The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-06-03
THE WEST VIEW DISTRICT,
The Willow Greek Mines and Surround
Ing Country.
Magnificent Prospects Rich Ore In
Sight-the Great Carter Mines
Mountains Of Wealth.

Everybody in this section of country
mas heard some mention of the Willow
creek mines, but few, comparatively,
seem TO know anything much about
them. The general impression seems
to be that they are simply some wild
cat prospects without particular value
except in the imaginations of fanciful
miners. Such ideas are altogether er.
roneous and do great injustice to the
district. Placer mining has been car
ried on in the Willow Creek country
for twenty years. and there are hun
dreds of acres of pay ground that yet
has never been touched. On account
of scarcity of water, though, placer
mining is only practicable during a
short time in the spring. But we want
to tell you something about the coun-
try and its wonderful possibilities. In
the first place, we do not own oven
blind lead on Willow creek, neither has
any one engaged us to give Willow
creek write up" Whatever we may
say will be strictly honest and reason.
ably reliable. Going to the Willow
creek mines from Caldwell one crosses
the Boise river on the wagon bridge
just north of town and then travels up
the Boise valley to Middleton. In pas
sing we must say that this valley is one
of the most fertile as we'll as the most
beautiful in the whole inter. mountain
region. Middleton is a beautiful little
village five miles up the valley, con-
sisting of a church and school house, 4
general merchandise store, the essential
saloon, and Foote'S -four mills. We be-
lieve that Mr.. Pat Fahy owns the store
aud incidentally conducts the refresh.
ment depot across the street. Just
over the hill lies the Willow Creek val.
ley. This valley is from one to two
miles wide by fifteen miles long, and con-
tains the best soil. we have yet seen in
Canyon county, and that is pretty
strong assertion, because Canyon
county contains as good soil as one
would care to see. But Willow Creek
valley has draw back-it is short on
water. However, the water is very
near the surface and artesian wells can
be sunk at a very slight cost. There is
really no need of much water for farm
ing purposes. We will undertake to
say that three-fourth of the valley will |
produce splendid crops of wheat with
out one drop of water. People who
understand how to cultivate spring !
Sonora wheat would not use water on
such land If it were to be had for the |
mere asking. The soil is sandy, but |
not light, and up to the middle of July |
water can be squeezed out of it with |
the hands. People accustomed to dry |
farming will understand the soil when |
told that the sagebrush grows very tall |
and comparatively slender and is of !
lighter color than on dry soil, also that |
blue grass grows abundantly all through |
it. We have in mind strip of coun-
trv identical with this. and for the ben.
eft of friends down in Oneida county
will refer to it. The Willow Creek val
ley presents exactly the same appear
ance as the st. John country in Malad
valley, under the irrigating canal; that
is to say, the soil is thoroughly SUBJ
irrigated. Surrounding the valley is
IN excellent and almost unlimited
'ange, presenting every adva ntage for
stock and sheep raising. But we
started in to write about mines.
At the head of the Willow Creek val.
ey is the West View mining district
in which over hundred locations have
been made. Development work is now
being prosecuted on about a dozen of
he mines, but rs yet we have not had
he pleasure of examining but one of
herr. This one. however, is a fair
sample of the others and brief de-
'cription of it will characterize them all.
The Lincoln mine is owned Mr.. w.
?. Carter, of this city, and another gen.
leman whose name we have not
earned. The first assay made of Lin.
oln ore was from groupings and