Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-20

twice the purchase price. Candle.
cost at the mines about Sc so pe
box; dynamite, of about the sans
explosive power as No. l giant pow
der, from 500 to $75 per hundred
pounds; fuse about 80 cents per col
OF 70 feet; steel about rs cents pc
pounds mining poles 6 feet long anc
4 TO 6 inches thick from 60 cents t,
Sl.O0 each; 3x9 scantling 80 to 81
cents per foot, and during last winte
as much as could be got in town coult
have been sold at 60 cents per foot
1t can be seen by this how costly ev
erything is. A set of timbers thai
you would put in the Banner tunne
when you we're there would cost not
less than $50 here. Everything, in
the way of supplies, is costly and hard
to get. Most of the mines don't need
much timbering. Coal is to be had
within twenty-five to fifty miles, ac-
cording to the distance of the mines
from the coal mines. The coal is of
poor quality, but there seems to be a
good deal of it, and it can be deliy-
cred on the mines at from $12 to $40
per ton.
Miners wages have been from $25
tc $50 per week of six days (t is
against the Dutch law to work on
Sunday, and a man can live at the
mines for about Sc per week, if he
cooks for himself. Board and lodg-
ing at decent hotel in town costs
SIS per week.
Now, at this time, johannesburg is
under depression. For about one
year after the place was discovered
no one seemed to believe in it. Then
when few of the mines began to
make returns, a boom set in, and it
seemed as if anything that was put
on the market could be foated in any
sum asked, and some very wild
schemes were started. l know of
quite number of properties that
have been hoated for from 100000
to s. 100000. These seem very large
figures and can be accounted for in
no other way than that in town like
London fools grow in proportion to
the size of the place in which they
live. A good many of these proper
ties show no sign of reef, and the
fools having wildly used up their
working capital, have caused so much
distrust in the European markets that
properties having favorable outlook
can't get money to work them, and
in consequence many are closing
down. 1t is my opinion that six
months, or more, will pass before
things get Strengthened out. This
PLACE NEEDS RAILROADS,
and the money 10 build them is waiting
foE the government to give its consent. II
that IS not given at the next sitting OF the
Volksraad (Congress), think there will
be trouble here, as great dissatisfaction
PREVAILS as those who have come in here
as immigrants outnumber the Beers two
or three to one. There has already been
a great deal of Ill feeling IN connection
with the government refusing to allow
railroads to be built. There are four roads
within 200 to 400 miles of this place.
A company has been chartered by the
British government to go up into the in
terror, some 300 to 500 miles north, to ex-
plore and open up the country. By all
accounts that have been brought down
from there the country is rich in minerals.
If there is no fighting | should like to 60
up, but according to all accounts there is
great likelihood of it, and if there is l
shall wait until it is over before trying
my luck.
This place is entirely overcrowded with
men who would gladly go to work If they
could, and notice has been served in some
of the mines that pay will be cut at the
end of this month-a 90 per cent. reduc-
tion. JOHN SCADDAN.