Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1900-05-11
SALMON RIVER WAGON ROAD
1 Long S-Talksd Of Enterprise is nov
Approaching Completion.

Tor 0O years past various eHOrt6
have been made to secure concert
of action whereby a wagon road
could be opened along the Salmon
river from White Bird to the
mouth of Little Salmon, and
thence southwark to the Little
Salmon meadows in Washington
county, thus giving the northern
part of the state easy access over
good water grades to connections
with southern Idaho through our
own borders, without having to
take the long and tiresome journey
through Washington and Oregon
as we have to do now. For many
long years nothing could be
accomplished, and it was only by
a desire to conciliate the northern
counties, which were at that time
strongly desirous Of being annexed
to Washington, that an appropri-
alton was made from the state
treasury to build a part of this
much-needed thoroughfare. This
appropriation built the road from
White Bird to a point one and
one-half miles below Goff at
Higgins ferry. From the ferry to
Goff the road has to be blasted out
Of the solid bedrock, and this fact
has hitherto scared the county
commissioners out of the idea Of
doing anything looking to the
ultimate completion of the most
badly-needed road in the state.
Above Goff, the people have for q
long time past been steadily
working on the extension of the
road south and now the road is
completed to the Washington
county line and all that is now
lacking is the small gap between
Goff and the ferry to give US COM
munication with the whole length
Of Salmon river territory between
White Bird and the county
boundary line.
For the past six months the
people along the river have been
working hard to get the necessary
funds or means subscribed to COM
plete the gap, and in pursuance ol
this policy Mr.. J. o. Levander
recently visited Grangeville with
a subscription list and succeeded
in raising very nearly $3.50 in
cash to help along the road to
completion. Mr.. Levander re-
turned to his home few days
since and writes us that he has
secured contributions to the road
at White Bird and other Salmon
river points amounting to 500,
besides AZ days work, and that now
he has the equivalent OF 5000
promised, and it is hoped that the
road will be completed with the
amount on hand.
The completion of this road
means great things tor that part ot
Idaho county, opening up as it
does the long isolated sections OF
the Little Salmon and Rapid
river, which hitherto have been
only accessible by trail. These
sections are possessed of wonder
fully fertile soil, with tho best
climate out Of doors, besides the
best cattle ranges on the continent.
In addition there are known to
exist there immense deposits of
gold, silver and copper ores,
gypsum, asbestos, marble, coal,
lime and iron in inexhaustible
quantities, all of which have in the
past been passed by by the intend
ing investor on account Of the
inaccessibility of the region, which
otherwise possesses every natural
gift to make a populous and
wealthy section of this great county
of ours.
1t Is therefore with q good deal
Of pleasure and prom ounced salts.
faction that we announce to the
world the fact that this lona
neglected section is about to be
opened up, because it is q section
in which we have the firmest
faith, and for which we have in
years past labored zealously to
secure wagon road transportation.
In a few weeks more we hope to
announce the completion of this
road from Grangeville to the
dividing line between Idaho and
Washington counties. The IL
miles between Goff and the county
line was finished last winter BY
the residents of the river settle
ments, and while there is nj
regular wagon road beyond, ye
the topography of the country il
such that it is even now passabl,
for wagons at low water, and thu
there is actual connection of kin,
between the two sections Of tn
state.
For years the Little Salmon
divide was held up as an 'simpase
able barrier" between northern
aud southern Idaho, when as
matter Of fact the altitude
several hundred feet lower tha
the Craig's mountain outlet whic
has been travelled every day for 8
years. 1t is now in order for th
people Of Washington county
open up the portion of the line
their county and reap the benefl
of the large and growing trade