Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-05-14
THE LOST RIVER COUNTRY.
ITS MINERAL AND AGRICULTURAL
RESOURCES.
The Latest "i'OOr Mans" Paradise
Al All.Year Stock Range, Fertile Land
and Rich Mines Homes aud Fortunes
for the Taking-Etc.

Al All.Year Stock Range, Fertile Land
and Rich Mincs-Homes aud Fortunes
for the Taking-Etc.
But little news has been received
this season, as yet, from Lost River,
though number of parties of pros
pectors and land seekers have recently
gone there from here, from whom fav-
orable reports are expected soon.
The valley Of Lost River is much
wider and longer than that Of Wood
River, and contains thousands of acres
of fertile soil adapted to iarming,lying
in the most favorable shape and with
abundance of water fol irrigation.
That part Of the valley known as the
islands, where the river divides into
two streams, at the lower end, is
natural meadow covered with luxu-
RANT growth Of native grass, affording
pasture for extensive herds, and wild
hay in almost any quantity. The tim
Der along the stream is small and
sparse, with comparatively lit lie under
brush, and the stream for twenty-five
miles or more below the narrows is
frinced with low, wet lands, we'll COW
cred with grass nearly the whole dis
lance. These lands in many places
have been during the past year fenced
and seeded with timothy and other
grasses, greatly increasing the yield as
we'll as improving the quality. The
interval lands are rich and deep, and
composed OF sedimentary loan and
fine gravel, covered with a heavy
growth of sage. There are no bould-
ers or cobbles, and the river shows no
indications of freshets or overflow.
These interval lands produce large
crops of cereals Of all varieties, except
Indian corn, and enormous yields OF
potatoes, carrots, turnips and other
root crops. The season is not long
and Of the small grains oats and bar.
ley seem better adapted to spring
planting, but there is no reason why
winter wheat could not be successfully
and proitably cultivated.
When the population shall justif,
it, some enterprising man will build !
mill and supply the people with hou
ground from their own wheat. Their
is fine timber in the mountains OF
either side the valley, and sawmil
recently started supplies excellent lum
Der at low rates. The records of tn
HALEY Land Office show that man.
people are taking lands under the pre-
emption, homestead and desert laws
and there is room for hundreds Of fam
lies to secure farms on good soil, in
good climate, in growing countr
where the increase in value OF the.
lands alone will soon make them indie
pendent. The stage road and ma
route from Blachfoot, on the L. & y
Railroad, to Chalis and the mines c
Custer county, extends the Who'll
length Of this valley, bringing dali
mails and atlording good trayelin
facilities.
To the farmer and stock man, Their
are no better opportunities in ldah
than here. 1t is one of the few place
in the mountains where cattle can b
left on the range during the wintt
months with safety. The Snake Rive
Valley receives stock from most othe
summer ranges in the winter, but he,
cattle are permitted to remain All
they thrive all the year. The Mormon
are getting a foot-hold in the lowe
end of the va!ley--a number of fam
lies having gone in last year-b,
there are already Genfiles enough
prevent ITS becoming Mormon con
munity.
The mountains abound in minera
and Lost River promises tor!val Woo
River in the production OF silver an
lead. The country is very new an
scarcely prospected. Many claims al
being slowly developed, and the show
ing last year was very encouraging
The ore is not high grade, but tn