
earth can restore or compensate for the
lives of the fathers and mothers and
darling children, they should be paid
for property destroyed. Many present
now can remember when we were all
forted up here in NJ. Idaho the diff
Guilty ofgetting provisions for about 800
people. and feed for the horses used in
scouting, which lasted for many weeks.
And here l will remark that in his last
two annual addresses Mr.. Browns mo-
desty was too prominent AS he never
once mentioned himself as one of the
builders of this little republic, and also
the part he took in holding the fort and
in the food and forage furnished by him
during those weeks we were forted up
here. The bell from his hotel never
failed to ring at the regular meal hours.
The doors were thrown open to all. white
and black, and no questions were asked
about pay. Some few erected tents and
others occupied the vacant buildings.
More than one hungry scout was fed by
Mother Swarts, Mrs. Hanson. Mrs. Crea,
Mrs. BARLEY and other good mothers,
but the hotel was the grand feeding
trough where friend and stranger were
all treated alike. For all this Mr..
Brown deserves warm corner in every
pioneers heart. These claims should
be paid. Our delegates in congress have
worked faithfully to have these claims
adjusted. especially Mr.. Fem, who was
directly interested. Mr.. Dubois, our
present delegate, believe is urging the
matter to the best of his ability.
STATEHOOD.
The population and wealth of Idaho
has attained such proportions that she
now stands fully equipped with her
constitution, demanding admission into
the union. Our present delegate, Mr..
Dubois, has worked faithfully for the
admission and he reports that another
star-the star of Idaho-will soon APP
pear upon our banner, which will give
us two U.S.senators and full fledged
representative. Thus equipped we will
stand a better chance of having our
claims paid off.
The surveyed lands in Idaho county
comprise about 100000 acres, the most
of it patented to settlers under the pre-
emption and homestead laws. There is
much good unsurveyed land in this
county wherein settlers are making
homes This land should be survey ed.
We pay into the land office at Lewiston
$4,000 week for government land, yet
the government is unwilling to return
but small portion for surveys.
The mines of Idaho were discovered
in 1861. Orc Fine camp was the first.
Elk City, Florence and Warrens soon
followed; they were wholly confined to
placers for many years and great guam
titles of gold dust were shipped out.
Gold and silver quartz veins have since
been found in great numbers, but only a
few have been developed but these have
been so successful as to attract many
practical miners who are developingrich
lodges in Warrens, Alton and Elk. Mills
are being shipped in and new era ia
dawnlng on Idaho county's mines. The
Territorial wagon road will greatly help
the shipment of machinery to the mines
and also our farm products. Some steps
should certainly be taken towards rails
ing funds for the Elk City wagon road,
and in my opinion money contributed
for that purpose will return with big in
terest in a short time.
The County Seat of Idaho County was
first located at Florence, but as the
placer mines and population sooon run
down, 1t was moved to Warrens in 1869
where it remained until 1873, when a
vote was taken for permanent seat,
Warrens, Slate Creek and Mt. Idaho
being the places voted for. MI. Idaho
was victorious and in this picturesque
nook intersperced with pure water it re-
mains; we have a good court house, a
substantial Jail and jury room with COM
Portable quarters for the various officers.
The first public school in the county
was taught in Warrens in 1868. The
teacher received 500 per month for four
months, and only had four scholars /:
Will and Alb. Anderson, and Mary and
Hattie Wood. This was the beginning.
Now we have % school districts, with
about 500 scholars. and last year we
divided S4526.42 among them. The
scholars and school funds are rapidly