Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-01-05
REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
A synopsis of Matters of Inter-
est to Cansas Prairie II, 1898.

for Camas Prairie and Idaho coun-
ty that would have sent us to the
top notch of prosperity if realized.
Never did a season open more aus
piciously; the winter was of unu-
sual length and many cattle died,
but the long wet spring, with its
assurances of bountiful harvests,
brought ample eompensating ad-
vantages. AS the season progress
ed and the promise of a great har-
vest became practically assured,
and the feverish activity in mining
circles and real estate speculations
in town lots and farming lands de-
veloped, it seemed as if the long
looked-for boom had come. But
then came the panic with its de-
preston of values; and to cap the
climax, the great harvest that had
been gathered was practically ru-
ined by the longest and heaviest
rainy season ever known here since
the settlement of the country.
The one redeeming feature which
has kept this community in self
sustaining position during the pam
ic was the fortunate sale of our live
stock and hogs, at ruinously low
prices to be sure, but the aggregate
sum was sufficiently large to re-
ieve the financial stringency. The
estimated value of cattle shipped
from Idaho county this year is
100000, and the value of the hogs
$4,000. But for this one resource
we should have been q hopelessly
bankrupt community. These are
harsh words, but they are true, al
though perhaps many do not real
ize how narrowly we escaped finan-
cial ruin. Our surrounding min
ing camps, which usually put much
money in circulation, were this
year practically deserted and the
output was never less. The claims
which in other days were owned
and worked by hundreds of Chin
ese and made to yield thousands
of dollars which found its way in
to the channels of circulation and
trade, are now owned by white
men who hold them for speculative
rather than for practical purposes,
and therefore to-day idle and un-
productive, to the great detriInent
of every citizen in the county.
In the spring of the year there
were great hopes that outside cap
italists would take hold of some OF
the better developed quartz prop
critics in Elk City, erect machinery
thereon and make them product
i've: great schemes for the develop
ment of the hitherto unworked fiat
placer fields of that same mineral
basin were projected, and until the
bottom fell out matters in that
camp assumed very feverish
stage of anticipation and excite
ment. But the year has gone by
without any particular change. In
Florence and Warrens the season
has been dull beyond precedent.
On Salmon river alone is there an
increase of population engaged in
mining.
On Camas Prairie matters are in
a state of stagnation which will
endure until spring. We are just
beginning to feel the pinch Of hard
times and the scarcity of money.
The proceeds of our cattle sales are
about exhausted, and having paid
many debts here the money has, in
the ordinary course of business
been sent below To pay outside
obligations. We are now, fgurat.
lively speaking, on the fiat Of oul
backs, and will remain SO until
something happens to start up the
usual business activity A boon.
in the wheat market will put th'
lower country on its feet rjgh
away, but this isolated communit,
is too far from railroads to be al
fected thereby
But the future is not withou
hope Our soil and climate ar
still with US: our mining camp
still have their mines awaiting tn
inspection of capita /: in all ikeli
hood the building OF the Stat
wagon roads will be complete,
this year: and then, too, there i
the opening of the. Nez Perce In
dian reservation to look forwar
too, an event which will in all like
lihood be fully consumated !
) months hence. If congress legis
lates so as to allow the Indians t
lease their lands, syndicates wi
take hold and farm the large
tracts and line of railroad wi
speedily be built here, but if th
leasing feature is prohibited it
easy to see that the opening of til
reservation will be more of a detr
, ment to the country than benet
for several years hence.
There are possibilities that cap
tai will interest itself in the speed
development of the gold propertit
OF this county as soon as the final
cial horizon clears. But it is M
we'll to discount the future, espe,
tally in present circumstance
The indications are that we are
for a long seige OF hard times, an
our people will do well to act a