Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-03-31
4 RICH MINERAL COUNTRY,
Central Idaho Will surely Take tht
Lead In the Near Future.

Central Idahe Will surely Take the
Lead In the Near Future.
The following is q letter from E.
w. Jones to the Salmon City Hy-
draulic Miner:
AS am the man who introduced
the State wagon road bill in the FIRST
session Of the Idaho Legislature, after
it had been prepared by Hon. Frank
Fenn, Speaker Of the House, and my
self, l naturally am very much pleased
over the fact that 1t has become = |
law.
No bill before the Legislature was
the subject of more opposition than
this one, both two years ago and this
winter. Why such should be the
case l cannot comprehend, because
there has been no public enterprise
started that will prove Of more bene-
fit to the State in general than this
system of wagon roads. The only
fault that can be justly found with it
is that the system cannot be COM
pleted under the present law. Still,
have no apprehension for the fu-
ture, as it will not be two years after
the completion of the work before
the enemies of the bill, who are ene-
mics through judgment alone, will
fall In line to endorse the good work.
What would Colorado have amount
ed to without its system of wagon
roads? Simply nothing. There was
no advancement of the State until
after the commencement of the era of
wagon road building, and there will
be none in Idaho until we have more
and better roads.
The taxes collected are sure to be
spent in some way and the more OF
the money that is put into the work
of opening up the State so that the
great mineral and agricultural dis
tricts will be accessible the better fol
the State and every individual in 1t
Along the branch leading from Ban
f ner, in this (Boise) county, through
!, Custer and Lemhi counties to the
! Montana line, are mining districts tina
t will, as soon as the road is completed
so that machinery can be taken in
;, yield largely in copper, lead, gold ane
S silver, and give employment, within
y a very few years, to thousands of men
e But this is not all. We want tn
e Boise Butte railroad to come throug
t this extensive and rich section OF tn
It State, and the wagon road will Ger
J. tainly bring it. All that will b
Il necessary to induce the promoters G
IT this enterprise, which will certalnl
Is formulate, to come this way, will b
% to show them that we have mines
lie abundance that will yield their mil
e ions when properly developed an
ID worked.
ii There is not a laborer, bushes
IN man or farmer in the State that woul
IN not soon feel the benefits of the d.
lie velopment of Central Idaho, and the
~ will have reason for rejoicing befo
or the road is completed, as the infir
n of prospectors, as soon as the sno
d. is off so that they can get into Il
III, heart of the State, will he very gre'
Ir- Besides the large number of ri
he mines already known to exist, mai
ed more will surely be discovered.
ty Those who have been through t
ne country and know the most about
~ are the most enthusiastic for wag
,rt roads. And why should they I
,ty be? there are quartz and placer clai
everywhere. Besides, it should
remembered that the system OF ros
-, connects directly with many of
richest mineral districts in the St
that can now only be reached
>, pack animals. Much of the ore p'
oh, to transport on the backs of mu
How much better would it pay
;nh transport by teams or to be trea
= o. on the ground?
- While assisting to make the +
- liminary survey last summer |
,aro many mines that are an expense
the owners because they can
die transport the ore so as to get mo
o,, with which to pay the expenses
,ng development. Until they have wa
"a. road communication they can
:. nothing with them. When the 81
,,.I road is built they will be able to
ia duce representatives of outside C
und panies to go and see for themse
apt the great riches stored away in Il
; to mountains. Once that is acc
lreu nliShed we can expect the inv