The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-04-03
EEA RFUL HARDSHIPS
OF WEST VIRGINIAN
m JuNG1Es IDAHO WHERE PROSPECTING THE
r1ELDs-vIvD DESCRIPTION
THERE AND THEIR CUSTOMS

Horse Shoe Bend, Idaho, March co.
Especial Correspondence. 1.-The climate
here is quite different from West vir-
ginia. We see all kinds of weather at
the same time. / go up into the noun
tains and get mixed up with the clouds
and seem to be in a mist and look above
and see the sun shining. Then on an
other mountain Iscc it sitting down snow
At glorious rate.
Down In the valley along the Paycttc
river the flowers are blooming, the wild
geese and ducks are seen floating leis-
urely ON tide-watcr, while the coyote
chase the rabbits and watch the sheep
herdcr to find him sleeping, SO that he
may take mutton to satisfy his appe-
lite.
A number of West virginians have
never seen a coyote. To such will
say that they are species of wolf. but
much smaller, with short ears and re.
semble a dog. They are Q nuisance to
sheep men. as the coyote win gather
few of his associates and raid a sheep
camp with worse effect than 90 many
dogs. They are ally, and while tho state
pays q premium for their scalps, very
few are taken TO the states paymaster.
There are congers here. Fresh tracks
make ones blood run cold, yet they
must be crazed from hunger before they
win take man OF this sin.cursed earth
in daytime.
Bear-God bless the bear-they are
here. They are rather shy of man. but
the boys can not make them pace like
the boys used to make the way-faring
boy of Clarksburg pace the bridges at
night. Deer are killed for their sweet
hams. We have the cotton-tail rabbit
and the snow-shoe rabbit also. Here
is the place for Mr.. Hugh Garrett, Nose
Morrison and all others who are fond
of hound racing. These rabbits go over
the snow so fast that those bray hounds,
Drive, Lead and other fast dogs would
think they were affected with rheuma-
ism and stop for want of confidence in
speed.
We have the badger here. They are like
n good number of people, always max
ing fuss, but seldom doing more. They
ARE about the size of ducg legged dogs.
And then gophers, we must not for
get them. The gopher is about the size
of a squirrel and is famous for its min
ing. 1t should be more respected than
it is. as mining is the order of the day
Farmers dig trenches or bitches 10
carry the waite. from the river or noun
tain springs around the mountain side
to moisten their lands below. BY do
ing this they raise largs crops OF grass.
wheat or whatever they plant in the
valleys, but irrigation Is necessity
here. The gopher finds amusement by
digging holes into these bitches and let
ting the water down in torrents.
New York people built ditch, or
canal, from the bend in the Payettc
river for distance Of two miles, where
they have a power house. and by the
water power from the canal they man
ufscturc enough electricity to run all
the machinery that you could crowd into
Harrison county.
West virginias have not realized the
power of water and electricity. 1t takes
the typical wcsterncr to go up against
the fuel trust. Now, since the power
and advantages of these mountain
streams have been learned, there is n
rush to take UP water rights. The state
officials must watch. or the corporations
will. have all these rights and control
the water power, as the coal markets
ARE controlled in the east. Well. the
electric power people hal about p men
along their ditch once since it was built,
and turned the water out into the river.
These little gopher~ remind me of the
AicAtecs in case of trouble. They are
all there.