Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-03-09
REPORT ON
KOOSKIA ROAD
McNutt and Porter go Over
Proposed Route.

IIOpOS6Q ICOuU
Engineer McNutt and District Ranger
G. !. Porter of the forest service, re-
turned last Saturday from a snowshoe
trip over the route of the proposed new
road from Kooskia to Elk City.
They report very successful trip,
but not a very pleasant one, as can
easily be imagined when it is remem-
bered that they camped out in the
snow four nights with but single
blanket each and the thermometer
ranging from lotto 26 below zero, how
ever, they returned safe and sound,
little the worse for the trip which
argues we'll for the healthy condition
of the people of the Elk City country.
They went from Elk City to Dick
Sime's home camp the first day, and
spent the next day in arranging snow
shoes and packs so as to insure no ac-
cidents during the trip, Starting out
next day accompanied by Mr.. Sine
who is thoroughly familiar with a great
portion of the country over which they
were to travel, they reached the trap
pers cabin at the head of Big Elk
creek and camped for the night. This
cabin is situated on the divide between
Big Elk, Newsomc and O'Hara creeks
and as they discovered afterwards is
the highest point on the proposed route.
lhe distance from Elk City to this
point they estimated at 10 IL miles.
Leaving this point, the route extends
northwest along the divide between
Newsome and O'Hara creeks with 8
constantly receeding elevation to q
point at the head of the main fork OF
Newsome where the Syringa trail gains
the divide. The elevation at this point
proved to be only 5000 feet which is
1900 feet lower than Baldy, which is or
the present stage-road, about five miles
to the southwest.
From the camp at this point Mr.
Slime returned home. The party ther
proceeded to look out a route which
; would carry them on as nearly leve
grade as possible around the head 0.
Clear creek to the north and west t.
the head of Tahoe ridge.
The route was found to be very
practicle for wagon road construction
on what can be made practically leve
grade to a point 12 miles east O.
Hughitt's ranch, where it will requir,
! about mile of 8 per cent grade tt
join the present wagon road at the hea'
of the ridge.
Across Tahoe ridge due west to Johl
Duffields at the head of Leitch gulch
there is at present very good roa
= which is practically level and with som
} repairing could be made good freigh
road. From Mr. Dufields the part
proceeded down Leitch gulch over tn
route they were told it was proposed
build on to per cent grade tn
connecting link between the Taho
!, road and the Clear creek toll road. !
! road constructed over the route follow
= ed by the party would have only 18C
5 to 1000 feet to cline in the first
4 miles out of Elk City and be on lev'
or gradual down grade the rest of tn
q way to Kooskia, distance estimate
by them to be about 43 miles, Is {
which is already constructed, leavin
Il only 28 miles to build.
s On arriving at Kooskia the part
e was met by representatives of til
Kooskia Commercial Club and MajC
Fem of the forest service and given
U royal good time at smoker held at til
e Hotel Kooskia, at which were preser
e aside from the citizens of Kooskia,
: great number from Tahoe ridge, Cleai
water and Sites.
: Upon hearing the report as to tt
"a feasibility of the proposition, the sent
ment was strongly in favor of gettin
v busy and arranging for the constru
tion of the road at once.
+, Messrs McNutt and Porter are war
a in their praise of the hospitality of IL
people of Kooskia and Tahoe ridge ar
to Major Fem all of whom did all
. their power to make the trip successf
It and pleasant.