Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-10-01
WOOD RIVER.
HER ADVANTAGES GRAPHICALLY
DESCRIBED.
Her Mineral Wealth, Agricultural Fa.
eil1ties, Social Features, ETC., as Told
By tie Receiver Of the HALEY Land
ONCE.

correspondence Oswego (kas.) Independent
HALEY is on Wood River, about "a
miles from where its waters flow into
the Snake river. 1t is a small stream,
no larger than the Labette at or nea,
Chetopa. But, o! the clear, cool
water that rushes down this small
stream, which has descent of 20 feet
to the mile, is so grand, that to one
who IS accustomed to the sluggish
streams OF Southern Kansas, whose
waters are green with filth and skum,
cannot help but admire the country
for even the pure, cold water; and
when we stand ana gaze upon this
pure, sparkling water as it rushes
down over the hundreds of cataracts.
we feel as though We could drink al.
ways and never have enough. The
fish that are found in all these sire ans
are very nice; they are the mountain
trout. 1t is n pleasure to catch these
spry little fellows, and is no less a
pl assure to eat them when thew are
properly served on the table. But
De eve l was speaking of Haley
We ], Haley is a little wooden town,
only two years old, regularly laid out,
but built up of log houses, box houses,
q few neat frame buildings, and some
brick and stone structures. A new
and magnificent courthouse is now un
der construction at cost of $4,000.
"A thrce-story hotel, about the size of
Abbott House, of Parsons, is nearly
enclosed, and many small dwellings
are in course of erection.
What shall say for society? Well,
you know l was never much of So
ciety man when in Kansas. But now
that | am in Idaho | am totally re-
heyed from any of the responsibilities
OF society matters. There are all
classes of people here, so,ae very
wealthy and aristocratic. But when
1 shalt isform you that there are 20
saloons running every day in the year,
and half as many gambling houses
running every day and every night,
and that the best of our business men
can be seen at the midnight hour seat
ed at these gambling tables, you will
not wonder at my isolation from soci-
ETY.. Lawyers procure a retainer or
a fee of $50 or $50 from a client and
the first thing they 10 is to atto.npt to
double the amount by "bucking at the
tiger" Mechanics labor for six DAYS
at % per day; they then get $50 on
Saturday evening, and the first place
they go is to gambling table, there
to double the amount made during
the week, or lose their weeks earn
lngs. Miners, who delve in the mines.
come into Haley on Saturday evening
aud remain until Sunday or Monday
morning, aud gamble away their hard
earned money. Yet after all this
there, is but little drunkenness and
iawlessness. A drunken man is not
n frequent sight, and calaboose and
police force is unknown to the order
OF things, yet occasionally deputy
sheriff chucks man into the county
Jail.
Now let me give you few prices
OF both necessaries as well as luxu.
rles 1t you start out with your mar
ket basket to provide for dinner Won
will be required to pay for Irish pota-
toes 3 cents per pound, sweet potatoes
10 cents per pound, beef 20 cents per
pound. and although the market is full
OF fruit, yet the prices run as follows:
l.ears 20 cents per pound, green APP T.
plies 10 cents per pound, grapes %
ents per pound, tomatoes 25 cents
per pound, peaches rs cents per
pound. There is no nickel change
here, and rarely ten-cent piece is
seen or used. Punched coins 90 all
right, and Mexican as well as trade
dollars as good as any. am told that
whisky at the bar is 25 cents drink.
| merely throw in his last bit of in. ,
formation for the benefit of some of ,
''sr Owego friends who have been talk
ing about coming up herc.) :
There Is All immense amount of
business done here, as hundreds OF
mining camps procure their supplies !
It HALEY, this being the end of the f.,
Wood River Branch of the Oregon t
short Line Railroad. Hundreds of y
'ar-loads of bullion and ore are \
shipped from here to Omaha for snelt
ny and refining. 1t is no unusual t.
hing to see at the freight depot 1000 g
,ars OF silver stacked up awaiting "
Shipment; nor tn Set. ten or fifteen - :"
mule teams hauling bar silver from the t'
,nelters to the depot. There are !, =
"enty OF lawyers here, plenty of doc :,
OTIS, and superabundance of loaf 81
rs. I.ahoring men ale in demand at e
3 per day. Mechanics have been W W
ute busy and in demand, but work " "
) now little slack. Carpenters get
- per day, stone and bricklavers $. 70
er day. painters IS per day, and d.
r'ckmakers from - to IS per dav. +,
Now will speak of the surround
Y country that is tributary to Hal.