Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-12-21


Hogs, 1875 head .... 66G 90
Other personal property,
not enumerated go. 44,655 80
Total .............l .16l,T7l 40
This county was created by act OF
the Legislature at its last session, out
of the county of Alturas. The legal
ity of the act has been called in ques-
ton, and the issue is now before the
Supreme Court of the United States.
The appeal to the Supreme Court,
however, did not act as u stay oil pro-
ceedings, and my predecessor com
missioned proper county officers.
The organization OF Gilmore county is
complete, though no adjustment of its
proportion of the debt OF Alturas
county has been made.
The sources Of wealth in Elmore
county are fourfold, quartz mining
placer mining, forestry, and stock
raising. Near the northern boundary
of this county is the town of Atlanta.
the Oldest quartz mining town Of
Southern Idaho. Twenty years ago,
unusually large investments Of capital
in machinery and mining develo pment
were made at this place, and for a
time the output OF gold was enormous.
Why these great mines have remained
unopened for half generation is not
known to the public. Disagreement
and litigation among owners are said
to be part OF the causes OF this unfor-
tunate state Of affairs. The place il
also quite difficult of access, and min-
ing operations here require very large
capital. The best informed believe
that the time il not far distant when the
famous mines Of Atlanta will reopen
their treasurers.
Sixteen miles to the south OF At
lanta and GO miles north Of Mountain
Home is Rocky Bar, the present
county seat. At or near this place
about 90 mines are in course OF devel.
opment. Expeni i've mills and ma
; chinery have been introduced, and
strong companies control the field
During the year 1883, the yield o.
gold reached over half million
dollars and it was thought she yield 0
this year would greatly exceed this
J but early in March both mill anS
mine owners became convinced tina
there would not be sufficient water fo
mill purposes this season. Hence
their operative forces were reduced
and development work only continued
by a limited lumber OF men. Thu
same causes have led TO the Temporal,
abandonment OF mining operations IL
, parts of the new Pine Grove district
} But the companies owning the lead
! ing properties in both the Rocky Ba
| and Pine Grove mining districts ar
| we'll supplied with capital and abb.
managed, and there is every reason u
believe that after the fall OF the snow
of the coming winter, the operation
mines and mills will be continued OF
Q the largest scale, and a general rev
y val of business will certainly follow.
:, The low water in the streams thi
season has exposed 10 view the extrs
y ordinary riches OF the sands OF Bots
q and snafe rivers and their tributaries
!. and preparations are making 10
, larger operations in this direction
As great as have been the profits
: placer mining in this section in IL
+ past, the prospect for brilliant return
G, is brighter than ever before.
p Heretofore the profits OF minin
have drawn attention away froi
e stock-raising and farming; irrigatir
IL canals have not been constructed
an extent equal to other counties, bI
= public attention is now awakened
= this direction. Shipments from Mt
IN Home show conclusively that the pr
" dnction of live stock and transaction
n in wool hides, and grain are rapid
re increasing. Many irrigating ditch
n are assuming the proportion OF exte
nc sivc canals, the older farmers are fin
ing to their own qualification Oh
r orchards can be successfully cul
D. waited. Indeed this is an era OF WI
!" beginnings Of great enterprises
~ Elmore comfy.
m The great pine forests Ct this eou
d. have as yet been lightly touched
III. the hand OF man. Local needs ha
1t. kept six sawmills in operation a
es' about 900, 600 feet of lumber ha
nc been manufactured. When the coun
- - government shall he able to grea
,s improve the highways this indus'
q will he rapidly developed. The TOW
u Rocky Bar, Mountain Home, .