Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-12-08
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THE RESERVATION.


gress, there is no other in which
the people Of Camas Prairie arr
50 vitality interested rs the open,
ing Of the Nez Perce reservation
Shall these million acres Of fer,
tile soil be placed in possession
Of the sturdy husbandman, un-
der whose management it will
soon develope into one vast
grain fe'dg Or 81 all it con-
tinue, as at present, the wild
abode of the unciyilized Red
Man, whose progressive capacity
seems limited to the possession
of q cayuse, saclS of -four and
8 bottle of whisky? Shall the
thousands Of honest and indus-
trions agriculturists. who are
looking to the public domain for
homes, be allowed to settle here
and build up u wealthy and
prosperous empire? Or shall
the lazy savage still retain his
dominion over a large portion Of
the best farming lands in Idaho?
This reserve closing up, as it
does, the natural inlet to Idaho
Co. is, and has been, the greatest
barrier to the developement Of
this section Of Northern Idaho.
With it's aLolishment, years ago,
Camas Prairie would now be on
an equal footing with the Palouse
ami Salla Walla countries.
We would have railroads, cities,
manufacturing establishments
tad other 4onyeniences which
follow ill the wake of steam and
electricity, Our mining and
numbering interests would not
bein their present undeyeloped
state. Embarrassing, on the Sals
mon and Clearwater river and
the more favored portions Of the
Prairie, would now be a means
Of livelihood to hundreds of peo-
pie The acreage Of wheat, oats,
barley and other grain would be
q hundred fold greater than at
present, with a corresponding in
crease in the total number of
bushels, We would have direct
and speedy communication with
the outer world, and it would
not require four or five days, as
it does under the present regulas
tions, to send a letter to Lewis
ton and receive a reply,
These are but a small portion
of the advantages which would
have been ours through a closer
contact with the great American
civilizer-the railroad. Will
Congress come to our aid and
give US the needed relief, by
opening this tract Of land to
white settlement? Will it re-
move this impediment to our
further progress?, 1t rests large
iy with our Representatives at
Washington. Ii they get in and
zealously work for the passage
of the bill, it will no doubt be
favorably acted upon, Now is
their time to do the people a real
service and win the appreciation
of their constituency.
Should these lands come into
the market next summer, Cot
tonwood will be specially bene-
fitted. Being only three miles
away, she will receive large
addition to the territory, whose
is dependant upon
her for supplies. A sudden de-
mand will be made on the town
and surrouning country for
merchandise and farmers pro-
duce OF all kinds. New business
houses and enterprises OF all
kinds will spring up at once.
Money viii again circulate, and
enterprises viii take
the place Of the present stagna-
tion. While we do not expect a
marvellous growth nor an indat-
ed boom, we are confidently
looking for substantial and
healthy progress, founded on the
development of the natural re-
sources of the adjacent country.