The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-06-16


pute her right and title to the Ore
gon country. 1t is interesting to note
that the territory from which the
States of Idaho, Oregon and Washing
ton was acquired by right of discov-
cry, exploration and settlement; all
the rest of our possessions have been
gained by conquest, treaty or pur-
chase.
What was our right by discovery
Capt. Robert Gray, a fur trader from
Boston, who previously had sailed
around the globe with the stars and
stripes, crossed the dangerous bar at
the mouth of the Columbia River,
which he named after his trading YES
sci. This was on May II, 1892.
Our right by Notwithstanding
1904 and 1906 the party under Lewis
and Clark explored the Clark Fork,
Clearwater, Snake and Salmon ourc-
es in Rocky mountains and the Co.
lumbia itself for 800 miles, to where
it's broad waters sweep into the Pa
ClIC. Ills gave u D. our S6COuU
strong claim to the Oregon territory.
Our right by settlement-First by
establishing fur trading post in AS
toria in 1911; second by missionary
settlements in 1884; third by large
migrations across the plains from
Missouri and the east in 1%842-l845
inclusive. Claims were disputed by
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claims were set aside by: treaty Of
1879, Spain gave up all her claim to
the territory north of the And paral-
lei of latitude; by treaty of 1912 Rus
STA was confined to territory north
of "a degrees 40; England's claim was
not SO easily set aside, but by treaty
in 1918 il was agreed that the Colnm-
bia River countries be open to joint
occupancy by citizens of both coun-
tries for a period of ten years. This
arrangement was renewed in 1922 and
CONTINUED in force until the treaty Of
1S46, which established the 49th par
allel as the boundary line between
u. S. and British possessions.
Lewis and Clark, with their explor-
ing party, were the first whste men
to visit Idaho of whom we Rave any
auth emit record. After the Louisi-
ana purchase they wE sent by Pres
ident jefferson to explore the vaEt
country stretching westward from the
Mississippi r1ver.
When and from where was this gN-
p~1oration 3Capt. WFreweatller Lewis
and Capt. William Clark started from
St Louis May IA, 1904. accompanied
by 40 picked men.
What were Jefferbon's Instructions !!
the geography of the country through
which they passed; mite lakes, noun
tains, etc, explore the principal
streams; make themselves acquainted
with the indians, their possessions
and their relations to their tribes:
note carefully all the plants and ami
mails; keep complete journals.
How much time did the eXpidi1ion
take?-It took two years and four
in every way.
Trace the route taken by Lewis and
Clark.-They sailed up the Missouri
river from st. Louis and traced the
river to its three forks in Montana
they crossed the Bitter Root oun
tains and came to what is now known
as the Lemhi river; travelling along
the Bitter Root mountains they came
to the place where the Clearwater
and Snake river form a fork, and here
they made canoe out of tree trunks
and sailed along the Snake river
toward the set; at length they passed
from the waters of the Snake river
into the wide blue current of the Co.
lumbia, and then continued on to com
plete their route to the Mighty Pa
ciic.
The fur traders for half a centur,
after the Lewis and Clark is the stor,
of the operations of fur companies
connected with Idaho. The most pow.
erful trading organization was thu
Hudson Bay company. Others wer,
the North West company, Missouri
Fur company. The golden age OF flu
trapping in Idaho was from 1920 t.
!, 1880. Pierre's Hole, now known a.
| Teton Basin, Teton County, Idaho
; was a famous meeting place for tn,
: trapping fraternity. The Rendezvous
was the annual gathering of the trap
ping fraternity for the purpose o
! trade and merriment in some greer
mountain valley. This strange gath
ering fiourished about ten years AM
E then passed away forever.
Francis Payette was the most in
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