Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-03-12
CANVAS PRAIRIE,

quantity, immense bodies Of min
eral-bearing quartz and thousands
of acres of placer ground, making
this an ideal place for the pros
pecter, homeseeker and investor.
In fact, all classes of people can
locate in Idaho county and better
their condition.
Mining and agricultural pursuits
go hand in hand, the farmer pro-
ducing the necessaries of life which
the miner must have, thereby
creating a home market among a
class of people who want the best
and have the money to pay for it..
The agricultural lands of Idaho
county comprise about one thou
sand square miles, the largest
body of which is Camas Prairie,
situated on the south side of the
Clearwater river. The prairie is
generally undulating, sloping gen.
orally to the north, giving good
natural drainage. The soil is a
heavy black loan, which is unsur.
passed for productiveness. Wheat,
barley, oats, flax and timothy are
the principal soil products, wheat
yielding as high as 60 bushels pei
acre, barley aud oats as high as
100 bushels per acre, flax as high
as 20 bushels per acre, and timo-
thy, when once started, never runs
out. Blue grass and clovers are
taking the place of timothy, and
in the near future will be fully sci
all over the prairie.
Fruits, such as apples, plums,
pears, prunes, cherries, and all
small fruits, do well on Camas
Prairie. In the lower attitudes
of the valleys all kinds of fruits are
grown to perfection.
Timber for fuel and lumber is
found all around the Camas Prairie
country, so that farmers have a
good supply of wood for domestic
purposes and fuel without having
to haul long distances and without
having to pay lCr it.
Until two years ago Idaho
county was without railroad trans
Dor, ltion. Now the Clearwater
short line branch of the Northern
Pacific has line running along
the Clearwater river to Sites, Is
miles from Grangeville, which will
no doubt be extended to Grange
vile and the Camas Prairie.
Owing to the lack of rapid transit
facilities the grain raised here is
mostly fed to hogs and stock, and
thousands of head are annually
shipped to the Pacific coast and
other points.
Lands can yet be purchased on
Camas Prairie at from s12 to $50
per acre, the prices varying ac.
cording to improvements and near.
ness to town. With the expected
extension of railroad construction
in the near future by the Northern
Pacific and Union Pacific compan
les, both Of whom have their right
of way located and purchased
these lands will soon become very
valuable. Good butter sells the
year around at 25 cents per pound
eggs zoe to 40c per dozen, poultr,
and all kinds of vegetables ant
fruits find ready cash market
Grangeville is the county seal
and the principal place of business
in the county, with a population o
about $500. 1t has a splendio
gravity water system and electric
lights. Eight churches are repre-.
sented, together with all the secre
societies and magnificent publ,
school system, SO that stranger.
coming here can readily find as
sociations to make them feel al
home. Other towns are Cotton
wood, Denver, aud Mt. Idaho
kamiah, Kooskia. and Sites ar,
railroad towns. Harpster, White
Bird, Elk City, Dixie, Calender
Hump, Concord, Florence ane
Warren are towns in the count,
where a large business is transacted
The extremes of heat and cole
are never known here. In winter
it rarely falls below zero, Will,
snow seldom lays on the grounC
more than two or three days. The
warm chinook winds from the Pa
cific ocean tempers the winter,
cold, thus making it possible fol
stock to live all winter on the
native bunch grass, which cure,
on the stalk and is highly nutri.
tious. In summer the climate i.
truly delightful, with pleasant days
and cool nights. The natural
rainfall is sufficient to mature crop.
without irrigation.
The local market for small fruits
and vegetables of the valleys i
good. Strawberries have averaged
l2fc for pound Loxes, and growers
say they can be profitably grown
at NJ npr hoy