The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-11-07
OLD STORY EVER new
North Dakota School Maam Writes
of Washington County.
DELIGHTED WITH The WEST
Charming Description Of Her Trip From
Weiser to Seven Devils.

Miss Toinette G. Peterson, sister
of M. A. Peterson, P. & l. N. agent
at Council, made visit to this
county last summer from her home
in Fargo, North Dakota, where she
is principal OF one of the schools.
On returning home she published
the following article in some OF the
Fargo papers. 1t is an old story to
US, but ever new and interesting to
the eager ones in almost every state
in the Union who wait anxiously for
the Signal to come to them with its
tidings from this western land of
promise to which their thoughts turn
with the hope that this year or next
they may be able to pull up stakes
and strike out for Idaho:
Near the western boundary of Idaho,
in the Weiser valley, at the confluence of
the Weiser and Snake rivers, western
sagacity, money and enterprise have
built pretty city OF about 2000 lnhabit-
ants, the center for a large and ever in
creasing inland business, and to this
prosperous mart of trade has been given
the name of Weser.
Weiser is the starting point Of the
Pacific and Idaho Northern railroad,
which now extends northeast to Council,
a distance of sixty miles, but whose OBJ
jectlve point is the Seven Devils mining
region, fortyfive miles farther on.
Leaving Weser by this road, commonly
called the Pin" we pass by numberless
ranches made surprisingly fertile by ir-
rigation. Luxuriant fields of alfalfa
(of which three crops are raised every
year, wheat, barley, oats, rye, corn,
vegetables OF all kinds, and of those lus-
cious fruits, which are making Idaho
famous are seen on all sides, while here
and there herds of sleek, fat cattle testify
70 the nutritive qualities of the Idaho
grasses. Occasionally one finds dry,
unirrigated farm, operated with such a
degree Of success as to convince the skep-
tic that irrigation is not absolutely es-
sential to farming in this portion OF the
state. Back in the mountains, at nc
great distance from Weiser, sheep raising
is carried on extensively and profitably.
The banks of the rivers and small
streams are we'll wooded although the
hills, as elsewhere generally in noun
famous districts, are covered with worth
less brush.
About nine miles from Weiser at the
edge of the Weiser canyon has recently
been built an immense smeter, indica
tive of the mineral wealth yet to be ex
traC foA tho ptuip Hhrot, ,ul
this canon for distance of twenty mile,
the railroad follow the Weiser river. In
and near which are hot springs, whose
medicinal qualities are loudly praised, ant
which are destined in no far. distant da,
TO make this region resort for health
seekers. The practical farmers in th
neighborhood OF one of these hot springs
utilize its waters for scalding hogs. Neal
them in winter cattle Craze and fnC
warmth, the steam melting the snow TO
a notable distance around. In summe
it is not uncommon to see women at tn
springs with their wash machines doinj
their weekly washing.
n The walls OF the canyon are covered wit
lava and sage-brush. but the rugged out
e lines and the many turns of the roa
n make IL so picturesque as to challenge a
once the admiration of the artist. Abou
y twenty-five miles from Weiser is tn
+ Diamond Springs, whence comes the SUI
ply of pure water, which is such boon /
the people of Weiser and OF the surround
ng country.
At the end of the canyon opens up tn
v broad and highly cultivated Middle Va
ley, four miles in length. Here peai
ing change takes place in the scenery
q In place of sage brush, the foot hills al
dotted with beautiful dark pines, an
behind the hills one sees here and thel
: mountain peaks with patches OF snow.
4 At the end of Middle Valley begir
Salubrla canyon, beyond which, 40 mil,
:. from Weiser. is Salubria Valley, in whic
a is situated Cam bridge, the trade cent
of large and excellent farming regiol
g The town was named by President Ha
o OF the z. g. l. N. after his old home
Massachusetts. From this point Il
10 road gradually ascends. the mountai
:. scenery constantly growing more pictu
esque and the temperature OF the h,
g summer day gradually changing to
II delicious GOODNESS.
Sixty miles from Weiser is Council, IL
10 terminus Of the Pacific and Idaho Nortl
ern, and a town of surprising busine
activity. Here are freighters with the
lie loads of freight to and from the Devi
n and the Meadows, The large ore-teams
six and eight horses bringing ore fro
le the mines to the p. e. N. docks, ar
n even the pack-horses loaded TO the
utmost.
is Horseback is favorte mode of trav
Of in this region. Soon, however, much
this will be done away with, as the CO
struction Of the P. & |. N. to Landore