The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-06-15

ID II u -
TIr11RsDAy JUNE Is, 1871.
BEDROCK FLUME.-"In time OF peace pre-
mare for war" is on old maxim, and one which
Is applicable, metaphorically speaking, in many
cases other and different than as suggested by
the literal application Of the maxim itself
Such being the case, it is not inappropriate, in
the midst Of our mining season. when water is
abundant and times are flush, if they ever will
be, to call attention to a subject of vital i'm.
portance to the prosperity of Boise Basin, and
Of the people Of Idaho City particularly, and
that is to the project of bedrock hume in
More creek. That this scheme is feasible, none
will deny; and the immense advantages which
would inure to us from its early construction
is admitted on all hands; and yet it appears
that every one is backward about taking hold
and inaugurating the preliminary steps neces.
sary to the commencement of work on an Gu
terprise which will result in building up our
waning fortunes as mining community, and
to the pecuniary advantage, not only of those
taking stock in the enterprise, but to every
man in the community. Some seem to think
that it would require more money than could
be raised in the Basin to carry on the work
until the fiume should become selfsupporting
Many think otherwise, but are rather timid
about investing their means in what they con-
slider work of such gigantic proportions. If
the necessary capital cannot be raised here, it
certainly can be somewhere else. Capitalists
in Chicago have invested several hundred thou
sand dollars in the Willow creek country, in
building and constructing bitches of such pro-
portions as to be more properly termed canals,
some eighty or ninety miles in length, to min
Ing region which it has not yet been demon.
strated viii pay sufficiently to warrant them in
their outlay, and yet men seem reluctant to in
vest in the project of a bedrock fume in q
stream from the bed of which millions have
been extracted. In the early days of our camp
claim owners in More and Elk creeks wheeled
of on their dumps, and refused to run through
their sluices, acres and acres of top dirt which
it is now known would pay, and may be called
''bit Dirt" while whole sections of hill, bar,
gulch and creek claims were worked in such II
careless manner, with only one or two lengths
Of sluice-bOxes, or with them at such pitch or
fall as to lose more gold than was saved A
fume in the bed of the creek would afford
perpetual dump for all the mining ground on
either side, and joint stock company, in which
oil our miners and claim owners should be in
terested, ought to be organized at as early
day as possible. SO that work could be begun
on the fume as soon rs the present mining sea-
son closes. Those having means can contrib
ute their money, while thnse who have not can
invest their labor, and thus the affair would be
Is home institution, and the proceeds be divided
among the people at home, instead of being
shipped out of the country, rs would BIO the
case if built BY outside capital. We are in
earnest about this matter, and think if our
merchants and leading men would take hold,
with determination Of doing something at
once to further the project, by organizing a
company and opening subscription books for
stock, the bedrock fume would be fixed fact,
and work would be commenced this Fall Talk
won't build it, we want somebody to act, and
the question is, who will show the pluck and
energy to put q shoulder to the wheel