Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1905-06-15
IDAHO COUNTY WEALTH.

IDAHO COUNTY WEALTH.
Great Development of Vast
Fertile Territory.
Since tho following appeared in
the Portland Oregonian the citizens
Of Camas Prairie have accomplished
the object Of their efforts. They
willsnot onlyshave the electric line,
but every effort is being made by
the Northern Pacific to build into
this magnificent country. At the
present time there ia no doubt the
two win reach here at an early
date:
A. f.. Parker, OF Grangeville,
Idaho, who has been in the city
for several days on matters con-
nected with the proposed electric
railroad from Lewiston to Grange
Vile, is mi Of the pioneer residents
of that section and has labored
long and earnestly for its develop
ment. He started the first news
paper in that region in 1886 when
il had . voting population Of only
200, and he is now president Of
the Inland Abstract & Investment
Company, Of Grangeville. "a we'll
as . large property owner in the
town.
Mr.. Parker said: "Idaho County
of which Grangeville is the county
seat and principal commercial
point, is the largest county in the
United States. 1t covers the en-
tire width of the State OF Idaho,
from Oregon to Montana, and il
contains more sqnare miles Of terri.
tory than the combined states Of
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Della.
ware and Connections, with land
enough left over, if it were spread
out fat, to make another state
about as big as Texas. It is drain.
ed by Clearwater and 6almonrivers
the two largest tributaries of Snake
river, and is endowed with a great
er variety of natural resources
than any other area Of similar ex.
tent in the Union.
Grangevilie, the county seat OIL
this great county, has a population
OF $500. 1t IL situated on the fer.
tile Camas Prairie, the largest body
of agricultural land in our state,
which has long been the objective
point of the Nothern Pacific and
10. R. & N. systems, which have
fought long and desperately x
keep each other out and thus mon
opolize its growing traffic. Ii
fact, Clearwater country, of which
Camas Prairie is the principa'
feature, has been the contention
which led to the organizing Of the
Northern Securities Company, anC
upon the dissolution of this mer
ger both companies again engaged
in surveys and we were anticipat
ing a speedy realization of our lon{
deferred hopes for railroad connec
tions with the markets of the world
The sudden withdrawal Of the sur
veyors aroused the people to th,
fact that they must work out thei1
own salvation. The electric road
from Lewiston to Grangeville il
not . new thing arising from dis
appointment and despair. The pro
ject originated three years ago, and
plans a d estimates O cost o
construction, together with Stats
tics of production in the tributar,
country, have been gathered ant
made and presented to eastern
capitalists through voluntary con
tributions Of the people effected
The right-of-wa is also secure,
and { b 9 situation has beef
thoroughly reviewed by agents o
those who expect to undertake il
construction and operation.
These facts may be new to Port
land people, but they are ancien
history in our country and ar
equally well known to the mag
mates Of steam roads. The failur
of the latter to occupy the co1ntr,
upon the dissolution Of the merge
was q grieyons disappointment t
our people and gave m impetu
to the electric prososition which
insurea its speedy construction
We arc not agitating the electri