Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-03-29
FROM LOST RIVER.
WINTER STILL FINGERS IN THE
LAP OF SPRING.
The Stock Losses Fully Fifty Per Cent.
Tho Settlers Siill Hopeful aud Con-.
fldent-A FIGURING. mill 10 BE- Built.
LOST RIVER, IDAHO,
March ~, 1890.

The long, cold winter, the worst on r
record here, aud in depth Of snow and Il
extreme cold weather exceeding any
thing that would have been thought
possible, seems at last to be giving =
wav for the advance OF the season, ,
which should by this time haye
brought to US the green grass, the .
SOM birds and the flowers. Not that
the dark days are yet entirely over. i
for winter still fingers consciously in
the lap OF spring; but few warm.
thnwing days have come at last. aud
there is a slight rift in the clouds.
What has caused the winter here to
be so disastrous is that, following d.
rectly after the unprecedented droush
of last year, it found the stockaen
utterly unprepared for it. Heretofore
a months, or at most six weeks, feed
ing has been sufficient to carry the
l cattle through even the worst winters
> we have had here. The present win
ter, however, has completely upset all
.. calculation, the heavy SHOWS coming
: month earlier and remaining q
mouth or more longer than ever
r known before.
;. 1t is useless to disguise the fact;
: these are indeed dark days for the
settlers on Lost River. Cattle are
. dying by hundreds, and whole herds
y of horses, that have for so long been
h left to dig their living through two
feet of snow, are beginning to sue
" cumb. There is not a pound OF hay
!, for sale in the Mole valley, and near
~ ~ every body is entirely out OF feed,
At this d .te there are about sixteen
~ inches Of snow on the ground, and
s, nothing but rapid thaw will enable
~ even the people who have but few
COWS and team to save them. AZ
the very best that can now be hopeo
al for, the losses will be fully so pei
Is, cent.
ms But, Notwithstanding the great ca
- ::smi,y that has befaIlen them, thu
people seem still hopeful and conf
ma dent that, with the better season which
d.. the deep snow assures for the future
'" the country will prosper more thai
IN, ever: and the fact that such a winte
' is possible here, will prove a valuabI
:, lesson for stockmen to learn. Fo
m. although the winter and the condition
er, attending it are altogether exception
pes al, and may not again occur for
'"' dozen years, common prudence wi
~ show them the necessity of providin
;c;, feed, and of being better prepared
tu. case such an emergency comes aga'
mt The methods of some cattle me
age on Lost River seem to be almo
1 1hs tempting fate itself; investing all tn
ver- have, and devoting years OF hal
t SO labor in accommodating big herd
cattle, with scarcely thought of pr
pairing for such emergencies, Al
then, when it does come, being fore
AT to helplessly see them starve to dea
ING Common sense, as we'll rs the dicta'
$. of humanity, will certainly change
oy this in the future; and, if so,
ST !" warning now given them will certa
not " bring good results hereafter.
~ Everything has for three mon
been at perfect standst'll all ale
the river. Times are too hard,
". people too poor, and travelling arc,
''o too difficult to admit Of much IN
'Ao'e way of social enjoymen's. Mob
''' has died, nor has any one either
- ~ married or had the grippe.
The people of Houston are
,o' feeling somewhat encouraged Q
'"'k the prospects Of mining boom.
e''o erai experts, representing New y
W." company, are now there, and have
IVY " cured working bonds on many OF
best known properties of the dist
and it is said to be their intentio
LEI commence work as soon as prac
BILE.
u Another enterprise OF great 'ml
down ance to the valley is now in con
friends plation, and will doubtless 500
an In commenced, and that is the ere'
ny nr. Of irst.cIass Touring mill.
np.'o"' Swanger, a gentleman OF a
ao'' ~ means. who came from CaliforMls
settled here last year, and who
Ohio, already invested several thousand
x;,,,S -; .orchas and live StO