Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-02-21
MORE EVIDENCE
FOR w. w. P. co.
OLD COEUR D'ALENE MINES
PACK TRAIN OWNER TES-
TITLES.
Tells What Conditions He Found in
Early Days.

Early Days.
w. H. Gatwood, formerly butch
er of Tekoa, Wash, now travelling
for meat house at Pullman, was
called in behalf of the Washington
Water Power company to testify to
the character of the land along the
st. Joe river. In 1889, witness tes-
titled to turning 20 head of stock
cattle on St. Joe river bottom to run
all summer. When the cattle were
rounded up in the fall, the latter
part of September, they were not in
as good condition as when they were
turned out. They were turned loose
to Craze where they pleased. Did
not Craze the cattle in the Benwa
lake region because could not reach
that region on account of high wat
Ell. During the summer the cattle
grazed on the hillsides of the ada
cent mountains as we'll as on the riv-
er bottoms. Witness visited the st.
Joe valley at different times to buy
cattle, as We as 20 look after his
own stock. Could not ride over the
land near the O. X. & N. trestle be-
cause of water.
Charles Smith, a stock raiser
living near Lane, Idaho, on the
Occur d'Alene river, testified to
being acquainted with the lands
in controversy along the north side
of the river. Had packed supplies
into the Occur d'Alene mines in 1884
from Pullman. Had between 80 and
40 mules. These mules strayed from
my camp on the Occur d'Alene river
over the divide into the st. Joe
valley, led by the Indian cayuses,
with which they had become inter
mingled. Witness had followed the
mules over the mountains along the
Black lake trail that strikes the St.
Joe valley at the fish traps Found
the bottom land crossed by the trail
a little mucky Followed the
river bank as far as Chatcolet. As
the water went down late in the sum-
mer, the stock would feed out on
the meadows from the highlands. In
August, 1884, crossed section 30
afoot and found it IA little wet. Made
several trips down to the Tekoa coun-
try, swimming horse across the st.
Joe river at Chatcolet on the Mis-
sion trail. In 1886 sold mules, went
into livery business at Pennington,
Wash, and often took parties up to
Chatcolet hunting and fishing. Had
fished over section 80 in boat
during the month of July. The lands
on south side of river in section s
were wet. Several kinds of hay
were grown, including red top, blue
joint, slough grass, cat tails and
flags.
In June, 1889, crossed from Occur
d'Alene river yaIley to the st. Joe
river, striking the bottoms at 'Hell's
Gulch' Was in search of horses.
Could not cross to the river bank
on account of the intervening lands
being too wet Tried to wade, found
water too deep and was compelled
to come down the river to the Black
lake trail and then come back up to
st. Maries. There was water on
the meadows, in places on the mea-
dow north of Long stretch" The
low grounds in the Goose Heaven
sections were Doggy. While looking
for cattle during the years inter-
vening between 1892 and 1907 had
found the lands from the trestle and
the bend in the river in section 2
dry at times and at other times too
soft to ride over with horse. Testi-
fed to seeing Harris & toilette cut
hay on section 32-5-4-3 from the
trestle to the Black lake trail in
1889. Thought hay was cut over
same land in 1906. Cross examina-
ton witness testified that his stock