The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-11-04
The Question of the Hour.

Silver having been effectuall,
knocked out-so to speak, at leas
until tho people are again hearc
from through their voice at tn.
polls-it may hardly for the pres
ent be considered live issue.
Sixty-eight cents per ounce, the
result of the recent servile labors Of
the peoples representatives, under
the lash of his excellency, the too
of Wall street, of course paralyzet
all efforts to produce the white
metal. A few over-average mines
may, at evident waste of their sub.
stance, continue to operate for a
while, and necessity will compel
many of our struggling miners
with grim want, on the verge OF
winter staring themselves and help.
less loved ones in the face, to en-.
deavor to exc out precarious ex.
istence in lease efforts, or take any
pittance for labor to in some way
justify owners and operators in con.
tinued feeble efforts. But let no
one be fooled by any of the prom.
Uses of the presidents henchmen to
the effect that they will do aught
for silver. It is all CUFF. They
don't mean it; never did, and any
pretended action will be q mere
fraud and sham.
Therefore we reiterate silver is
knocked out, and we must simply
take our medicine. AS distinctly
mining community it was our main
dependence, but we have other re-
sources that can be developed. Ag-
riculture and dairy business cut no
trifling figure with considerable of
our population, both resident in
town and Immediately surrounding.
1t is safe to aver that the local
product of hay and vegetables ex-
ceeds the local demand, and butter
and eggs don't begin to supply the
demand, while considerable grain
and fruit has been successfully
raised this season. Stimulated by a
more active market through favor
able mining conditions these pur-
suits would grow rapidly all round
US.
This brings us into sympathy
with the really great living ques-
ton of the hour. A question that
concerns two-fifths of our entire
national domain-IRRIGATIoN.
Our attention has been drawn to
the second National Irrigation Con-
gress held at Los Angeles, CAL,
October 10th to 18th, composed of
delegates from this and foreign
lands, the fruits of whose labors and
their logical results can scarcely be
estimated. The record of their acts
will no doubt soon be promulgated.
For the present we have only the
announcement of a statement to
the people of the United States,
closing with the following potent
words:
"To deal with the arid public do
main is one of the mighty tasks of
the future. 1t means not only the
conquest Of a new agricultural en-
pire and tremendous contribution
to the national wealth of the future,
but it involves the development of
new forms of civilization and will
give new life to popular institutions.
1t is a high and sacred trust, and
in 80 far as it may become the Pc
culiar concern of Western men, they
will be true to its great obligations.
But they approach the matter in no
spirit of petty sectionalism. They
invite the cooperation of all their
countrymen. East as we'll as West,
North as we'll as South. While
mining and its kindred employ
ments are vastly important to the
Western States, directly and indi-
rectly, the irrigation industry is
and must ever be their supreme in
terest. Under just laws and proper
national encouragement it will add
new lustre to the American name"
The official proceedings of the
congress will be issued in due form
ere long, when we shall take occa-
sion to further comment on this
subject Of great and growing inter-
est to all.