The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-01-15

gantic mountains, crags and canyons
have never felt the tread Of white
mans footsteps. hence it can be ap,
propriately called an unProspected
field.
The men Of the early days in Ida
ho were placer miners, caring little
for quartz. They vert graduated;
mainly, from the fields Of California
whers the crudest methods had OBJ
tained untold fortunes in placer gold;
As the cream of successive camps
became exhausted these pioneers
passed rapidly on to other excite
ments. Great distances we're trav-
eled with pack animals from supply
points, that would seem impractica-
bic even with modern facilities.
While Drawing the Inconvenience Of
an unknown country, these hardy
gold hunters had often to battle with
the Indians and keep in bands for
mutual protection. There was ex-
element, adventure and golden
wealth galore; with cards, cohttesafs
and intoxication, the common vices
of mining camps. These were the
days when the battles Of the great
| Civil war shook the nation north and
south, and when, but for western
/ gold, the Federal treasury Wuhld
have become bankrupt. Abraham
Lincoln declared that the men in. the
western mines rendered the Union al
potent a service as did men Oh the
battlefelds with muskets. Thus was
ushered in the star Of empire in Ida
Tho. fA
But while the pallnly pioneer days
have passed from all the West, there
yet remains for the great State Of fdai
ho that broader period Of develop
ment which has come to other statesr
There is due to Idaho d thorough
exploitation Of her mineral resources;
such, for instance, as Colorado, CAL
! ifornia and Nevada enjoy from better
geographical positions. A
Population and commerce arc now
: turning to Idaho, in more just .pro1
portion. Fasteners are learning Of.
Idaho, and thousands Of immigrants
come direct to her, without first TAX
ing ticket to Western tidewatcr as
formerly. Already her citizens nuni
: Der nearly two hundred thousand.
The camps which we're famous for
placer gold in this pioneer days are
now gaining more permanent atteti1
ton as rc-prodncers. As an in
: stance Of increasing development,
the C9ur d Alencs Of Northern Ida
no now produce DO per cent, Of the
total output Of lead in the United
States.
What Idaho needs most to place
; her in the front rank of states is bet-
ter transportation facilities, especial
: ly railway from north to south
;, through the central portion, which
includes the gold fields as we'll as
: vast timber, stock-raising and agri-
= cultural resources, besides its great
: commercial benefit. Such connect
ing bond would eliminate political
!. tension between Northern and South
= ern Idaho, now separated by an ex-
y treme Of 4lO miles, increased to one
" thousand miles by the railways de
touring through surrounding states
= Indications are that the Oregon
!, Short Line company will in the neal
- future complete this much-needee
line, now lacking two hundred mile:
2 Of connection. This railway will pas:
= near the Thunder Mountain, Rapic
= River, Seven Devils, Buffalo HUMP
y and Loon Creek camps, besides in
!" Vulnerable ore deposits not mention
= ed here. 1t will open up new er;
= Of opportunities. 1t will eliminate
= the largest field Of isolation within
. the United States today, and Idah,
= will take her allotted place in the val
- of Western progress
Chairman Il. II Gooding, Of th