USA > Idaho > The history of Idaho > Part 10
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In December, 1864, the second session of the legislature assem- bled at Lewiston and passed an act locating the capital permanently
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
at Boise City in Boise County. This act was approved December 7, 1864. (See 2nd Session Laws, p. 427.) In the same month the legislature passed an act dividing Boise County and creating Ada County and locating the county seat at Boise City. This act was approved December 22, 1864. (See 2nd Session Laws, pp. 430 and 431.) This was heaping honors on Boise thick and fast and seemed to please and encourage the residents. A number of business houses were soon built, also hotels, residences, shops, saloons, etc. The farmers also seemed to take new courage and began work in earnest to improve their farms and make homes for their families.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR DOINGS IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES IN EARLY DAYS.
At the close of the first session of the legislature, February 4, 1864, all of our Territory west of the Bitter Root range of moun- tains was organized into seven large counties, namely, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Idaho, Boise, Owyhee, Alturas and Oneida. East of the mountains had been divided up into ten counties, but as that portion was taken from us the following March and created into another Territory, we must drop that from our records, as we have no longer any claim thereto.
In those days the people, as a rule, paid but little attention to legislation, but attended strictly to their work, except lawyers and office-holders. The main rush for gold was the all-absorbing thing. I do not mean by this that all were trying to get gold by legiti- mate mining. The larger portion was engaged in mining or pros- pecting for mines. Quite a percentage of the whole was engaged in some kind of trade, merchandising, hotel and restaurant keep- ing, butcher, feed and livery business, blacksmithing, sawmilling and carpentering. A large number were employed in the trans- portation of merchandise and passengers. Some few had settled on ranches and were cultivating and improving them. A few were engaged in the stock business and many more than was necessary, were engaged in the saloon and gambling business, with a few road agents, ready and willing to relieve any person of his ready money without compensation, whenever a favorable opportunity presented itself. The primary object of all seemed to be to gather gold. But I think I may truthfully say that ninety-five per cent of these people were good, industrious, honorable and enterprising, and to all appearances desired to make money in a legitimate way.
The rush to the mining camps was too great for the limited amount of placer mining ground that would yield good returns from working. The result was that many returned to their old homes or to other parts, disappointed; while most of those who had secured claims within the mineral belt where they could get plenty of water for washing their dirt and gravel through long strings of sluice boxes, took out from this dirt and gravel large amounts of gold dust.
Provisions, clothing, mining tools and, in fact, everything that a person needed to live on and use in his work, was very high, owing
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mainly to the high cost of transportation by pack animals from the Columbia River in Oregon, a distance of three hundred miles, freight ranging on ordinary merchandise from sixteen to thirty cents per pound, varying according to the season of the year and the condition of the roads and trails over which it had to be packed.
Late in the summer of 1864, wagon roads were completed into Boise Basin mining camp so that freight could be hauled in by teams on wagons. This reduced the rate of freight during the Summer and Fall months, but pack trains had to carry the freight in Winter and Spring for several years, owing to the snow and mud on the road and the cost was very much greater than when trans- ported by teams and wagons and over dry roads.
The mining camps in which more or less mining and prospecting was being carried on in Idaho in 1864, were Orofino, Pierce City and Elk City in the southern portion of Shoshone County, and at Florence and Warrens in Idaho County, and at or near Booneville and Ruby City and Silver City in Owyhee County; at Rocky Bar and Atlanta in Alturas County. In the last two counties, the min- ing was mostly quartz mining. The largest, best and most attrac- tive mining camp was what is called Boise Basin, situated in the low and comparatively flat mountains in the northern portion of Boise County near the towns of Idaho City, Centerville, Pioneer City and Placerville, covering an area of about ten by fifteen miles square. Placer mining was very remunerative in this Boise Basin district for several years, through the Spring, Summer and Fall, and large amounts of gold were taken from these mines and shipped out, mostly by Wells, Fargo & Co's. express. Often the production would amount to one million dollars in value in one month. The yield of gold from the other mining camps was small compared with the yield of the Boise Basin mining district.
In the Fall of 1864, many of the men engaged in mining left Idaho. Some went to California, Oregon, Washington and other places to visit their families, and returned in the Spring; while some sold out and took all the money they could get together and left, never to return. Quite a number of men brought back their wives with them and several sent back and had their families come in by stage. Taken altogether, with few exceptions, Idaho's pop- ulation consisted of a good class of people, industrious, honorable and possessed of a high grade of intelligence.
The improvement and building up of towns in the different min- ing and agricultural districts, churches and schools, were not long neglected, for many of our people had belonged to some good church organization before they came here, and they soon had churches established here, and they all believed in education, and
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as soon as there was a reasonable number of children of proper age in any district, a house and teachers were provided for them. School teachers, ministers of the Gospel, doctors and lawyers have usually been plentiful in this new country.
With few exceptions, everything moved along in an orderly way. One great annoyance was that the country along the different trav- eled roads was infested with a low class of sneak, thieving and murderous Indians which gave the few settlers and the freighters and traveling people a great deal of trouble, of which we have spoken before in another chapter.
Occasionally a disturbance arose in some one of the mining camps, which sometimes resulted in the use of fire arms and occa- sionally a man was killed or wounded, which was usually the re- sult of the use of too much intoxicating drinks. Sometimes the few road agents would hold up a stage or some person and relieve them of what money they had, but these occurrences were not often and in almost every instance the perpetrators of these crimes were apprehended and brought before the courts and given a fair trial, and when found guilty were made to suffer the penalty of our criminal law, which was as stringent and as strictly enforced as in any State of the Union.
Most of the first settlers of Idaho were poor in purse but were rich in muscle and energy and most all possessed of a good moral character. The rule that was in common practice was for each person to attend to his own private business and to have an affec- tionate regard for his neighbor and his neighbor's rights, and to extend a helping hand to the unfortunate that needed help. I speak from experience, having an extensive business and social acquain- tance with many of the early settlers of Idaho, when I say (with a few exceptions) the early settlers were as noble, patriotic, in- dustrious, unselfish, intelligent, good, generous, kind and moral people as were ever assembled together in like number for the rec- lamation and development of an unsettled country, inhabited only by untutored, savage Indians, wild animals and varmints. Let ' ini who writes sneering remarks about the conduct of the people in the early days of the settling of Idaho, remember that it was these brave, good, old pioneer men and women that braved all the dan- gers incident to the reclaiming and planting of civilization here, which made it possible for others to come quickly, easily, cheaply and safely, get good homes in a good country without assuming any great risk of the loss of life, limb or property. It would seem that they might turn their brilliant talent to some more onward and progressive movement, rather than to attempt to reach away back to write sneeringly about the society of old times of which
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
they knew but little, if anything. These good, old pioneers are fast passing away-not many are left, and if nothing good can be said about them by the brilliant young men of this day and time who are exempt from the dangers and hardships that the pioneers en- dured to reclaim this country, they should at least let them rest in peace from their honest labors.
I trust they will remember that the foundation and support of our government and our lives depends mainly upon the reclaiming, cultivating and improving of this earth which Divine Providence gave to us for homes. Let each and every one perform his part well, without envy towards his neighbor.
CHAPTER XIX.
TRANSPORTATION AND STAGING TO BOISE BASIN IN 1864.
In the Fall of 1863, a great many of the miners left the Boise Basin, as they could do but little, owing to the deep snow and the cold weather which made it impossible to operate their mines until the Spring thaw.
On the 10th of February, 1864, the ice went out of the Columbia River and on the 14th, the Oregon Steam Navigation Company sent one of their steamboats from The Dalles to Umatilla. There were on board quite a number of passengers who were returning to the mines in the Basin. As soon as the boat landed, many of these men rushed for the office of Ish & Hailey, which had been kept the year before in the Orleans Hotel (Jesse Failing, proprietor). This saddle-train office of Ish & Hailey was closed like the mines, to await the coming of Spring, and the horses and mules were out on Winter range near Umatilla. The weather was warm and pleas- ant. Many of the men were anxious to go on to the mines, so a saddle train was driven in and rigged up in short order. The next day they started out with about sixteen passengers for the Boise Basin. That day the storms began again,-snow and rain every day,-not heavy but very disagreeable. The trail over the Blue Mountains on the Meacham route had been kept open. In fact, the snowfall had been lighter that year than usual. We had to feed the animals hay at a few places where the snow was still on the ground, but in most camping places, the old grass was still good.
Passengers still continued to come. Ish & Hailey sent out a saddle train loaded with passengers every time a steamboat came up the river, which was three times a week. Several others em- barked in the saddle-train and passenger business. We had a very wet Spring and while everything went all right without any serious trouble and all who started got through in due time, I am sure all who made the trip had a better and higher appreciation of a good, square meal and a good bed at home than ever before. There were also hundreds along the road on foot, carrying their blankets and lunches. These men had a hard trip.
The steamboats brought up large quantities of freight for the Basin and the packers who had been in Winter quarters for two and a half months were induced to bring in their pack animals and a number of them loaded up and started for the mines about the
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THE HISTORY OF IDAHO
first of March. They got good prices for packing merchandise but the trip was rough and disagreeable and none but strong, energetic men could stand the work in the stormy weather. We all earned all we got.
About the 15th of March, Ish & Hailey began to run a stage coach from Umatilla to the foot of the Blue Mountains on the west side, three times a week. This point was about fifty miles from Umatilla on the road to the Boise Basin, and was as far as the stage could run at that time, on account of the bad condition of the road. In the meantime, stations had been established on the remainder of the route from twenty to twenty-five miles apart. Relays of horses were at each station and arrangements were made for passengers to get meals at these stations. Two of these routes were traveled over each day. Dinner was had at the noon station and a change of horses. While this was not so comfortable as rid- ing on the cars, it was certainly quite an improvement on the camp- ing out and riding the same horses over the whole road. About the 1st of May, the road between LaGrande (on the east side of the mountain) as far as Express Ranch, distance seventy miles, was in better condition so wagons could be run over it, and a stage was put on that part of the road. This gave the passengers an agree- able change. It was a close game between the different parties who were repairing the road to see who would be able to finish certain parts first and collect toll from the wagons, stages and other travel. It was hard work and required some money to repair roads, and it took a whole lot of money to purchase stage wagons, harness and other necessary equipment to fit out a stage line. However, it was about an even race. The stages were ready and were put on as soon as the road was in proper condition.
This stage route extended from Umatilla to Placerville in Boise Basin, a distance of 285 miles, and was ready for passengers about the 1st of June, 1864. Harness was scarce and often had to be changed from one team to another for a short time. Stations were established from ten to fifteen miles apart, with relays of horses and a stock tender at each station to have the horses ready so as to have as little delay as possible.
We did not have barns or stables at all of the stations at first. It was impossible sometimes to do more than build corrals and the horses were driven into these corrals and caught and harnessed there. The grass was good at the majority of the stations, so the stock could live well on the range. Stock had to be kept up and fed at two stations on the Blue Mountains, one station at Placer- ville, and two at the Umatilla end of the route. This was rather expensive, as hay and grain was very high. The stock running on
1
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TRANSPORTATION IN 1864
the range did well until Fall. By that time there was but little grass left, owing to the great number of pack animals and loose cat- tle that had been driven over the range; but by this time we had prepared cheap barns at the different stations and had some hay and grain at each place.
There was also another stage line running into Boise Basin at this time. Early in the Spring of 1864, George F. Thomas & Co. prepared to stock the road from Wallula on the Columbia River via Walla Walla to Placerville in the Boise Basin. The proposed route of this company was to cross the Blue Mountains about twelve miles north of where the other line crossed, over a new road built by the company and commonly called the Thomas and Ruckles road. This company made arrangements and stocked the road from Wallula to what is known as Express Ranch on Burnt River, a lit- tle more than half way to the Basin. They had good, large Amer- ican horses and good stage wagons. Their live and rolling stock had been brought from the California and Oregon stage compa- nies' routes. They built barns at stations and purchased hay and grain at great expense to feed their stock. They then made an arrangement with Greathouse & Co. to stock and run the road from Express Ranch to Placerville. Greathouse & Co. soon had their end of the road fitted up with about the same kind of stock as Ish & Hailey had on their road, which was mostly half-breed horses of medium size that had been raised on the bunch grass and could be kept in good condition and do hard work without being fed hay and grain, while grass was good.
There was a great deal of rivalry between these two lines. When- ever travel was light, rates were often cut down. Time became an object. The line leaving Umatilla in the morning would carry her passengers to the Meacham Station on to the Blue Mountains the first day, a distance of about sixty-five miles. This was a romantic place near the summit of the mountain and was kept by the late A. B. Meacham and his brother Harvey. The accommodations were always first class. The other stage line starting from Wallula would only carry her passengers to Walla Walla the first day, a distance of thirty-one miles. So the passengers who took the Umatilla line always arrived at their destination one day earlier than those who took the Wallula and Walla Walla route. Mr. Thomas having had experience in the stage business with the California Stage Company, seemed to be a favorite with Wells, Fargo & Co. managers, who had established an express for carrying treasure, fast freight, letters, newspapers, etc., all over the route and they entered into a contract with this Wallula company to haul on their stages all of their treasure, freight and other matter at a stated price per His-7
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pound for the year, at a high price. The express company in this contract obligated the stage company to receive no freight or any- thing for transportation except passengers and their baggage. This was to give the express company a monopoly of the carrying of all treasure, fast freight, letters, newspapers, etc. At first it seemed as if this might freeze out the Umatilla line, as the Wallula com- pany had predicted. In fact, all the circumstances seemed to be in their favor. Even the navigation companies' employees sent all the passengers they could up the river to Wallula to have them go on that line, and last but not least, the late Ben Holliday got a tri-weekly contract for carrying the United States mail from Salt Lake City, Utah, via Boise City, Walla Walla and Wallula to The Dalles in Oregon. This service was commenced August 8th, 1864. The Walla Walla company secured a cheap sub-contract from Hol- liday to carry this mail from a point on the Payette (now Emmett) to The Dalles, Oregon. It would seem from all this that the Uma- tilla line would soon be forced off the road; in fact, they received warning to that effect. But, after all, men's schemes and plans are sometimes upset by other men in a very unexpected manner. At that time the junior member of the firm of Ish & Hailey was not so old and feeble as he is now, and as he was on the road about all the time, he frequently heard complaints from merchants in the Basin about the extravagant rates charged by the express com- pany for fast freight, treasure, letters, packages, newspapers, etc. The roads at this time were in fairly good condition, so I con- cluded I could haul fast freight up for much less than the ex- press company was charging, and still make some profit. I also or- dered a number of copies of the two leading papers in Portland and transported them to the Basin the same as the express com- pany, only one day earlier than they did, and sold them at one-half the price they did, and made money even then. I also bought United States postal envelopes the same as they did, stamped our, stage company's name on them and found I could express, sell, carry and deliver letters for one-fifth the amount the other com- pany charged. I also concluded that where men had large amounts of gold that they wanted shipped below, I could take it at freight rates if the owner would assume all risk. These things were all looked after and put in operation without any display, and they all worked well. In a short time, the Umatilla line had all the busi- ness it could carry. This lasted until December Ist, 1864. At that time the passenger and freight business was about over until the next Spring, so we hauled off our stock as far down as LaGrande and put them in good Winter quarters where they would be well cared for at small expense, leaving enough stock on the road be-
Cenc/ John
cheaper
Earlier
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TRANSPORTATION IN 1864
tween LaGrande and Umatilla to make weekly trips to accommo- date the local trade and to keep the road open across the moun- tains. At the same time a small supply of hay and grain was left at each station on the road for early Spring use, when we should resume trips.
The last three months the Umatilla stage line was run almost to its full capacity, carrying either passengers or freight, while the Wallula line did not carry so much. The merchants seemed to pre- fer the line that made the quickest time and charged the least money. Of course, when the Umatilla line stopped for the winter, the other company had everything its own way. However, the business was over for the season. There was no travel, but little express, yet the mail had to be carried. The large American horses owned by the company were still eating the high-priced hay and grain, and it did not pay. The first of March found the manager of the Umatilla line on the road placing the stock and wagons at their proper stations. Everything was in fairly good condition, ready for heavy up-travel which they had from the start. The other line was still on the road, but the rough roads and bad weather through the Winter had been severe on their stock, wagons and men, so they were not in very good shape. The little travel and small pay had not given them much remuneration for the heavy expense during the Winter.
About the middle of the Summer, many freight teams came on the road to haul freight from Umatilla to Boise Basin. These freighters could haul freight much cheaper than the packers could pack on the mules, so very soon the price of slow freight came down from ten and twelve cents per pound to six and eight cents, which injured the packers' business very much. Tolls were still very high on the roads at bridges and ferries, and it would take nearly half the earnings of a pack animal to pay his tolls. This was so discouraging that many who had only small trains quit the business and went at something else.
We will leave this subject for a time and take it up later on.
CHAPTER XX.
THE SECOND SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE-CONVENED AT LEWISTON, NOVEMBER 14, 1864, ADJOURNED DECEMBER 23, 1864.
At the annual election held on the first Monday in September, 1864, as provided in the first session laws (see p. 560), the fol- lowing members were elected to the House of Representatives for the second session which met at Lewiston on November 14, 1864: W. H. Howard Alturas and Oneida Counties
H. C. Riggs Boise County
W. H. Parkinson
Boise County
John Duval Boise County
Boise County
J. McIntosh
J. B. Pierce. Boise County
Alexander Blakely
Idaho County
T. M. Reed.
George Ziegle Nez Perce County
E. C. Sterling . Owyhee County
Solomon Hasbrouck Owyhee County
W. A. Goulder Shoshone County
It will be remembered that the members of the legislative council were elected in 1863 for two years, so they would have their right to serve in the second session. This they all did with the excep- tion of Lyman Stanford and W. C. Rheem. Mr. Rheem seems to have been in that part of Idaho that was given to Montana, so was not eligible for a position in the Idaho legislature. I have understood that Mr. Standford had resigned and left Idaho. At any rate, two new members had to be elected to make up the requi- site number. The names of the members of the council were as follows:
S. B. Dilley Alturas County
Joseph Miller Boise County
Ephriam Smith Boise County
S. S. Fenn. Idaho County
E. B. Waterbury
Nez Perce County
John Cummings Owyhee County
Standfords Capps
Shoshone County
John Cummings was elected president of the legislative council and Alexander Blakely elected speaker of the house of represen- tatives.
Idaho County
E. C. Latta Nez Perce County
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SECOND IDAHO LEGISLATURE
This session of the legislature was limited to forty days by Act of Congress creating the Territory. The members of this legis- lative body did not enact into law as many pages as did the legis- lators at the first session in sixty days, but they did enact a pro- rata proportion according to the length of the session. The first session in sixty days enacted 610 pages of laws; the second ses- sion enacted in forty days, 403 pages of laws, so the people of Idaho had no cause to complain as to the quantity of legislation. As for quality, some of it, in fact the most of it, was good, whole- some legislation for that time. But as time always brings changes, so also many changes have been made in our laws. The legislative wisdom possessed by these two bodies might be questioned, consid- ering that the second session met in less than ten months after the first session adjourned, and a majority of the members of the legis- lative council of the first session were members of the second ses- sion. A brief examination of the many sweeping repeals of im- portant laws and the amendments to many others, makes the aver- age citizen wonder why laws are enacted, and more especially is he amazed at so many repeals and amendments of laws even be- fore they were published so that the people could read them and express an opinion. However, we will allow the reader to judge of this quick work by giving a few of the laws, repeals, amend- ments, etc. The repealed and amended acts passed by this ses- sion cover over three hundred pages or about three-fourths of the printed volume of the 2nd Session Laws of four hundred and three pages. Each one of these acts repeals an act passed at the first session on the same subject. They are as follows:
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