Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-06-01

The Lewiston and Grangevillo
stage line extends in a southeast
erly direction from Lewiston, rum
ming between the Salmon and Clear
water rivers. Forty miles above
Lewiston the stage crosses the di-
viding line between Nez Perce and
Idaho counties. For one-half Of
this distance the road crosses u
country of low elevation and
prairie-like character, a greater
portion of the laad of which is now
under cultivation. At the boun-
Diary line of Idaho county the foot
of Craig's Mountain is reached.
This elevation is assembled by q
circuitous though not precipitous
county roadway. Near the summit
Lake Waha, a crystal sheet Of blue
water abounding in gamy fish and
surrounded by the most pictur-
esque charms of nature, is passed.
The shores of this lake are fast be-
coming popular summer resort
for the people of the surrounding
country. The summit of Craig's
Mountain is reached from the lake
by easy grades On top of the
mountain are few miles of easy
travelling, through fields ofhay and
waving fields of grain, over prairie
and table-lands. This is the great
plateau of the summit. The first
view of Camas prairie from any
part of the stage route is obtained
when Cottonwood butte is reached
on the descent Of the eastern slope
of Craig's Mountain. 1t is safe to
venture the assertion that the
traveller who has arrived at this
point for the first time will uncon-
sciously pause and mediate for
some moments on the grandeur of
the landscape that is suddenly pre-
sented to his view here. The scene
from Cottonwood butte is truly an
inspiring one. Spread before the
beholder is a section of country 30
miles in length and about 20 miles
wide. On clear day these thous-
ands of acres of gently undulating
land, dotted here and there with
settlements, and ON which large
bands of horses are contentedly
feeding, with their waving fields oi
wheat, oats, barley, flax or timothy
form panorama that is more en-
trancing than the greatest painting
of the master artist. To the south
from this point are seen the snow.
capped peaks of the Salmon River
Mountains, and towering still a
bove these lofty elevations are thu
sawtooth eminences of the Sever
Devils. Ear to the east are the
lofty nights of the Bitter Roo
Range, which merges into thu
Ceur 'dAlene Mountains on th'
, north aud which joins Craig
Mountain on the west. This mag
, nificent circle of mountains is un
} broken with. the exception of cas-,
| passes here and there which will il
the near future furnish open gate
, ways for the entry of railroad line
, to Camas prairie, one of the fertil
Z sections OF the West.
AS before stated, Camas prairi
. is about 80 miles wide and 20 mile
7 in width. 1t lies between the Sal
Q mon and Clearwater rivers, stream
which parallel each other, the Sa
mon river running on the sout
and the Clearwater running on tn
| north and east. The distance be
!. tween these streams at the pOin
!, where they come closest to eac
+: other is 80 miles. The rivers tlo'
, through deep canyons. The Cana
i prairie is reached from these waite
! courses by following the courses
l the several creeks which find thei
| sources along the foothills Of tn
mountains back and which empt
into the larger streams below.
GO be continued.)
u >