The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-05-13
RANDOM THOUGHTS.
IAN Ohio letter..

winters that mas ever been known
for many years, the ground was
frozen most of the season, and
part of the time was covered with
snow. We have had very few
extremes of temperature, the
thermometer has registered below
zero only few times during the
winter.
Many of the cross country
roads in this limestone section of
country are often rendered near
ly impossible during the winter
and early spring on account of
the stiff clayey mud, but they
have remained comparatively
good, except at short intervals,
until recently. Then they, by
the spring thawing and the great
amount of snow which fell, we're
made for a time very muddy, but
the ground is always left very
porous after a winter of long
continuous freezing, the water
being absorbed very rapidly, and
our roads will soon again be in
fine condition.
Winter in mild form has con-
tinued far into April, every
thing has been held back, the
farmers are behind with their
spring work. 1t is now warm
and pleasant, spring has come in
earnest, and verdure of green
ness is spreading itself over the
dark earth. The wheat fields
were greatly damaged during
the winter, but the weather has
been very favorable for them
lately; and from their general
appearances now the crop will
be but little less than the aver
age. Our fruit is all right ex-
cept peaches, which have been
killed. The buds are now swell
ing fast, and soon all the trees
will be loaded with bloom. The
apple trees will be especially
full, and we much appreciate it;
for apples with us have been
nearly as dear as oranges.
No doubt but what the hardy
pioneer of the West remembers
our good apples, and reverts to
the East, the scenes of his boy
hood, with fond recollections;
and naturally do we turn and
look with hearty approval upon
his great progress. AS the
Roman Augur looked to the West
to catch in the reflected light of
the upper sky, the first flush of
the coming dawn, so look we and
behold the rising of a wonderful
West, Here we find parts COW
cred with some of the finest limb
er growths in the world, valleys
of inexhaustible fertility, and
the greatest river fisheries in
the world. And here do we find
mountains richly endowed by
nature with precious metals, and
long has it been known as one of
the richest mineral regions of
the world; and by reason of it's
vast extent and richness of its
ores, it will continue so for many |
generations to come.
The arid regions which nature
has overspread with universal
desolation, is yielding it vitality
to ingenuity. The streams that
are rushing down from their
snow fed sources being led forth
over the dreary plains, and are
transforming the region of the
cacti and sagebrush into flourish
ing gardens, that have become
a magnificent abode for man.
This region under proper irriga-
ton, will in the course of time be
able to support as large popula-
ton as the United States already
1t is no longer looked
upon as worthless area by the
people of the East; although
there are parts that cannot be
reclaimed, but the importance of
the parts that can be, has over
come all these difficulties, and
mon fot ~ a ,1la,o =, -, =, =. A. =.