The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1909-08-06
FLATHEAD INDIAN RES.
ERvAT|ON OPENING
Great Possibilities for Those
Who Secure Claims.
Fiathead Lake Inland Sea Of Spark
ling Beauty FIathead Valley is
Large In Extent and of Great Fer
tiiIty- Many Homes In Store.

Poison. Montana, July 31.-(Special
to The Gazette. Flathead lake, filing
large extent OF Flathead valley in
Flathead county, Montana, is said to be
the largest body OF fresh water in the
United States outside the Great Lakes
and Lake Chanplain. 1t covers $50
square miles, or, in other words, has a
littOral Of over 800 miles. From Som
ers, where one takes boat for Poison, at
the foot OF the lake, it is 35 miles 1t
has several long arms and many beauti-
full bays, besides broad expanse, that
make it an inland sea of great beauty
and OF diversified intereet. Nineteen is
lands, large and small, sit like gems in a
sea OF the deepest green. The largest,
Wild Horse island, is said to contain two
sections OF land subject to entry. The
south side has rather a barren appear
ance, but the north side, viewed from the
deck OF the steamer which skirts close to
the shore, shows a wealth OF soil, timber
and location which will doubtless be
taken advantage OF by lucky hunters
after land. Flathead lake is fed by three
streams OF Importance, known as the
North, Center and South Forks OF the
Flathead river, having a never ending
supply from the mountain ranges that
are sea green in color, something un-
usual even in a mountain lake, and
viewed from an eminence presents a
scene OF the most enchanting loveiness.
1t is picture in nature, framed in ever
green, with background OF hills and
mountains, some rising in pinnacle
shapes wearing a mantle OF perpetual
snow. The lake is a great mirror, re-
fiecting mountain, hill and forest in the
minutest detail
Pend d'Oreiils River.
The outlet of this great body OF water
Is known as the Pend d'Oreile river,
which, with the Jocko and Missoula
rivers, finds it's way into the Pend
d'Oreille lake in Idaho, which in turn
empties into the Columbia river in Brit
ish Columbia, not more than half mile
from the international boundary line.
This stream with it's tributaries ia known
a part OF the way, along the line OF the
Northern Pacific, as Clark's Fork OF the
Columbia. Why it should be called by
that name it is hard to say. as Lewis
and Clark, in their memorable trip across
the continent in 1906, did not see this
stream and knew nothing about it. 1t
d'Oreille, the name given lake and
river by the French trappers who pene-
trated this region in the thirtes should
stick, as it probably will
Government RECLAIM alton.
No one visiting this region should fail
to see the outlet OF Flathead lake. Two
miles from Poison the Pend d'Oreille
river is seen winding through deep
gorge, the waters changed from sea green
to white foam as it tears over and
through rocks on it's rapid descent to
the sea. Viewed from the cliffs above it
is sight that awes the beholder. No
pen can describe it. no picture fully por-
tray the sublime grandeur. Six miles
below Poison the government reclama-
tion service ia at work An immense
dam will be built across this chasm 165
feet in height, and the water pumped in
to two large reservoirs on the plateau
above, sufficient to irrigate several thou
be the chasm il narrow, the cliffs rising