Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-01-03
ID-fHO COUNTY.
That Cor. .Sh0Hp Says of Idaho
County Ia his OI7iciaI
Report.

county is washed by the waters
of Snake River, and it is
bounded on the cast by the
Bitter Root Divide, forming
the territorial boundary line
between Idaho and Montana, a
distance of nearly 200 miles
from east to west. From north
TO south it covers a nearly
equal distance. Through the
center of this vast area courses
the Salmon River, draining
with its multitudinous tribu-
taries the largest and least
known scope of mineral
country on the Pacific slope.
Through its northern limits
flows the Clearwater, draining
on the western slope of the
Bitter Root Mountains the
finest forests of timber on the
continent. Its principal agri
cultural settlement is the great
Camas prairie, an elevated
plateau forming a low divide
between the Salmon and Clear
water Rivers, which are at one
point only thirty miles apart.
Throughout the region drain
ed by these rivers are vast
areas of UNEMPLOYED country
whose surrounding characteris-
tics indicate an extensive zone
containing large deposits of
the royal metals.
In the heart of the surround
ing mountains are the famous
placer mines of Orc Elmo. Elk
City, Florence, Warrens and
Salmon river, names which, in
the early eos electrified the
mining world with their mar
velous output of precious met
al, and paved the way for the
establishment of the more en-
during industries of cattle
raising and agriculture which
now constitute the bulk of it's
wealth. These old mining
camps are still extensively
worked, and are still supplied
by means of pack trains which
average in distance travelled
10 miles per day. AS the
distance from the base of sup
plies is $50 miles, it can be
easily seen that only the rich
est ground can stand the great
expense of this primitive meth
cd of transportation.
The great need of Idaho
County is wagon roads and
railroads, and, with the cheap
er transportation which these
landmarks of civilization
would bring, this scantly-set-
tied county would afford sus-
tenance to a very large mining
population, which would work
the numerous mining regions
where gold is known to exist in
paying quantities. With the
development which railroads
bring, ten thousand men would
find profitable employment in
mining the golden sands from
the rich gravel bars which line
the banks and tributaries of
Salmon River from it's source
to its mouth. The richer claims
On this golden stream are even
now worked at a more or less
variable profit, and good pros
poets are being constantly
found. Where wing dams
have been constructed as high
Is $4,000 have been taken out
IN twenty-four hours. Gold
IS found in nearly all the trib-
ltaries of the Salmon. They
have never yet carefully pros
pected for the wealth they con-
tain, for even the most reck-
less of enterprising miners be-
gins to study the situation
when freight is from 5 to Is
cents per pound.
There are hundreds of acres
If ground in all the old placer
camps which could be
orofitably worked if the coun-
:ry were made accessible by
wagon roads; and in all the ad-
AGENT country on both sides
If the Clearwater and Salmon
Divers are great quartz dis
ricts all living inst as naturo