Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-04-27
ON TO THE RAILROAD.
Uhat Outsiders Say About the
proDosed UagOn Road.


Proposed U'agOn Road.
Spokane Chronicle.
The meeting of theBureau OF Inn
migration last evening was varied
with a talk by Joseph S. Vincent,
editor of the Kendrick Gazette, ON
the necessity of a road from Ken
drick 20 Grangeville. The people
of tie Panhandle, says Mr.. Vim
cont. are willing TO do the bulk OF
the work, hut think this city will
Gorive enough benefit so its busi-
ness men can well afford to contri-
butte TO the enterprise.
At present all the business OF
Idaho county, the trade of Grange
vile, Mt. Idaho, Elk City, Pierce
CITY. Camas Prairie, Warrens and
the Salmon river country, goes TO
Portland by way of Lewiston. The
value of this trade is estimated at
$500. 600 to 5000, 900 of retail bust
ness in the county last year. More
over the business is growing rapid
" and is expected to double in
volume in the next two or three
years.
Grangeville is practically the
business center of this country, to
which all roads run. From this
town the only outlet is the wagon
road to Lewiston seventy miles
away. This road climbs q steep
mountain, and is impossible for
MANY months of the year. At the
present time it would be practically
impossible to haul a loaded wagon
from Lewiston to Grangeville. Nor
is the settlers trouble ended when
he reaches Lewiston. He must
either travel to Portland by slow
boat or drive fourteen miles across
the country to reach the nearest
railroad at Genesee.
1--WE propose to turn all this
trade to Spokane" said Mr.. Vim
cent. "There is already a wagon
road from Kendrick to the Clear
water and from Grangeville to the
reservation line. To connect these
we only need build twenty-six
miles of road across the reserva-
ton. This will bring the people OF
Grangeville within fifty-six miles
of the railroad at Kendrick, where
as they are low driving seventy
miles to Lewiston and then taking
n slow boat to Portland. 1t will
give them short, easy road with
a natural grade, open all the year,
instead of a long, hard road that is
blocked from one-third to one-half
of the time. In short, it will
divert half million dollars worth
of trade from Lewiston and Port
land to Kendrick and Spokane.
"The building of this road will
cost about $4,000. There are only
two heavy grades, one about a
mile and quarter long through
Lawyers canyon, and the other 8
mile long at the approach of The
Clearwater. A bridge, the only
one on the line, is needed at The
canyon, and arrangements are
already being made to put in
ferry at the Clearwater crossing.
Kendrick Special to Spokane Review.
Messrs. Maxey, Buchanan ant
Hotelling, road committee
representing the people of CANA
Prairie, met our business men ant
citizens in the parlors of the 81
Elmo this morning for the purpos
of considering the question of con
structing good and safe road iron
this place direct into that grea
country. The meeting wa
almost enthusiastic. Thes
gentlemen, for their people, wan
competition they want direc
COMMUNICATION with Spokane b
way of Kendrick as their neares
railroad point.
Portland holds the key to tina
entire traffic. Local business me
now reaping a vast trade are Lew
iston firms, who get their good
from Portland. The detailed de
scripton by Mr.. Maxey was highl
interesting and surprising as to til
vast resources of that country
They want Spokane business me
interested so as to give them tn
desired competition.