The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-07-24

i
vince the reader, that multi million
aires are created by special privileges
directly legislated for them; A three
million feet of timber claim is consid-
cred poor. ten million good. beyond,
the extraordinary, up to twenty-five
million. Standing timber being logged
is worth from six to ten dollars
per thousand feet. The railroads re-
ceiving every alternate section for 40
miles wide. with four claims to the
section. nets 80 CLAIMS to the mile.
Taking as a basis only fair timber of
10 million feet. with the minimum
value of standing timber being logged
at six dollars per thousand feet. totals
81 800, 600. Conce ling the high
price of constructing and equipping
mile OF railroads canbe built and
equippd from one single mile of feder-
al donation. consequently its no won
der that some of our ablest writers
and noted educators are advocating
government ownership of all public
utilities.
Along the Umqua river beds and it's
tributaries, placer mining is extern
sively carried on. furnishing employ
ment for 500 men. mostly using the old
reliable pan. A placer in oraidnary
language may be described as bed Of
sand and gravel. lying along a stream
or shore of a body of water. contain
ing gold or other valuable minerals.
These minerals have usually been
brought from distance by action
OF the stream. and are mingled with
pebbles. gravel and rock fragments.
In placer mining it is simply neces-
sary to seperate the gold from the
sand or gravel, which is the earliest
and simplest form of mining. which
can readily be accomplished by any
one with an ordinary pan or similar
utensil. The gold being much heavier
than the gravel. quickly sinks to the
bottom when agitated or shaken in
the pan, with the assistance of water.
The more modern method of mining
for placer god is by digging. This
method has now almost entirely sup
planted the crude hydraulic methods.
and by this method the metallic values
are all saved, whereas. by the hyd-
santic methods. much was washed
away in the water. Moreover. the
cost of operating dredges can be close
1yy lol11 aro
tions the element of chance is almost
entirely eliminated. Being the least
expensive form of mining and the
quickest to yield substantial returns
The records relate many extraordinary
tales of huge fortunes quickly ac-
auired indeed some beds producing
precious metal amounting to a score
of million dollars.
Wide game is plentiful notably:
deer, elk. bears. Chinese pheasants
and quail.
General farming and horticultural
pursuits are carried on principally in
small valleys with and without irri-
cation. Here luxurian growth Of
Vegetation far exceeds ours in Iowa.
Wheat and oats attaining the length
of six feet are not infrequent. while
hops, vegetables and alfalfa grow in
abundance, corn also grows here.
Comparing some corn had taken
along mea surfing thirteen inches in
length. with by wifes parents whose
land adjoins the mountains. could
easily beat mine in size. but not SO
we'll matured. The ninety day vari-
ETY. is solid. but as it rains nearly
all winter, its hard to keep from get
ting molldy. Their corn yelled 100
bushels per acre. Oats is usually cut
for hay. timothy grows very rank but
very thin stand.
Cattle require only small amount
of hay during the winter. grazing
in the valley and cleared land. imme-
diately when the sun penetrates
mother earth. nature provides for
luxuriant growth of green foliage
called mountain clover. and during the
summer cattle unfatened on pea vines
growing wild on the mountains.
Free range being allowed. owners are
obliged to fence in their crops.
Cord wood is six dollars per cord.
while cut and split ready for use is
nine.
Horticulture is extensively conduct
ed. by frequent cultivation no weeds
are allowed to mature, to evaporate
and exhaust the soil, with good prun-
ing and occasional spraying large lux
urioas fruit is obtained which bring
fancy prices. Their earlier planted
orchards were neglected precisely as
ours. the trees acquiring too much
growthy brush. which surely deprives
the trunk of most it's strength to pro-
duce a good crop. The large juicy
luxurious prune of this section is la