Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-01-16
THE CLEARWATER BASIN
A Short Recital of it's Advan-
tages and Prospects. Show
ing the Untold Wealth
Which Here Awaits
Development.


survey of her resources shows variety
and richness that fairly staggers the
investigator, and a fair recital of the
wonderful wealth, locked up in her
rock-rbbed hills, sounds like fairy
tale. Her fertile praires, yet untouched
by the hand of toll, viii yield II wealth
equal to any. and her rich river valleys,
protected by deep canyons and warmed
by the Pacific winds, are the future
great fruit growing centers of the west
No state has been more generously
slandered by the early geographers and
writers. 1t is described as being rugged
broken, bleak barren, aud unproductive.
Luckily. however, Idaho to-day bellies
the statement and shows TO the world
the richest nndeveloned section in the
northwest. Save in the extreme north
and south, where enterprise and energy
have gained a fair foot hold, idaho is
practically an undeveloped country.
The developed regions show a wonder
full mineral wealth and an agricultural
soil prodigal with richness. Central
idaho is untouched and untold wealths
here awaits deliverance at the hands OF
enterprise and capital.
A well defined section Of this vast in
Iand empire is the Clearwater country.
Lying south of the Clearwater. lock ed in
by the deep canyons of that river and
The Salmon is one of the most product
i've regions in the Pacific northwest and
the one offering the best inducements
10 capital and investment. 1t is in it.
self almost imperial IN extent ,em bracing
p variety of resources marvellous in de-
fail. Extending back into the rugged
Salmon river range and well into the
crest OF the Bitter Root, lie vast bodies
OF ore that will, when developed maxi
this section equal, in fame and product
lveness. to any now known. The camps
OF Florence, Warrens, Orc Elmo and Elk
City are already well known. Thous-
ands of rich leads have been discovered
that now lie undeveloped because lack
transport machinery and apparatus to
work the ore renders useless what will
soon be great wealth producing proper
Ties. Many of these camps are access
able only to pack trains, but the miner
with pack mule and pick has pushed
along the trail and located many a rich
prospect that, when better lines of com
munication come to open up this section.
rs they must, will yield rich harvest
for his patient toll. The Orc Elmo basin
once constituted the richest placer
mining district in the world, and sooner
or later. the quartz lodges. from which
rhese placers came, will be discovered
and excited thousands will rush in here
as they did in the early sixties. Late
developments about Elk City point out
that locality as future center of great
mineral wealth. Millions of tons of ore
of low grade lie about that camp and
They only await the advent of railroads
and better transportation to produce
the greatest out put of gold in Idaho.
Idaho is becoming celebrated for her
lumber regions. Along the forks of the
Clearwater lies the finest tmbered sec
tion of the state. Not only has this
country the red Cir, red pine and tama-
rack of other parts of the state, but pro.
duces. in abundance, fine variety Of
white pine and cedar. The timber is
easy OF access and expectation. II lies
upon the numerous forks of Clearwater
whereby the logs can be tioated 10
points easily accessible to the railroad
In recent article on the Forests of
Idaho" writer says; Il believe that
there is greater amount of timber now
standing and growing in Idaho than was
ever in the forests of Minnesota and
Wisconsin combined. This has the an
pearance of a rather extensive assertion.
but If actual measurement could be had
I am certsin that my estimate is not too
high. Recently the representative of
an extensive lumber firm of Chicago
visited the lumber regions of Idaho and
Sh hiS ioAuih icthdIkeus we once
thought We had timber in Michigan. but
idaho presents the grandest bonanza
for lumbermen | ever had the pleasure
Of inspecting.' The timber in Idaho is
composed mostly of red pine, red fir and
tamarack. The trees grow tall. | have
seen trees. and not n few that wonld run
forty to eighty feet without topch:ng
limb. and many are from six to ten feet
in diameter. The grain and fiber of the
timber manufactured from these trees
are very firm and the general character
~ very much harder and tougher
lumber than that made from pine Sc
cured from any other part the United
States" The Clearwater country en-
braces the very heart of the lumber pro- |
ducing district of Idaho. The upper
forks of that river penetrate into the
finest part of the timber belt, and that
rich product can be easily floated to
RAILROAD and will find ready market.
The white pine and cedar, of which
here are immense quantities, are
specially in demand and sooner or
ater large manufacturing industry
will be established here for the working
ip OF this product.
The stock ranges of this district are of
he very finest. The foot hills, valleys