The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-30
THE ME- PIERCE FERMENTATION.
Description OF the Opening by One Who
Witnessed It.

Juiiaetta Nov. $-Specaai-uavinr seen
the Nez Perez reservation. | can give
more definite idea of It's looks and worth
than / have obtained from ether sources.
When we arrived in Julisetta we found all
the campers and citizens wishing lands
had gone on and were then selecting thssr
claims, We AZ once hired \ livery team.
took cur camp equipage and started cut
about II o'clock A. m, making about TWEEN
ty-tve miles before camping, as the most
desirable lands lay about nfty miles south
east OF the end Of The Northern Pacific
railroad at this point. We fanrri camp
Ing parties all about. waiting for the open
ing Of the reservation. We slept very lit
tie. on account OF the na-ss and confusion
existing among anxious would-Se land
owners. Arriving early, we moved on
with the throng, passing many more heav-
ily loaded.
After leaving Clearwater river we had
been constantly climbing until we had
reached an altitude OF about 1000 feet.
among beautiful timber. on black, fertile
soil. all level enough for cultivation
Reaching the Cold Spring country. we
found ourselves on a beautiful prairie.
luxurious hunchgrass as far as the eva
could reach. The country was generally
rolling, but descending 10 the east as We
proceeded 10 Kama. Reaching water at
the place known as the Holes, We
stopped for lunch. Here we found many
canped, as they said, on school section.
10 be of OF their lands until II o'clock.
when the gun would he fired az Lewiston.
Al the appointed time each started Tor his
claim. and we soon went for a location FUR
Their on. near the government site OF ths
town Of Nex Perez, which IS about four
miles south of the freight ~goad. Leaving
the roads. we began our Searoh far land.
driving mile sitter mile over or through
grass up 10 our knees. AS there are no
distractions. one can drive at lively
gait In any direction.
We finally found some vacant land three
miles north OF the new town, and pitched
our tent. fortunately near spring and
wood. Procuring our poles for a land mark.
or nlake-believe foundation. and writing
our notice, we started from a corner OBJ
tanned by paying a surveyor $40, the usual
price. az s o'clock y. IN. The stars never
Ehone brighter, and our direction was cas-
ily obtained. and as $50 PAGES should make
half a mile, we soon became expert In
getting corners. one corner was found
at ST PAGES. At 10 o'clock we had six men
located and were hack 10 camp.
Next morning we repaired 10 the new
town, where we witnessed lively real
estate business. coo lots being disposed OF
In less than two hours. The town re-
sembled a fair ground, with tents. provis-
ions. restaurants, lumber and everything.
including a real estate office. on the
ground. The opening address was made
menced by saying: II am glad OF the homer
OF addressing you on this most suspicious
occasion, as we are about 20 To-
cate a new town which VIII be
the most important town in North
ern Idaho. The sun never shone
brighter than Il does today, and never on
better soil and on better prospects. all
things considered. than IL does today
here" etc. After voting one block for
public school and one block for court
house, and one lot 70 the first lady
on the ground and two lots 10 Surveyor
Tombtree. who had plated st. and twelve
business lots TO he given 10 business men
who would erect buildings. as prescribed
by the directors chosen. the drawing com
menced. each man paying his dollar and
taking hts chance. There was great crowd
ing TO get the tickets, and when the lots
were nearly gone about 200 men still stood
in the lines. and the blanks were made and
ell thrown in for distribution. Those
having a number would pay their dollar
and be recorded the possessor: Lumber was
arriving with four-horse teams from Dem
yer and Cottonwood, at about cents per
foot rough and cents for flooring or rus
tic, and building commenced by those
who were more interested In town than
country. But many, fearing for the safety
OF their claims. made mad rush for Lew
iston, riding all night and even then ind
ing parties had flied ahead OF them, Lew
lStou people say Ailat VNsi S,pV' 80
ready taken claims. and in the spring IL
will be very lively. AS IL lies In such a
grand country. with no town within twenty
miles south, fifty miles west and forty
I'VE miles 70 the north. an early prospect
for n railroad IL assured.
Nez Perez VIII be a temperance town.
as IL is stipulated in the treaty with ths
Indians that no liquor shall be sold on the
reservation for twenty-five years. The
most prosperous people 20 be seen are the
Indians, as they are we'll provided with
new vehicles, harness, wearing apparel.
etc, and all seem very good-natured and
contented.