Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-11-19
WOOD RIVER.
Her Delightful Climate and Magnificent
Agricultural PrOducts-Large Pota-
toes and an Enormous Tnrnip-Etc.

correspondence CsWeRo tkaS) independent.
HALEY, Idaho, Oct. 20, 1888.
Ed. Independent:-No doubt you
imagine that we are navigating this
country on snow shoes. But if so |
desire to disabuse your minds by CIV
ing you some items of
THE WEATHER,
which is very pleasant at this time. l
believe | have said that it never rams
in Idaho. If so have misstated the
facts for it has rained six days contin-
ually, and I supposed ere this we
would be completely showed in, but
the rain has ceased and bright sun
shine follows and the weather is de-
lightful. Stone and brick masons are
still at work, and even in the last two
days three new brick buildings have
been started, and the contractors agree
to finish them before Christmas. AL
though the snow capped mountains
meet your eye in every direction, yet
there Seems to be but little prepare
ton to go into winter quarters. The
fanchmen have scarcely begun har-
vesting their immense potato crops,
hot fearing for moment that they
will lose by the early freeze. We
have had only on one occasion ice
which froze to the thickness of IL win
dow glass. The days are quite pleas
ant most Of the time and we need but
little fife In our Office. We are blest
With ten hours out of each twenty four
with Goods eternal s,ushine,' and he
who loves sunshine rather than clouds
can be fully pleased with this climate
Mrs. w. says: "Although the face
of the country is so rough and the val
leys so narrow, yet there is SON cthing
about this country that is very attract
i've and fascinating" l don't know
myself WHY it is, but | like the coun-
try more and more as the seasons pass
by. j. II. Crichton hiss been here for
several weeks and seems to be well
pleased with the country.
\ + - r
Bear deer, antelope and elk are be-
cosning plentiful in the mountains
hear HALEY, as the SHOWS in the
mountains north Of us are driving them
down to where there ia no snow.
Wagons arrive daily ladenei with
deer and antelope which are sold at
six ceEts per pound. desire now to
speak of what | have seen in the way
of the
PRODUCTS OF TIE COUNTRY.
Some time since | was shown sev.
eral potatoes which weighed one
pound and quarter each and
thought they were as large as ha!
ever seen in Kansas, but was not
much attracted by this exhibit. But
few days after ranclnan came into
~ Office and brought me four pota-
toes, which were so very largo as to
attract my attention, and weighed
them and they weighed eight pounds,
or two pounds each. put them in a
box, nailed them up and was in the act
of sending them to Kansas for exhi-
bition when Mr.. McCnlloch, formerly
of humboldt. Kansas, told me to wait
a few days, that one of his clients who
had a contest in the Land Office
pending, would be up and bring some
large potatoes. asked him what he
called those. He said they were
merely nice ones, but not large.
| accordingl Y waited, and at length
his man came and brought the pota-
toes. took the largest one and
weighed it, and it turned the scales at
f ur and half pounds then re-
solved to send that tuber to Kansas
But ere l had done SO, "a Mr.. Miner,
who lives four miles south of here,
came IN and presented me with Il sin
gle potato that weighed seven ana
one-half pounds. have now resolved
to await results and not send you a
potato until | can secure one that
weighs at least quarter Of a hun
dred, which hope to have before the
potato harvest is over. | have now,
IN my Office and LAYING in front of
where | write, a monstrous turnip-
the common white turnip-which
weighs * and three-fourths pounds,
and measures So in;hes in circum-
ference.
This is now October %. and the
horses and cattle that belong in Halle,
are yet fat and have not been fed any,
nor won't be for another month or
more. | do not think we have to feed
here any greater number OF DAYS than
we do in Kansas. and perhaps not So
many, but shall pay personal atten-