The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-10-16

the center Of the Valley are abandoned
probably on account of frosty locations,
1--WE took side tri p to the placers of
Gold Fork and Paddy Valley. At least
two placer mines are being worked
steadily there, those of Mr.. Moore, and
Mr.. Evans. The former last spring OBJ
tanned from his diggings a large blush
precious stone, reported to be . sap
phire. The head of the Gold Fork is a
wild and rugged country, many jagged
granite peaks, rising to 5000 or 5000
feet in elevation. From Payette /
went up to Warrens; and right here
let me say a few words about the
road and line of communication in
that part OF the country.
~ confess to being rather ignorant
about this subject before starting and
my amazement was great when I
learned that there was no wagon road
worthy Of the name between northern
and southern Idaho. 1t can easily be
seen that the natural route for such a
highway should follow the line from
Weiser through Salubria and Meadows
then down the Little Salmon and along
the nam Salmon for % miles, then up
along the eastern slope of the Salmon
canyon to Camas Prairie. The highest
point of this route would be 1000 ft.As
l said my astonishment was great upon
learning that only a trail leads down
from Meadows to Salmon River. In
stead a road goes up from Meadows to
Payette lake, and thence as a state
wagon road from the latter place to
Florence and Camas Prairie, crosses
the Secesh pass with an elevation Of
$500 feet, goes down to an elevation of
1900 feet at the Salmon river, up again
to 5000 feet at Florence, down again to
5000 feet or thereabouts at Camas
Prairie. Truly a wonderful chosen
route.
If you will let me dwell upon the
subject little more, want to say in
plain words that the wagon road from
Payette lake to Sesesh Pass IS a dis
grace to the state. Who is to blame
is:none of my business to ascertain,
but the fact OF its incredible con
ditiOn remains. 1t meanders from one
side to the other of the Payette river
in a most primitive way, and there are
ten fords of this torreutal stream with.
in few miles, some of them rocky,
ugly fords with water up to the hubs
in the dryest part of the season.
1.-THE mud and chuckholes in the
Squaw Meadows just this side of Sc
cesh pass battle description. From
Secesh pass to Warrens the road is
fairly good. From the same pass oyer
to Florence the road is very Mario "
and steep, but passable for a buck
board or lightlOaded two. horse wagon.
But as the inhabitants of that county
regretfully remark: "They have
spoiled it for pack trail and they
have not made a decent road Of it."
The maps of this country are re-
markably inaccurate; Warrens, for
instance, on all maps which l have seen
is indicated about 20 miles to far
south, and the drainage running in
opposite direction to the way nature
has made it. In fact, for an old min
ing county known for 30 years, any
thing quite equal is rarely seen.
considerable activity prevails in
Warrens, which, with its undulating
hills and broad expanse of failings
somewhat recalls Idaho City.
Nothing but rich rock goes in Warrens
and it must be pretty well towards $50
to be looked at with favor. We spent
two days there inspecting with much
interest quartz and placer mines.
Between Warrens and Florence
runs the Salmon river in a mighty
canyon-cut down 1000 feet below the
general level of the country, which is
about 5000 or $500 feet above the sea-
1t is wonderful and impressive sight
looking down and up this gorge, cut
on such scale that its true magni.
tude can scarcely be appreciated al
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! FAIR EHNnRSInN