Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-12-13
raE TENTH WONDER.


OF Sna',e river both upon its north
and south banks, one headgats to be
made ut Market Lake, the other at a
point near Eagle Rock, so that the
great body of its waters may be used
for irrigatlng purposes, the question
arises as to what may be done with
its bed. 1t is well known that there
is scarcely point from the National
Park to the rapids above Lewiston
but that colors Of gold may be found
in greater or less quantities in the
bars, and that in many places it pays
we'll for working. Ii such be the
case with the bars it is probable that
the bed will pay much better. After
the principal part of the water shall
have been diverted and enough left
for mining, there would be at least
FIVE hundred miles within the Terri
tory, following tho course of the
stream, that could be made available
for mining purposes. The amount
OF gold concealed in the dirt and
gravel beneath the waters of that
stream are incompatible. No one
can approximate to it by mathemati-
Cal demonstration or otherwise.
That it must be immense we all
know. 1t has paid near Blackfoot
and at other points by simply sluic-
ing the bars. How would it be if
the bed could be "piped" with all
the water that could be desired for
such purpose? 1t looks as if EN-.
ployment could be given in mining
to many thousand men along the
course OF the river, and that their
needs would create a home market
for the products of those who availed
themselves of the water taken out
for irrigation purposes. The number
of men thus given employment, both
in agriculture and mining, together
with their families, would create a
great population whose industry
would add immensely to the wealth
OF the country. We have read of
estimates OF one to three billions of
dollars in the bed of the Snake. Such
calculations are all folly, as one
might as we'll estimate fifty billions
as two or three and with as much
reason. 1t is probably the greatest
extent of placer mining in the world.
The bed can never be worked until
the stream is turned, and were it not
that the increasing demand for land
warrants such work it would prcba-
bly remain where it is forever. The
mines would be result of the use of
the water for irrigation purposes,
but they would produce equally as
we'll as if the diversion was made
for the purpose of mining. Take the
two industries together, and as we
view them, there would be found no
parallel in the history of the world
as regards the amount of arid land
made useful for irrigating purposes
bv means of the skill and labor of
men, the amount of gold forced into
the money circulation of the world.
and the number of men to whom il
would afford employment. Its con-
temptation carries US back to the
building of the pyramids or the Chi
nese wall. 1t would be the tenth
wonder of the world. That all we
have stated in the foregoing will
come to pass we have not the slight
est doubt. The government is max
ing the survey to prove the practica-
bility of turning the river for irriga-
ton purposes. Whether it will un-
dertake the work or not we have
not the remotest idea. We wish it
would. If it does not, corporations
will, little as we may be pleased with
such a means of consummating the
work. There is too much unem-
ployed capital in the world at the
present time to allow of scheme SO
pregnant with great results to remain
long without attracting attention. 1t
might, of course, create = perpetual
tax upon the tillcr of the soil for the
water he uses for the purpose of irri-
eating his land, and this would be a
misfortune, but we do not see how il
could be avoided. Perhaps in time
the water rights might be purchased
Should the valley OF the Snake be
thus irrigated it would tend to change
the entire climate of the country
Ins;ead of the dry months we have
in midsummer the atmosphere would
become more moist, and we would
be likely to have showers at any