The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-08-15


the territory. When the bin for the
creation OF the territory passed the
house OF representatives the name
was Montana, but at the sugges-
tion Of Senator Wilson, OF Massachn-
setts. 1T was changed to''ldaho.. 1t
is interesting to note In this connec-
tion that the first measure for the
creation Of the territory OF Colorado
provided that 1t be named Idaho, y
as Idaho Springs was leading settle
ment Of the country. Some other
reason prevailed, however, and 1t
was named for river which belongs
to other states.
Idaho is the I-dah-o Of the Indians,
meaning the jeweled mountain tops
from which the sunrise came to illu-
mine the earth, and no other noun
tains In the world can claim better
right to this poetical designation
than the snow-clad peaks that mark
the eastern border Of the state Of
Idaho.
While the settlement of Idaho did
not begin until the sixties, efforts
had been made long before. The first
white settlement in the state was
made by Nathaniel j. Wyeth, at Fort
Hall In 1884. Two years later the
Presbyterian missionaries, DIR. Mar
Gus Whitman and n. II. Spaulding,
came to convert the Indians. Sesu.
its from Canada had before attempt
ed to found missions, but they were
not permanent. Morm0ns from Utah
made an unsuccessful attempt to
found town in the southern portion
of the state. The Tigors Of the win
teIs, the distance from base of sup
plies and the hostility of some of the
Indians made 1t difficult for any OF
these early settlements to prosper.
When gold was found 1t was differ
emit story.
The last goio excitement In Idaho
was the rush to Thunder Mountain,
which occurred few years ago,
when the country was. electrified by
the story of a mountain of gold being
uncovered in the wilds. In the heart
OF an almost inaccessible region
where the earth Is fearfully ripped
and slashed by those awful upheav wal.
which made mountains and the dizz!
canyons between then, the Caswel
twins, rowing hunters and gold-seek
ers, stumbled across place wher'
there was leak from the bidder
treasure chest OF nature. The Gas
wells we're easy-going chaps, NOR
fond Of chasing grizzlies than pan
ming creeks, so when their find net
ted them $245 worth Of preciou
metal, they said nothing about ii
but went back to their hunting an
fishing until the fresbets of anothe
spring should provide water wit
which to make easy work OF washin
out more gold. For several years tn
twins kept their secret. One seaso
they took out 800 another 5000, an
finally washed out $1,000 worth {
treasure In a few weeks time. The
took $3.50 from one pan In twent
minutes.
III OF course all this could not so c
without eventually creating sti
and the usual rush to the scene
such discoveries set In. Thundt
Mountain Is one Of the most QUITO
the-way localities 10 the Unite
! States. 1t was $50 miles from raj
! road by the nearest route, which Il
over mountains almost as steep ;
housetops. Despite this fact, Il
rt-breaking trail to the new Go
conda became congested with aol,
hungry men. To scale those forbi'
ding peaks was fearful strain
the muscles of man and beast, bI
they went over. AT the foot OF
great rift In the mountains hui
snowdrift was replaced by the whit
topped cabins OF the town Of Roos
yelt. Five Idaho towns all about &
same distance from the new cam
entered into spirited rivalry to secu
the rich profit derived from outfitti
those who were starting on the a
venturous journey to the foot OF Z
rainbow. New recruits came
numbers, and the new camp "
soon struggling along for three mi
10 its walled canyon. Then the re;
ton set in. The boom collapse
with its back broken from its o.
weight. Those who had rushed
frantically in took the back trail II
gallop. The tri-weekly mail broue
many letters which had to be carr
back on the return trip, the CHI
hunks had the undisturbed run
many empty cabins, and the enron
lers had to tell the disappointi
story OF the bursting OF another b
BILE.
Idaho politics has been OF the r
hot variety from the beginning
the territorial government. At
very beginning there was a 81
fight over the capital, the leeislat
having voted to remove IT from Ia
iston to Boise. An injunction
A.