The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-05-26
NORTHERN IDAHO ASYLUM.
L and Surroundings Described by
DIR, J. w. 0ivens.

irhe commissioners appo inted to select
location for the Northern Idaho In
n ne Asylum consisting of Governor
3ooding, Robert Aikman, State Engi
her James Stephenson of Boise, Robert
|avs of Pocatello and DR.. Givens OF
3lackfoot, after travelling pretty much
BsS ss%Y over Northern Idaho have decided
non site near Orc Fino in Nez Perce
county. .,
l5 Dr. Givens returned home Thursday
norning and stated that Orc Fino is in
q hat part of Nez Perce County lately
INT off from the Sout hern part of Sho-
bhone County.
# Historic interest alta ches to that sec
Lion as down the Clearwater River few
miles from Oro Fino is Lapwai, the
#place the earliest missionaries, Spauld-
inc. Ellis and Walker selected in 1853 as
j site for mission for the Indians of
The Northwest coast of North America.
Here the first white children of the Pa
~ 2cific coast were born and here the first
II #newspaper of the Pacific coast was pub
$lished on a press brought from New
k England by way of the Sandwich Is
lands.
n Orc Fino is forty-three miles east of
4 Lewiston on the Clearwater River and
is on a branch of the Northern Pacific
Raiload. The location is central for
North Idaho and patients from any
| county seat in that portion of the state
can be taken to the asylum in a few
hours travel. 1t will not be necessary
to keep patients up over night from any
point in reaching the asylum. Friends
and relatives can visit patients with a
minimum of time and expense. The
climate of Orc Fino is perhaps not sur
passed in healthfulnuess by any other
part of the state. 1t is not excessively
hot in the summer and is as warm as
any other part of the state in the win
ter.
There are no wind and dust storms.
The annual rainfall is about fifteen
inches. The elevation is one thousand
feet above sea level. There is an abun-
dance of pure soft water flowing from
springs on the side hill near the build
ing site. The water can be- piped to the
building by gravity in quantity sufficient
to not only supply all domestic needs
but will also give ample fire protection.
Water for irrigation IS abundant and
free from Orc Fino Greek near by.
Drainage to the south, east and west
is easy.
The site selected will give plenty of
land for buildings, yards, gardens, or
chards, farm, pasture and wood lands.
The soil is fertile and the climate such
that apples, pears, cherries, prunes,
plums, peaches, grapes, melons, peanuts,
strawberries, blackberries, dewberries,
currants, gooseberries, potatoes, beans,
tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, corn and
all garden vegetables, wheat, oats, bar
ley, alfalfa, hay and meadow grasses all
grow and ripen to perfection.
Grapes grown at that point are said to
be as fine as the best European and
California grapes. Melons are said to
have the crisp sugary character of the
Louisiana melons. Wood for fuel is
abundant and can be had for the cost
of cutting.
Water power to operate an electric
plant for light and power can be had
almost free from water power plant
already in operation on Orc Fino creek
two miles from the buildings.
Ice for domestic uses can be put up
during the winter from the head waters
of Orc Fino creek only few miles
away. Current supplies can be bought
from the wholesale and jobbing houses
of Lewiston at the minimum competing
prices. Lumber for building purposes
Cdu Uo udu lIOu tWO ooW oAu pAohiI6
mills near by. Dimension lumber costs
seven to eight dollars per thousand;
flooring and finishing lumber costs from
fourteen to eighteen dollars per thous-
and. The best of lime can be had from
one of the largest kilns in the west
mile from the asylum building site at
one dollar and twenty cents per barrel
of two hundred pounds. Good rock for
foundation can be had from the hills |
three quarters of mile from the build
ing site. There is brick yard on the
site where the best of brick is made at |
the minimum cost as fuel is free for the
cutting and good sand is abundant three
quarters of a mile away.
The site selected is in little cove
about one and one half miles square on
the northern side OF the Clearwater
River in natural park of pine, fir and
tamarack. The ground slopes back
from the river for about mile and
half and then rises abruptly to height
of two thousand five hundred feet above