Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-10-25
n is a GREAT TENDER BELT
State Engineer Ross, WHO Examined fries'
and Pack Rivers, Talks About Our THU
her Resources.

and Pack Rivers, Talks Abou. Cur Tim
Der Resources.
State Engines ". y. Ross, who
spent about 10 days in this section OF
Kootenai county, examining Priest
and Pack rivers with view to MAX
ing report on the proposed improve
mcnt of these streams by local COM
panies, and who returned to Boise last
Thursday morning, has given out for
publication the following, relative to
his trip:
He stated that his trip was to ascer-
tain the feasibility of Priest and Pack
rivers improvement sufficiently to al
low the floating of logs down to the
mills. He is satisfied that the streams
may be improved, and that the re-
suits of such work will be a great re-
vival in the lumber industry OF north
ern Kootenai county.
Mr.. Ross stated that he looked over
the rivers with the idea OF assisting
the companies to make application
for improvement franchises in accord
with the ruling of the state land
board, and to see il the representa-
tions made by the company were cor
rect. He found things, he states, en-
tirely as represented, and says that
the applications will be properlysmade
when in all probability the franchises
asked will be granted and the work OF
Improvement will at once proceed.
Mr.. Ross, accompanied by members
of the companies asking franchise to
improve the Priest river, went up that
stream as far as the Priest lake. They
rode up in a wagon but the return
was made in a small boat. The cX-
perience was somewhat thrilling, es-
pecially six miles of it, which is all
rapids, and where the whitened ribs
of many Ski1fs atteSted to the failure
Of a number Of previous attempts at
navigation. But they made it with
out mishap.
This was the first inspection of the
river ever made. The lake at the
head is one of the most beautiful nat
urai reservoirs in the state. Mr.. Ross
says that if the same sort of res
crvoir was at the head of the Boise
river in that part of the state where
he resides, it would be worth millions
of dollars to the settlers in that val
ley.
The improvement on the Prizes
river will not be very costly, but viii
be somewhat extensive. There is t.
be a small dam at the foot of the lake
which will regulate the flow of waite
in the river. AT the rapids a numbe
of rocks must be blasted out. Othe
than this little will be necessary 70
the floating of logs, as the stream
exceptionally free from jams, etc.
There is a vast amount of timber il
this country. On the Priest river es
pacially there is a great stumpage O
) cedar. This, Mr. Ross states, is yer
fine and valuable, and becoming NOR
SO every day. One of the best il
formed lumber men of this Sectio
told the state engineer that in hi
opinion the stumpage of cedar woul
within a few years he up to 81 and
per 1000. Already the shingles fror
kootenai county cedar 60 to Nc'
York anll other far eastern markets
while cedar poles penetrate even int
the timber belts OF Michigan. Th
poles conform exactly to the require
. ments of telegraph and telephon
companies, while the shingles cannc
be beaten.
The activity throughout the tim be
belt Of this section, especially alon
: the Priest and Pack rivers. is some
! thing wonderful, and is constantly il
: creaSing. Mr.. Ross found that lumbe
5 men generally are paying great det
: Of attention to this section, as tn
Stumpagc is something enormous. an
, even with thSeXtenSive Industries Il
ready started for it's consumption
e many years will pass before even
c large portion has been cut up int
, lumber.