Cottonwood Chronicle Newspaper, September 10, 1920, Page 1

TO ELK CITY IN “LOW” GEAR ft is up, up all the time until you think you are never going to get to the top. The road seems to! follow a tortuous mountain! range, heavily timbered with now and then a spring along the _voad where ice cold water has} HUSSMAN TELLS OF RE-| CENT TRIP TO THE MTS. IN ELK CITY REGION Anyone that has traveled from Grangeville to Elk City by auto or truck will concede the appro- priateness of the above title to a description of a trip of this kind | But in this too there is consola- tion in the old maxim that “It wasen’t so bad’ but that it might have been worse.” Then too there is nothing in titles nowo- days, sometimes a mere trail is given some big sounding name as North and South State Highway, or a hole in the ground goes by such a highfaluten name as The Frisco Gold Mining and Milling Co. Ever since I came to Idaho, 17 years ago, I have longed to visit and see for myself that much talked of Eldorada, The Elk City and Florence mining district, where fortunes were made and lost sometimes in a day, where flour once sold for $50.00 per sack and the smallest change! was two bits. So many roman- ces and legends of suddenly ac- quired wealth, as also tradge- dies of life ave interwoven with the history of this region that one would have to be possessed of a very prosaic mind indeed not to have such longings. There are of course a great many pre- liminaries to a trip of this kind. Advice as to how to go, whether to take a team and wagon or car is very much divided. Expect- ing to find very rough roads fou a car and time being no parti- cular objects we decided to take a team and wagon and had al- ready engaged the team and had it shod all around and the wagon rigged up prairie schooner fash- ion, when we learned that the particular objects of our visit were all accessible by car. I then greased up the Buick and on Sunday afternoon August 22 loaded to the bumpers we start- ed. The party consisted of Mrs. Hussman and the children and Mr. Ross and myself. As we earried our camp outfit with us we were indifferent as to how far we tvravelel, expecting to camp at the first inviting spot that would beckon us when the time arrived. Having started late and hav- ing stopped for some time in Grangeville, we pitched camp the first night about 4 miles beyond Harpster on the banks of a small creek where wood and water was plentiful. It was an ideal spot for camping and worthy a des-| eription in literary embellish- ments such as_ Fennimore Coo- per or Jack London might have given it had they camped there. Despite its romantic setting and our efforts to locate the softest spot for our bed, we'll admit that along towards four o'clock in the morning we felt that there must be crevices and indentures in our back from which we would be a long time recovering. Evid- ently Harry Lauder did not have a camp bed in mind when he con- ceived that ditty “Its nice to get up of a Sunday Morn, but its nicer to lie in bed.” But this kind of bed has its virtues as it not only inspires one to carry out that old proverb of the early bird catching the wormand getting wealthy and wise, it also whet- ens the appetite for flap jacks and bacon far beyond the capa- city of the frying pan. Break- fast over with, at about seven o'clock we hit the trail again ar- riving in Clearwater about the same time the Stites Elk City stage got there. The drive from Harpster to the Mountain House or Summit is the longest contin- ous up hill grade I have ever traveled. The distance is some- thing like 18 miles and except for a few ravines that are crossed it is up grade all the time and most of it so steep that a car heavily loaded wil! have to travel in low nearly.all the way. This is to my minekby long odds the worst stretch of the entire distance covered. Yet it is a fairly ood mountain road, some rocks but not so many or so bad that one | rell thus | another een led by a gutter hewn from a) solid log into a trough or a bar-) providing convenient watering places for teams or cars. During the days when the Elk region was booming | when mining machinery and pros | pectors rushed into that country by the thousands there must have been a heavy traffic over these roads for the travel these days would not in years effect the heavy erosion and deep cuts worn into the road bed that are now in evidence on every hand. We passed through cuts worn so deep that the banks on the side of the roadway in many places were as high as the top of our ear, caused by the ~vinding of the heavily laden wagons and the horses feet. Then again we would see on the trees along the track where single trees had sealned the bark off trees twelve to fifteen feet above the roadbed during travel when the snow was very deep and the road bed 10 or 12 feet above the ground. Pon- dering over these thing: your motor keeps purrir~ away with the nose of your car turned up at an anple that makes vou think vou must soon be at the top of the world one cannot heln but feel that this is a real pioneer trail and that there must be somethine at the other end worthy of the living faith attes- ted to on every hand alone’ this route, of the hardships endured hy the pvioneers who went into this region to muck and moil for vold. We reached the summit in due time having exnerienced no trouble whatsoever, our motor running cool even seeming to chafe under the restraint nec- essary because of deep chuck holes and corduroy and the steep descent down the other side of the mountain which begins al- most immediately after the top is reachtd. One might as well forget “High” when traveling here be- cause you have no use for it, you will do well to get out of low with a high geared car. After hav- ing reached the Summit, at an altitude of about 6500 feet the descent to Newsome brings one down to earth again where the altitude is only about 4500, that is inthe summer time when there is no snow on the ground. With a full quota of snow it is from 15 to 20 feet more. Here we noticed the first placer work- ings, and we were told that about $5,000,000 in gold had been washed out of these dig- gings years ago. For a few miles along Newsome Creek the road is fairly good but soon the road leaves the creek to scale mountain range not quite so high as the first, yet of respectable height and rugged- ness with steep grades, so that within a verv short distance the! road is hundreds of feet above the creek bed. But we must not tarry on the road too long or the editors patience may become exhausted and we are still a long wav from Elk City. It is not amiss however to state that at no point is the road dangerous, that is because of narrow grades running along mountain sides, generally being cut or worn down very deep so that it is next to impossible for a car to go over the grade and also, almost the entire route is through a timber- ed region where trees line the lower road side, neither is it rocky or beset with high centers, just steep in any direction you travel, deep chuck holes and corduroy. It is now well along towards the middle of the after- noon and we are descending a tail of the mountain range from which we can overlook the valley in which is situate the first ob- ject of our trip, Elk Citv. As we glide down the mountain we get glimnses through the burnt trees which at this point were destroyed by forest fires years ago, of brown fields and mead- ows that switches the conversa- tion from mountain scenery to merdow and grain fields. What is it makes those slopes border- ing the valley look so yellow and brown, is it possible that any- thing grows here other than frass or perhaps a little timo- thy? We halt, take out onr field COTTONWOOD, IDAHO, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1920 lost no time in giving organized | resistance to this intrusion. What we saw we shall try to tell you in another letter, as to our next move, we leave that to your imagination. W. B. HUSSMAN. TRAVEL IS HEAVY. Geo. D. Smith finished taking the traffic census on the Cotton- wood road by the Doc Jessy place Wednesday evening, and found that an average of 600 persons passed that point each day during the week he was on the job. An average of 200 ears daily was also noted. The work was done by order of the department of public works.— Grangeville Globe. FARM LOAN AGENT HERE FEDERAL AGENT IS INVES- TIGATING FARM CON- DITIONS. _R. P. Thurber, a representa- tive of the federal farm loan board, and an examiner of sec- urities for the federal farm loan board at Washington D. C. is in Cottonwood this week and in company with Felix Martzen, secretary of the Cottonwood National Farm Loan Associa- tion, Mr. Thurber is making his official visit over the prairie. Mr. Thurber does special work in studying the types of soil and types of agriculture as they per- tain to this federal farm loan district. He endeavors to get acquainted with the character of farms and with the topography of the country, the nature of the crops and the agricultural con- ditions generally. Before the securities which the district land bank uses as col- lateral on bond issues can be pre- sented, they must be examined and approved by the federal farm loan board at Washington. The duty of Mr. Thurber, the ex- aminer, is to examine and ap- prove practically all of the loans coming from this district. In his investigation of the fed- eral farm loan association of thi district, he finds much satisf. tion on the part of the borrowers toward the federal farm loan hank at Spokane, through which the business here is done. The great regret is that the federal farm loan system is not function- ing at the present time, due to the supreme court of the United States deferring its judgment on the question of the constitution- ality of the tax-exemption feat- ure of the federal farm loan bonds. “This case,” said Mr. Thurber, “will be reargued Oct. 11. It is our hone that soon thereafter we will have a favorable deci- sion from the supreme court, so that operation of the system can be resumed and money can be furnished to borrowers at the usual low rate of interest.” SHIP CATTLE EAST. Eighteen carloads of cattle and sheep making up a train load passed through Cottonwood Tuesday from Grangeville on their way to Chicago where they will be sold on the eastern mark- et. The stock was all first class stuff and no doubt will de- mand the top price when they reach their destination. The livestock was the property of several stockmen of the Salmon river country. ARREST SWAN. Jess Swan, who has made his home here for some time, was placed under arrést Wednesday evening by Deputy United States Marshall Mark Howe of Moscow and Deputy Sheriff John Powell and taken to Grangeville where it is said he will have to answer to the charge of owning and op- erating a crude still on the Geo. Burgund ranch on the river. It is stated that the officers located two partly dismanteled crude stills on the Burgund ranch but no liqour was found. Mrs. Herman Wessels who has been spending the past few weeks with her boys in the Greencreek section returned to DEATH CLAIMS YOUTH. Cletus Edward Nau, the five year old son of Albert Nau, died at Ferdinand at midnight Wed- nesday evening after an illness of only a week's duration from diphtheria. The little boy was stricken with the dreaded dis- ease last Friday. The remains were laid to rest at 5 a, m. Thursday morning in the Cath- olie cemetery at Ferdinand. This is the second time within a year that death has visited this family, Mr. Nau’s wife having died Jess than a year ago. The family now consists of the sor- rowing father and three child- yen, who have the sympathy of the entire community in their hour of sorrow. KELSEY WRITES FROM NEW YORK WRITER NOW AT OLD HOME IN NEW YORK STATE—TO PRINT MORE LETTERS. When Frank A. Kelsey depart- ed from Cottonwood about the first of the year, on a trip that would take him to practically every section of the United States, and as outlined at that time would require at least a year to complete, we asked him to favor us at different times with letters telling us of his var- ious experiences while on the trip. Mr. Kelsey has kept hi: word and following is his first letter. More are to follow. Leaving Spokane on the Olym- pia Limited, Thursday Dec. 11 at 9:10 p. m. bound for Dimock S. D., with the mercury 10 below it was only natural to be expecting trouble, and more so in view of the fact at that time the Pacific Northwest was in the grip of the coldest weather experienced in many years. Then too, the country at large was suffering from a coal short- age due to the coal strike, many trains maving been annulled and fuel being curtailed everywhere. I had realized all this before starting out on my journey, and as there seemed to be no escape from it, I] was ready for the worst. The first inconvenience was suffered in crossing St. Maries Lake, there our engine slipped two tires and we were helpless. Owing to the train being on a bridge at the time, and the mer- cury hovering at 30 degrees be- low zero we were held there for seven hours. Reaching Avery on the Idaho-Montana divide at 10 a. m. Friday, on account of all the water and steam pipes being frozen on all the nine coaches, we were obliged to remain there three hours. The thermometer now regis- tered 24 below and as there had been no heat in the coaches for the past ten hours, we all felt very cold. After having been huddled in various positions to keep warm, it was a welcome treat, to be able to get near a glowing stove, in the little sta- tion at Avery. Tramping about in the deep snow, watching the great rotary snow plow operate, and seeing the change being made from the steam to the electric locomstive helped to keep us warm, and also relieved the monotony. Avery, while a_ picturesque town the deep mantle of snow, added to its splendor. With all again comfortable, we proceeded on our journey, through the great state of Mont- tana, riding all day among the mountains, which were a gor- geous sight to behold, in there snow-clad mantle. Nothing happened that day to mar the trip, until our train hit a hand ear, with five men on it, they having jumped a few seconds be- fore the train struck. The train was brought to a stand still, and the crew and their bedding pick- ed up, but the hand car could not be located. At 10 o’clock that evening we reached Butte, with our train twelve hours late. Butte is 358 miles from Spokane, with an elevation of 5,538 feet, and said to be the richest hill in the world. The thermometor now registered 37 below zero, and I need hesitate to take a car over! elnsses, vet up on a log directly| her home at Mt. Angel, Ore.,| only stayed outside a short time, them, but in places very steep.| over a yellow jackets nest, who} Monday morning. | to experience the sensation of COTTONWOOD CHRONICLE $2.00 PER YEAR | that extreme cold. When we arrived at Miles City the next day, the pipes were again frozen, and another hour was lost thowing them out. Our train was now so late that it lost its identity, and we had to take all the sidings, for the freight trains as well. Aberdeen, S. D., was finally reached fourteen hours late. I had been riding steady for three days and three nights, while I was glad to change cars for Mitchell, T had so accustomed myself to riding on the train, that I felt 1 could ride steady for a week longer. I was now 1,486 miles from Cottonwood. It was late Sunday morning when I reached Dimock, S. D., having completed the first leg of my journey. Soon I found myself at the home of my old friend, Alphonse Untereiner, where I spent two weeks pleas- antly. Many of you will recall him, as having worked with me at the Hoene Hardware for near- ly four year, up 'till 1913. He now successfully conducts a large Implement store. His brother Hugo, whom I met, was a member of a famous Lost Bat- allion of the 77th Division 308 Infantry Co. H. He was the only survivor of a squad of seven men that were sent out seouting. It was on a bitter cold day when I autoed with my friend to Old Elin Spring, 17 miles distant, to visit the Mennonites. The snow was about two feet deep, and we had much trouble in mak ing headway. It was necessary to shovel snow steady for an hour. I nearly froze my feet. The colony number 104 people and own, and operate 5,000 acres of land along the James river. In their farming operations they use modern implements, but their home life is primitive. The men are of a fine physical type. and all wear beards, as is part of their creed. Their clothes are all the same cut, and about the same color. The women not having seen a fashion book since these things were printed to at- tract the eye of the female, and the purse of the father or hus- band, who has to dig down for these creations, are all dressed alike and wear showls. This peculiar religious sect, were ori- ginally from Germany, but mi- grated to Russia, about 100 years ago, to avoid military training. They have dwelled with us forty-two years, are thrifty and live very frugally. They live as one big family. and have their work shops of various kinds. The girls, boys, and children, have their respec- tive dormitories. | When a cou- ple is married, they are given one or two rooms, which seems to take care of their needs, When their children reach the age of three or four years, they are put with the other children. These good people, are peace~ loving and will not engage in any | legal controversy even should they be wronged. Of course, they are adverse to war, during (Continued on page 2) S MONDAY. SCHOOL OPE! The public schools of Cotton- | wood will open Monday, Sept. 13 for the term of 1920-21. The present outlook points towards a very successful year and the board has endeavored to select a teaching force, that would num ber with the best of them and the teachers all come highly re- commended to us. The teach- ers are: J. V. Hannon, superintendent, New York. M. Deily, principal, Pennsyl- vania. Mary Lansing, high Missouri. school, Harriett Hanson, home econ- | omics, Potlatch, Idaho. FE. Lorena Rawson, seventh and eighth grades, Lewiston. Lois Coolidge, fifth and sixth grades, Craigmont, Idaho. Lennie Rutledge, third and fourth grades. Matilda Knapp, primary, Spok ane, Wash. ELECTION QUIET AFFAIR. The school election Monday proved to be a tame affair, only 17 votes being cast and resulted in the re-election of J. V. Baker, who received 11 votes. For the other member of the board W. B. Hussman and W. W. Flint tied, each receiving 8 votes. J. N. Bledsoe received 5 votes.. The | tie no doubt will be decided by j lot. NEWS AROUND THE STATE Items of Interest From Various Sections Reproduced for Ben- efit of Our Readers. The Second Annual Lewis County Farm Bureau Fair will be held at Nezperce on October 8 and 9. O. H. Nordby of Genessee sold to J. M. Schultz of Lewiston three purebred Shorthorn milk cows for $1,000. The Grangeville public schools opened Monday, September 6th with an enrollment of 359, there being ninety-two in the high school and two hundred sixty- seven in the grades, Charles G. Faunce, age 83, has died at Lewiston, Idaho. Mr. Faunce came to Lewiston in 1860 from Massachusetts and sailed around Cape Horn about 1850 to the Pacific coast In an attempt to win a wager of $750 by walking from St. Paul to Seattle within three months, George Gorman stopped in Coeur d’Alene Saturday, having made the journey so far on better than schedule time. Liquor valued at $3600 was taken from two Spokane parties at Sandpoint last Sunday by the officials of Bonner county. The liquor conviseated consisted of 240 quarts of excellent Cana- dian wiskey, which is selling, it is said in Spokane at $15 a quart. Southern Idaho prefers moun- tain to Pacific time, according to evidence offered at the standard time zone hearing before Henry C. Hall, interstate commerce commissioner, in the federal court room at Boise Friday. Prartically every industry of southern Idaho was represented. Practice for foot ball at the University of Idaho will begin Monday, Septerber 13, the first day of the school year and will be kept up continuously until the team is ‘‘made” aceording to Coach Tom Kelly, who hopes to win the northwe: conference championship this year, The annual premium list of the Northwest Livestock show which will be held at Lewiston November 7 to 12 is being mail- ed to stock breeders and exhib- itors. The live stock associa- jtion will distribute $40,000 in premiums at the show, the larg- er portion of which will go to cattle and swine. Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Halsey were both seriously injured when their automobile left the grade about one-half mile west of Culdesac at 7 o'clock Wednes- day morning. Mr. Halsey is | probably injured internally and Mrs. Halsey has a broken shoul- der and hip smashed. Mr. Hal- sey is one of the proprietors of the Culdesae Hardware and Im- plement company, Asotin county, Thomas Bros, for more than 18 yrs. engaged in the hardware |and automobile business at Nez- | Perce, on Monday sold their es- /tablishment to Roy Thompson, |L. J. Rowe and E. L. Schnell, |county autitor of Lewis county. | Mr Schnell resigned his position |as auditor in order to devote all |his time to the business The | firm also purchased in the deal the Ford agency for Lewis coun- i ty. | Frank Rothrock, wealthy | stockman, has purchased the in- | terests of Harry L. Day in the | Hercules stock farm at Sprague and is now the sole proprietor of the famous establishment, which | extends to 15,000 acres of which {2,000 acres are irrigated. The | farm carries the largest herd of |pure bred stock barns in the northwest and 1500 grade cattle. |Mr. Rothrock also has extensive | sheep interests. Ideal Perfection, a Hereford bull from the Henry Thiessen herd near Sweetwater, and sire }of many of the young bulls and jheifers now on the Thiessen ifarm, is given fifth place for highest average score out of 1,187 entries in which 261 bulls were considered, the article be- ing prepared by Laurence M. Winters, of te Iowa seo col- lege, at Ames, Iowa, and appear- ing in the American Hereford Journal of August. |