The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-01-12
CLAYTON, IDAHO,
THE BANNER CAMP OF THE
NORTHWEST.
Extensive Building Improvement
The Mines and Smelters---
Social Gatherings
A BUSY PLACE WITH BRIGHT
PROSPECTS.

n 6VSJ TlAOE Win 0nlQUI
PROSPECTS.
EDITOR KEYSTONE: One year
ago to-day Clayton was played
out" camp, with but six lonely in.
habitants. To-day what a change !
As l seat myself to fulfil the prom
Use of writing the KEYSTONE when
| came here, | can hardly realize
the changes that are constantly
taking place. People are arriving
daily, buildings are going up, and
the place is fast assuming metro
politan proportions. l will men,
ton some of the improvements since
our first arrival here, on October
18th, last:
Feed stable, by Jim Papworth;
livery stable, by Mart. Newcomb
lodging house, by Clemens &
Barnes; fireproof cellar, by same
parties; saloon building, by Davis,
Brough & Giles; chop house, by
Smith & Co., Bayhorse; double
building for business purposes, by
Smith, of Challis; restaurant, by
Ike Cleek; brewery, by Koninger
Bros. & Stech; business house, by
Randall; large fireproof cellars
and stables, by A. J. Crook & Co. !;
new Acton smelter, by same; new
residences, by Bates, Farrow, Jesse
Lee, Ike Brown, Robinson, Will
Jams, Terry, Poppey, Moore, and
several cabins by men working in
the mines. On November 9Th we
cast 157 votes for delegate, and our
population has nearly doubled since
then. One year hence will find US
with a population exceeding any
camp in Idaho, and why will it be
thus? The answer is simple-we
have the mines to insure our growth.
With a ledge 20 feet wide of 1OO-oz.
ore in sight in the Ella mine, with
600 feet of continuous ore in the
Silver Rule, with ore in all the
workings of the Skylark, Delete,
and Red Bird, to say nothing of the
mines owned by other parties, how
can the company operating here
help but feel encouraged?
Just at present the smelter is
closed down, and for these reasons
A lack of coke and charcoal, mad
equate water power for running the
blast, and lack of lead ore from
the Rule mine, caused by overf1owed
roads. The excessive cold weather
of the past week has caused ice
jams in the river that are proving
detrimental to the ore teams.
LOCAL GATHERING.
Pursuant to the notice published
in the Challis Messenger, and the
800 invitations sent out to the sur.
rounding camps by the manage.
ment, some 40 or more couples as.
sembled in the new building erected
by Davis, Brough & Giles, on the
the evening of Dec. 31st, to pay
their respects to the departing Leap
Year and make merry over the ap
proach of a new year that is te
shape the future destiny of Clay.
ton. The committees Of invitation
were selected from the representa-
tive citizens of the entire county
with view of not only gathering
the people together for mutual &C
quaintance, but to let those from
the neighboring hamlets know tina
there is such place as Clayton
and that her people is possessed o
the requirements essential to enter
tanning. Supper was prepared by
Mrs. Dow and Mr.. and Mrs. Cleek
and although the crowd was create
than either expected or prepared
for, everybody was we'll pleased
Not drunken or loud-mouthec
person was visible in town tina
evening, and everybody seemed
bent upon one purpose-to enter
tain our guests and allow them t.
carry away none but a good opin
ion of the camp and the inhabit
ants. The music for the occasion
was furnished by Mr.. and Mrs. A
C. Bomar, of Bonanza, Billy Trapp
of Challis, Joe Buzzo and Ed. Pin
ney, of Clayton. To say the musi
was enchanting is but half express
ing it, and Custer county can re
ljoice at being possessed with al
orchestra composed Of such goo'
talent.
Among those from neighborin'
towns your reporter noticed the fol
lowing, and right here let US ex
plain, that if we omit the names
any present, attribute it to our lacl
Of acquaintance:
! CHALL1s-Cam Kilcup and wife
Jimmy Clyde and wife, John Har
and wife, Frank Willis and wife
Al R1ool>p,on opd 1vifo Miss Fran