Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-08-21
! DISTINGUISHED VISITOR.
Ke.chum keystone. 18th.

Jay Gould, the most taikeo anu
written about and the most enigmat-
;cal and the least understood OF men,
arrived at ketchum by special train
on Monday of this week. He was
accompanied by members OF his
family, by General Manager Clark
of the u. p, system. by DR.. Mum,
his physician, and Attorney John NJ
Thurston. The party remained over
night, Mr.. Gould aud his physician
passing Tuesday at the Guyer hot
Springs, while the rest of the party
fisbed for trout in Wood river.
Mr.. Gould, whatever his faults
may be, is very pleasant gentle
man TO meet, and although he is not
an ELUSIVE conversationalist, talked
freely about the resources and sopeg-
raphy OF the country, with tho Siew'
OF course, Of informing himself con
corning the feasibility OF building
railroads in the State and OF its ca
paoity to employ them when built.
This purpose was plainly Indicated
by the questions he asked. He was
particularly inquisitive about the
timber resources OF the region, the
whereabouts, extent and accessibility
OF the best bodies OF timber in the
State, etc. He also inquired about
the agricultural value of Boise and
other valleys, and whether their pro-
ductiveness had been materially in
creased by irrigation; and, inciden-
tally, about the stock and mining in-
terests of Idaho. But seemed in
credulous on both points when we
told him that stock wintered on
Snake river and kept in good condi-
ton without feed, and that Boise
valley was really more productive
and would grow greater variety OF
crops than could be produced on the
best soil east Of the Racky noun
tains. So little do people of the
Atlantic States know Of the peculi-
ties of this Pacific Wonderland.
Only observation and experience can
teach them that stock can actually
be wintered on the range in this far
Northland without other than natural
feed and be in good flesh when spring
comes. Accordingly, when the story
is told to the inexperienced from that
region politeness may restrain them
from disputing the statement, but
they look wise and have their opin
ions, nevertheless.
Personally, Mr.. Gould is an inter
s,ting study. Small of stature, ur
bane of manner, courteous and alta
bio OF speech, small, pale face
emaciated by sickness and covere
with gray beard that once was black
q lack lustre eye of the same dar
hue, hands diminutive and soft as
child's, he looks anything but tn
terror he is to the gamblers of Wa
street. And in very truth he is nc
cannot be--a great man, except
his peculiar and eminently SUGGEST,
fnanciering speciality. Some gif
some occult intellectual quality nS
possessed by other men nor unde
stood by them, enables Mr.. Gould
reign King Wolf over the bande
wolves that infest the stock gamblir
dens OF New York, while in 9th
matters he is an ordinary man. I
is Jay Gould, in short, simply b
cause a vicious and barbarous sy
tom which civilized men should lor
ago have disp laced has made hi
possible; aud he is vastly wealth
because his special talent has en-
bled HIM to successfully exploit t
exploiters OF that most damnable S,
tenn, and not because he is any wor
than other men.
After an absence of twenty.fo
hours Mr.. Gould and party return
to Ketchum again on Wednesd
and remained until yesterday MOI
ing, when they left for the East, ha
ing made friends of every pers
they met.