Trail Wars: Spokane Fights for the Road to the Coeur d'Alene Gold

Some one from this section has been giving the local editor of the Oregonian a little information regarding the routes into the mines that is not entirely correct. The information was contributed for the especial benefit of Heron, and in the effort to make the public believe that the only feasible trail into the Coeur d'Alenes is from that point the paper does other routes on the line a great injustice. We do not desire to be misunderstood in our reference to this matter. In giving the list of trails into the mines we do not speak from any prejudice, but with the single desire to give information to that large concourse of people now contemplating a trip to the new El Dorado. It is an assured fact that the amount of travel next season will be large enough to people every trail now in existence, and others that will be opened. Still those who are making arrangements to try their fortunes in the new mineral fields desire some knowledge regarding the manner and way of getting there. The truth about the Heron trail as we have received it from parties from the place is this: Some time this fall a sum of money was contributed by the enterprising business men of that village to cut a trail from that point into the mines. A party took the contract, started out, got lost and returned without accomplishing the purpose. It was then hinted that individuals were interested in building a toll road into the mines from Heron, and through the connivance of those persons the effort proved a failure. We have been further informed that a trail from Heron necessarily led over the highest peaks of the surrounding mountains, and if so constructed the backwardness of spring at that altitude would greatly impede travel, and prevent the use of the trail until long after other routes were opened. If the natural topography of the country be taken into consideration, and a trail follow the canyons it would strike the railroad several miles either above or below Heron, thus contributing no support to that place. It is true that Heron is only between 30 and 40 miles from the mines, but the condition of the country gives the advantage to the longer routes. However Heron will always be a point of departure for the mines, especially for prospectors from the east. The nearest point on the railroad to the mines is Trout Creek, but no effort has been made to put in a trail from that station. Another route, which is ignored or misrepresented by the Oregonian, is that from Rathdrum. Rathdrum is about 70 miles from the mines, but the trail is a good one; in fact stages have been running from that village to the Mission this fall. Many people have gone into the mines by the way of Rathdrum since the excitement commenced, and many more will choose that route next summer. It will always be a good point to start from. In the Oregonian's notice Spokane Falls is entirely ignored. It is not claimed that this city is the nearest point to the mines, they being distant some 90 miles, but we do claim that it is the best point at the present time to fit out for a trip of the kind. In proof of this we can note the advantages that prospectors have of securing everything requisite and necessary in the way of equipments. We may say that hundreds of men have fitted out and gone into the mines from the Falls during the past several months. From this city to the Mission the road is as good as any in the territory, and money has been subscribed here to build a wagon road from the Mission into the mines. This highway will be direct to the world, and will be the best traveled of any in existence. Without doubt a line of stages will be running from the Falls to the chief town in the Coeur d'Alenes. The report we refer to says, 'the route from Coeur d'Alene Mission to the mines crosses the Coeur d'Alene river thirteen times, and when that stream is swollen by the spring freshets it will be impassable.' It was just for the purpose of remedying this drawback that money was raised and the construction of a road put into the hands of a man capable of carrying out the object intended. We feel perfectly safe in saying that on account of the general surroundings that the road leading into the mines from Rathdrum or Spokane Falls will be open earlier in the spring than any trail into the mines, if indeed it is not open all winter, which is now promised. Furthermore we will state that parties can fit themselves out to a better advantage at Spokane than any point on the road, and we believe that the greater portion of the travel next year will be over the Coeur d'Alene route.