The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-07-10

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creek, nine miles east of Blackfoot,
but 1.-THE Dobies' two miles below the
old fort, came into being, built partly
from the materials taken from the
old fort, and known as FIT. Hall stage
station or the Dobies. In 1904 the
location on Lincoln creek was abon-
doned for the new buildings half a
mile south of Ross Fork, thirteen
miles southwest of Blackfoot on the
Short Line, and in 1911 the railroad
station known as Ross Fork was
changed to TT. Hall, this being about
the fourth location known by the
name.
A Notable Celebration
In 1909 celebration was held in
Blackfoot in commemoration of the
18th anniversary of the establishing
of the old fort. The year 1914 is
the 50th anniversary of the rebuild
Ing of the place as stage station
and the beginning of the carrying of
the government mails through the val
ley, and as such we deem it worthy
of publication of this article this
month with few incidents attached
that add interest.
Wagon Loads of Gold
In 1923 some exceedingly rich
placer gold mines were discovered
in Idaho and Montana, and in 1854
Ben Holiday of overland stage fame
established his lines to carry on bust
ness between Salt Lake city and Hele-
ma and Boise city. Holiday let con-
tract to a man named Locket, to
build line of stations connecting
Boise with the main line to Helena,
the point of junction being the
Dobies on Fl. Hall bottoms. Locket
was to rebuild Fl. Hall and build the
other stations to be established and
cut and stack certain quantities of
hay at the various stations, and was
to receive a stipulated price per sta
ton and per ton of hay. Locket hired
men to help him and fulfilled his
part of the contract in the course of
the summer.
Local Banker Built it
J. N. Ireland, now resident of
Pocatello and vice president of the
First National Bank of that place as
well as partner in the Standrod
chain of banks, was employed to
build Fl. Hall of dobies taken from
the old fort, supplemented by other
dobies which he nodded himself.
The roof was made of cottonwood
poles, brush and hay, al covered tn
dirt. The old buildings, some of
which had seen thirty years of SER
vice, did not afford veTy much ma
terial that could be used again.
From Fl. Hall Westward
The line of stations connecting
with Boise, were on the line of ira
vel adopted down the left bank Of
Snake river to Salmon Falls, (near
Hagerman) then across to King
Hill, west to Rattlesnake, Squaw
creek and Boise. Each station was
located at natural meadows, and
the hay was cut by hand with scythes,
moving machines beinS unInow in
Idaho, although the first ones had
reach Salt Lake city al l. pIice Of
about $500 each.
Cheated the LaDorers
In the course of the season Ben
Holidays agent received and accept
ed the hay and the stations, and the
treasurer came over the line and
paid Mr.. Locket in paper money.
Locket didn't want to take it, but
the contract did not state the kind
of money required, and as gold was
the money of the country and as cur
rency was money conforming to the
contract, Locket took the currency
under protest. 1t was worth only
forty-five cents on the dollar in New
York, for the Civil war was raging
with doubtful outcome, and currency
was a species of joke among the rich
mines of the west. When Locket
nd his men tried to circulate their
paper money it was treated with con-
tempt, and men lighted cigars with
10 or pasted it up in saloons as
souvenirs of an age that was thought
to be passing, for Idaho was then re-
ceiving great influx of men who
came west to keep from being draft
ed to fight in the union armies.
LabOrers Used the Torch
Locket was mad. So were all of
his men. They swore some about Ben
Holiday. They cursed the stage bust
ness and the days they had spent
cutting hay with the scythes when
they might have been getting loads Of
gold in the mines. Passengers were
going over the line with chests of
gold, and all of them seemed to be
nabobs. In most cases the men who