Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-02-09
Il TRIP TO SALMON RIVER.
Observations on Men and Things
Noted by the Editor.

never before visited the river set
Elements in winter, and the keen
cold wind strangely contrasted
with our former experiences in the
lovely summer season, when one
can sweat his boots full in horse
back ride down this hot canyon in
the torrid heat of the July or
August sun. In midsummer the
climate is hot and somewhat ener-
waiting, but in midwinter one in
males vigor with every breath of
the health-inspiring and soul-ele-
waiting atmosphere. There are
points where the trail winds along
the face of precipices which over
hang the river a hundred feet or
more below, which are apt to de.
moralise the nerves of the passing
wayfarer if he be tenderfOot, but
over which we go a-whooping and
helter-skelter in the reckless eXu-
berance of animal spirits. The cold
wind blows in our teeth and snow
is falling on the hill-sides above us,
but there is none in the canyon.
At noon by the rivers brink we
stop to lunch and take drink
from the ice-cold waters of the
turbulent torrent. In another
hour we are winding along the pre-
cipitous cliff facing the mouth of
the Little Salmon, which here
empties it's muddy volume into the
pellucid waters of the main river.
A ride of another mile puts us
opposite "Short's Bar" which has
the reputation of being the very
best paying piece of placer mining
property along the whole length of
Salmon river. AS we have business
with Mr.. Short the editor rows
across the river in a flat-bottomed
skiff to see if that gentleman is at
home. He soon recognises our sea-
faring hail, tho it's years since
last we met, and he comes down
on a quick run to greet us. AS the
river is too deep to ford at this
season we cross the river again
and soon divest our horses of their
saddles, blankets and brides, load
them on the skiff, and with Mr..
Short at the oars, the editor at the
helm tending the halter ropes, and
Mr.. Smith ashore to 'shoo' the un-
willing animals into the icy flood,
we finally get started and are soon
speeding across the torrent again,
the horses swimming nobly astern,
and soon effect a landing on yon
side. While the editor grooms the
shivering horses Mr.. Short returns
for Mr.. Smith, and the party are
soon reunited. Mr.. Shorts resi-
dence is about a halfmilc up the
bar from the river, and we are
speedily welcomed by himself and
his charming young wife to the
hospitable precincts Of their home
Here we spend the night in social
converse and good cheer, and learn
much information of the mineral
resources of the Salmon river coun,
try from Mr.. Short, who is thoroly
well posted thereon. He has been
located ON this bar for many years
and is well satisfied with his loca
ton. And well he may be. Here.
tofore he has been harassed by 9
small water supply and short
season, but last year he built new
ditch five miles long which con
veys onto his claim all the water
he needs from Seeley creek, trib
utary of Little Salmon. There
are about 200 acres of mining
ground on Shorts bar, the upper
portion Of which pays extremel,
well. Gold is found on this claim
literally from the grass roots down
SO that sluicing off the top dir
pays its own expenses for stripping
the ground, leaving the rich grave
and cement on the bedrock to pa,
dividends. Mr.. Short informed u
that he got S14 from two pans o
dirt taken from a rich spot just t.
satisfy his curiosity as to how goo,
a prospect he could get. He als'
gave us a piece of cement grave
for our cabinet, taken from tn
bedrock and showing gold plainly
The gold found on this claim i
much coarser and worth a dolla
more per ounce than the ordinar
run of Salmon river dust. AS
matter of fact the gold deposit o.
Shorts Bar does not owe its origil
to the accumulations brought dow
by the river. The work on tn
claim has exposed on the bedroc
a network of quartz lodges varyin
from a knife blade to two feet i
thickness, which is undoubtedl
= the source of the gold. With hi
increased water supply and improy
ed equipment Mr.. Short will b
enabled to operate the claim t
better advantage and for a create
length of time than heretofore, an
will, no doubt, clean up severs
thousand dollars this year as til
result of his enterprise. He has
good bearing orchard and fine ga
. den on the claim, whereon in til
season he raises corn, melon
I grapes, tobacco and other choi,
] products common to the Salmo
river zone in great abundance an