Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-07-06
CdDi0s Prairie.


From the 'Oregonian Handbook.
The timber resources of Idaho
county are apparently inexhausti-
bic. The western slope of the Bit
ter Root Mountains alone is cover
ed with a dense growth of pine. fir,
tamarack and cedar. This timber
| belt is about 100xS0 miles in cx-
tent. The forests here are easily
accessible and they contain suf1i-
cient timber to meet the demands
of this section for many years in
the future.
The towns of Camas prairie will
always remain the principal supply
points for all the vast mineral and
timber sections back of this belt of
rich agricultural land. Camas
prairie is the only body of agricul-
tural land between Lewiston
prairie and the mining districts of
Montana and it is also the only
fertile belt separating the great
mineral section of Northern land
Southern Idaho. The prevailing
cheapness of land on this prairie at
the present time will undoubtedly
attract large immigration to this
part of the state during the present
year. The finest ranches, all I'M
der fence and with the usual farm
improvements can yet be bought
here for from 80 to $50 per acre.
Wild and unimproved lands on the
prairie find a ready sale at from
five dollars to eight dollars an acre.
Three years ago these lands could
have been purchased at less than
one-half their present selling price
and three years hence it is not I'M
reasonable to expect that they will
as readily bring twice the amount
they are today being sold for. The
population of Camas prairie is
rapidly increasing and immediate
prospects of railroad connections
with the outside world promises
quite boom for this section in the
near future. There is now but lit
tie desirable government land on
Camas prairie.
The soil of Camas prairie is a
black loan varying in thickness
from few inches to several feet.
The subsoil is clay and about 1S
inches in depth. The land here
produces fine bunch grass which
is very nutritious. Cattle and
horses range on the natural past
urage almost during the entire
year without attention. Some OF
the finest breeds of cattle and the
best grades of horses are raised on
Camas prairie. The surplus stock
is rounded up every spring and fall
and is driven to Lewiston or Gene
see, distance rs miles, and shipped
from these points by the Union or
Northern Pacific railroads to differ
ent parts of Ore, Wash, or Idaho.
Large bands of horses are frequent
ly punched and driven to Montana
or Dakota where they command
prices ranging from SIS a head for
cayuses to $500 Il span for bloodeq
mares. The principal crop now
raised on Camas prairie is timothy.
The cereals do well here, wheat
averaging 30 to 60 bushels to the
acre, oats 90 to rs bushels and
barley 90 bushels.
Adjoining Camas prairie on the
north and east. is the Nez Perez
Indian reservation, which contains
765, 900 acres of land. At least
three7fourths of this land is suscept-
IDLE of a high state of cultivation.
There are today about 1880 In
dams in the Nez Perez tribe which
is recognized as one of the most
prosperous, industrious and intel.
ligent of the primitive American
race. The Indians here have al
ready received their allotments of
land in severalty. The remaining
lands of the reservation, compris-
ing abaut 100000 acres, will soon
be.thrown open to settlement by
congress. This land is among the
finest in the Northwest. The
people of Camas prairie, as we'll as
others interested in the develop
ment of this part Of the state, are
urging congress to speedy action in
the matter of appropriating this
land, and it is hoped that the
national government will take
some action on this matter during
the present session of congress. A
large portion of the reservation is
directly tributary to Camas prairie.
1t lies directly between ,Camas
prairie and Snake river.4, 1t is felt
that the opening of the lands of
this reservation to settlement will
alone insure Camas prairie speedy
railroad connections. Both the