Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-07-10
Out IN the Country.

1t is fact that the Blue mountains,
which form our southwestern horizon,
slops gradually to the summit from the
north and drop down, a steep canyon
wall to the Grande Ronde river on the
south. The circular timber line is along
comb of basalt about 1000 feet above
the sea. The Grande Ronde is pictur.
esque stream in narrow gorge 5000 feet
deep. The silver thread Of water loops
around rocky prominences and encircles
pretty farms, meadows and homes in
hooks with protecting walls. The waters
thunder over falls and speed down a
grade of 20 feet to the mile, from the dis
tant mountains to the Snake river. The
Grande Ronde on its tortuous course
through its rugged canyon make some
of the finest landscapes in all the scenic
northwest.
PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY.
On the Grand Ronde river beyond this
horizon there is community of farmers
and stockmen numbering hundred fam
lilies. The pioneer of this region is John
Hansen of Hansens ferry. BY the labor
of 20 years Mr.. Hansen and his sons,
Henry and William have built up a
homestead worthy of prince.
In all the years while this community
was growing there was no wagon road to
this settlement. The people lived i'll the
most primitive style, i'll log cabins. with
the pack horse as means of transporta-
ton. Under these conditions fine farms
were made, and schools were established.
The neighborhood is decidedly exclusive.
All travel is by the mountain trails upon
cayuse ponies. The children ride four
miles to school, and families exchange
social visits by the use of saddle and
pack horses.
Social functions of this exclusive neigh
borhood are maintained with zest. Dane
cling parties, weddings and 'lnfairs" are
held in the district school house. The
tone of the squeaky fiddle is the inspira-
ton of all social gatherings.
A wagon road, which was built by the
settlers, was completed two years ago,
which crosses the high mountains to Aso
tin fiat. This can be travelled only in the
summer time, as the snow blockades it in
winter. Only portion of the farms are
reached by this road.
The chief income of these people is de-
rived from the sale of cattle to butchers
and shippers. The settlers are contented
and they even resent the intrusion of any
foreign elements in either trade or soci-
ETY.. There were those who resented the
intrusion of the railroad and government
land surveyors.
NEW coal. FIELD.
1t has been known for fifteen years
that coal deposit underlaid the bench
land where these people had made their
homes They, by an organized effort,
resented the development of this coal
bed under the belief that public knowl-
edge OF its existence would interfere with
their homestead rights to the land; and
and they believed they would be dis
turbed in their exclusion and perhaps
robbed by coal corporations. So perfect
we're their concerted efforts to conceal the
existence of this great natural resource
Of the country that they kept all pros
pectors out for all these years. Even to
this time the prospector is. confused in
his efforts to locate the decided land OF
the district.
Lewiston parties, however, have Sc
cured rights and effective development is
being executed in this new coal belt.
Some 75o feet of tunnels have been run,
with the result that large deposit Of
coal has been uncovered. There is nc
longer any doubt about the existence oi
coal there in large quantities of mer
chantable quality. The grade Of the ar
ticle is now being established by analyst.
and practical tests.
i NEWTON HIBBs.
| NJ. p. Stephens, editor of the Guide
Sac Register, was taken suddenly i'll to
day, and was taken to his room at tn,