davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

average from 25 to so bushels to
the acre; barley from 80 t. so
bushels; oats from 25 to 80 bush
els: fax 10 to 20 bushels per acre,
and timothy hay one to two tons
per acre. This is a natural grass
country; timothy grows to periec-
tion, aud once set never runs out.
Owing to the temporary absence
of outside markets for their pro-
duce the residents of Camas prairie
are largely engaged in stock rails
ing, and there fore the pursuit Of
agriculture is for the present Sec
ondary consideration. N early ev-
erybody has cattle, horses and hogs
to sell, and the sale Of surplus live
stock is annually increasing. Dur
ing the present year many thous-
ands OF head of cattle, horses and
hogs have been purchased in Ida
no county and shipped to eastern
markets, Alaska, the Philippine
Islands and the great mining
camps all over the Pacific coast.
Owing to the absence of railroads
a large part of Camas prairie is
neither under fence nor cultivation,
and so the live stock can be cared
tor, when necessary, right under
the eyes of the owner. The prai-
rie itself, the river canyons and the
vacant lands not yet taken up by
homesteaders, all combine to make
the Camas prairie portion of Idaho
county q paradise for the profess
J sional stock-grower, for here is
I found combination Of the finest
bunch grass range, with abundant
water and a milder climate than
almost any other locality possesses.
Stock-growing is. indeed, next to
mining the most important indus
try in the county, and very large
proportion of its taxable property
is found in it's herd of live stock
Scattered all over it's vast domain
are many fine cattle ranches.
! OF this great Camas prairie i,
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

run through deep canyons, and the
Prairie is reached from them by
ascending the creeks which head
on the Prairie and descend to the
rivers.
The lay of Camas Prairie is that
of gently rolling country, so that
planting and harvesting machinery
Of the latest improved kinds can be
used throughout its extent. The
bedrock is a basalt of volcanic Ori-
gin, and it is covered by deep,
rich, black loan soil, npon which
all kinds of crops are raised in
great abundance and of the very
finest quality without irrigation.
The bedrock is porous and under
ground streams Of the finest water
run through it. Well water is OBJ
tanned at depths varing from IL
feet to so feet. The prairie is
watered by several living streams
which traverse the prairie and
empty into the Salmon and Clear
water rivers. OF these streams
Cottonwood creek is the largest.
Its heads on the west side of the
prairie an runs east right across
the prairie and receives tha waters
of Stock and Shebang creeks, and
thea emptis into the Clearwater.
Three Mile, Butcher. Mill, Johns
and Eagle of the Light creeks also
empty into the Clearwater. while
Grave cre.k empties into the Sal
mon river
The altitude of Camas Prairie il
about 5000 feet above sea level.
Cottonwood, on the west side is
3. 300 feet. Mt. Idaho on the ex
treme east is 3,480 feet, while
Grangeville, more nearly in thu
center of the prairie is 3, IL;
feet. The frosts of winter usually
commence about the first week il
December. Snow seldom stays OF
the ground for more than a weel
at a time, while in the lower alti
tudes Of the surrounding rive
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19
Brown, president; J. 81. Robinson,
vice president; M. h. Truscott,

Brown, president; J. 81. Robinson,
vice president; M. II. Truscott,
secretary; J. Dorman, treasurer.
Twelve of the 81 members who
participated in the organization
have since crossed the dark divide
into the valley of the shadow OF
death. The first qualifications for
membership consisted of residence
in the then territory Of Idaho pre-
ceding the 18th OF June, 1877, but
owing to the ravages OF death and
in order to perpetuate the organi-
zation it was found advisable to in
clude all those who have resided in
Idaho county since 1880.
June 13 was selected as the anni-
versary OF the Pioneer associa-
ton because it was the date Of the
outbreak Of the Nez Perce Indians,
the most memorable Indian war
which Idaho has ever experienced.
aud in which 75 of the settlers oi
Camas Prairie were murdered by
the savages. This date has there.
fore been kept green as the ami.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19
Our Public Schools.

The first school ever taught on
Camas Prairie was opened in the
spring of 1867 by Miss Blancia
Reed, of Wilbur, Douglas county,
Oregon, in an old log building
school at Mt. Idaho. In 1868 .
school was taught in the old placer
mining camp of Warrens, the
teacher receiving 500 per month
and having only four pupils.
These schools were paid for by
voluntary contributions. The
first school house in the county
was built one-half mile north Of
Mt. Idaho, in the year 1868, soon
after another school building was
erected on three mile creek, near
Grangeville, all these homes were
paid for by volunteer contribu-
ktions. At that time there was no
public school fund, and teachers
and buildings had to be provided
for by the few families who had
made settlements here. To Pre-
siding Elder d. $. Strong, OF the
NJ. Z. church, ard Rev. J. =.
Flenner. now private secretary to
Hon F. L. Dubois, U. s. senator
from the state Of Idaho, belongs
the honor OF establishing the first
school in growing Grangeville.
From such weak beginnings has
grown the magnificent structure of
the present public school system of
Idaho county. The county super
intendent Of schools, Hon. Lewis
Elsensohn, has furnished us the
following memorandum of the ex-
tent of the present school system:
"In compliance with your re-
quest for certain data relative to
the public schools Of this county,
have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing:
Idaho county has 3061 school
children of age as shown by the last
school census report. There are
at present So regularly organized
school districts within the county.
OF this number, six employ moro
than one teacher, a. follows:
Grangeville 8, Cottonwood 3,
Denver, Mt. Idaho, Stuart and
White Bird two teachers each.
Several new school distric1s viii
be formed in the near future. Only
four school districts haxo ben
hnndad. the fotn1 n0h001 6SNf01
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

Total valuation, $2,l9i,924
From these figures it will be
seen that Idaho county has been
making sure and healthy growth.
But though growing slowly, owing
chiefly to her great distance from
the settled portions of the country,
the difficulty of access, and the
little that was known of her re-
sources, it is easy to perceive
that it is county Of great value,
and that great as has been the
changes in the past, they will be
still greater in the immediate flu
ture, viewing the prospect for more
rapid growth in the light of the
character of the population, the
facilities for reaching the county
which the railroad companies are
now providing, and the flood Of
light which has lately shone upon
her resources. In point of fact,
Idaho county has greater diver
sity of resources than any other
county in either of the states of
Idaho, Oregon or Washington, and
her products are beginning to excite
the attention of the country and
awakening it to the conviction that
it has a productive capacity not
heretofore suspected. The business
of farming commenced on Camas
prairie more than 80 years ago, and
| in all that time there has never
been total failure of crops. The
enormous and successful develop
ment of the mines in the tributary
mountain ranges, together with thu
exploitation of it's forests, all 60 tt
show tnat great as is the area 0
Idaho county, there is no portion o
it that has not it's values thorough,
established. With the enjoymen
of ample and regular railroad
transportation practically assured
in 1902, nothing is wanted on Cam
as prairie but people to occupy i
to its fullest extent-an active, sa
gacious, enterprising people VIII
would appreciate, utilize, exten'
and increase the blessings wit
which nature has endowed thi
beautiful and fertile section.
In Idaho county we offer tn
: best lands and the best homes, SUI
y rounded by a free-hearted, inde
: pendent and progressive peopl,
: In Idaho county people live chear
9 er, better, happier and longer, an
a enjoy better health than in an
!. other part of the Union. 1t is nc
Il only the richest, but it is CROWN
s faster; it offers more inducemen'
y and variety of choice of locatio
n to intending settlers; it's populatio
l. is more enterprising, and are mol
is energetically developing the do
e mant resources of the county; an
n the advantages offered are the mo-
d favorable to all sorts and condition
70 of men.
!, And when we consider th'
n Idaho is the youngest member
the sisterhood of states, but Il
,e first on the Pacific coast in d
versity of resources and in ever
Of thing that makes a country al
is it's people rich and prosperous,
le becomes a matter of much cons
le quence to the home-seeker fro
the distant east to know the I
sources and possibilities of tn
part of the state which profess
to offer the greatest good to &
greatest number. AS q matter
o, fact, the west as well as the east
as furnishing settlers for Idahocount
ho There is q steady influx Of hon
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19
county was 1925.

county was 1925.
These figures do not show the
real increase, rs part of our terri
tory has been taken to form por-
tions of Custer and Washington
counties.
To illustrate the financial growth
of Idaho county we append here
with the official figures of the taxa
BILE property Of the county since
1877.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

Q6 lot CuILlV8blOu, 8uu budO IuS
people are frontiersmen OF the mel.
odrama type. These are all wrong
impressions. In every feature OF
social aud lawabiding activity
Idaho will compare favorably with
the oldest and most thickly set
tied OF the eastern states. Schools,
churches, fraternal and benevo-
lent associations exist everywhere,
and Idaho county is particularly
blessed with these activities. Our
people are exceptionally moral and
are ever on the alert for the well
fare OF the county. The schools OF
the county are in a fiourishing con-
dition and are all out of debt.
Our wealthiest, most respected and
oldest inhabitants are pioneers of
40 years standing, who participated
in the mining excitements of the
| early sixty's which first led to the
settlement OF this section. No.
where will you find more desirable
neighbors or a better class of peo-
pie than the average resident of
Camas Praire and Idaho county.
If you want good home you
cannot do better than investigate
what Camas Prairie has to offer.
The extreme cheapness Of good
land is the first thing which east
ern visitors take note of. 1t is an
actual fact that land, good farming
land, can be bought for less money
here than in any other part Of the
northwest. Good ranches, with
the finest soil and we'll improved
can be purchased from time to
time from $15 to $25 per acre.
Unimproved land sells at $40 and
upwards per acre. A home seeker
has all the variety from which to
choose. He can get farm on the
prairie, or q farm in the timber, OF
q part OF each. The certainty ol
railroad connection in few months
will more than double the value
of every acre of farm lands in the
; boundaries of the county, and the
opportunities Of acquiring a goof
home in a desirable location fol
> little money will soon have passet
for ever. There is no speculatio 1
in buying Camas Prairie farm land
at the present selling price.
In concluding this all-too-brie
+ description of what Idaho count.
has to offer we may summarize he
advantages, which ought of them
selves to attract all of the home
seekers who come west in search O
3 suitable location. These advant
? ages are:
Health.
Vacant agricultural land.
. The finest stock ranges in tn
west.
: Abundant water supply.
y Wood, water and horse feed al
. through the county,
Fish in the streams and game i
). the mountains.
y The finest forest in Idaho.
q The largest and richest minera
l. belts in the United States.
{, All social, educational and re
q ligious advantages.
~ Nothing is needed on the pal
D of the newcomer but some read
u money, enterprise, industry an
D. integrity, and with, these he is o
y y the royal road to fortune.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

The abstract of the official assess
meut roll for 1901 shows the prop
erty in Idaho county to be subdi-
vided as follows:
REAL ESTATE AND IMPROVEMENTS
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19
Pionaar Association

The Pioneer Association Of Idaho
county was frst organized August
6, 1887. The first officials Of the
association were: Hon. Z. r,
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

can Justly be said that the Almigh-
ty never planned SO big country
with less waste land. Every ele-
ment of prosperity lies at the door,
step of every man who has the
good fortune to acquire title to a
quarter section of it's fertile soil.
Tickle it with a plough and it will
laugh yon harvest of -four. 1t is
the only extensive area of strictly
agricultural land between Oregon
on the west and the mines of Mon
tana on the east. Similarly, it is
the connecting link between the
mines of northern and southern
Idaho, as we'll as for a mineral and
timber region for distance of $50
miles to the north, east and south,
thus affording sure and certain
market for its products among a
class Of people who always have
money to pay for the best.
In order to show the growth oil
population in Idaho county let us
, look at the census reports of the
| United States government. The
. figures are as follows:
1870, $40
j 1880, 2,O3l
Al 1890, 1896
/ 1900, 9,12l
81 At the general election for 1900
1 five months after the census wa
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19
M COLDS

TN of a Noteo
physician. lar.
escribe Chamber, s,,
.edy for almos. 't;th IN
/ prescribe it 10 10
,es Am glad 20 20
ali in need anu anu
from coughs anu
nehial ,cn aihietio.Ssss, .ss
2 and safe in mn, VIZ
est = unprofessio s". ona'.
,say ed for all nsn. y. |
,s' ~ K. Melendy;r mi. n, |
hiicago, III. lll.,uaists. a.s
le by all dr''eS''
Dtice, .;.ed in
lands ADVERTISE msesm.
) take place p9eOnsd pees.ad
,as sH ,leeu postp,oan"rss
ia January 7th' l"'
q. III. poard Ot
the State p'''
ioners. ,,x
FRANK MARTIN, Nv.
: n secretary
ENBERG,
,hief Clerk.
croditOrs.
| F'rsey s given en- 'sss creditor las'
wood packing psceu'
!, on Friday pss
Ksoan, chairn'''
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

Total land surface, 6,91S, 800
The mountains are for the most
part covered with timber, such as
red and white fir, yellow and bull
pine, tamarack and cedar, all of
which are very valuable, and great
ly facilitate the operation OF the
mines throughout the mountain
region. Well-defined mineral belts
traverse the mountain sections, and
many rich mining camps exist, af-
fording a good cash market for the
products of the farming regions.
Gold, silver and copper quartz min
ing camps have been discovered at
various points throughout these
mountains, and many thousands OF
dollars are expended annually in
the exploitation of the mines, some
of which have already reached the
stage of production and are enrich
ing the world with their output OF
gold bullion and giving vitality to
the arteries of commerce and trade.
There still remains thousands OF
square miles of territory in Idaho
county which have never been trod-
den by human foot or struck by the
pick Of the prospector or resounded
to the echo of the .voodman's axe,
and with what is already known OF
it's wonderful mineral wealth, it
may reasonably be expected that
Idaho county will lead all her sis
ters in the production of the pre-
cious metals. The old placer mines
of Elk City, Florence, Warren,
and the rich bars along the Salmon
and Clearwater rivers have in
years past yielded untold millions
Of gold dust and, although these
mines have been worked for forty
years in succession, they still pro-
duce nearly half a million dollars
in gold annually.
Salmon river flows through the
heart of this rich country, while
the Clearwater river, the largest ol
all the many tributaries of the great
Snake river, courses through itt
northern end. These streams
abound with fish, such as salmon
salmon trout and mountain trout.
In the northwestern portion 0
Idaho county is situated the ia
nous Camas prairie, the,.largcs
tract OF farming lands in the entir
state of Idaho. 1t is really con
tinuation OF the Palouse country
Washington, being cut in twain b.
the canyon OF the Clearwater river
1t embraces an area thirty mile
long by thirty miles from east t
west, or about 1000 square miles
and but small portion is stony G
waste land. The surface Of thi
prairie is gently undulating, so ths
all kinds of farm machinery can I
used in planting or harvesting
Aside from the Salmon and Clea
water rivers, there are five sma
streams traversing Camas prair
in as many different directions, ar
these, together with numero,
springs of the finest water in Il
world gives US an abundant su
ply Of water. In the unsuppli,
parts water is obtained by diggil
from 12 to so feet, although
some instances q deeper depth
required. The soil is q very ri
black loan, and contains just &
right proportion OF mineral co
stituents to make it the most Il
tile and inexhaustible soil in t
world. 1t varies in depth frc
one foot to IL feet, and will pl
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

At the general election for 1900,
five months after the census was
taken, the total vote Of Idaho
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

Idaho county occupies the CEN
trail portion Of the State of Idaho.
1t lies between the parallels of 42o.
8V and 46o TO- north latitude, and
the meridians of l15o and 1l7o
west longitude. Its extreme length
aud breadth is about 200 miles
each way. 1t extends from Oregon
on the west to Montana on the
east, and its area is about IL, 900
square miles, making a county lar
ger than the states Of Rhode Island
and Delaware combined.
So great is the area Of Idaho
county that it has the unique dis
tinction Of having its territory seq
rexated into three land Office dis
tricts situated in remote sections OF
the state. In his annual report to
the Secretary Of the Interior de-
partment, published June 30, 1901,
the commissioner Of the general
land Office classifies the lands Ol
l,iaho county as follows:
u.vrry vANn nycrpJCT
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-03
Tho. when he wished to descend. found

who, when he wished to descend, found
that the ladder was gone. BY hook or
by crook the deceived confederate
found his way to the chimney OF the
smoking room, where the supper party
were settling down for long evening.
Presently voice was heard calling
down the chimney: "Sothern! sothern!
For heavens sake come and help me!
I can't get down, and it's raining like
madw Sothern was taken aback for a
moment, but only to be in OBSTACLES the
next at the ordinations Of his friends,
who considered the voice only another
example OF Sothern's skill. "You said
you could do no more. your voice was
tired, and here 1t is stronger than ever"
Sothern, accepting the compliments of
his friends, managed in n short CONVEX
sation with the voice on the roof to let
his unhappy confederate understand
that as soon us possible he would go out
and help him down. After time, Just
when Sothern was about to slip out
and release his friend, his host went to
the chimney, and, all the more to en-
phasize Sothern's success. as he thought
called out: Are you still there?' This
was the last straw upon the rain
drenched back Of the sufferer. "Oh, go
to blazes! came the angry reply, and
with 1t piece OF mortar that ratified
In the crate; you're beast!"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-03

bers cling to the ancient ceremonies of
amounting the patient with oil and pray
ing over him. Word of each case of Ill.
ness is sent to the elders of the church,
and at an appointed time they appear.
pour oil upon the head of the sick man,
lay their hands upon his head, and of.
fer prayers in his behalf. Baptism is
administered in running water and by
sthreefold immersion. 4
Almost all of the Dunkards are en-.
gagged in farming. They will suffer a
wrong rather than so to law about it,
and are not accustomed to take any
part in politics, though more and more
of the young men of the church are
to be found among those who vote
regularly and take an intelligent in.
terest in matters of public policy. The
old-fashioned Dunkards pride them.
selves on the peculiaritIes which sep.
arate them from other people, and are
accustomed to refer TO the members of
thir church as Gods peculiar people"
But 1t is the dissemination of the young
people of their church to cut them
selves off from others of their own age
that has proved to be the greatest
weakness of the church. 1t is said to
be barely holding Its own at the pres
ent time.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-03
-
WONDERFUL vENTRiLoQUISM.
Astoni .hing Performance Given b:

Astoni .hing Performance Given by
sothern's Confederate OH the Roof.
One of the pecullarities of Sothern's
elaborated jokes was the way in which
he worked up to them. He pretended
to have accidentally discovered that he
possessed the gift of the born yentrilo-
quist, and arranged an experiment on
the occasion of supper party given in
his honor at a pleasant house in a Lon
don suburb. There was foolish kind of
hanger-on of Sothcrn's who loved to
boast of his intimacy with the famous
comedian. He had often said: II wish
you would let me help you in one of
your practical jokes, Mr.. Sothern."
Sothern humored his desire. Mr.. Ed
gar Pelnberton tells the story in his
Memoir OF Sothern," says writer in
The People:
The comedy must, for my purpose,
be reduced to a paragraph. You know
how fond the professional ventrlloquist
is of talking up the chimney to an mag
mary man on the roof. Sothern had ar
ranged for his slnvish confederate to
mount the roof by ladder and play
the part of the voice on the roof, which
he did to perfection, and Sothern's sue
cess as Il ventriloquest was voted moth.
ing short of marvellous. Supper being
over, the party adjourned to another
room, at which point Sothern said
Goodnight" to his friend above, at
which cue 1t had been arranged that the
seance should be concluded Sothern
had, however, plotted against his man,