Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-05-05
OUR COUNTY CAPITAL.
Mt. Idaho is Still in the Swim, With
Great Hopes for Future Growth.

is Mt. Idaho, the county seat of
old Idaho county. The first re-
publican central committee meeting
ever held in the lhen newly organ
lied territory of Idaho was held
there in 1863. Much of what is
now Idaho county was then includ-
ed in the limits of Nez Perez
county boundaries. Upon the
organization of Idaho county Mt.
Idaho became its county seat. For
good many years during the
height of the placer mining period
it thrived and prospered apace and
was the best money making point
in the Northwest. With the ex-
haustion Of the placers its store
keepers generally left for new pas
lures, and the settlement of the
agricultural lands of Camas prairie
brought into being other towns,
which made serious inroads into
the business interests conferred at
the county seat.
But despite its vicissitudes old
Mt. Idaho still retains q goodly
quota of live, wide-awake and en-
terprising inhabitants, and during
the meetings of the county COM
missiOners and terms of district
court the old town awakes from it's
lethargy and assumes something of
it's old-time appearance of business
activity. In the past year or two,
what with the quartz mining inter-
ests of Florence and the present
Buffalo Hump boom, Mt. Idaho
has taken on new lease of life
and her population are hopeful of
accomplishing still greater growth
as the boom natures.
Located at the foot of the noun
tains, Mt. Idaho is a convenient
point at which to start for trip
into the mountains. The recent
discoveries of the Dewey and other
quartz claims in the near vicinage
of the town 1is also considered as
contributing to it's future prosperi-
ty, especially as Mt. Idaho people
are mainly interested in these
properties.
The old and reliable postmaster,
Matt II. Truscott, who is the best
read and best informed man in the
county, still conducts good mer-
camille business in SCOTS old cor
ner stand, and is charging his
stock in anticipation of a largely
increased trade.
Pat Toal, the genial standby and
mixologist of the old burg, is still
on deck, prepared to administer
up-to-date spiritual refreshment to
those in need thereof.
Charley Goan's livery and feed
stable is full to overlooking every
night, and he informs us that he
feeds on an average Of 30 head OF
horses each and every night. Dur
ing the court term he is running a
hack every two hours between
Grangeville and Mt Idaho to ac-
commodate the passengers to and
from the court house. Fare each
way, 80 cents.
Since l. N. Smith took posses
sion of the Mt. Idaho hotel on
April l, he has made such great
changes that the old-time patrons
Of the house hardly recognize it in
its new paint and furnishings. The
parlor has been fitted up in really
sumptuous style with elegant car
pets, paper and paint, and entirely
new furniture. The other apart
ments have been similarly treated
In fact Mr.. Smith has expended
81, 800 in furniture and furnishing
in the past 30 days and is still
blowing himself to put the hous'
in such shape that he can attrac
and hold patronage. Mr.. Smitl
believes in keeping money in thu
country and to that end has en-
riched the treasury of Grangevill'
storekeepers to the amount of hi
expenditures. The dining-rOom il
the hands of Mrs. Smith is . mode
of cleanliness, and the table is sup
piled with unlimited good things t.
rejoice the stomach.
In addition to the new schoC
house erected two or three year
ago the trustees of Mt. Idaho dis
trict have purchased the MasOni
J property and handsome hall build
ing for school purposes, and a
effort is to be made to make tn
school SO attractive that peopl
! who do not care for the life an
! hustle of the metropolis can resid
: in the quietude of the county cal
> ital and educate their childre
there.
! Quiet, orderly and unassuminl
and beloved of old-timers, til
! picturesque village of Mt. Idaf
pursues the even tenor of its wa
: undisturbed by the excitements
:, it's neighbors.
!, Buffalo at Present.
Lewiston Teller.
e There are half a dozen s.
n Ioopc eatinO and lOdpinp fen