Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1900-01-05
ON THE LAPWAI SPUR.
Heavy Traffic on a Northern
Pacific Branch Line.

Heavy Traffic on a Northern
Pacific Branch Line.
Freight traffic is so heavy on
the new lines of the Northern Pa
cific railroad to the Camas Prairie
country that it is being moved
with difficulty. The Lapwai spur
only IL miles long, has become
congested, which is ample proof
that the great prairie has begun to
offer its products to the CONNER
cial world. The Lapwai spur is
an interesting piece of railroad.
1t runs up the valley of the stream
made famous by numerous Indian
councils, and rendered historic by
the first Protestant mission among
the Nez Perces Indians, establish
ed in 1887. The stream itself is
beautiful beyond description. 1t
winds in graceful curves back and
forth across a broad valley and
luxuriant vegetation, even at this
time of the year, bends and dips
into the softly flowing water. 1t
is no wonder that the Indians look
ed upon the building of the rail
road as Dissertation of the beauty
of nature. There are only two
towns on the short, but busy rail-
road line. The first is Sweetwater,
where enormous grain warehouses
border the track, but there is no.
thing else. AT the end Of the line
is Cul de Sac. The town was first
named Mellen, in honor of the
president of the road, although
that dignitary did not know what
was going on. President Mohler,
of the O. r. & NJ, while on his
to Camas Prairie, dis
covered the new town. He
thought the railroad could build
no further ON account of the mac
grade, and, in II spirit of
virtuous scorn, named it Cul de
Sac. The natives call it "Gunny
Sack" for short, not being acquaint-
ed with the French language, nor
the irony of President Mohler's
nomenclature.
The town of Cul de Sac is a re-
markable place, for more reasons
than one. A cluster Of houses,
built fully half a mile from the
end Of the railroad track, consti-
tues the major portion Of the vii
lage. The ground on which most
OF the houses stand is involved in
what seems endless litigation.
The land is part of a timber
claim that was jumped by a second
Tlea third citizen
came along and filed on it as a
homestead, in support Of the theory
that it could not be taken as a
timber claim because it was agri-
cultural land. The inhabitants
OF the town are only squatters at
be t. But they are not without
hope, for a man named J. G.
Wright owns homestead between
them and the railroad track.
He has laid it out in town lots and
is selling the land rapidly. Even
the squatters have bought lots in
the new townsiie, and their build
lngs are constructed on skids, SO
they can move at a moments no.
tice. 1t would be no surprise to
see the town of Mellen, alias "Gun-
ny SACK" move down on the prop
erty where clear title can be Sc
cured. 1t is a question whether
the Northern Pacific can get out
Of the ''hole" in which it finds
itself on Lapwai creek. There are
two surveys up the hill to the pla-
teau of Camas Prairie. One is
sort of switchback on the left of
the stream, and the other is a
straight ascent along the bed of
the creek, on 4 percent grade for
IA distance Of four miles. 1t is
doubtful if either one is practicable
and if this proves to be the case,
President Mohler will have added
new laurels to his reputation as a
prophet. At the present time
there is only one train every alter
nate day on the Lapwai spur, but
in order to move the grain now
waiting for transportation, it will
take i've times as many ears as
are available,
WHEAT, FLAX AND HAY.
No wheat is being sold anywhere
in this section of country. The
drop in price to 35 cents bushel
has practically closed sales. 1t is
doubtful If 1000 bushels could be
picked up in the state. BY a
Unanimous agreement the farmers
have refused 70 market any more
Wheat They declare that they
viii either sc more money or hold
tlie wheat nntisSit rots.
SO far AZ fax ia concerned. that
commodity is movins freely at
81. 90 Q bnshel. In some instances
the yield wss enormous, amount
ing 30 10 bushels to the acre.
This extta0rdinary yield was Sc
cured hy thorough fall blowing nd
early seeding. BY early seeding
the flax got $50 far along that the
hot winds Of August did no dam
age. Where the flax was sown
lAse, 1t was caught in the fall by