The Ketchum keystone. (Ketchum, Idaho) 1881-1884, 1884-03-12
CGUR D'ALENR PLACERx


The great Occur d.Alcnc stampede
extending from Atlantic to Pacific, ifom
Manitoba to Mexico, will exert \ great
but silcnt influence over the approach
ing era Of our substantial mining, sgri-
cultural and commercial industries. 1t
will check and possibly kill the develop
ment OF many grand but slow growth
enterprise; 1t will depopulate towns; It
will break up the peace Of many a hap
ply home; 1t will cause many friends and
many lovers TO behold each other for
the last time; II will change tho resting
place of many mn innocent heart from
the churchyard 10 the gallows; 1t will
cause many crime and many pair OF
boots to swing 10 tho western breeze
before they are half worn. But all this
Is never thought Of by the needless
throng OF victims to the gold fever who
rush pcli NELL to the excitment. The
Neg Perse News makes the following
common sense comment upon the
situation.
"We have been repeatedly asked to
give mn opinion relative to the Occur
dAlene mines. We have no doubt ut all
that there liz gold in these mines; in
fact TINT they are among the best that
have been discovered since the first dis
covery OF gold In California. The testi-
mony to this effect comes In one almost
unbroken stream; IL Ia one-side, like a
jug handle; and SO many witnesses can
not be mistaken. There is gold in the
Occur dAlene mines, and many thou
sands Of dollars will be taken out the
coming season. We must add, however,
that only very few Of those who go to
them will save anything. Yet they
should, because these mines, in one es-
sential respect, are unlike any other
OF which we have my knowledge. In
all other good placer mines heretofore
cicoyered on this Coast, provisions, clo-
thing and everything the miner needed
were very high; but in the Occur Alene
mines everything the miner needs will
DO very reasonable, owing to sharp COM
petition and to their close proximity to
the railroad. We do not write this to
"boom" these mines OF all They are
being Doomed all over the United
States, and in few more weeks at least
twenty thousand persons will be in the
mines trying to better their condition.
Our advice to our friends is,--if you are
making II living IL you have regular
business, such as raising grain. stock,
etc. You had better remain mt home,
and let well enough alone. No doubt
a few will make money; say about five
per cent :--ail the rest will come out ut
the little end OF the horn they will
make money In tbeir-mind, only.
There will be--in fact is now,--any
number Of claims jumped. Also, n good
many fellows will "pass in their checks"
with their boots on" and there will be
much litigation. In nearly every case
where rich mine is discovered it will
be jumped, mo matter how good the til
tie may be--and will be held for a time,
Ut least, by mere brute force. The cele-
hrated widows Claim" is case in
point. Il belongs to widow whose
name Is Edginton. II was recorded for
her by Mr.. Pritchard, who is under obli-
cations 10 her for tho assistance which
enabled him to discover these mines;
and the Exterior Department has decid-
ed that he has right 10 net rs mn attor-
ney in locating mining ground for her;
and yet men have banded together and
jumped it: and have taken out 500, 900
or $4,000 already;-a sum sufficient to
enable them 10 fight her in the Courts.
and II may he wrest il from her by hard
swearing and leagal :echnicalities. She
Is now ut Rathdrum waiting to go into
the mines; and as she is woman OF
much determination, the jumpers no
doubt will hear from her ere long We
hope she may be Successful. We repeat
what we have already said: II you are
doing reasonably we'll. you had better
stay at home and let we'll enough alone
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