The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1909-11-04
WYE LEFT Silver City Sunday
wv morning, October 10, for trip

tion activity and agricultural develop
ment of the rich alluvial arid lands now
taking place in the eastern part of Owy-
hee county, with the famous Bruneau
Valley as our final destination. Passing
over the divide out Of Silver and down
the mountain onto sinker Greek, we
made our first stop at the residence of
Mrs. Paul, whera we had dinner and fed
our horse. Mrs. Paul has a cozy little
farm on Sinker, and besides putting up
considerable hay each year also grows
some very choice fruit for which she
finds ready market at home. Jack
Lewis, the sheepman. was making his
camp headquarters on the Paul place.
Proceeding on our journey and feeling
In good spirits, the inner man fully sat
ished, and our thoughts in harmony and
communing with the wonderful handi-
work OF nature as we passed through the
deep dark canyon of Sinker, whose pre-
cipitous rock walls lowered hundreds of
feet in height ON either side, the very
stiffness, save the hoof beats OF our horse
on the gravel roadbed, lending weird
enchantment to the scene and surround
ings. We climbed out of the canyon,
following the road onto the plateau and
across the sagebrush plains toward
Oreana. just before going down onto
Pickett Greek we met Commissioner A.
j. Harley who was enroute to Silver
City to attend Commissioners Court.
Although it was our first meeting with
the gentleman, we found Jack of social
turn and he very kindly gave us much
information and many useful pointers
about the prolific country and hospita-
ble people we were to visit. Down
Picket Greek to Oreana we passed quite
~ number Of farms, the general improve
ments, well kt pit orchards, huge hay
stacks, sleek and fat stock, substantial
outbuilding and comfortable dwellings
giving homelike appearance and de
noting better than words can tell the
prevailing prosperity among the people,
AT Oreana we had the pleasure OF
meeting Ben II. Hyde, the popular
merchant and postmaster, whom we
knew in our childhood DAYS, also his
brother, M. Hyde, who in the early 70's
was superintendent and general mana
ger of the famous old Virtue mine at
Baker City. Ben invited us out to din
ner and we found himself and estmable
wife quite resourcefnl, indeed, in the
matter of information regarding the
country. Aside from his mercantile in
terests Mr.. Hyde haa a fine ranch of
320 acres on which he has lovely farm
home surrounded by well kept lawn,
shade trees and orchard, and which he
irrigates from a reservoir constructed
just above the house. The reservoir is
fed from spring at the upper ehd OF
the farm. He has at present only
about ninety acres in cultivation, find
ing it profitable to use the balance for
pasture land. Adjoining Mr.. Hyde is
the large ranch OF j. M. Neil, which is
devoted to the raising of hay and grain
with an abundant yield OF both, and fol
grazing purposes. Mr.. Neil has re-
Gently constructed modern residence
on the upper end of his place, neal
town, and is improving the surround
ings. On the line between Mr.. Hyd,
and Mr.. Neil are three flowing artesar
wells that throw continuously stream 0
water through four inch pipes foot O.
more above the ground. This waite
can be utilized for irrigation as we'll a
for domestic purposes. Mr.. Neil ha
installed hydraulic ram in one OF th,
flowing wells and is pumping the waite
to his residence on the hill above
Space will not permit us to mention
other places, suffice it to say that tn
soil OF this section is very productiv
and all kinds OF cereals, fruits, berrie
and vegetables are grown to perfection
The country at present is given u
mostly 10 stockraising and only sue
farming is done as is necessary to sup
ply the home demands but it is safe t
say that with the advent Of ralroa
the 0reana section will furnish its quot
Of products TO the markets Of ths our
side world.
The town OF Oreana, centrally situate
in this rich section, has a general me
chandise store carrying good size
stock suitable to the needs OF the peopl
of that section, and is owned by Ben
Hyde, who is also postmaster.
A frstcass hotel, conducted by M
and Mrs. George Ulrich, who spare l
pains in looking to the comfort and e.
tertainmeut Of guests The hotel is beir
repainted and thoroughly renovated ou
side md in and when completed W