Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-08-25
THE STATE ROAD.

County Commissioners Smith, Of
Long valley, says crops out there,
grain, hay and vegetables, surpass
any he ever saw before anywhere.
He says the route selected for the
State wagon road from Long valley
to Boise City is over a very rough
country, and will cost an immense
amount Of money, and, the worst Of
all, it will not be 6rst-class road
when completed. The country through
which it will go is mountainous and
fourteen miles OF the route, between
Long valley and Mr.. Smiths ferry,
between High valley and Round val
ley, is through deep canyon, which
Is filed every winter with deep snow
slides which carry down trees, rocks,
etc. From the ferry the present
county road is followed five miles to
the east side of High valley; from
there the route is over the mountains
to Dry Buck, twenty miles, and from
Dry Buck to Horseshoe Bend-sev-
eral miles--also a rough country.
Mr.. Smith says this road will not be
as good as the county road up Squaw
creek, which goes through High val
ley and via Smiths ferry to Round
valley, east of the ferry, and from
Round valley over low divide to
Long valley. This State road route
is somewhat shorter than the county
road described, but is over a much
rougher country, with the additional
bad feature of snowslides. Mr..
Smith used his best efforts to have
the road located from Long valley to
Garden valley, over Packer John
Mountain, distance of only eighteen
or twenty miles. Boise county has
already let contract for the west
half of this road, for $780, From
Garden valley there are already two
good roads to the capital, one via
Placerville and Shafer creek; the
other via Placerville and Idaho CITY.
Mr.. Smith was unsuccessful in his ef-
forts. 1t is claimed that Boise CITY
influence located the State road.
From Horseshoe Bend the distance is
shorter to BOISE City than to Emmett
or Caldwell, whereas the road via
High valley and Squaw creek natural
ly causes great portion of the trav-
ell and trade to go to Emmett and
Caldwell. But the most direct route
to the State capital is the main OBJ
ject, and this route would be all right
if 1t would be travelled in preferen nee
to the High valley and Squaw creek
rood. There are serious doubts that
it will be. The road from Long
valley via Garden valley, and the
High valley and Squaw creek road
judging from what those acquainted
with the three routes say, will be the
tavorite routes even for the travel tc
the capital. In that event the route
as laid out will not be success as 6
State road, neither will it be a sue
cess, as contemplated, in drawing al
the trade of Long valley (Which i.
now divided between Boise, Emmett
and Caldwell) to Boise. No faul
can be found with any town fo
working for its own interests, but il
this case the people of Boise have un
doubtedly "got off on the wrong foot.
1t is proposed to use the State none,
as far as it will go and complete tn,
t remaining portion by subscription
t If the Boise people put up, complet,
! the road, and it is not travelled, the,
. will be out a big pile of money ans
S nothing will be accomplished, eithe
e for the State or Boise. But it look
very much as if the road will be hull
S as laid out, aud after it is complete,
9 we will know to certainty whethe
!. those who prophesy that the Stat
). road will not be much travelled ar
II true prophets.
For sale