Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1878-12-20
GOVERNOR BRAYMAN's REPORT.

Governor Brayman for the year 1878
to the Interior Department on the
mineral and agricultural resources OF
Idaho, with minor topics. 1t was IN
doubtedly made out in haste, and is
not as complete as we would like to
see it. H. speaks Of mining and ag-
riculture III a general sense, and his
opinions, which are printed in pamph-
let form. will be looked upon by peo-
pie of the East as being as favorable
to our interests as he could express
them without prevarication. But
there are many thing he could have
mentioned that would have made his
report worth considerable to our Ter
ritory, which is, as yet, comparatively
speaking, in its infancy. In speaking
of the mineral products, he says:
Gold and silver are the leading re-
sources of Idaho The discovery OF lis
mines induced the first influx OF adven-
turers. Notwithstanding the falling OF In
the production of ores, the search Tor and
developing OF mines is the leading indus
try; all othors, including agriculture, are
subsidiary to this"
The statement that the production
of ore is decreasing, without stating
in what localities the decrease Is, or
any explanatory note whatever, Will
do the Territory no good On read
ing the above statement, stranger
would without doubt come to the con-
clusioa that Idaho was at one time a
great quartz mining country, but that
the mines are being worked out, aud,
as consequence, the Territory Is
declining. That the first influx was
induced To come here to mine Is very
true, but il was to extract gold from
placer ground that they came. The
richestof the ground was soon worked
cut, and during the following few
years our population decreased very
rapidly, which has been the case in al!
countries where the people depended
solely on placer mining During the
placer excitement some quartz mines
were discovered, principally at Silver
City, and they attracted attention
abroad. In the fall of 1915 a rcacs
ton took place, ard since that time
most Of the mines there have not been
worked to any great extent The
whole Territory has felt the bloN
given 10y discouraging reports from Sill
yer City that followed During the
last two years the gold and silver
mines discovered at Bonanza City
better known as Yankee Frk-havc
been attracting the attention Of capi-
talists, and the result is that Saveral
experts lave visited that country this |
year, and they unite i'll appIaudlng the |
richness Of the lodges, which arc nu-
merous aud wide. The Atlanta uinr, !
Us well rs several others Of AlturaS !
county, has gained reputation abroad,
while rev and prosperous era is
dawning upon the mines Of Boise
county. With the exception Of Owy-
hee county, the amount Of ore extract
cd has been gradually increasing ever
since attention was attracted To quartz
mining. As consequence, we are
gaining population, which will be
permanent, as our resources are vast,
and the climate mild and exceedingly
healthy.
The valleys are all rich agricultural
districts, as are also the table lands
and sage brush lains. Most, if tot !
all, of the table lands will be irrigated !
bv artificial means at some future time,
l,ut AZ tie expense would be more
than the people Of Southern Idaho are /
ii present able to siand. W. hope Cou- !