The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-31

Of properties is being developed this
winter. The ledge there is over 100
feed in width. One cross-cut has been
driven across 1t. This shows much
higher values than were met with in
the property of the Independence.
While this is perhaps the largest ledge
Of the district, there are a great many
more Of phenomenal size.
Thunder Mountain a Puzzle.
Thunder Mountain proper, Of which
the town of Roosevelt is the center,
proved puzzle for a long time and
there has been much disappointment.
The Dewey mine continues to produce
regularly and proftably, but it is so
far the only one to make an output.
Most of the operators there were mis-
led by the theory that the ore was
in the form of a blanket, and all mined
with that idea governing them. This
impression arose from the fact that
innumerable fracture planes in the
porphyry had been mineraliZed by ac-
ton Of mineraliZed gases. In some
places this naturalization was very
pronounced and it was supposed that
was the ore body. The work broke to
these planes and samples taken came
largely from such planes; hence the
operators deceived themselves. When
the Sunnyside mill was started it was
found that ore supposed to have
value of from SO to $50 did not carry
more than 81. II was a fiat failure.
Then Captain John Treweek of Salt
Lake, who came into the management
after the failure, set about solving the
problem of the property. He was sue
cessful, determining there was a ledge.
This he soon found and is now open
ing immense bodies Of ore carrying an
average value Of SO a ton or better.
The mining interests of the state
should not be dismissed without refer
ence to the fact that large coal veins
have been opened in the eastern pOr-
ton OF Fremont county and in Lemhi
county. These coal deposits will be-
come available to supply the general
demand only when railway transporta-
ton shall be afforded.
General Agricultural Prosperity.
The farmers Of Idaho have been ex-
tremely prosperous during the year.
Crops were good and prices remuner-
alive. Many influences have contrib
uted to this result, but the agricul-
turists have the fertility Of the soil
and the abundance of water to thank
primarily. The production of sugar
beets has been an important factor in
those localities where it has been in
trOduced. There are three factories in
the southeastern portion of the state
one at Sugar City, one at Idaho Falls
and one at Blackfoot. That at Black
foot did not do a very large business
owing TO the fact that this was the
first year. The other two have pur-
chased 100000 tons Of beets, for which
they have paid $3.50 a ton on board
the cars or delivered by team at the
works. That industry has had a Won
derful effect upon conditions in all that
region, and this is reflected in the val
ue of lands. Property worth no more
than $40 an acre before the factories
were built now readily commands from
| $50 to 800. This rise in values extends
over practically that entire section,
adding hundreds Of thousands OF dol
| lars to the tangible wealth Of the
farming community.
The industry of making beet sugar Is
in the hands OF the same men who
control it in Utah. They look upon
Idaho as their most promising field
| and contemplate putting In several
more factories Immediately. Two have
already been contracted for. These
are to be In the Boise and Payette val
leys, one at Nampa and the other at
Payette. Both are to be in operation
next fall.
All Crops Do Well.
| Ordinary crops yield abundantly,
grains being particularly heavy. In
the great wheat belt of the north the
| yield was large, many fields running
up to fifty bushels to the acre. That IS
the principal product of Latah and
| Nez Perez counties and an important
| factor In the industry of idaho coun-
ty. Wherever a plow and reaper can
| go, wheat is sown, with the result that
| the hills, and plains as well, are
crowned with the golden grain. Heavy
| yields of wheat were also reported
| from Fremont county and all the
other irrigated sections OF the state
The crop is not grown extensively in
the Boise valley, but fields where the
grain was planted made records of
! fifty bushels to the acre, while in some
instances 100 bushels of oats were
| threshed.
The hay crop was good through the
entire southern portion of the state and
| 1t has generally been sold at from 81
to Sc a ton. Alfalfa yields three crops,
making from seven to ten tons TO the
acre. Production of alfalfa seed is be-
coming an important branch of the
| business in the Boise valley. After
the first crop of hay is cut the field is
left to go TO seed and yields from sew
en- to ten bushels, worth Sc a bushel.
The Boise valley seed is in demand all
over the west, while there are stand
| ing orders here for all that can be Sc
cured for shipment aboad to be used
"a Hyeing purposes.