Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-05-12
ON SALMON RIVER
Memo Writes Of Present Con-
ditions and Future
Prospects.

vades and seems to act in perfect
harmony with the silent but irri-
sistable forces of nature that at
this time and season prompt all
things, animate, to struggle for the
attainment of some high but,
strange destiny, realized but not
comprehended. The mountain
sides below the snow, are meeting
all obligations fully, and giving
the increasing flock an abundance
of rich pasture, and are dotted
with gray wooled mothers, and
snowy lambs showing their full
satisfaction by quietly resting in
the spring sunshine, equally con-
tented groups Of horses and cattle
add variety to the pastoral picture
and truly this is q lovely land, it's
rugged features softened by many
pleasing contrasts. But the trail
of the serpent is over it all, and
the restless spirit Of humanity
dominates on every side the spirit
of invasion, and investigation is
dominant, strange men and strange
outfits come and 60, silent as
sphinxes they vanish up canyons or
over mountain trails lured by
dreams Of gold, and some doomed
to disappointment, Others to be re-
warded by full realization of all
their hopes. But the country is
big enough for them all and the
coming years will see the same
tide Of humanity patiently and
persistently seeking to penetrate
the secrets of these mysterious
mountains and possess themselves
of the hidden wealth locked in na-
lures treasure vaults until the
needs of mankind calls for this dis
cl osure. And these treasures are
by no means confined to the nobler
metals great as they prove, but in
this wonderful and almost inaccess.
able labratory in which nature hat
worked for incomprehensible per.
iods, repose many undiscovered,
may be unknown, that modern pro-
gress will demand and bring te
hand in due process Of time for thu
advancement of the world, ant
what a wonderful old shop it mus
have, been volcanoes were the cru
cibles, and the baths that percipi
tated results came in sweeping ict
crowned waves from lands not
trodden by human feet, and t.
compare the present pigmy efforts
with such cyclopean ages is lik'
assigning to a tiny insect the tasl
of removing the solid structure o
q mountain, grain by grain, but a
we are here now it is necessar.
and more practical to note wha
present effort is accomplishing
Up in the Rapid river district an
the adjacent tributary countr
much is being done and mucl
work planned as soon a
conditions permit. The chief OF
struction, and easiest remidied
is transportation, and this is th
barrier which enterprises OF a
kinds are up against at every turr
work is delayed year after year an
development of the country retard
ed in the most unwarranted mar
ner and against the interests of a
classes of business. 1t is q shift
less condition of affairs that ha
been inflicted on this country frol
the beginning and continues to &c
no better very fast. The suffering
no more acute than in former yeal
but there are more to suffer, an
many good honest enterprises ths
would have been suggestions fo
others have failed and gone to th
dogs for just this and no oths
reason. And it is probably an axioI
that what has been will be, an
promoters, laborers, merchant
farmers and all classes becon
needless sufferers by losses entaile
and the country get an undeserve
blackeye. Grangeville and Il
country of which it is the metrop'
I lis needs unobstructed commun
cation with this country and it
beyond comprehension why mo
active and practical interest is IL
manifested, the people are enterpri
ing enough, but do not appear
realize the oppoi tunity, and .wh
| is every5odies affair soon ceas
to be any ones. What has be-
| said regarding this is appliable
the trails up the main Salmo
| The Weyant mining company h
/ a force Of 10 or 20 men at wo
/ aud only waiting arrival OF m
| chinery to put more men on.
| first class saw mill plant has be
| purchased and will be placed
= soon as the vexed questi
~ of how best to get there can
settled. The wheel will furni
power for air drills and also
|iight and other electric purpos
and the property is now develop
sufficiently to demonstrate that
warrants the use of the best poi
BILE mining appliances.
The Iron Springa Mining Go
pany has q force Of thirty-ive n
at work and have machinery
Aos~~ hnld hack