Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-06-11
An Old LandmarkGO
LEWISTON NATIONAL BANK
BUILDING SITE CLEAR.
The Sweetwater Ditch!
The Future of Idaho, an Interview
with A. F. Parker-Absolutely
Personal Items.

Personal Items.
Our citizens note with satisfaction
the downfall of another old land mark,
in the removal of the old log structure
to make way for the new stone bank
building. 1t is a cheering sign of pro-
gress and improvement which every
body halls with delight. The old
structure is one of the earliest land
marks of the place. 1t dates back to
1862, and was one of the first perma-
nent frame structures of Lewiston. 1t
is firmly joined together of hewn logs,
fioated to the very spot on which the
building stands, during the high water
of that year. 1t was built for a general
merchandise store, but has answered
as postoffice, signal Office, land office
and for most every other purpose known
till time has shattered its frame, and
its dusty, mouldy timbers must give
way to something more comely. A fine
three story stone structure will be
erected on the site at once, by the Lew
iston National Bank. John keenan,,
of Spokane, has signed the contract to
have the building completed by Janu-
airy lst. The rock is now being quar-
ried from the ledge owned by the Lew
iston Magnesia Stone Company.
Another enterprise started last year
is now being pushed to completion.
The Sweetwater Irrigation company
are now at work with force of fifteen
men, to which others are being added
daily. The scheme is one of the best
plans for extensive irrigarion yet de-
veloped. Engineer Maxon has charge
Of the work. He is very sanguine
about the project and asserts that with
proper storage reservoirs every acre of
land between Sweetwater and Lewis
ton can be irrigated by the water thus
obtained. The entire length of the
ditch will be seventeen miles, extend
ing from point near lake Waha to
the flats above Lewiston. Thousands
of acres of fine land lie along the route
of the ditch, which with proper irriga-
ton will raise as fine crops rs any in
the inland country. This land under
; irrigation will be quadrupled in value
and the crops increased proportionally.
j.. The ditch proposed at present by the
: company will carry 1000 inches OF
water, but the engineer has ascertained
, by careful estimates, that fully 10000
) inches can be obtained from the same
source.
Hon. A. F. Parker, of the Idaho Free
: Press, is in the city, and talks as en-
: Enthusiastically as ever of the great pros
perity in store for Idaho. Probably NJ
man in the state is so we'll qualified t.
speak with authority on this subject a
Brother Aaron, for his opinions ar
s learned from actual knowledge and ex
u perience gained in many years residenc
u in every section of Idaho. Speaking O
= his own home on the great Cana
8 prairie, in Northern Idaho, Mr.. Parke
Y says he never saw it looking to bette
y advantage. The spring has been un
,. usually wet and crops promise to b
u prodigious. Cattle raisers of that SCI
" ton have secured contracts to suppl
u the men building the Great Norther
b railroad with 1900 head of beef cattl
- this summer, the heards are bein
u gathered and driven every week. Th
e circulation of this large amount of NOR
u ey in SO isolated country is of gres
= benefit and times are corresponding
g. good. The mining interests of th
10 mountain ranges surrounding tn
't Camas Prairie, are coming forward an
q Mr.. Parker believes that Elk City, i
g the Bitter Root range, will soon deve
y op into the largest and most product,
Is bullion producing camp in the stat
W The ores of the camp are principal
gold, but carry more or less iron an
sulphurets which require cOncentratin
The lodges are large and the ore of un
b. form value throughout. Mr.. Park
O. is the owner of a one-fifth interest in
.e a group of quartz lodges in the Buffa
n, Hump region, which he says is Il
~ best free milling gold ore he ever sex
IS. in the state and from which he expec
great returns, when the necessary m
'n chinery is on the ground. Speakil
of the state at large Mr.. Parker sa
K, that Idaho was increasing in populate
.a ~ and wealth with great rapidit
K. She has produced $l75,OOO,OOO sin
n. her mines were discovered, and b
'e' annual output of the precious met
places her third in the list of minel
It. producing states. This is a fine sho
ing for state that has no wagon roa
- .:E,,'.
..,..- - =, 49,