Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-08-17
LOOKS TO SPOKANE.
Central idaho Uants to Trade
! ~ =;
With That CifW.
Spokane Chronicle.

With That CifW.
Correspondence Spokane Chronicle.
DENVER, Idaho, July 20.
For more than a week it has
been my fortune to roam among
the rugged mountains and rich
plains south of the Clearwater and
east of the Snake river. AS this
gast and only partially occupied
country is soon to be more init
matcly connected with Spokane
than ever before, by the opening OF
wagon roads from Kendrick and
Juliaetta to Grapgeville and the
extensive gold fields beyond, it hat
occurred to me that a sketch of the
present condition of this country
world be ofinterest to your readers.
This is my fifth visit to these
parts, and II is with qualification
that l note the development of the
country during the twenty months
since the first. The country never
looked better and never presented
promise of better crops than at
present. Rain has fallen frequent
iy all the spring up to date, and all
vegetation is very forward. The
thousand of horses and cattle that
roam the rich pasturage of the In
dian reservation and Camas prairie,
are all fat and sleek. The largely
increased acreage in wheat and
barley this year promises 9 great
harvest.
This entire section has suffered
less on account of the financial de-
preston than most other sections,
owing to the fact that it is near a
great mining region, and that
farmers follow more diversified in
dustries than do the farmers of the
'Palouse country. The Snake Clear
water, and Salmon river valleys
turn off great quantities of fruits,
while Camas prairie exports
thousands of cattle and hogs annu-
ally, and the mountains and clutches
beyond are sending out a largely
increased supply Of gold dust.
The sections that are now
attracting the attention of settlers
and prospectors constitute vast
region. For instance, the Indian
Reservation, winch SO many are
praying congress to open, embraces
more than 100000 acres of fertile
soil, and Camas prairie includes
100000 acres of land which will
average as good in quality as the
beat sections of the famous and
better known Palouse country, and
is even better adapted to diversi-
fed crops. Beyond all this are the
mountains of timber and gold. The
vastness of this country will be
somewhat appreciated by one who
stands on the eastern summit OF
Craig mountain and looks south
'waru, tn,n to the east and north.
What vision! To the south
are the Seven Devils, all snowcapp
ed. East of these are the mount
aims of Idaho and the Bitter Roof
mountains, and the C9ur 'dAlenes
to the north. 1t is claimed that &
line stretched from peak to peak
about this semi-circle will reacl
more than thousand miles. One
who looks upon this scene will
travelled much if his eyes have
rested on a sublimer or more pleas
ing spectacle. Camas prairie is "a
his feet. Twenty-Five miles beyond
him, nesting in the foothills is Mt
Idaho, the county seat of Idaho
county. Three miles nearer il
Grangeville, a prosperous ant
growing town with 700 people
large stores, two banks, tw,
churches, and other public build
ings. A large hotel is now bein,
built and a large public schoo
building will be erected during tn
next three months. A roller -four
ing mill is doing a large bushes
here. Ten miles nearer still i
Denver, in the center of the prairie
This town two years ago had les
than a dozen buildings of all kinds
Now it is a respectable village witt
hotels, stores, planning mill and
good church. Cottonwood is abou
the size Of Denver and is ten mile
to the west. This place has grow
rapidly during the past year. l
has hotels, stores and churches.
All this country is now lookin
to Spokane as its supply point 70
the future. All it's people ar
turning their attention to the Pa
louise branch of the Norther
Pacific railroad as their outlet an
are very friendly toward it an
hope soon to be united to Spokan
by closer bonds. The future {
this country-but l will not il
dulge in prophecy only to say tina
he is blind who can not see grea
future for it.