Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1902-01-09
Grangeville to Warren by state wagon

Deep creek To snow SIDE .-...s. Ia
snow slide to Thunder Mountain, --...l 10
Total number of miles from, Grangevilie
To Thunder Mountain .....t-.., l57
These distances may be relied
on as being the maximum. The
trail by way of Snowslide was
built by Caswell Bros, the dis
coverers of the camp, in order to
reach Warren. There is a better
trail which can be travelled several
weeks earlier and has the additional
merit of being from five to eight
miles shorter. At any rate, War
ren is the first objective point, be-
cause it is the nearest wagon road
connection with Thunder Noun
tain, and the situation is now so
thoroughly familiar to mining
men who have visited the big camp
that the great bulk of the travel in
the coming spring will come by
way of the Northern Pacific to
Sites, and thence to Grangeville
over the state wagon road to
Warren.
On this route the highest point
is Cape Horn, this side Of Florence,
1000 to 1900 feet lower in altitude
than Big Badly, on the Elk City
road, and considerably less than
the route from Salmon Meadows
and Council, where the summit of
Secesh creek has to be overcome.
In fact, the state wagon road from
Grangeville to Warren is the
easiest, best and, at present, the
most direct route of reaching Thun-
der mountain. 1t is possible that
other routes may be found and
opened later, bat Warren is today
the nearest wagon road and supply
point for the new mines, and has
a trail into the new camp from
that point over lower attitudes
than any other route at this time,
Moreover, from Grapgeville
there is a, choice of routes, either
by way of Salmon river, Elk City
Buffalo Hump or Dixie, all o
which are being investigated by
Northern Pacific people and thu
Grangeville board Of trade. From
these facts it is quite clear tina
Grangeville is the key to the situa
ton, and the railroad people real
ize it. 1t is the nearest and larg
est trading point to the new mines
and has the additional advantag,
that if visitors to Thunder Noun
tain are dissatisfied with the pri
ces they have to pay for prospect
in the new camp, they can ge
what they want in any of tn
other big camps in this jurisdic
tion, such as Buffalo Hump, Ell
City, Dixie, Salmon river and othe
adjacent mining districts.
AS matter OF fact, Thunde
Mountain is comparatively NOR
easy of access than Buffalo Hum
was 10 the big boom of 1889. A
that time Lewiston was the neal
est railroad point, involving a lon
and tiresome stage journey of 7
miles from the railroad to Grange
vile. Under present condition
the Clearwater Short Line reacht
the foothills of the mountains onl
Is miles north of Grangeville, wit
a daily stage line affording swi
transportation to this town. Fro
. Grangeville wagon roads equippe
/ with good stage lines radiate
{ every direction towards the ne
gold fields, and it will be four
f that Grangeville is the point t
) wards (which the main travel wi
gravitate as naturally as the need
points to the pole. Travel will q
|, ways follow the lines of least r
: sistence, which in this instanc
means lowest attitudes and qui
dispatch, with facilities for QUIT
! ting and obtaining supplies t
!, man and horse which no 9th
community can approach in CO..
pleteness and cheapness.
r Hitherto, much of the Thund
Q Mountain travel has gone in frc
}. the south, but the terrors of
u Seeesh creek summit have alrea
4. diverted much of it to Gyangeyil
49, W1ao<zNno Axu0WpyB - y olse