Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-06-19
SALMON RIVER MAY
BE SURVEYED WITH
VIEW TO REMOVING
ROCKS IN CHANNEL
U. S. Engineering Office at
Portland About to Undertake
Preliminary Work, Is Claim
Burton L. French, Member of
Congress, Interests Govern
ment in Local Navigation

Preliminary survey of Salmon river
by the war department, with a view to
clearing the river of rocks and other
distractions that make navigation on
the central Idaho waterway perilous,
may soon be undertaken.
The U. s. engineering office at Port
land, it is said, is about to make preli-
minary examination of the river, with
the idea of clearing the channel of OBJ
structions.
Burton L. French, member of con-
gress from north Idaho, was responsible
for inclusion in the rivers and harbors
bill in the last congress of an item pro-
viding for the first survey. Repre-
sentative French has advised the en-
cheering office at Portland that with
in the last twenty-five years approx
mately 500 barges, carrying from five
TO ten tons of freight each, were floated
down the river and were salvaged at
the end of the trip. It is the opinion
Of Mr.. French that traffic would be
greatly increased, were the channel of
the river improved.
Big Help to Settlers
Navigation on Salmon river would
prove of tremendous benefit to settlers
residing at interior points, who are OBJ
liged to haul or pack their freight many
miles over rough mountain roads OF mar
row trails from Grangeville, and also
would be of much advantage in the ship
ping of products from the river country
to market. Captain Guleke of Salmon
City during the last several years has
made frequent trips in barge down
the river, hauling freight to settlers,
but the river at the present time is pos
sessed of so many hazards, that naviga-
ton, except in isolated instances, has -
been littlo considered.
Opening of Salmon river to naviga-
lion, and the building of good roads
throughout central idaho, are being
Urged from several sources and it is
considered likely that steps will soon be
aiken toward genuine development in
he way of transportation in the noun
aims of Idaho county
Great Prosperity Ahead
eff the state of Idaho vii open up
central Idaho, both north and south of
he main Salmon river" declared J. B.
vice president of the Idaho
mining association, in addressing the
North Idaho Chamber of Commerce in
MOSCOW, recently, ''with good roads it
will enjoy the greatest prosperity in its
istory."
Central Idaho, on both sides of the
salmon river" continued Mr.. Eldridge.
contains the greatest undeveloped
mineral kingdom on the earth. It is
lso the greatest hunting and fishing
os,k -, H. OIL
liver chasm is the greatest indention of
he earth IS crust Cenral Idaho con
aims the greatest scenic beauties on the
american continent. If good auto
ruck road were provided for this I'M
eveloped mineral kingdom, MILLIONS of
ollars annually would be brought to
be state of Idaho. You would be at
racted to the beauties and natural won
ers of that country. The state of Colo
ado claims that the tourists invest and
pend in Colorado the sum of 100000,
90 year. The state of Idaho with its
,enic wonders, hunting and fishing in
Dmparably greater than that which
olorado can afford, would no doubt at
act to itself many millions of dollars
year, in addition to opening up this
asst mining and timber domain. Such
eNelopment means mucn TO inc FARM
lg elements in Idaho for the reason
lat it means home market for all the
roducts grown in the state of Idaho.
reight rates will be eliminated, except
n such products necessarily sent
broad. Of course, prices for farm pro
acts, as well as all other products will
, down, while gold remains the meas
e of values at $20.67 an ounce, which
i'll cause the pendulum to swing back
It'll every commercial human endeavOr
i'll be measured by that standard. 1t is
/ illusion to say that the prices which