The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-07-15

known Ruby ranch, which is sone-
hing of principality in size, As the
large gro0pe Of buildings thereon .
would indicate. the travellers got
far-of glimpse of an aerial structure
that spans the valley where it is per- |
haps half ! mile across. That styuc-
lure proved to be another piece Of
constructive engineering undertaken
by young Hal Brown and was shown
to be great flume spanning the val
ley to convey water to q great bar of
rich land lying south. At this point
the Lemhi travellers found the Indian
battle ground only stones throw out
of their way, SO it was arranged that
before proceeding north ON the
smooth new highway, which was
tapped at this point, there should be
a stop Of few minutes. A veteran
of the battle, a man named T. G. Sher-
rill, is the earetaker here. The ac-
tual engagement after the surprise
attack upon the tepee tents Of the
sleeping warriors of Chief Joseph took
place in o little grove where to this
day the bullet holes scar the trees.
How it is that so many little stunted
trees have been left after the relic
hunters got in their work Of cutting
out the imbedded bullets is something
of a mystery, but there they stand
after forty-four years of this destruc-
tive work which was stopped some
years ago, however, for there seems
to be no fresh marks on the trees.
Warriors Shot High.
The marks are found high up the
trunks and in the branches or laps.
Wild shooting on the memorable
morning Of August Z, nearly forty
four years ago, would seem to be pref
ty conclusively shown by Indians or
General Gibbons infantry. The mon
ument erected in the grove tells of the
death of 148 enlisted men and II Of
fiecrs in the battle. How many In
dians fell was never accurately stated;
probably as many red skins as
whites but not many more, for the
Indians in that battle were great
warriors and were commanded by a
great and resourceful chief in Joseph.
The chief after finally being captured
by Gen. Miles found favor with the
federal government, was granted a
lot of land in Oregon where he made
a fortune and became cattle king
and when he died there was a monu-
ment erected to his memory possibly
greater than the military monument
on the Big Hole battle ground.
Model Dirt Road.
! The Park-to-Park highway is a
dirt road stretching north-and- south
through Montana. 1t is only about
Is feet wide on top, but that width
seems to be room enough in most
places for vehicles to pass even with
out the use of turn-outs. Certainly
its cost must have been a good deal
less than the ambitionus state high
way along the Salmon river. The
Park k-to-Park highway is the model
for the North fork unit of road as
proposed. The engineers have laid out
an easy grade down from the divide
and the cost if measured by the ex-
pense of the great Montana highway
will be less than two-thirds as much
as that of the Salmon river road. Its
construction is to be placed under the
supervision Of the federal bureau af-
ter the forest service lets the con-
tract. Such contracts heretofore and
their execution have been let and car
ried out without any shenaniganing OF
double-crossing. The Lemhi taxpay-
ers who are to be called upon to put
up much of the cost in this case are
pretty well assured on that score in
the thoroughness with which the COM
missioners are going into the details
of the work in hand. The board has
expressed the hope that in open and
above board bidding the lowest and
best may be found among home peo-
pie. A man named Lord, who belongs
in Montana, is building the portion OF
this road lying within the Treasure
state and having his equipment on the
ground Lord will be likely to bid on
the North fork unit. A colIusior
among bidders to boost prices for such
work and then practice the old trick
of division and silence is to be looked
after, and circumvented, you may be
certain, in this case.
! See That Hump?
Crossing the continental divide al
least twice the same day, perhaps moi
one of the party, except the trained
engineers, knew the thing when the,
saw it. Doubtless numbers of The
travellers, who were disposed TO scat
ter on their way wherever an opening
in the thick timber invited. actuall,
crossed the high line many times
without knowing it. No traveller coult
ever stump his toe on it. In place,
the great line, which is marked ever,
now and then by a monument show
ing n on one side and opposite, ans
the letters AP, il it be an angle point
has nothing to show for itself, so lep
ei is the ground as il stretches away
finally to reach one slope on the Mon
tana side and another on the Idahs
side. At least this is the way Il
looks to the tenderfoot at the top o.
the world at the point where ths
North fork runs up to IL. There is 1
saddle here that for all the work
looks as i the great ridge were /.
hole in the ground. On one side tn.
partially completed road into Mon
tans to connect with the Park -Pari
|. highway win be about seven mile
long and on the other the Idaho por
ton Of the same road will be abou
! 13 miles long in straight shoot dowI
an easy grade. This intended forex