Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1902-01-23
Jonas Lawrence Arrives From Thunder
Mountain in Eight Days Travel.
TRAIL TO THE CAMP is WIDE OPEN
Only SnoW-Shoeing is on Fall
Creek, South Of Sal
mon River.


from the Black Hills, where he
worked in the Homestake mill for
II years. Together with his part
ner, Jonas Fuller, he has spent
the last three years in Thunder
Mountain, and knows that country
as children know their A. b. G.
His observations and experience
make him an acknowledged author
ity on matters pertaining to that
camp and section, and he gave the
FREE Press his actual time while
on his trip out, which append
herewith for the benefit of all
whom it may concern.
Mr.. Lawrence left Thunder
Mountain on January ~, and made
the 13 miles from the camp to
Monumental copper camp in three
hours, Is minutes.
The eighteen miles from Monu-
mental copper camp to Big creek
copper camp was made in four
hours, % minutes.
Big creek camp to Elk creek sum-
nit, IS miles, time six hours.
Elk creek summit to Sheafer's,
on south fork Salmon, II miles,
time three hours, 40 minutes.
Sheafer's to Warrens, IL miles,
time three hours and 80 minutes.
Warrens to Hot Springs, 18
miles, time four hours, 35 minutes.
Hot Springs to State bridge, Is
miles, time six hours, 20 minutes.
State bridge to Florence, II
miles, time four hours.
Florence to Adams camp. lS
miles, time four hours, 20 minutes.
Adams to Grangeville, (by team)
81 miles, time four hours.
The only snow-shoeing done on
the entire trip was between the
Hot springs and State bridge to the
old snow-shoe cabin. Mr.. Law
renee has been over the trail be-
tween Grangeville and Thunder
Mountain several times since his
residence there, and says it is gem
orally known that the best, the
shortest, easiest and most open
trail is by the northern route. He
has made it on foot, on horseback,
with pack horse and pack train,
and says that no other route COM
pares with this. On one occasion
he made the trip from Grangeville
to Thunder Noun tain by this route
in five days, going on horseback
and packing his blankets. On two
other occasions he has made the
trip over this route with pack train
in eight days.
Mr.. Lawrence figures the total
distance over the Grangeville route
as 10 miles, which can be reduced
in the summer season by at least
20 miles. To show the conditi ont
existing on the Bear valley route
he says that the Dewey company
are offering any price to get in thu
supplies which were hauled as fal
as that point last fall, but can gel
no one to undertake the job at any
figure. That trail is totally
blockaded by snow, and it is TIN
most open winter, with less snow
than has ever been known in tht
history of the camp.
The trail from Warrens is wild
open, and the mail carrier, Curle
Brewer, is packing mail in from
Warrens twice month, and ha
/ stations established at the mout
of Elk creek, Elk creek summit
Monumental and Big creeks, an
travellers can get there plent
of accommodations for man an
beast. George Brewer is also o
the trail packing in supplies for 8
cents per pound.
There we're one and one-ha
feet of snow in Thunder Mountai
, when Mr.. Lawrence left, and fol
feet ON Elk summit, and the on
obstacle on the entire trip betwet
Grangeville and Thunder Moul
tain was some dead trees on Ia
!. creek.
Concerning the conditions in I
y new camp Mr.. Lawrence said tn
Y the wonderful wealth of that cou
try had never been over-rated. |
/, speaks from actual experience. ha
: ing spent three years there al
knows whereof he speaks.
!, says that the whole of that minel
zone is certainly an upheaval, e
IDENTIFY of volcanic origin, for
radius of ten square miles. Th
- within this zone it is possible
find gold in every pan of dirt; ii
sr the gold is quite sharp, showi
n that it has not been brought do'
by glacial action. The Casw
h property recently purchased
n Col. Dewey, has been crosscut
I. q distance Of $50 feet both ",
without finding anything in