Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-01-01
Burnt River Mines.


our citizens went 10 Willow Creek
last fall: some returned and some re-
NAMED, but All agree as TO the rictl-
ness Of the mines. provided water
could be had to work them. The
fifty mile ditch Of Packwood d Co.,
promises TO obviate this difficulty in
time, but the great length Of the
work. necessarily prolongs the intro
dnction of sufficient water TO supply
any considerable numbes Of mines.
The small streams that are tapped on
the way to the main source in Burnt
River, are incoDsiderable IN them
selves, and all are trying 10 hold out
until the work is completed. Grow
ing weary of the delay, several of
the boys from Owyhee have struck
out in search Of new diggings, and
Adam Assali, in letter to bis friend
Hill, gives the result of their explo-
rati0ns, so far as be and bis imlnedi-
ate company are concerned.
About the LIST Of August, they left
a contract they had on the Burnt
River ditch, in which they had man
aged to sink all the money they had,
and moved up the South Fork on a
prospecting tour. One days journey
up the South Fork, they encamped
in thicket of Service bushes, where
they remained long enough to dry
sufficient of the berries for Winter
use, when they proceeded up the
stream to tributary known as Bull
Run; here they found good prospects
and went to work. On the 18th Of
August, nine men had collected on
the stream, aud on that day formed
the District Of Bull Run, elected
Charles Lynde, Recorder, located
claims and proceeded to the business
of mining in earnest. They find their
diggings to average about eight dol
lars to the man, and as they are I'M
disturbed by outsiders, have no
trouble to hold all the ground they
wish, and are really happy and
contented little colony, undisturbed
by any OF the vanities, frivolities and
gayeties Of fashion, living on the
products Of the soil, they have no
grocer's bills, bar bills, doctors
bills, church contributions, nor other
enlightened schemes for absorbing
their earnings; like Cooper's tabled
inhabitants OF Vulcan's Peak IN an
unknown ocean, they have no cares
nor yexations, beyond the simple
exertion it takes to gather sufficient
food to sustain life. Their amuse-
ments are all innocent, and consist
chiefly in the chase, for which an
abundance Of game affords ample
opportunity. Like Ccoper's happy
colony, they are about to be invaded,
Adam has heard that three more men
and one, II not two, woman are on
their way, trying TO spy Out their
quiet retreat, and that the apple Of
discord is about 10 be introduced.
Lawyers, Doctors and Preachers are
expected to follow. Then, farewell
peace. farewell contentlnent, fare
well innocence.
Adam and his simple companions,
like his ancient name-sake, are hap
py in their little Eden; but Eve is on
her way thitherl a very Pandora. to
open the box of evils. that are to fly
abroad over Bull Run and Jobs
Creek to set the inhabitants by the
ears.
Adam and his party have also Ia
ken claims on Jobs creek which
prospect quite as well as Bull Run.
They are erecting hydraulics there,
paying $500 per NJ, for lumber.
There are other unprospected creeks