Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-02-02
A TRIP TO SALMON RIVER.
Il Tropical Climate in Idaho
COunty--Rich Mines, Fine
Fruits, Etc.

age Camas Prairie citizen. De-
scending from an altitude of 1900
feet to one of 500 feet in brief
ride of Is miles, one soon finds
himself in another climate-a ver-
liable lotus land-where the winds
never blow, and the clouds never
weep. That is, hardly ever! Such
were our reflections when we arri-
we'd at Bailey Chamberlain's, on
Salmon river, after an afternoons
ride through the wind and snow of
Camas Prairie. Descending the
grade to White Bird we were soon
below the snow line and then had
the satisfaction ofhearing the wind
howl overhead instead of whistling
through our whiskers. In this
balmy climate the arctic wraps we
use on Camas Prairie are burden,
and they are soon discarded. The
roads, too, are dryer as we descend,
and we are soon indulging in the
luxury of a cayuse lope, which the
muddy nature of our Camas Prairie
roads have prohibited for some
months. AS the EDITORS business
is everybody's business it may be
as we'll to state at the outset that
the trip was made in company
with our friend and partner, S. w.
Smith, of Elk City, for the purpose
of making general reconnaissance
of the up-river region, to look over
it's placer mines and mineral re-
sources, to visit friends, and incl
dentally to look over the State wa
gon road grade with view to es-
timating the cost of constructing
the same.
Our first nights sojourn was at
Bailey Chamberlain where we
were most Hospitality welcomed by
Bailey himself, and his right and
left bowers, Sam Milbourne and
Nels. Miller. A smoking hot sup
per is soon spread before us, and a
most enjoyable evening was spent
discussing with our host the latest
developments in the field of litera-
ture, politics, science, and the arts.
Mr.. Chamberlain and the editor are
old friends of long standing, but in
the course of many trips to and
from Salmon river this was the first
occasion we had accepted his hos
pitality, and nothing was too good
for us. Many varieties of apples,
preserves, and an excellent quality
of pure unfermented and non-toxi-
eating grape juice, all raised and
manufactured on the ranch by Mr..
Milbourne, are set before us. After
an early breakfast we are again on
the trail, and are in better physical
condition to appreciate the balmy
atmosphere. Half way up the
mountain slopes blanket of new
ly fallen snow is visible, while be-
.. low it the hills are green with the
growing grass, the birds are singing
and cattle are frolicing around
;; 'Tis the normal winter climate Of
Salmon river, but to us fresh from
! the attitudes of Camas Prairie i,
g feels like spring. Such ride under
y such circumstances is picnic, ant
: as such we enjoyed it. In due time
4 we reach Slate creek and find {
truly cosmopolitan population
!. gathered around the stove in com
missioner Fockler's store. Here WI
% stop awhile to discuss the Stat
wagon road imbroglio, and learl
from Mr.. Fockler himself that h
!, and his colleagues are Individual.
e and officially in favor of count.
!. cooperation to complete the roads
4 but claim that there is no law au
9. thOrising them to act in the matte
y and that they cannot be expecte
to transgress the law and thu
render themselves and their bonds
S. men liable for every county wal
q rant issued to contractors. Nobod
wants them to 90 outside the Law
We contend that the General ROa
Law of the State gives them ampl
authority to act in the premises
ID they will but exercise it. We hOI
2; e; to make this matter clear to tn
Board at it's April session, as "
p. have written the AttOrney-gener
II to give an official opinion Thereon
b. Mr.. Fockler has more to gain tina
vi any other one man by the constrn
ton of the Salmon river road, ;
= his merchandise business at Ere
dom would benefit enormousl
~ Mr.. Kiebold will also be a gre;
l.. gamer by the building of the e
~o City road; but these gentlemen a
y, far too conscientious to allow the
Of personal interests to influen
of their official action on any prop
nr sition, and if they fail to comm
se the county to complete the Sta
;" roads it will be owing to lack
Al authority under the law, whi'
i they must administer as they fiji
it. If they only had authority
make a law to fit the case, {
wonld be plain sailing, and our
cal contractors would be working
ns or hundred men along the river no
md And although somewhat out
on place at this stage of our trip.
may be as well, while we are d
% cussing the subject, to remark th
after a close inspection OF the s,
lon yey. the nature of the ground a