Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-03-09
LOST RIVER.
A NEWSY BUDGET FROM A BRIGHT
CORRESPONDENT.
Farmers, StOckmen, Mines and Miners
-Corn-Fed Girls-Old Lost River
SStiffs -

~ The EDITOR OF THE TIAfEs:-
"A dull and quiet winter has nearly
passed over our Lost River, and now
all signs indicate an early spring. We
have had but little very cold weather,
and the snow, which at its greatest
depth was about ten inches, is nearly
gone, scarcely two inches remaining
on the ground.
Ihe farmers are arranging their
fences and Improvements and all.
without exception, are preparing to
put in a large amount of seed this
year. In speaking of the farmers 7.
of course, do not mean the old
"oaches" who, as a rule, are mainly
miners and prospectors rather than
farmers, and who, if the season is dull
in that line of business, will simply
DO an increased amount of ''represent
ing" In fact, it seems evident. that
the old Lost River sstiff'' is failure
as a farmer.
All the cattle and horses have win
tered in good condition and, even
now, the green grass is beginning to
show on the hillsdes and sagebrush
mesas that are bare of snow. In the
meantime, there is very large guam
tlty of hay in the valley, for which
there is no demand, and which will
necessarily be held over.
The people here are just beginning
to realize the possibilities of this
country, as a wheat-growing section,
although crops of that, as we'll as
other grain, have heretofore been sat
lstactory, in yield and quality. Mr..
Pickett, one of the first settlers here,
has been very successful for several
seasons in growing winter wheat, for
which this valley is admirably adapted.
He, and his son ed" have 40 acres
sown, none of which has been winter
killed, and from which they expect a
yield of so or GO bushels per acre.
James Edster has been very success
full with barley and rye, raising 100
bushels to the acre. He will SOW a
larger amount this year. Messrs.
Swanson, Moe, Mathews and others
will put in larger acreage this year.
Some of the desert entrymen are
beginning to bestir themselves, as tie
time will soon come when they must
show something more substantial than
filing receipt and water right for
a whole section of land.
The greatest need of this country,
at present, is Touring mill, and it is
surprising that such sure and paying
investment should have been so long
neglected. Geo. E. Ferris, of Ferris
Bros, says that it is the intention OF
his company to put up an extensive
merchant or custom mill, at Arco
where they have about a thousand
acres of land claims, and are making
many improvements. When such an
enterprise is once started, it is evi
dent that Touring mills at other points
in the valley will soon be needed, fol
it will be impossible for one mill tc
supply the demand. Over 100000
pounds of -four are now imported an,
nually, mainly from Utah, for Lost
River alone, outside of the mining
districts, besides far larger quantities
that 60 through here to Bayhorse
Challis, etc. All of this is but 1.-THE
of what this valley can, in few years
export, and for which there will be
ample demand in the mining districts
near by. In fact, it is surprising how
little is known of this valley by the
outside world; its vast extent of ara
BILE land, its almost boundless summer
stock ranges, its mild, equable climate
and its abundance of water, timber
ETC., to say nothing of its mining pos
sibilites; all of which make it not al
unreasonable prediction that 1t will
in the near future, furnish homes anc
subsistence for many thousands o
people.
1t is hoped that Dr. Rice will no
overlook this section, in the DISPOSE
ton of his colony, for he can scarcely
direct them to a more promising field
OF course, nearly all the most avail
able land is already claimed upon the
surveyed portion of the valley, which
includes the greater portion OF the is
land, extending about eight mile