The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-08-11
EARLY IDAHO HISTORY


Moss0a,k In Bose Mail.
Seeing that YOU take an interest in
local matters offer briet article rela-
tive TO our mining, which regard AS
second In importance Of our many great
industries, agriculture being first. Like
our agricultural, our metaliferous
grounds are co-cxtensive with the state.
Mines that will pay profit to the min
or are found in every county, think In
the state; at least know Of no county
in which paying prospects IN gold or sill
yer have not been obtained, and in
many instances both This fact should
demonstrate the absurdity-almost
criminality-of exaggerating either the
extent or richness Of our mines in at
tempting to to attract attention to their
worth. The simple truth, IL II were told
would be received with misgiving and
Incredibly. So shall, in this and sub
sequcn, articles avoid all attempts at es-
adjustment. satisfied that fact will
prove more effective than fiction, no
nntter how artisticalIy presented, in
bringing Idaho's great mineral wealth
more into public notice.
The first mining ventures In the terri
tory now comprising the state of Idaho
were prospecicd on the bars Of the Col
umbia river | think as early as 1853
These we're conducted with rockers and
pans, and we're attended with indifer-
ent success They attracted no attention
FOR the reason that very few at that time
were willing or could afford to work for
less thsd $40 a day.
In 1859, Orc Elmo was discovered. In
1859 considerable immigration from the
Pacific coast was witnessed Elk and
Pierce Cities were located and the hopes
kindled by the discoveries Of the previ.
GUS year were formed into an excite.
msnt. Florence was added to the list OF
new mining camps in 1861 and the sur
prise caused by It's unprecedent richncs,
followed as ID was by the discovery Of
Warmers diggings in the early part o
1852, and OF Boise Basin month or tw,
later produced a genuine stampede from
California and Oregon, TO the new golt
fields. Yreka. California and jackson
vile, Oregon. were practically depopu
lated. Business men who had befor
known nothing but property foun'
themselves without customers. Som
Of them disposed OF their goods AS hes
they could and plunged headlong int
the stream OF fortune hunters that pour
ed northward; others packed up thei
little stores, still others went into banI,
ruptcy and followed the mad torrent
In the spring Of 1853, regular minin
began in Boise Basin. Men, women
pack trains and herds Of cattle came il
by hundreds, and even thousands. Tn
Indians were driven back. Every plac
was swarming with proSpectors Owy
hee. Rocky Bar and Salmon City wer
formed and the developments made b
the work of that and the succeedin
year probably exceed anything in tn
history of mining In any other country
Florence and Warrens had been incred
bly, rich. One man on Baboon gulch. a
Florence took out as high as 500 ounce
IN single day with rocker: but eve
that was eclipsed ~ Bannock Bar an
lllinoise gulch in Boise Basin, and citi,
sprnng up there almost literally in da,
Idaho Biiy had 1900 inhabitants, Pla,
erville 5000 Centerville 1900 Pionee
nearly as many On Elk and Moor
creeks there were at least 1900 NOR,
Grimes, Granite. Wolf Ophir and Mu,
dy creeks had 5000 people. Bumm,
Hill. Fredch gulch. Matlock and Boze
gulches were also thronged with peopl
Stores, boarding houses. saloons. shol
and markets were on every hand. an
all were taking in gold by the poun'
Al O~yhee. Rocky Bar and Salmon Cit
similar scenes Of wealth and activit
were presented. And strange as il ma
now seem. hundreds OF whipsaws pr
PEELED by man power cut the lumber OF
of which the thousands of houses whiC
changed the mountains wild into fan
land ficked with cities and villige
were built
And then was Idaho. the fairest ar
richest Of our mountain states-rich
her erhaustless treasures Of gold al
slver-rich in the magnihcence of h
great forests-rich In the salubrity Of h
ciimate-rich in her supersbunda
supply Of pure water and rich ia h
climate virtues carved out of befo
unknown and UNEMPLOYED wlldernei
and in three years formed into a ter
tory having not less than $1,000 poop
probably the most prosperous and ma
~ Of any ON the globe. and all becau
Of the great wealth and extent Of h
mines OF gold ami up to that time
other pursuit. had been entered upo
t.aaN Of her mines even were still u
discovered. ror had attention been tur
*'d 20 1raril mining except in owyh