Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-12-06
EDITOR'S NOTE BOOK.
Mem n0rGnduns JOtfed Dorm on
q Recent Trip to Eik City.

| hFCtHt ITtP 10 Eh Ct0.
On the summit of Big Badly j.
A. Whitaker and j. w. Lampkin
have built large and commodious
stage station ana barn for the ac-
commodation of passengers and
horses. Ii is the usual all-night
stopping place on the stage route,
but as we were anxious to reach
Elk City as early as possible next
day in order to complete our eight
mile walk to Relief creek before
dark, Mr.. Tippery kindly accom-
modated us by driving that night
to Newsome creek.
We made the descent down Big
and Little Baldy in the dark at a
rattling gait. The grade is splen-
| did and the roadbed broad and
smooth and white, so that in spite
of the darkness, wind, rain and
snow which accompanied us on
this part of the trip, we were able
to make splendid time, and finally
got to the Newsome creek house
about ten o'clock, tired, wet and
hungry as bears. A light break
fast at Clearwater was all the re-
freshment we had had during the
day, and when we had reused Mr..
Chesebro from his slumbers and
had somewhat thawed out over a
red hot stove, we were able to ap-
preciate the smoking hot meal set
before us. 1t is said to be very
unhealthy and provocative of in
somnia to go to bed on a full stom-
ach, but on this occasion we did it
and slept the sleep of the just.
Newsome creek drains an inde-
pendent watershed of its own and
empties into the south fork of
Clearwater at a point equi-distant
between Jackson bridge and the
junction of Red and Crooked riv-
ers. In the early days gold was
struck On the lower end of the
creek, but it was not rich camp,
and the area of valuable ground
being very limited it never attain
ed to any great prominence. Some
few rich bars were struck and
worked, but on the whole, New
some was low grade camp and
never made stir in the mining
world. For many years it was de-
serted, but of late a great deal OF
prospecting has been done and the
region is now one of great promise
in both quartz and placer, and
much development work is being
done. The grade down Little
Baldy crosses a ditch several miles
in length which has been built
this year by Chas. Gelbach to bring
water from Pilot Rock creek on tC
his newly discovered placer ground
short distance above the New
some House. Messrs. Heppner s
Richardson, of Moose creek, have
also prospected the west, or Pilot
Rock fork of Newsome creek, with
flattering results, and have located
the entire bottom and water rights
for working the same. This is al
virgin ground, with plenty of dunn
and water. Altogether there ar,
probably rs men interested in va
rions mining enterprises on thu
Newsome creek watershed, ant
there will be no doubt, considera
bic money taken out in the mex
few years. The Newsome Hous,
is located at the junction of thre
streams, with broad meadow en-
closed within the forks. In earl,
days lively little town existe,
here, but the buildings have al
been destroyed by fire. For tn
past three years Mr.. Chesebro ha
maintained hotel and store hero
a convenience which traveller
greatly appreciate. Since the con
struction of the state wagon roa
to this point it has also been muc
: visited as picnic and fishing re
sort by Grangeville business me
and others in search of recreation
F, A more delightful location is har
to find, for here are congregated
, combination of the advantages {
accessibility, mountain air, gran
scenery, wood, water and hors,
feed, fine hunting for big game
f the surrounding hills and the bei
a of fishing in the three brancht
and in the main creek. 1t is a
: ideal place in which to spend fe
e days of sweet idleness. The tro,
t are generally of large growth gam
n and full of fight. Two miles u
h the south fork is another meadow
II favorite resort of deer, and whel
the bears come down from the hill
to fish for salmon and eat berries