The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-07-07
ABOUT IDAHO


In Idaho and IN order TO be better under
stood gave the following brief historical
sketch Of the State;
"The first white man who set foot up
on Idaho soil was Capt. Lewis, who with
a detachment Of men belonging To the
Lewis and Clark exploring expedition.
assembled the Rocky Mountains from the
East on the 18th day OF August, 1905,
and from the summit Of the continental
divide. was the first civilized man to
view the valleys. mountains and forests
Of idaho. At his feet, and many miles
distant, lay the beautiful and fertile
valley OF the Lemhi; and but few
miles beyond lay the valley OF the Sal
mon River
To the west, and in plain view, tower
ed the lofty peaks Of tina mountains OF
the middle fork OF the Salmon River,
and to the south the crsggy peaks Of
the Sawtooth range, which were also
visible. Before him were vast forests
which had never been penetrated by
human beings, except by savage Indians
who had never gazed on the face OF a
white man. That night, only eighty
nine years ago on the 18th day Of August
next, the first white man slept on Idaho
soil.
Five years later the Missouri Fur
Company established trading post on
Snake River, but soon after abandoned
il. In 1911 Wilson p. Hunt, with sixty
men OF the Pacific Fur Company passed
through Idaho TO the Pacific coast.
In 1894 Capt. Bonneville, with his
company OF nearly one hundred men,
spent the greater part OF the season in
Eastern Idaho, exploring the regions
adjacent 10 and including the head
waters OF the Snake and Salmon Rivers.
In the same year Nathaniel |. Wythe
established Fort Hall as trading post
near Snake River. In 1860, gold In pay
Ing quantities was discovered In Idaho
by party OF prospectors commanded
by Capt. James Pierce, on Orc Fine
Creek, n tributary Of the Clear Water.
The first permanent settlement was
made at Mount Idaho in May 1861. II
is therefore but thirty-three years since
the first settlement was made In the
State
Idaho contains s6.20i square miles, OF
IS, 22S. 100 acres, OF which l0,O0O0W
acres are agricultural lands 10000 0t
aces are forest lands 20. 900, 900 acres arr
grazing and mineral lands, and OPS,
100 acres are lakes and rivers and rough
aud Mountainous lands unfit for cultiva
ton aud not known TO contain minerals
The deep soil In the valleys and or
the plateaus In the central, southern
and eastern counties is composed of de
caycd vegetable matter, with sufiicien
mineral and decayed rock TO giv'
warmth and great productiveness. TIT
greater portion OF the lands in the divi
sions just named require irrigation. II
the northern counties a dark. deep loan
Of great depth prevails. This section
does not require irrigation, aud is in itsel
great empire.
The FIRST gold discovered was in grave
deposits on bars and In creeks ant
gulches. generally classified as place
mines. The discovery OF gold quart
mines. silver. lead and copper mines fol
lowed, which have produced over 5000,
600, 900; and for many years II was be
lieved that the great wealth Of Idaho la
beneath the surface OF the ground
However, before the lapse OF many year
the discovery was made that no part q
the United States produced better cereal
than the valleys and plateaus Of Idaho
and that the vegetables grown in he
soil were superior In quality and tn
yield per acre was far above the averag
Of the Eastern States.
For many years the production Of IN
soil was limited to home consumption
The farmers in the northern part Of ,h
State were the first W find an outsid
market FOR .heir surplus. Wheat an
ilaNseed were shipped by steamboat
from Lewiston, on the Snake River, /
Portland and other markets. The pr,
life yield and superior quality of Il
wheat grown in that section attracte
the attention Of railway companie
which resulted in the building
branch railroads into the fertile regio
The Northern Pacific penetrated IL fir
which was followed by the Union Pacii
system With the construction Of the
roads the agricultural lands of Il
state were eagerly sought after. al
farming communities sprang up in
sections Of the State where water cou
be obtained for irrigatine and domesi
purposes with least expense. In ad,
ton 70 raising cereals and vegetabl
our farmers imported fruit trees. a