The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1876-12-30
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MINES OF IDAHO.

gold within its limits in 1860 it rapidly
gained public attention in Oregon, Califor-
MIA and States east OF the Rockies, and
thousands 6ocked to it eager to reap some
OF it's golden products. This iugress EN-.
oraced all classes, the miner, mechanic,
merchant, the men of the professions, and
the farmer. till in 1864 Idaho was estimated
to contain upwards OF 80, 900 adult persons,
engaged in different pursuits and nearly all
making money, at a more rapid rate than
they could elsewhere. The gross product
OF our mines for several years was not less
than $lo,ooo,Ooo each year, and nearly
every dollar of this was dur from the plac-
ers. About one.third of the population
were employed for six m onths in each year
IN digging the gold. The remainder were
engaged in other pursuits incident to min.
ing and providing supplies, save quite a
large portion who were merely bummers,
gamblers and hangers on, and receiving
their support from those who labcred.
Times were then considered good because
every one had money. OF the 10000 who
actually dug the gold the average of each
man for six months in the year was full
$1,000. Who could ask for greater pros
perity? But where now is the gold product
OF these several years successful mining?
Is it in Idaho? We fail to see it or know
fit. So far aswe who are yet in Idaho
are concerned i has ''gone where the wood
oine twinethT Wanton and extravagant
habits, improvident and unskilled manage.
ment have suffered the greater portion of
this money to escape our grasp and 70
abroad to enrich other States and Territor-
les. We have not enough left OF tho orig
inal product Of our mines, for poke. pieces
to each inhabitant. Traders, spectators
and gamblers have all taken advantage Of
our necessities, our carelessness and loose
habits and filtered from our reach all thi.
money and left for other places.
At this day our placers are greatly re.
duced in value so that where in 1923 and
4, men could dig from $40 to $50 per day
per man, they cannot now obtain more
than from ST. to s. per day, and in many
Of these placers fifty-cent china diggings
are not now found. No new, and rich dis
coveries are now found to supplant the
worn out diggings. Blu. Idahois Jet rich
mineral region. Here quartz mines which
for ages have been feeding and supplying
tho placers which we have nearly exhausted
still remain and their real value and canac.
ity to reproduce wealth to the Territory 10
only in few isolated instances foreseen BY
our people. The poor Of the Territory
shrink back from the quartz mines because
they know they have not the requisite cap
ital to operate them successfully. The rich
men Of the Territory are mostly confined
to merchants and supply men, and they
never study how to get tho gold from tho
earth, and seldom bestow dollar towards
An enterprise that has mining for ito object,
but they simply study how they shall get
it from the pockets Of those who have it al.
ready extracted from the earth. 1t is in
this FIX We End Idaho Territory At the pres
ent time. Nearly every dollar Of capital
that is invested in quartz mining enter
prises In the Territory, is owned abroad
aud Is controlled by men living abroad,
and as mattel of natural sequence they
never study the interests Of Idaho Territory |
or its Inhabitants. This is plainly appar-
ent from the fact that several Of the rich
companies operating in Owyhee and Altur-
as counties refuse to pay without suit the
taxes levied upon their property here in
support oft government which protects
1t and them while operating, and also re-
fsing 10 pay the laborsrs employed in the