Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-03-19
A Difference
Of Opinion.

higgins, March l. Editor Free Press:
An editorial in the issue of your paper
of the 25th, headed, unjust discrimi-
nation,'' has caused considerable COM
ment and discussion among the people |
in this somewhat remote neck of the |
woods, and the general concensus of |
opinion among well informed people is
that very important measure for the
commercial benefit is being ignored by |
the active business men of Grangeville, |
possibly by reason of proper informal
ton as to its present and future value
as factor in the immediate develop
ment of great interests and it is also
very evident that the Elk City critic is
influenced by purely selfish motives,
and these as a matter of fact imagi-
nary, or short sighted views as to coun-
ty economy. You state that no
Grangeville influence was used to Sc
cure the aid of the county in the i'm
provement of the trail up Salmon river
to Bear creek and beyond, will surely
If the matter was properly placed for
their consideration, and did not COM
mend itself at once as worthy of their
most active support, the business men
of Grangeviile have materially changed
their usual progressive methods, and
the general impression hereabouts, has
been (until your article came out) that
a substantial aid had been given to as
important though somewhat obscure
thoroughfare, as there is in Idaho
county, now why? This trail starts
from the state wagon road, near the
mouth of Little Salmon, traversing the
north side of the main Salmon which is
crossed by well operated ferries at
higgins, and one just below Golf, and
is the best possible route summer OF
winter to the Marshall lake district and
Buffalo Hump, as well as to the older
camps of Florence, Warrens and the
smaller mining (placer) industries
along the Salmon, and as a winter
avenue of access to these localities is
always passable when others are closed,
as the trail is at present, the aboriginal
iliCbilOu VI SOiliS ONCl OliS iilSu PLACES
instead of around them prevails, and to
make needed changes and get as near
water grade as possible, is the end de-
sired. Again along the trail in various
places stock ranches are established
and more or less agricultural develop
ment follows, this all means increased
population, and more prospecting means
increase in mineral discoveries followed
by corresponding business develop
ment, and more extensive demands for
all farm products, and these interests
are all allied to Grangeville, which be-
ing their business and banking metrop-
oils is partly expected to aid and foster
them, and the proverb, mot to despise
the day Of small things" is applicable
here. improvements will be made at
this end of the trail that will largely
increase its capacity and efforts will be
made to establish a mail route from
this point to the different mining camps
as it can be demonstrated that the
route possesses all the year round ad-
vantages over any other possible. AS
to trade conditions Grangeville has the
call, by reason of long time acquaint-
ance with the different localities, anc
this is augmented by the physical con
ditions of the roads from the south
and lack of anything like railroad com
petition or forwarding facilities.
AS to the objections that may be
raised by other localities for the first
reason, they may be considered only az
tacit admissions of the natural super
iority Of the Salmon river trail.
MEMO.
From Crangeville Free Press.