Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-04-06
HELENA, SALT LAKE, OR PORT
LAND2

:tnfee cItleS naWeQ IN the ,neau1nk oI
this article shall we of Wood River
enrich with our trade?
Since the FIRST settlement Of Wood
River we have been like rudderless
ship at sea--foating at the caprice Of
the waves, sending our trade and the
net product of our mines here and
there, without choice for any particu
lar locality. Now that we are getting
older, that our region is demonstrat-
ing tho existence and value of mex
haustible mines, we will have to unite,
;tacitly 1t may be, but decidedly, on
,some one locality, some city to which
we will send our trade, where we will
take our mines and their product Tor
sale, aud where we will invest the
surplus which we will realize until
such time when we shall have grown
sufficiently to require it ourselves.
Shall it be Salt Lake, Portland, or
Helena? The FIRST named is the near.
est and best known to us. With it
we have had close relations from the
first. Our banks, leading mine own
ers, and few Of our principal bust
,ness men came from there. Our
merchants got into the habit of order.
ing JOB lots from there, our mine pro-
moters looked there for encourage
inent and support, our miners and
families went there for longer or
shorter season of relaxation. The
Minnie Moore, Queen of the Hills,
Bullion, Ophir, Carrie Leonard, and
others of our best properties were, OF
still are, owned there. The Haley
and Bellevue banks are controlled
frot1. that point. But Salt Lake has
scarcely been anything more than a
convenience to us. The hundreds oil
thousands of dollars realized here by
Salt Lakers in quick turns, and with.
out scarcely any outlay, have been
pagesly snatchcd away and lost-yes
l,st-elsewhcre. We uight ever
give figures for nearly half-a million
Of money made here which was $,
squaudcred in wagcrs on the las
Presidential election, or in London
Paris, St. Paul, Denver, Salt Lake
Or elsewhere. To be sure, half-a
million or SO is not much money fol
older localities; but in new region
where little if any outside capital has
been invested, it is q great deal o.
money. If spent here that half a
million dollars might have uncovered
81 mines worth millions each.
This Is Il fair sample Of the treat
mvnt this region ha, experienced a
the hands Of the Salt L.kcvs. n
present many of then, see their mis-
take. They know that little as
sistance extended to US during the
past FIVE years would have put us or
such footing that we would have
been tributary to them for ever; bu,
at the same time they know that the
golden opportunity has been lost
that they can never regain the bulk
OF our trade.
A couple Of years ago we began
looking to Portland. That city was
at that time the second in importance
on the Pacific Coast. Its geographic
al situation made it our natural sea
port-the very point to which W.
should ship our ores, send our trade
and draw our supplies The mer.
chants there have shown great eager
ness 20 get our trade; but they have
not extended us the least accommo.
dat'on. AS to our mines, they seem
to be entirely ohiivious to their ex,s-
tence. Even the managers of their
smelling works, while avowcdly anx-
ious Tor our ores, have failed to give
US rates that would induce us to sell
to them. The city by the Willamette
seems to lie controlled by such soon
serva.ive" ilras that it is gradually
losing the place which it has occupied,
ami Which i. should continue to &C.
cupy. From the second place, Port.
Ianl has already dropped to the fourth
or fifth among the cities Of the Pacific
slope ami coast. While Others ad,
vance with giant strides it remains
Stationary.
Helena, Montana. S, ems 70 be b. gin
ing to realize something o: our ac-
tual and future importance, and prom.
ises to come to our relief. Extensive