Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-04-24
UP THE SANS POS
ONE OF THE MOST PICTURESQUE
VALLEYS IN WASHINGTON.
Description of the Trails and Roads
Into the CoIviIIe Reservation
Many Locations.

A reporter of the Wilbur Register
who has returned from trip up the
Sans Poll to the mineral district of the
opened part of the Colville reservation.
reports that his party found good trail
all the way, which passes along almost
on water level through one Of the
most picturesque valleys in the state
OF washington. The width of the val
ley averages from one to two miles,
ana IS covered by large pine trees, un-
DER which Is heavy growth of grass
that is already as green as the trees
overhead. This valley, taking into con-
sideration the towering mountains on
either side and the beautiful Sans Poll
lowing through 1t, will make 1t remem-
pered by one who has journeyed there
IN There is not hill to climb the en-
tire distance.
The Indian settlements only extend
up the river Is miles. From there to
the British line there is a prolific
growth Of bunchgrass, which is duly
appreciated by the prospectors' horses
The reservation will certainly be valu-
able as stock country If for no other
purpose. The soil for the most part is
deep black loan with numerous
mountain streams and enough level
land along the creeks to make fine hay
meadows and garden patches. In this
mountainous country there is consider
ably more moisture than in most other
sections of eastern Washington.
Wild game of all kinds seems to be.
plentiful on all parts of the reservation.
Thirty-five miles from the mouth Of
the Sans Poll and about three miles be-
low the boundary line the main forks
are reached, each stream being about
equal size. Up each of these forks is a
wel-beaten trail. The one up the west
fork, known as the Orc trail, comes out
IL miles above, at Cobey's ranch From
there good wagon road passes over to
Bonaparte creek and along that stream
to the Tonasket Indian school and con-
meets with the Okanogan road. From
Cobey's ranch other trails go north to-.
ward Terrota and Myers creeks and
other sections of the Mount Bonaparte
mineral district A great many are GO.
ing in this way and there is no little ex-
citement among the prospectors already
there. They show some fine specimens
of ore, but so far there has been no
says made. The object of the prospec-
tors who arrived first in the field seemed
to be to stake anything they came
across that looked satisfactory to them
and push on to look for new locations
before the rush commences.
Again coming back to the forks of the
Sans Poll and taking the trail up the
east fork towards Curlew one comes 10
any of the trails going in from the Sans
Poll. About two miles up this stream
the trail leads over a small mountain
and drops down on the creek again at
its base on the north. About Is miles up
this creek Is located OBrien's stock
ranch, from which a wagon road leads
down Curlew creek and connects with
another road that goes west near the
northern boundary line to Orc and the
Okanogan country. From O'Brien's
splendid trail goes almost due west up
Lost creek over the divide to the head
of Bonaparte creek. Lost creek is shown
on the new maps as the west prong of
the upper forks of the Sans Poll
At the headwaters of the Sans Poll
the country fiattens out and prospec-
tors can travel in almost any direction
with their pack animals.
Traces of mineral can be found on all
portions of the reservation, and pros
pectors are consequently scattered over
the entire territory.
A great many going into the country
fail to sufficiently post themselves as 10
the boundary lines and are greatly con-
fused as result For the benefit of this
class the Register will add that the
aIN,.ox n nc
miles wide north and south, townships
60 to 40, inclusive. When a surveyors
stake marked '"T 80" presents itself to
view, which it will either way going in
from the south side, they will know
that the stake marks the southern line
of the opened part of the reservation