The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-09-08
TIE SHOUp ROAD.
l.. 4. Woodward Writes to MissOnlau
III It's Favor.

,hc Western News, has q communi-
cation in the Missoulian about the
lcsirability of a road from this valley
20 Shoup, idaho. After touching on
jhc road to Gibbonsvillc, he contin-
les:
tsThc Gibbonsville road is all right
and lays under tribute part Of the
trade Of the GibbonSvllle mining
district, the yellow Jacket and some
other points. but If 1 have the matter
sized up right, Salmon City interest
will step in and while every loyal
Montanan will rejoice at ever SO lit
tie addition to our trade and COM
merce, it is not fair to presume that
the live men Of Salmon City will
yield up any trade they can hold
without a Quid pro quo
do not wish to be understood as
in any way the Gibbonsyillc
road. It is a good thing and l. am
glad, as q puplic enterprise, that it
is built, and now that this road is
completed, or nearly SO, certainly the
other road, or the "Shoup road" as
it is called for convenience, should
receive that attention it's merits de-
serve. The Salmon river, as the
route would lay by rail and wagon, is
but little over 100 miles from Mis-
soula in a southeaster]y direction.
For seventy miles the route travcrscs
the richest portion Of the Bitter
Root valley. a country road runs
from Grantsdalc to Darby, from
Darby to Mineral Point to the sum
nit. or Mineral Hill is all that is
needed to open the trade Of the Mis-
soula and Bitter Root valleys and
their business ccntcrs. MiSS0ula and
Hamilton. a vast, rich, and practic-
ally undcvelopcd country region,
abornding in all the leading minerals,
gold, silver, copper, lead and anti
mony. Not over eight or ten miles
of road is needed to reach the Idaho
linc and from routes surveyed from
Mineral Point, the grade IS low with
but little rock work and offers have
been made to construct a good
wagon road from Mineral Point to
Mineral Hill for 81: 1000
Unlike GibbUnsvillc and it's COM
pcting trade ccntcrs there is no pos
sibIe outlet for ores, or inlet for sup
plies to a vast mineral region extend.
ing from GibbonSvillc west for hun
drcd miles o: more down the Salmon
excepting through the Bitter Roo
valley. At the mouth Of Boulder
creek. where it dcbouchcs into the
| Salmon river, is an ancient lO-Staml
mill, which, after great labor, was
noatcd picccmcal down the Salmon
river and put up in its present loca
tion. Close to the mill is the Ken
lucky mine, which has yielded it
million Of gold: nearer Still, is TIL
Guntcr, deep cut directly into tn
face OF the mountain with a 3O-foo
face that will mill test its entir
,, width SIS to the ton The pIaccrs {
Pine creek, Eotalder, Shccpcatc1
: Owl and other creeks are PRACTICAL
idle for want Of supplies: vast moul
tains of ore, low grade but free mil
ing, await improved machinery.
wagon road from Mineral Point
Mineral Hill would prove the cntc
inc wedge to this great Eldorado an
it only needs Il little investigation
+, convince the most skcptical TIL;
u what I say Of this section is true.
C The only drawback to prosperity
% the agricultural portions Of Montan
y, is Il sure and growing market, and
Sc secure this slIould be the aim
= every loyal citizen. The opportuni
;c is before us, for with camp on
n. started at or near Shoup, with ";
# to get mineral out and supplies al
~ supplies and machinery in, no pow
~ could prevent ii city over there th
,t would absorb the surplus produce
49, the entire section. Mssoua sccl
destined to become the education
center Of Montana, a city OF hon
cl and commerce, instead Of Il milli
ne and manufacturing mart, and
NO takes no seer to predict a gr(
ch source of commercial and a9ricult
"a al re , onue to her from the gold fic
of the Salmon; when miners kn
MS that a highway is prepared for tn
or to this great mineral section,
an In this paper | cannot give the
eli tails Of what steps have been tai
ltc to secure the road, but its ncccss
ere is well understood by the papers
'at thinking men of the upper vail
las who will encourage every effort
j, d secure and to place the matter
! If what | think would be the best Wc