The Ketchum keystone. (Ketchum, Idaho) 1881-1884, 1884-06-14
PRGTgACTED RAINS.
Their Damage to the Country's Pro-
gross. Shipping Operations sus-
pended.
Reads Ruined and Bridges Washed
Away Agriculture and Placer Min
Ing Benefited.

HIS 4fttt&4At#afiE
The excessive rasns nos casting
eloofn over the Inhabitants OF Wood
River have continued daily for the past
three weeks There has been but few
i3onFs Of sunshine during the entire
time, and Is i rule tie rain mas been UNI
tisuaIig heavy che roads. wherever
soft, IRE in depId1abie condition, and
The monntain streams are perfect tor
rents. Bridges have been washed from
the mouth Of Deer creek, at Broadford.
on warm Springs creek and in several
other mountain gilches, necessitating
the suspension OF ore shipments from
the Minnie Moore aud Dayitt mines, and
retarding operations to a great measure
in our own vicinity.
The present continuous rainfall is I'M
paraiielled in the history of Wood Riv-
er. Many portions Of Idaho to which
/ the rains extend have, with the excep-
l ton Of three or four seasons, never ex-
/ perienced the like before; but Boise,
! Nez Perez, Idaho, Kootnai
and Lemhi counties, where agriculture
and placer mining are, the lending in
eustries, are like other agricultural por-
I tions OF the Territory, largely indebted
to the rains for their prosperity. On
the other hand, AIturas and perhaps
i ShosIlone counties, chiefly place
their dependence upon the progress of
i lode mining, and consequently look for
a condition of thoroughfares that viii
enable them to carry on an extensive
transportation of merchandise, machin-
cry. ores and bullion.
AS whole, there is no doubt that the
excessive rains of this season are a great
/ benefit to the Territory OF Idaho, and
we can see some signs of its good work
in our own county. But agriculture
and stock raising are here secondary
pursuits. We must have first is that
condition best suited to the prosperity
4 of mining enterprise. And that means
abundance of dry weather and good
roads. If in succeeding years the eli
mate of this region should change suffi-
cient to cause very great increase in
moisture, our mining operators must
then begin to turn their attention to
some means of obyiating the evil infin-
ence. Higher roads will be the only STEP
required to overcome the effect of any
amount of rain, and these, of course
can be constructed only at great out
lay The cost, however. of perfectins
highways that water will not damage
viii be small mite in comparison tt
the visible wealth that depends upor
them for utilization. There are many
things to contend with in the develop
ment of every new region. and the secre
of the little disappointment that MAJ
now be felt by Wood River mining an(
milling men lies in the fact that mature
|, has from the start been too kind to them
! Natural roads, water and feed in abund
| ance, and many other blessings hay,
I contributed to the rapid development 0
j this region for the past three years
Nothing was to be effected save the i'm
| mediate market of mineral whereye
! discovered. In fact, our chances Nigh
have been better in the long run ha
we been compelled to contend with som
of the disadvantages in rugged trail
and dense timber that have character
lied the Occur d'Alene. Thus our pee
pie have been in short measure spoile
: in the assumption that they have onI
!. to discover mineral while nature con
ducts the work. Wholly unprepare
for reverses, they regard the preser
{ case with much sullen surprise, and Al
| unprepared to take immediate steps ft
the country's relief.