Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-10-05
THE SALMON COUNTRY.

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THE SALMON UNTRY.
Col. r. j. Parker Writes up His
Recent Trip to Our County.
walla walla Statesman.
Lewiston requires and deserves
AN article by itself, but time press
es. On the morning after my ar
rival at 3 a. M, / was awakened
to take the stage for Grangeville,
Camas Prairie, and soon we were
climbing, climbing up the apparent
endless rise to the summit of
,Craig's mountain. After good
FIVE hours climb we drove into a
little hollow in the mountains, in
the center of which is a land lock-
ed lake, called Lake Waha, where
we enjoyed a good breakfast; after
changing horses we had another
heavy pull up hill and were soon
meandering under the pines of the
summit. To my surprise l found
every foot of the land well fenced
and the finest grain growing in
these timbered mountains. In fact,
from Lewiston to Salmon river
there is not an acre of vacant land
left; all is fenced in and the old
bunch grass grazing lands, long sup
posed to be fit only for cattle and
,cayuses, support many family.
1t was afternoon when we left the
mountain and descended the slope
of the mountain toward Cotton
wood. Half way down the hill is
the monument erected to Bill Fos-
ter, q scout who was killed when
Lieut.. Rains and 10 men of the
First cavalry were surrounded and
'overpowered while on a reconnois-
sance on the morning of the 4th of
July, 1877, during the Nez Perez
war. AS we drove rapidly down
this hill, I could not help thinking
of the last time I passed over it
when / never expected to reach my
destination alive. But that's
another story.
Cottonwood is now quite a town
full of business enterprise, and the
trading point for a tract of coun-
try extending from the Clearwater
to Salmon rivers; contains two good
hotels, newspaper and about 800
people.
The next place midway between
here and the commercial capital,
Grangeville, is Denver, why 50
named I never could find out.
1t is pleasant and pretty place
and contains many nice people,
judging from my limited experience
there. Night had long cast her
sombre mantle around us by the
time the stage reached Grangeville,
but hearty welcome, a nice sup
per and pleasant company quickly
eradicated the memories of the
roughness and shaking up of the
long journey of 20 miles since three
the same morning.
Grangeville is destined to be a
big city, and there are more open
ings there for steady and industri.
Gus tradesmen than any other place
know of. In the opening of the
reservation it will be central
point, as in fact it is already com.
manding the trade of an enormous
section of country, including the
mines of the Clearwater basin
Florence, Salmon river and War.
rens. 1t is the first place struck
by every miner when he comes out
with his gold dust, and there il
always some in circulation. 1t has
N good start in the world and the
people say they intend to keep it
The prairie is settled up with q
very fine lot of people, many o.
them old timers and their descend.
ants who are chips of the old blocks
During the Indian war Camas Prai.
rie turned out the bravest and best
lot of men the frontier ever saw
Many gave their lives in defense
of the helpless, and the names O
Capt. Randall, Howser, Evans
Moore, Day and others will never
be forgotten. These men with
Others first brought the women and
families to places of protection
then went ont to avenge the out
RACES the savages had committed
on helpless women and children.
Many of the old timers have
long since passed in their checks
but many remain, some healthy
strong and rich, others poor ant