Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-02-19
FRON LOST RIVER.
The Settlers on the Attempted Dis,nem-
berment Of the County-A Dry Sea-
son Feared-The Lost River Basin
Mines-PrOsperOus Ranchers-Eic.

Everything pertaining to this neg.
lected portion of our much. abused
county seems to be moving along
quietly, and times, to say the least,
are rather dull.
The news that our county has been
disme mbered by the late Legislature
has just reached us, and there is a
strongly-expressed feeling Of indig-
nation against certain men who, as
candidates before the last election,
assured the people here that they
would strenuously oppose the in
fanny, if elected. Public sentiment
here is unanimously opposed to it,
and we still cherish the hope that the
perncious scheme will yet fail.
The winter here, contrary to the
predictions of all our Lost River
weather prophets, is the mildest ever
known in Idaho. Ever since Christ
mas we have had an almost unbroken
succession of clear, sunny days, with
the mercury below zero only on two
or three occasions. The snow is near
ly all gene and it looks as though the
grass will soon start, if such fine
weather as we now have continues.
Cattle on the ranges are as fat as they
were during the fall, and first class
beef is being butchered here and sent
to Clayton and Bayhorse.
There is, however, a we'll grounded
apprehension of disaster which may
possibly result, if the winter passes
off without a lar2e!y increased snow
fall within the next two months
There is a tradition-prcbably of In
dian origin, for no white man here
has ever seen it--that the Lost river,
on two or three occasions within the
past 80 years, went entirely dry along
nearly its whole course of about 100
miles. The present stage of the
river and the appearance of the
bare mountains around its sources
make it appear that such calamity
might indeed be possible.
During a recent visit to Houston
and vicinity, | found the people quite
eated over the new discoveries of
rich silver and copper bearing ore
in what is known as the Lost River
Basin, some 10 or II miles from
| Houston. A dozen or more locations
have beHn made and the accounts of
all who have seen them are highly
favorable. MIR. Toole, a mining ex-
pert from Butte, who recently Wis.
tied the locality, was very favorabIy
Impressed with it and offered $4,000
to develop one of the properties on a
bond, which the owners refused.
Houston, with its 60 or more empty
houses, presents a rather cherries APP
pearance; but there is still great faith
in its future shown by the few who
remain there. There are at present
two general merchandise stores there
which do very good business, and
an excellent hotel owned and man
aged by Mrs. Vance, an estimahle
widow lady who has resided in this
section for the past 10 years or more,
assisted by her handsome and accom-
plished daughter, Miss Gertie, who
has Just returned from a three wears
visit and school attendance at Ron
dout, n. Y.
Among the farmers of that neigh.
borhood there are many signs of i'm,
provement during the interval since
my last visit, two years ago. Charles
H. Furey, our popular exSherifT, has
been, aud is still, working with a will
and has made many substantial i'm
provements and invested considera Bile
capital on the magnificent land claim
he has on Pass creek. The same may
be said of my old.tine friend, James
I1anrahan, also an ex-Shsrff from
Colorado, who is engaged in the stock
raising business.
In our Island neighborhocd there
is nothing of much interest going on.
Some of the ranchers are ba!ing hay
and hauling it to Clayton, and others
are taking advantage Of the fine
open weather by getting logs and
fencing timber from the mountains;
a. ~