The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-01-17
Where it is, How Situated,
It's Soil, Climate and -
Surroundings,
A Description Of the Little
Valley in the Mountains.
BY Self Sharpener.

feet description of our little, but beau
tiful valley, as perhaps great many
have never seen it, some probably
never heard of it. To those who have
seen it. the portrait may look familiar,
and those that have not-wsll, they
must come and see it for them
selves.
About fifty miles from Caldwell, and
some fifty-five miles from Boise City on
the main and only road to Long Valley
in a nearly northern direction, the trav-
eler will emerge out of ridge of heavy
timbered mountains into one of the most
lovely small valleys that can be found
in the Uuited States. To use rather
figurative language, it is like tho weary,
thirsty Arab coming suddenly upon
those beautiful GASES in the great Ara
bian desert. From this valley it is
about twelve miles to the ferry or
crossing of West Fork Payette river,
and about twenty-five miles to the
lower end of Long Valley. This valley
is practically the head of Little Squaw
Creek, which is formed by its numerJ
Gus springs coming into it from every
gully around the valley.
HOW SITUATED, SOIL, ETC.
Everything indicates that in times
long past and gone this valley has been
lovely mountain lake, perfectly iso.
lated, entirely surrounded by high,
heavy timbered mountains, where once
sported in its crystal waters the tooth.
some trout, its bosom covered by the
ieathered and downy fishers. One cir
cumstance will mention to bear mo
out in this supposion. The first settler
here dug well, and at the depth of
eighteen feet he came to q greenish,
soft muck, full of brush sticks of sound
wood and water that had bad smell
and could not be used. There is moth
ing of an alkaline nature in the soil, it
is dark loan, decomposed granite,
washings from the hills, perhaps for
ages. In shape the valley 10 not exactly
round, being little longer from north
to south, not yet surveyed. It Is about
four miles wide by six miles long.
Near its center is what we call the
island-a little timber mountain cover.
ing about 400 or 500 acres. The east
side or about one.third Of tho whole
area, is little broken or rolling, but
the main part is almost as level as q
house:floor.
The altitude do not know, it il high
enough, however. We have plenty of
good sleighing now, while our neigh.
bors on Squaw Creek (only FIVE miles
distant) are wsding around In the mud
and dolby" with enough on their feet to
daub cabin. A person can get around
here even in heavy rain without
bein g al plastered up with mud, land
Yft}does rain here sometimes, but no
high winds, and never q tornado or
cyclone can get In. We often wish
we could have chinook winds to hurry
of the snow in the spring, a. some sea.
sons 1t makes us little late in xet-
ting to our spring work. Readers,
imagine to yourselves . gallon tin
basin set in an empty tub, and yeu
have description Of this valley set in
mountains. OF course there is an out
let, but it is winding and deep rayine
that with the help Of Soldier Greek
lower down, forms Little Squaw
Greek. '@7-l &AaS t
For upwards Of twenty years this
valley was the feeding ground for the
Squaw Greek ranchers' hogs, cattle and
sheep, and on that account they rather
discouraged its settlement, and imply
ing (lf they didn't say SOY that \ person
couldn't live here or raise grain on
account of cold and frost, etc. But
that Is all changed how, and we are
booming forward. raising all the grain
we want. and the best Of grain and hay.
Some Of us are trying alfalfa but we
are not far enough along as yet to
/ decide on its merits here for pay. The
o. - .a.str- A.f Pa 'fr