The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-01-11
The Future Outlook.

S1LuQes anu results OF the past, W
are apt to conjecture as to the pos
sibilities Of the future. While tn
procession of days Of the past yea
has come to a halt without bein,
remarkable as having invested u
with the enjoyment Of the blessing
of that prosperity which we nigh
have reasonably hoped for, let u
gratefully view the present caval
cade of days as it moves along, will
confident expectations of prospect
ty in all the avocations of life. /
is true that here in our mountain
home, as we'll as in other localities
of the territory, nearly all branches
of business and active pursuits have
experienced an unusual feeling o.
depression during the past year
and now at the beginning of the
present, there seems to be no sub
stantial cause, or natural reasons
for Encouragement or disconnected
predictions; but on the other hand
every indication seems to point to
the dawning of brighter and better
days. The farming communities
are now assured of an abundant
supply of water for the irrigation OF
their soil and for all their domestic
purposes, and can depend upon
raising bountiful crops the coming
season, and their fields will be un-
like those of last year, which were
dried and burned by an excessive
drouth. The prospective features of
the mining interests of our locality,
as we'll as adjacent mining districts,
all seem to forebode prosperous
outcome. The progress made in
the development of mining proper
ties has been necessarily tardy and
attended with great many hard
ships; yet with all the privations
endured by the miners in prosecut-
ing work upon their properties in
the first instance, they have the
satisfaction of knowing that their
mines are being developed step by
step, and that they are receiving
their reward from year to year for
their patient and untiring perse-
verance. The early, and no doubt
satisfactory, solution Of the silver
question during the present session
of Congress will certainly incite a
more vigorous prosecution Of work
on many new mining properties
and at the same time restore new
life in the workings of mines that
have heretofore been lying idle.
The great mining districts lying to
the north, to the east and to the
west of us, and all having a direct
outlet at Ketchum, viz: Clayton,
Bayhorse, Bonanza, Custer, Stanley
Basin, Germania Basin, Seafoam,
Sheep Mountain, Sawtooth, Galena,
Smoky, Boyle Mountain, Warm
Springs Greek and East Fork, never
looked more promising than at
present. A few Of the districts men
although comparatively new
camps, are making rapid strides as
ore producers. The Seafoam dis
trict, especially, made good show
ing the past season and a record as
an ore producer, considering the
many disadvantages the miners of
that camp lobored under, that is
hard to excel in any mining country
of the West. So, with all the dis
tricts named, there has been no
'petering" indications, but on the
there has been a constant
improvement of these mining prop
critics noticeable from time to time.
Contemplating, then, all the fav
orable aspects which are offered at
present, to the husbandman and to
the miner, there seems but little |
cause to harbor feelings Of discon-
tent in q business point of view,
and a desire to seek other and new
fields of operation. Again contem-
plating the great mineral resources
comprised by the districts before
,eferred to-the development of
which has as yet scarcely begun
t would be-, We earnestly believe, a
lifficult matter to select a section of
where substantial resources
present any better inducements
han right in Central Idaho, with
Aetchum for central headquarters.