Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-02-06
WOOD RIVER.
How this Region Impresses a Success
full and Travelled Business Man.

L. Slebenhauer, a we'll known cigar
manufacturer, laid over in HALEY last
Saturday and left to-day for San
francisco. He is on his way home
from Havana, where he went to secure
his annual stock of cigars aud tobac-
CO, for use at his extensive manufac-
tories in Key West, Fla, and San
Francisco, Cal.
Havana, Mr.. Sicbenhauer states, is
night town. That is, during the
day the streets and wharves are com.
paratively deserted, and all who can
enjoy their siesta. From IL in the
morning to 4 O'Clock in the afternoon
the city is almost dead; then business
begins and is continued far into the
night. TIE business men generally
retire from 2 to 6 o'clock in the
morning, aud sleep until 10 O'Clock.
After that the heat is intolerable, and
everybody's principal occupation is
tanning themselves and drinking iced
punches, sherbets, cobblers, etc.
Key West, Mr.. Siebenhauer says,
is a town of $4,000 population: of
whom $4,000 are cigar makers-men,
women and children all following that
sole industry Of the place. There is
not even a second class hotel in Key
West, nor a restaurant equal to the
cheapest in Haley. \ few groceries
constitute the mercantile establish
ments. There is no store Of any kind
NOT even a clothing store-about
the only demand i'll that line being
for one or two pairs of overalls per
male individual per annnm, and for a
few patterns of cheap calico and cheap
underclothes. Every thing consumed
is brought in from the outside, and
fresh milk has never been seen in the
place. This, Mr.. Siebenhauer says,
is pretty much the state of affairs all
over Florida. Even at Jacksonville,
where the charges are IS per day, the
Everett-the leading hotels a frame
building, and the accommodations and
bill of fare are much inferior to those
at either the Alturas or Merchants
Hotel, in this city. This lack of suit
able accommodations and the exces
sive heat (which is unbearab!e except
during December, January, February
and March) has just about killed the
Florida "boom," and hotels with ac-
commolations for 600 or 700 guests
are now lucky indeed to secure 100
to $50.
Mr.. Sirbenhauer formerly resided
on the Comstock lode, in Virginia
City, New, where he was President of
the Turn-verein and kept clga,
store. He is therefore greatly inter
es,ed in mining matters, and keeps
Informed of ehc stage of development,
in the various districts. He thinks
there is not the least doubt but
that Wood River will soon get to the
| very front rank of mining regions.
This may require another year or two
but it is bound to come. Still, even
at present, Mr.. Siebenhauar thinks
that we have not much to complair
of. In 1880 no business man would
have paid $1,000 for the entire Woo
Rivor region unless he wanted it fo
a cattle. range; while now twent,
millions of dollars would not buy it
This is an enormous increase of value
in itself; yet if our Gold Belt prop
critics ever change hands, this valua
ton will be sma compared with tina
Of the property that will be created
or developed. If Mr.. Sieben
hauer were footloose to-day, and OF
the hunt for a new locality to start i,
business, Wood River would probabl
be his first choice.