The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-01
iDAHo's NATURAL PARK.

oehOaol Vi iuano county and
the west side Of Custer county. I'll
embraces q tract of country about 75
miles long by 25 miles wide. Our
prospector poet, Clarence Eddy. has
proposed that we name 1t New
Switzerland" but / think the the
Garden OF Eden" would be a more
appropriate name, because Of the
striking resemblance of this park to
the description given in Genesis of
our Bible of the garden of Eden.
The Sawtooth mountains are a
high range of peaks, in places form
ed In clusters. at other places spir-
ing up in q straight line like the
teeth of cross-cut saw. From
near the south end of these noun
tains four rivers have their sources
and flow in opposite directions.
These are the Wood river, the Sal
mon river, the Boise river and the
south work of the Payette rievr. The
peaks are partly covered with per-
petual snow, and for people who de-
light In mountain climbing there is
no more fascinating field on earth
than this. There is a peak for every
day in the year, and then some.
Along the base of these peaks are
numerous beautiful streams of ice
cold water, all filled with mountain
trout. A little lower are numerous
lakes, ranging from few hundred
feet in area to several miles. These
lakes are filled with trout, salmon
trout, bass and red fish. Some oi
the larger of these lakes, the Altu-
ras, Red Fish and others, are beau
tifully arranged for safe boating
and fishing. They are set down in
deep basins and surrounded with
heavy forests where wind storms
cannot penetrate. The shores are
lined with grassy flats and excellent
camping places. Around the Altu-
ras lake are many moraines which
furnish excellent opportunity for
people so inclined to study glacier
acton.
The lower mountains, hills and
slopes to the valleys edge are COW
cred with a dense growth of timber
and the ground is everywhere cover
ed with grass. In this timber, from
the peaks down, range mountain
sheep, goats, bear mountain lion,
elk deer wolves, marten,, mink ,bea-
yer and many other fur bearing an
imals; also the eagle, hawk, grouse.
and pheasant and other birds, and
for the man who finds sport in hunt
ing there is no better country to be
found than this park.
These mountains have been sub
jected to great upheavals, and some
of the creyises formed have been fill
led with deposits of gold silver, lead,
copper, etc. Some of these deposits
have been Extensively worked. not
ably Vienna, Sawtooth Stanley basin
etc. The mineral deposits of these
mountains will some day work thou
sands of miners and support a
large population. This is an inter-
esting country for the prospector
and geologist.
The Sawtooth valley is narrow
strip, comparatively level about so
miles long, skirting the east side OF
the range of peaks. and with little
work could be made beautiful
drive. The nature of the soil is such
that it will not form mud or dust,
and there is little rock. The eleya-
a - T0nn FOR I'm
account of its nearness to snow, the
air is clear and cool in summer. The
main Salmon river flows down the
valley from the north, with Beaver
creek crossing the north end. There
are several localities with boiling
| hot springs. There is an abun-
dance of water and grass everywhere
On plain in front of fascina-
ting cluster of peaks north of VII
emma is one of the prehistoric cities
commonly known as the ruins of the
mound builders, an ancient race that
has become extinct. probably at the
time of the great volcanic eruptions
that extended from Cape Nome to
Cape Horn which may have been the
cause of Noah's food. II is evident
that these people built their houses
of sun dried brick and when it de-
cayed it left mounds where the hou-
SEES previously stood. From some OF
these mounds in southern Utah
have seen skeletons with evidence
of surgical operations that would
tax our modern surgeons to beat.
have been through the museum OF
natural science in New York and
several museums and am confident
that we can produce specimens OF
ANTIQUE interest equal to any they
have.To people who are interested
| in this line we can show an attrac
tive country for investigation.
For people who desire to bathe
their soul in grand scenery, no bet
/ ter place can be found than to stant
on Galena summit in September ant
| to look over the head Of Wood river
then at the Saw Tooth peak and dow
the Saw Tooth valley and view th'
thousands of shapes and colors O
| the frost bitten trees, brush ant
schrubs that stretch. out as far a.
the eve can reach and presents
panorama of beauty that but few
| mortal eyes have ever seen equaied
This is a brief description of ou
mark tnat should be bringing thous
| -, 30 forrists fa Idaho annually