Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-03-24

I
lished a thrifty town upon which at
one time was lake of water. The
main products of Market Lake are
hay and stock.
On November 4th we continued our
journey north over sandy, sage
brush country. Nothing of any note
until we arrived at the sand holes.
Here is another beautiful lake in the
desert, formed by the overflow of
Camas Creek and sinks at this point
in the vast Idaho desert Our road
led us through the abandoned town Of
Camas, at one time thrifty magic
town that sprang up like many West
ern town, but now IS abandoned, and
like many railroad towns, is thing
of the past.
The next place we camped was on
Medicine Lodge Greek, which is thick
~ settled by the enterprising Western
ranchmen. The main product is hay
and stock. We continued our way up
the main branch of the Lodge which
is beautiful stream as its winds it's
way between rugged hills and noun
tains. This is the sportsmans para
disc as the stream is literally alive
with the gamy mountain trout, the
water is SO clear as it ripples over its
pebbly bottom that one can see the
trout sporting up and down the stream,
tempting the fisherman to take one
from It's mountain home. The sports
man with his gun can satisfy his cray-
ing desire staying the sage hen, peas
ant and grouse, while if he looks for
larger game BY ascending the noun
tains where the pine Cir grow he can
hunt deer or bear. One could spend
months in those mountains if he was
so inclined and live by the use of the
gun and rod. The weather is not as
nice as we would wish for out door
sport, but still papa keeps us supplied
with game and fish; he caught So
/ trout i'm four hours.
Now the 9Th being pleasant day,
we all enjoyed ourselves fishing and
caught 20 fine trout.
The next day we moved camp down
four miles to Mr.. Webber, lone
bachelor of upper Medicine Lodge,
who has a very fine cattle and hay
ranch. His nearest neighbor is Is
miles. With his fine herd of cattle
and extensive hay ranch and noun
tain range be is on the sure road to
prosperity. Here we had some fine
fishing; the fish being larger here than
those farther up the stream.
The next day we returned to Mr..
John Ellis ranch on lower Medicine
Lodge. | do not know how this creek
got its name only BY tradition, nearly
all creeks and rivers in the West de-
rived their names from the Indians.
This stream is about so miles in length
and is like many other streams that
rises in the Nicholia mountains and
sinks after flowing drought the desert
between the two mountain ranges
We remained here for about a week,
when we continued our journey south
east, about 30 miles, then turned with
and followed the course of Birch
Creek, which winds its way through a
beautiful valley; il is 30 miles to its
fountain head. The stream is half as
large as Plat river. 1t derives its sup
ply of water from 20 springs. The
fishing and hunting here is not as fine
as it is on the Lodge. Nearly all kinds
of vegetables are raised here as the
climate is suited for farming. Fruit
raising hasn't been tested thoroughly
here.
At the head of this stream is the
deserted mining camp of Nieholia,
at one time it was one of the best pay
ing mines in Idaho. The mineral be-
ing exhausted for lack of development
has caused the mines to shut down
and the camp deserted. At one time
many freighters were hauling sup
plies to the mines and returning load
ed with ore and bullion, but now enc