Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-04-30
The Lewiston Valley.
A Land of Sunshine, Meadows Green,
Pretty Flowers and Perfect Fruits.
Our Irrigated Farms.
Garden Homes Where Luxury Is the Sure
Reward Of lndustry-Varlety Of
Undeveloped Wealth.

Indian tradition makes the
Clearwater basin the birthplace of
the aborigines. Lewis and Clark
were inspired by legends Of a land
ofperpetual summer OH the western
slope of the great mountains. The
redmen Of the great plains told the
explorers about a beautiful valley
of congenial sunshine where the
winds were warm and the grass
was ever green. Like Balboa, who
was led to the Pacific by illusions,
Lewis and Clark were directed to
the Clearwater valley by traditions
of modern Garden of Eden on the
sunny slope OF the Rockies.
All the explorers and agents of
the fur companies who visited this
valley before the final settlement
by the white people. were con-
sistent in proclaiming the advan-
tages of climate and location that
are so apparent to every observer.
The two grand rivers which drain
a vast mountain region, rush i'll
torrents over falls and ripples till
they unite in valley, deep set ,'be-
tween high, projecting walls.
Though only six hundred and
eighty feet above the sea this valley
is so far inland that the humid
ocean winds have lost their chill
and half their force before they
cross the mountains: they come
soft and mild and impart vigor to
dormant nature even in the winter
months. The northern blasts
never comes with fury. They eddy
from the mountain crest till their
force is wasted. Our coldest days
are calm, and do not leave blight.
The tairest division Of what may
be termed the Lewiston Valley is
the level mesa west of Snake river
between the segments of two circles
one formed by the protecting
hill and the other by the deep
flowing stream--knOwn as Lew
iston Fla,s. There are hundreds
of acres as rich in native fertility
as the silt, formed soil ofthe valleys
Of the east, still awaiting the nus
bandman. The dry climate has
preserved the wealth. The key te
unlock the hoard is still to be
supplied. Water for irrigation is
required to supplement the rain
fall. Asotin Creek, which has car
ried all ample flood to waste for al
past years has been tapped and the
liie-giving liquid has been turned
toward the thirsty fields.
Two months ago the first actua
labor was performed npon the linz
OF the Lewiston Water and Powel
/ Company's ditch. In that shor
time the locations have been made
the immense amount of materia
for the fumes secured and almos
half the work of construction bee1
done The progress made i'll 81
short time seems truly wonder
full. The engineer mastered for
midable obstacles to find practi
cable pass on the face of precipl
tous wall for the big flume. B
good fortune, patience and skill
= succession of inches and passe
!, were discovered that seem to hav
been designed by the architect {
i, the hills for a flume between tn
: water supply and Lewiston Flat:
e AsOtin Greek is grand moui
Is tain stream. The water rushe
Ic with an impetus and fury give
ii by fall of fifty feet to the mile
!e In its willow-shaded pools tn
~ sportsman finds the pretty trou
meadows, fields and gardens a,
- bordered by the trees that folio
its zigzag course, and quiet home
of contented people nestle in tr'
\ grant blooming orchards that a
n thrifty from abundance of waite
j The ditch, which is to be siXtee
!, miles long, has its beginning belo
II the rocky bed of the stream. II
/ creek falls away so fast that II
:. artihcial water course seems
| climb up the mountain side. II
| flume is seventy inches wide a,
: forty inches high, built of hea'
81 timbers as strong as the everla>
: ing rocks on which it stands.
| cliugs to the canyon walls for )
| miles and climbs to height of ,
= feet at the Swallows Nest. 1t ha.
q fall of ten feet to the mile and W
III carry FIVE thousand inches Of "
= ter-enough to redeem ten the
sand acres of land.