Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-12-19

the waters of the Salmon and the
Clearwater rivers. Its direction is
westward until it joins the noisy
Salmon, about fifty miles above and
south of where that river pours it's
waters into the Snake. The town
of White Bird is located on this
creek about a mile from its mouth.
The names of Indian chiefs are
but seldom perpetuated in this
country by naming places or local
tiles to perpetuate their memories,
not because of the lack of assimila-
latioh of the English and Indian
tongues but because the names of
these chiefs are repugnant to the
civilized ear. White Bird, how
ever, is an exception to this rule,
for it does perpetuate the name of
Nez Perez chief who built his
wigwam on the bank of it's limpid
waters before the white man in
vaded its steep declivities. The
Indian gave his name to the creek
and the creek gave it's name to the
town. If the traveller to the Sal.
mon river country takes the stage
at Grangeville on blustery winter
morning, he will shiver across one
Of the bleakest sections of Camas
Prairie until he reaches the True
blood hill; he will slowly creep, up
the hill and SILVER with increased
velocity until he reaches the top,
but just as he begins to descend on
the western slope, he looks down
and to his amazement and delight
he beholds the village OF White
Bird seven miles away, bathed in
perennial sunshine. BY the time
he is half way down the hill he
takes off his overcoat, and before
he reaches the village proper he
lays his feet on the dashboard to
catch the inviting rays of the invit-
ing sunshine. The elevation above
sea level is between sixteen and
seventeen hundred feet; the atmos-
phere is pure and invigorating.
Contagious diseases such as fevers
and pulmonary affections are un-
known, and were it not for the fact
that the people are reckless riders
and somewhat given to early mar
riages doctor would make but
sorry living.
In 1898 there were but three
houses in the town, now there are
thirty-fve, with five families living
close by. Then there was one
small store, one backwoods saloon
and one tavern; now there are two
stores that will compare favorably
with any in the county, one owned
and carried on by Leo Friedenrich
and the other by Al. and Ed.
Baker. Both carry a heavy stock
of general merchandise and it may
be truthfully added that both do a
profitable business. There is one
hotel, owned and managed by
Judge Taylor, which is daily
crowded to its utmost capacity, and
another hotel is in process of con-
struction and will be ready for the
entertainment of guests in the
early spring. There are two large
feed and livery stables, two butcher
shops, two saloons fitted up with
all the modern equipments and in
modern style. The Odd Fellows
have just fitted up fine lodge
room and have organized new
lodge with some twenty-five or
thirty members. There are two
blacksmith shops, two restaurants,
one assay Office and one fine school
room. Ed Russ does the tonsorial
work of the village and DIR. Gibson
takes care of its teeth; DIR. Foskett
looks after it's physical welfare and
Lee Foo Chang laundries its linen.
Why this rapid growth? Let us
see. We have already said that
White Bird is one mile from Salmon
river; the road leading from Camas
Prairie forks in the village, one
prong of which goes down the creek
and crosses the Salmon on the
Curtis ferry, continuing thence
west and north; the other goes over
the hill and reaches the river at
the Remington ferry where it also
forks, one prong crossing the ferry
and thence ramifying south and
southwest and the other continu-
ing up the river and on to Weiser,
as the state road. These
ferries are mile and a half apart,
so that the two prongs and the
river as base form a right angle
triangle with White Bird at the
apex. From White Bird to the
County line by the
state road is 65 miles. The state
'oad leaves the Salmon river at the
mouth of the Little Salmon. and
hence proceeds up that river. The
between the state road 1
md the Oregon boundary from
he Washington County line to .
White Bird will average twenty I
niles; the tributary territory on i
he east side of the Salmon and I
tate road will average 15 miles; 1
he same condition exists for twenty
niles down the river, constituting t
territory eighty-five miles in /
ength by thirty-five in width, or G
n1E cr.,,.< .~~.1oc