The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-01-31
THE BLACKWELL EXCURSION
Business Men Of Spokane, ,Rath-
drum, Etc, on Junket
TO NEWPORT AND BACK
Enjoyable Trip Over I. & w. N.
Last Saturday.

About 200 business men and re
preventative citizens of Spokane
Rathdrum, Post Falls, Spirit Lake
Newport and Coeur d. 'Alene wer
treated to a ride over the new Idah,
& Washington Northern railroa,
last Saturday and it will be long re
mcnt cred by them for the enjoyabl
time had and the revelations Opened
to their vision. The management Q
the new railroad had just received
from the Pullman car factory its new
equipment Of rolling stock ant
deemed an excursion fitting way te
celebrate the occasion.
The train left the o. R. & N
depot in Spokane at 9 O clock Sat
urday morning according to sche.
dule, with the officials Of the road
and the Spokane and Coeur d. Alene
contingents of the excursion party.
Reaching Grand Junction the train
left the International road and start
ed ON the |. &. w. N. Here Fl. M.
Strathern, representing Post Falls,
joined the party. Arriving at Rath
drum the train took on the county
commissioners, c. c. Edwards OF
St. Maries, l. M. Busby of Coeur d.
Alene, and c. M. Trigg of Stateline,
and the Rathdrum contingent con-
sisting OF A. w. Post, John Cren-
shaw, T. L. Gibson, Joseph Shaner,
Sheriff {. A. Mcdonald, A. Cook
w. A. Hart, Stewart Young, w. H.
Cleland, Auditor T. L. Quarles DR..
r. Wenz and J. R. M. Culp.
From Rathdrum the train, which
consisted of two day coaches and
one smoker, all Of the latest design,
plush covered seats, electric lights
and steam heat, proceeded to Spirit
Lake, passing Fish lake and enter
ing the rich timber belt, finally reach
ing Spirit Lake at ll:2O, where a
stop was made while the Spirit Lake
delegation came aboard, the train
then proceeding on to Newport.
stopping for but moment at Cole
man on the way down the rich and
fertile Spirit valley where hay farms
were interspersed among the stretch
es of virgin forest.
From the beginning of the trip the
guests of the company we're busy
contemplating the SIS, 900 train on
which they we're riding, and its
splendid appointments; the uninter
rupted smoothness and lack of sharp
curves which characterized the road ;
the continuous panorama of glade
and lakes and woodland with its un-
told wealth which passed before
their vision, all of which attested to
the energy, courage, faith and fore
sight on the part of F. A. Blackwell
and his son, and the Others associat-
ed with them in the accomplishment
of great achievement
Arriving at Newport the happy
excursionists were greeted by the
Newport brass band of eight pieces
which gladdened their ears with stir
ring music. 1t was glorious, sunny,
day and the Newport
commercial club with commendable
hospitality had provided sleighs in
which the visitors were driven about
the town and shown the several
features OF attraction. Forty-hve
minutes were thus consumed before
the return trip began.
Spirit Lake was again reached at
1890 and stop of two hours made
to allow the visitors an opportunity
to look over this wonderful new city,
which, only three months old, had
sprung up in the wilderness and now
has graded streets, water system,
electric lights, brick bank, cement
block, general stores, school, church,
CONTINUED ON PAGE Two.)