The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-16
ANACONDA NEWS.
TRIBUTARY TO MONTANA
Rich Region in Idaho Lying just
Over the Border.
ROOM FOR A RAILROAD
Return of the Brackett Northern Idaho
Exploring Expedition From
Land OF Which Little
Was Known.

The Northern Idaho exploring expedi-
ton, of which Col. w. S. Bracket of
this state is the, head, has just COM
pleted an extensive exploration OF those
portions of the Buffalo Hump and Bit
ter Root countries about which little or
nothing. has been known previously.
Lying close to the Montana line and
possessing most promising mining and
agricultural interests, this land Is d.
rectly tributary to Montana. A rail-
way from this section through the Bit
ter Root range to the new district has
been suggested as an enterprise that
would assist materially in the upbuild-
ing of the states, of Idaho and Mon
tana.
From Grangeville. Idaho, Colonel
Bracket sends the Standard a copy CT
the following interview given there by
him:
1--WE proceeded with our pack animals
from Grangeville to Elk City, and from
there struck the old Nez Perez trail
leading eastward to the Bitter Root
range. It was our intention to go east
ward along that trail to Nez Perce
pass, but owing to an accident in
Grangeville which impaired my eye
sight, we were obliged to give up this
part of my trip, which l had looked
forward to for years. The Nez Perce
trail possesses great historic interest.
Over 1t for centuries the Indians have
ridden across the great divide to the
headwaters of the Missouri and yell
loWstone rivers and from there east
ward to the buffalo hunting grounds of
the past. Later on in the early COS this
trail and pass was travelled by the pack
trains of white men carrying supplies
back and forth between Lewiston, Elk
City and Florence, Idaho, and the ia
nous placers of Alder gulch and Ban
mock, in Montana. On this old trail oc-
Cured the tragic death of Lloyd Ma
gruder and his entire party, murdered
by the ruffians of Henry Plummer's
band, an event well remembered by
the old timers of Montana and Idaho
Magruder used to run pack train be-
tween Wallula. Wash, and Alder
gulch, Mont, by way of Elk City and
the old Nez Perez trail. In our days
only few Indian hunters of the Nez
Perez tribe pass over this old highway
of the wilderness.
Our party proceeded eastward on
this trail to the headwaters of Red
river, a stream running into the Clear
water Like all Indian trails, this old
trail keeps along the high divides,
avoiding swamps, fallen timber and
other Instructions as far as possible
In many places the trail is lost amid
barren rocks and stony debris. 1t was
most interesting to note in several
places, where the old trail crossed
streams that it was worn into the
solid rock to a depth of from Is inches
to two feet, the unshod hoofs of Indian
ponies of centuries having cut deep
in the rock. Our exploration this sea-
son has also extended entirely around
Buffalo Hump, now so famous because
of the gold quartz discoveries made last
year at it's base. I have camped to the
east, SOUTH west and north of the
Hump. I was greatly interested in the
great mineral resources in and around
Dixie lying east of Buffalo Hump, and
I believe that there will be many rlcn
mines in and about Dixie: there have
also been very promising discoveries on
that lovely mountain stream, Big creek,
to the east of the Hump; also on crook
ed creek.
1--WE camped about a week on the
borders of Fish lake, east of the Hump
where we had rainy weather, but about
the best trout fishing I ever saw. From
Fish lake we proceeded by the very
rough and rock-strewn trail into the
Hump district. camping most of the
time Just east of the Hump, not far
from the Big Buffalo group of mines.
firmly believe the Buffalo Hump dis
trict is destined soon to be one of the
most famous mining camps of the world.
T think that I understand the main
geological features of this extraordinary
region. rugged and wild beyond power
Of description My knowledge of min
eraloey is but limited, but l was for
innate in the Hump in studying its
mineral features with both English and
American mining experts. There were
men from Colorado, CaEfornla ana
Montana who had spent many weeks