Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-07-28
ALTURAS COUNTY.

Her Brilliant Future-Her Valleys
Become Famous for Their Fruit
Wood Rivers Mines-A Natural Pa
adise.
DR.. Wright, a druggist of Bots
City, writes from Wood River to tn
Democrat, of that place, under dat
of July Il, as follows:
l have been travelling some week
in this country for health and pleasure
and also noting matters pertaining t
ihe present and future, have collected
deal of information about the mine
and resources of this country, bu
will have time to only mention few
matters in this letter.
The most attractive features Of
Wood River valley are the facilltie.
for making beautiful homes, in one Of
the finest climates in the world. The
soil is exceedingly fertile and easily
brought under cultivation, and the
adjacent hills and mountains afford
summer range for cattle that can
never be exhausted. The Il ain val
ley, with contiguous smaller valleys,
affords room for a thousand farms,
and is as yet scarcely touched with the
pillow. The valleys are intersp,rsed
with numerous cold springs, and
small streams that afford the best ia
cilities for farming and dairying in all
necessary water power, aud the land
is so situated as to be fine proper
ton adapted to either grain, hay, or
orchards and vineyards. The climate
in summer is inconparably the fines;
l ever enjoyed, and exceedingly beau-
tiful and invigorating, and the winters
are not near SO rigorous rs in the New
England States, New York, Ohio, or
the Lake Shore country. The coun-
try is full ofgame and fish, and affords
unsurpassed facilities for trout.raising,
should the natural supply become linn
tied by continuous catching.
The Wood River Branch of the
Oregon Short Line runs through the
valley, and affords safe communica-
ton with all the world at any season
Of the year. The mines, Which are
becoming famous for their extent and
richness, afford a good market at high
figures for everything that can be
produced, and partly surround the
valleys and extend one hundred miles
up the river. These valleys, like the
valley OF the B Use, are destined to
become famous for the fine quality Of
fruit they will produce, as every con.
dition necessary for the perfection Of
fruit exists here as they do in Boise,
only little more favorably. Garden
ing is carried on extensively around
Bellevue, and never saw finer veg.
etables. Sim Goblc has few acres
OF Australian spring wheat, which
looks very fine and will soon be ready
for the sickle. He has already cut his
barley. Clover, timothy and red tip
arc fine crops on the lower lands.
] could enlarge upon the foregoing
facts and speak in glowing terms of
the future of this country, but it is
not necessary. The overcrowded pop
ulation Of the East must DRIFT West,
and nowhere will they find nearer a
natural paradise than the Wood River
valley, or naturally beautiful coun-
try more easily embel'ishcd and made
perfect for the habtation of man
and | may say, fortunate will be the
people who first take permanent pos
session of this country.
In traversing this county (Alturas)
! have made some estimates of the
capacity of the country for stock rails
ing, a..d am satisfied if the country
was all occupied, this county could
sell annually ten thousand head of
cattle and horses, besides the products
OF the farms and orchards. The
many resources of the country are
scarcely noticed or touched vet, and
even the most careful observer can
only guess at the future wealth of this
section.
AZ l were young man again l
would not want better opening for
making fortune than Bellevue will
afford in business, or the valleys of
Wood river, for farming, stockraisinc,
dalrying, fruit growing, or fish cul.
ture, with the additional pleasure of
living in one Of the most desirable
climates iii the world, and the priv.
lege OF making dash out into the
mountains occasionally for deer, elk,
bear and grouse by way OF pastime.
Yours truly, ]. Is. WElGur,