The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1901-10-26
THE GREAT TIMBER BELT
TWO RIVERS TO BE IMPROVED
Investigated Priest and Pack Rivers and
says They wan be Made 90 Logs May
DO RioAtsd 70 Mills Cedar Bseoming
Very yaiaabIs.

State Engineer w. D. Ross returned
on Saturday from q trip to KoOtenai
county. where be investigated the
Priest and Pack rivers. His trip WAS
to ascertain the feasibility Of their inn
proyement sufficiently to allow the
floating OF logs down 70 the mills. He
Is satisfied that the streams may be
improved. and that the results OF such
work win be great revival in the lum-
Der industry Of K00tenal county.
Mr.. Ross stated that he looked over
the rivers with the idea OF assisting
the companies tomake application for
improvement franchises in accord with
the ruling Of the state land board, and
TO see II the representations made By
companies were correct. He found
things. he states. entirely as represent
ed. and says the that applications will
be properly made, when in all proba-
billity the franchises asked viii be
granted and the work OF impr0yment
will at once proceed.
Mr.. Ross accompanied by members
of tie companies asking franchises TO
improve Priest river, went up that
stream as far rs PRIEST lake. They
rode up In q wagon, but the return was
made In q small boat. The experiences
was somewhat thrilling, especially sir
miles Of II, which Is all rapids, and
where the whitened ribs Of many skifft
attested the failure Of number Of
preysous attempts at navigation. But
they made 1t without mishap.
This was the first inspection OF ths
river ever made. The lake at the head
Is one Of the most beautiful natura
reservoirs in the state. Mr.. Ross say
that II the same sort OF reservoir wal
at the head OF the Boise river IT would
be worth millions Of dollars 10 the set
tiers IN the valley.
The improvement on the Priest rive
J. will not be very costly. but will b
somewhat extensive. There is to be
small dam at the foot Of the lax,
which viii regulate the flow Of waite
In the river. At the rapids a humble
OF rocks must be blasted out. 0the
than this little will be necessary for tn
floating OF logs. as the stream Is ex
ceptionally free from jams. etc.
There Is a vast amount Of timber Il
that country. On the Priest rive
especially there Is great stump lgs oil
cedar. This. Mr.. Ross states, is yer
line and valuable, and becoming NOR
so every day. One Of the best informe
lumber men OF that section told th
state engineer that in his opinion ID
stumprge on cedar would within fe'
years be up 10 "a aud s. per 1000. A
ready the shingles made from kOotens
county cedar go 10 New York an
other far eastern markets. while ceda
poles penetrate even into the umbs
belts OF Michigan. The poles comfort
exactly 10 the requirements of tele
graph and telephone companies
while the shingles cannot be beaten.
The activity throughout the umbC
: belt Of that section. especially alon
the PRIEST and Pack rivers. is sons
thing wonderful. and is constantly in
creasing. Mr.. Ross found that lumbel
men generally are paying great de-
Of attention 10 that section, rs II
stumpage is something enormous. an
even with the extensive industries a
ready started for its consumption
. many years viii pass before even
, large portion has been cut up into luu
, ber.-Idallo Statesman.