Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-02-06
IDAHO COUNTY, IDAHO.
A Brief Description Of Its
Resources, Compiled
From
EX-GOT. SHOUI,S REPORT
To the Secretary Of the Interior
For the Year 1890.

This is the largest county in this state
yet in spite of its really wonderful capa-
bilities 1t has been one of the slowest in
development. The lack of transport
alton facilities is the cause of the COM
paratively slow growth of Idaho County.
Railroads are now in process of con.
etruction from the north and northwest
which will doubtless afford the northern
portion of this county an outlet for its
agricultural products and the state gov
eminent is now constructing wagon
road which will facilitate the develop
ment of the southern portion. Con-
tracts have been let for a good wagon
road from Meadows. in Washington
County, to Warrens, in Idaho County,
and from thence to Mount Idaho, the
county seat. The work is under direc-
ton of State commission, of which
Hon. N. B. Wiley, lieutenant-governo
elect, is chairman.
The mines of the western portion of
Idaho County have been frequently
described and space will not permit
detailed statement of their present con-
dition and prospects. They have been
worked for years under the greatest
obstacles. Supplies have been carried
for $50 miles over difficult trails on the
backs of pack animals, and the product
Of the mines have been returned in the
same way. The elevation is consider
able, the working season short, and ex-
penses very heavy. Yet, under all these
unfavorable circumstances, the mines
have yielded uniform profit. Could
the mines of Warrens district and other
mineral districts of Idaho County be
reached by railroad and furnished with
sufficient capital, it is probable that this
section would be one of the greatest pro-
ducers of precious metals known in the
history of mining.
In recent interview, Hon. N. B. Will
ley said:
1.-THE wheat crop far surpasses that of
any previous year and the prices are
satisfactory to the producer. The enor-
nous piles of grain accommodating at
shipping points, with ready market
and prompt payment ,wreathes the farm
er's brow with smiles.
THE mining interests of the north
are also in prosperous condition. In
the old placer camp of Elk City numer-
GUS discoveries of large veins of aurifer-
GUS ore give promise of great results as
soon as wagon road can connect that
district with the outside world. In
Florence the yield of gold, mostly from
placer ground, still continues good.
I'm Warrens three 5-stamp mills and
two arastras are in operation most of
the time. The Mayfower mine en-
ploys fourteen men, and runs day and
night as long IS the inclemency of sea-
son permits the use of water power.
The yield per ton is unknown to any
except the owners, but the gross output
Is quite large.
''The Keystone is worked BY an aras-
ira and the ore 10 reported to yield over
$50 per ton, but the vein is quite small,
averaging between and l2 inches in
thickness, The Giant, owned by G.
R'ebold, is the largest producer of the
camp. For many years the annual out
put of ore has yielded between $40 and
S2l6 per ton for the entire amount of
ore produced. Mr.. Riebold has also a
complete plant for working silver ores,
consisting of roasting furnace, pans,
steam supply, retorts and assay office,
and all necessary equipments. He EN-.
ploys quite number of men throughout
the year. The Wolverine, owned by s.
A. Wiley, is a very small vein from
to inches in thickness. but the quantity
OF precious metal it contains is very un-
usual. 1t never pays less than 500 per
ton in free gold and the taiings being
roasted with salt and worked for silver
produce all the way from 200 to 100
ounces per ton of that important metal.
There are also numerous other
properties more or less developed which
employ each few men,"
AGRICULTURE.
The great Camas Prairie is the only
portion Of Idaho county which is avail
able for agricultural purposes. 1t is the
largest and best body of agriculturalland
in the State and is rapidly settling I'D
with desirable and thrifty class of i'm
migrants. This prairie has an altitude
of 5000 feet and is situated on low di.
vide between Salmon and Clearwater
Rivers. The climate is wonderfully
bracing and good, the temperature be.
ing modified by the warm air rising
from the canyons of the great rivers
which inclose it. while the warm breath
OF the never.failing "Chinook" wind
causes the open winters, which make it
such an unexcelled cattle.raising country
During the last winter, which was one
OF exceptional severity, the loss of stock
running on the range without feed did
not exceed q per cent. Owing to it's
isolation and absence of market-it is
63 miles from Lewiston, the nearest
shipping point-the residents of Camas
Prairie are almost exclusively
dependent upon cattle-raising to con-
sumo their products. The society is of
. very high standard, and the people
are unusually intelligent, hospitable, or
derby. and thrifty. The county Jail has
not had an inmate for long time.
In respect to agriculture, Idaho Coun-
ty contains within her borders an i'm.
mense amount of fertile land capable of
producing any crop that can be raised
in the temperate zone without irriga-
ton. The rainfall is always abundant
enough to insure heavy crops without
irrigation. The varying attitudes of the