Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-12-29
IDAHO COUNTY TOWNS.
HOW They Hare Developed and
GrO,cm During the Year.

passing DER a. rough and rugged
country pauses in his onward
march, and glancing backward
views the familiar landscape; so
let us to-day turn our minds at
the closing of this year, and on the
panorama of COttonwood's history
view the scenery of the past; noting
as it were it's eminences of progress
and success, and viewing the dark
valleys of failure and misspent
energies seeing as it were the
mirage, upon the clouds of which
are shown fair pictures of what
might have been and what the
future may produce.
The new year Of 1898 found Cot
tonwood small hamlet of possibly
IS or 100 souls, few scattered
buildings, with but a couple or
three business houses in it's limits.
But a few months prior to this,
some of the present citizens, re-
cognizing the superior advantages
of the site, determined to locate
and push the town to the front
rank. Hardly had their determin-
alton been reached ere it was
known that the black cloud of de-
fective title was the curse that had
for years completely barred the
towns prosperity, and, like the
pillar of clouds to the Egyptians,
obscured all it's natural advantages
to the intending locator.
Steps were Immediately taken
to have the cloud removed, and
after more than one years steady
waiting, the gentle zephyr COM
mences to show a line of light to
guide the way, and 1894 will open
with a perfect title.
Although a large amount of
credit deservedly belongs to the
citizens of our town for their united
and patient work, at the same
time we cannot fail to recognize
that the work done by the Denver
tOwnsite company, in their attempt
to bring that town before the pub
lie, has been the motive power
that first set the wheel of fortune
turning in our direction. Had it
not been for the work done by
these gentlemen Cottonwood
might have even yet been sleeping
here peacefully.
Almost with the opening of the
year the Cottonwood Report
sprang before the public ready to
declare to the world the truths
that has caused many to make
this point their future home.
Although the general financial
panic has caused many would-be
settlers to turn back unable to re-
move, at the same time the popu-
lation of the town has nearly
trebled in the past year.
Instead of a few business houses
as of old Cottonwood now claims
some twenty-five; the business of
the town being represented by one
hotel, two general merchandise
stores, one drug store, one furnit-
ure store, three saloons, two livery
stables, two butcher shops, three
blacksmith shops, two agricultural
implement houses, besides a week
ly newspaper, barber shop, real
estate, millinery store, brick yard
and china wash house.
The religious societies are repre-
sented by two neat and tasty
churches, the Catholic and Method
list; the latter building, but just
completed, being one of the pretti-
est structures of it's kind on the
Prairie. A new two-story school
house is also one of the achiev-
ments of the past year. Also a
large public hall. Besides these
marks of progress, some twenty
neat and tasty residences have
been completed.
The fraternities are at present
represented only by the l. o. o. F
but it is expected that lodges Of
the A. F. & A. M. ALSO the Knights
of Pythias, will be organized in the
spring.
The professions are represented
by one lawyer and two physicians
Too much cannot be said il
praise of the patient and earnest
work of our citizens who have MOI
only steadily worked to bring the
town before the public but also fol
the development of the plans thai
have given us our present religion.
and educational advantages.
Although our town has made {
growth in the past year that is re
markable at the same time tn,
general financial disturbances O
the country has temporaril,
shattered many a bright hope
Among these can be mentione,
the 200 barrel flour mill enterprise
For weeks the promoters of thi
plan canvassed the prairie lookin,
for suitable location, securin;
the subsidy asked, and ascertain,
the possible resources of the coun
try; this, too, was done not only a
a great expense of time ant
money to the proprietors, but wa
earnestly assisted by nearly ever,
citizen of the Prairie. The sit
| WAS at last snlncfnd In our tou,n