Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-01-11
FROM LOST RIVER.

hHc EdTncES LApcctIuS DcstCH AHNCS
for Their Produce In the Spring
The Cattle Fat and Thrifty-En.
couraginy Reports from the Mines
Etc.
To THE EDITOR OF THE TINES:
A Happy New Year to you and your
readers. everywhere.
Here in our corner of the moral
vineyard, where the old year has left
a few lines of prosperous burrows, not
withstanding many reverses and ex-
pectations as yet unrealized, we can
still see many signs of substantial i'm
provement, and we march into 'S6 to
the music of progress and trusting
that it will bring the dawn of better
day for Lost River.
Here, ON the island, the old bach.
elor farmers still hold the fort and,
of course, many of the claims show
little signs of improvement, still less
of permanent residence, being held
entirely on the represent" principle.
All Of the farmers here who have
devoted their time to farming, have
succeeded in raising fine crops Of
everything they attempted to cult
vate. The low prices which prevailed
during the fall for all kinds of pro-
duce, was rather discouraging to those
whose necessities forced them to sell
ut once, but it now seems certain that
in the spring there will be ample de-
mand, at good prices, for all, and
more than all, that has been raised
here.
The winter has, so far, been very
mild and the weather is still pleasant,
with scarcely an inch of snow on the
ground. ...
Cattle and horses are looking fat
and thrifty, and will doubtless winter
in fine shape. Meanwhile there are
hundreds of tons OF the best of hay,
for which there is little or no demand,
and hundreds of acres where the
grass was left uncut. This shows
what an opportunity is here presen ted
for the stockman, as well as the farmer,
aud what an anomalous condition of
affairs Is here presented, when on
every quarter section of virgin soil,
untouched by the pillow, we find sim
ply little squatter's cabin of cotton
wood logs, occupied at intervals by a
long haired, smoke begrimed old
bachelor, who knows nothing and cares
less about farming, and is merely
holding on until some one comes
along and buys him out. Of course
there are many exceptions to this; fol
there a dozen or more families OH the
island, and all of them without ex.
ception, are intelligent and thrifty
people, whose genial hospitality adds
much, in a social way, and make:
life more endurable, even to the OLD
baches, and besides our Lost River
old bach, in spite of his uncouth anG
unnatural surroundings, is the soul o.
hospitality, and the stranger With,
his gates is made welcome to the hes
of cheer over his diet of bacon, beans
potatoes and coffee.
Many of our old baches passed thu
holidays in the gloom and solitude O
their cabins. They seemed to hav,
renowned the pomp and vanity O
this world, and opportunity is lacking
for them to d;sobey the rest of tina
pious admonition.
AT Houston, although the suspen
sion of mining operations has cast
gloomy cloud over the hitherto brigh
S prospects of the place, and very hare
t times prevail, they still entered wit
Y hearty zest into the festivities of tn
e holiday season, and by invitation O
its hospitable citizens, about so couple
assembled on Christmas night an,
participated in grand ball, whic
, was the social event of the season O
Lost River.
The smelling furnace at Cliff, an
all of the mines, are idle, but it
= confidently expected that the difficu
ties of the smelling company will b
adjusted and work resumed in til
spring. s'
:" Reports from the mines of Law
:, Creek and Champagne are very Ell
- couraging, and the farmers of til
:. :. part of the valley, being equally dista'