Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-03-24
ROUTES TO MAlL|CK,
Expert" Claims that the River Route
Is ImpfactiCable.

'Exp6rl VldlulN lual tu0 AlI0I NVuto
Is lmpfacticable.
The best way in which early
prospectOrs can get into the several
mining districts at this time is a
subject of no particular interest to
the citizens of Grangeville, and yet
there is no other topic which creates
more enemies for the town than its
alleged advocacy of one route over
another.
As q matter of fact, the people of
Grangeville take no interest in the
question of routes, nor can they be
induced to do SO until the time
comes when they are asked to put
their hands in their pockets and
subscribe towards the cost Of con-
structing wagon roads. Then they
will, very properly, insist upon the
sure, absolute and certain knowl-
edge that their money is going to
be expended on the best and most
practicable route.
AS the situation stands today the
business men of Grangeville are
accused by Florence people Of IA
voring the Badger route to Buffalo
Hump, while our friends along the
Elk City road are equally sure that
we are doing our best to send all
the Hump travel over the Florence
route, and there is more or less
hard feelings in both camps tow
ards Grangeville in consequence.
The plain truth Of the matter is
that the business men Of Grange
vile are absolutely impartial
towards the several routes to the
Hump. We are not booming one
route at the expense Of another.
The great majority Of us have
never been over either route, and
know absolutely nothing about
them, and are therefore in a posi-
tiun to treat both with the strictest
impartiality.
As a matter of fact it is inmate
rial to the business men of Grange
vile which route the people may
take who do the travelling. 1t is
positively none of our business.
Our mission on earth at this time
is to outfit travellers; and booming
this, that and the other route is a
proposition which does not COM
mend itself to the common sense OF
any business man possessed of or
binary business judgment.
The DAILY PRESS in particular, is
the recipient Of many uncompli-
mentary references from citizens Of
Elk City and Florence on this
particular topic, and we have been
threatened by people in both camps
who ought to know better, with a
loss Of patronage if we don't mend
our ways and quit booming the
routes
The sin of the DAILY Press con.
sists in publishing letters over the
signatures of well-known citizens
interested in the several routes.
Editorially the DAILY Press has
expressed, and has no intention of
expressing any opinion as to the
merits of the respective routes lead
ing to the Buffalo Hump.
The foregoing remarks also ap-
ply to the subjoihed letter written
by our Warren correspondent as to
the best way of reaching the NAL
lick district:
Warren, Idaho, March 10, 1899.
EDITOR PREss:-In your daily
paper IF March 4 1 see an article
about the way to reach Mallick
district. There are two ways of
reaching this district-one up
Salmon river, the other from War
rem. I claim that the Salmon riv-
er route is not practicable for
horses, and anyone that has ever
been up the river will agree with
me. And furthermore, it is very
dangerous for travellers on foot to
attempt to reach the district over
the river route, as you have to
hang on to brush and rocks to get
along and around the bluffs which,
in some places, rise perpendicularly
out of the river. l therefore claim
that the river route is no route
at all.
The best and shortest way is by
way Of Warren, it being only Is
miles from Mallick, and plenty of
provisions in camp. Another good
way is by way of Dixie, the dis
lance being about the same as from
Warren, Is miles. But whichever
way prospectors may travel, I
would advise them to keep out
until May l.
The Grand Prize still continues
to show free gold. This is the
bonanza mine of the Mallick dis
trict. Other lodges are showing
up very good, and assays of Nal
lick ore run from $4.78 to SS7.75
per ton. The more the men on
the ground see of Mallick district
the better they like it, and some
there are who claim that it is bet
ter than the HumD and shows nm