The Prospector and Thunder Mountain News April 1, 1905
courtesy Sandy McRae and Jim Collord
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The Prospector and Thunder Mountain News
Roosevelt, Idaho April 1, 1905 Volume 1 Number 16
Sunnyside Crusher Arrives With 62 Horses And 21 Men
William Kreps, the Dauntless Freighter, Crosses Four Mountain Ranges With 20,000 Pounds of Mining Machinery.
The Dewey Palace Hotel (Home of Thunder Mountain Millionaires) Nampa, Idaho
By courtesy of Mrs. Mansfield of Idaho Leaders
William Kreps is just arriving with the Sunnyside Mine machinery weighing fully 20,000 lbs. The great rock crusher, which weighs 7000 pounds, drawn by twelve horses is the last of the teams to arrive and will pass through town as we go to press. This ponderous piece of machinery loaded on the sled stands fully eight feet above the road bed.
A representative of THE NEWS met the teams at Southwest Fork summit in order to see for himself the consumation [sic] of this gigantic undertaking. He was shown every courtesy by Mr. Kreps and thus enabled to give a systematic account of this stupendous journey.
Mr. Kreps took the crusher at Pearl Summit, 25 miles this side of Nampa on the 11th of March, where it was left by previous freighters. Coming up Squaw creek hill, the mud reached the wagon box. 20 horses were used in pulling the load up this hill. Mr. Kreps took the Sunnyside company at its word. He was told to get the machinery to the mine and he has done what few men would have thought possible. He hired horses and men whenever he needed them and kept his eye on the goal. He owns one team of six horses which is perhaps not surpassed in the whole state. The horses average 1500 pounds each and seem to take work as a passtime [sic]. With 4000 pounds of machinery on their sled Mr. Kreps sent this team ahead to break the road and up some of the mountains there was fully three feet of snow.
At High Valley it became necessary to transfer the crusher from wheels to a sled. The last mile and a half was made through mud which seemed to have no bottom. After the [crusher passed], not even a saddle horse could make his way and the fence was taken down on one side and a temporary road made through a field.
Mr. Kreps had a novel way of transferring his load. He drove along side a large tree, placed a tackle of wire cable above the load, lifted it by means of horses, and drawing the wagon out and a sled underneath, lowered the ponderous weight to the sled.
He experienced no further trouble and made good time to Smith’s Ferry on the Payette. Here he found the ice although two feet thick in places too rotten to bear his tremendous load, or even his stock. He spent three days in dynamiting a canal, so to speak, through the river which at this point is several hundred feet wide. The canal he made about 25 feet in width and loading the crusher on to the ferryboat, attached a line to it and with twelve horses which he had engaged on the opposite side of the stream he pulled the boat through the slush ice made in dynamiting, to the other shore. A little later the ice cleared and loading his horses on the boat they were poled across.
This side of Smith’s Ferry, Mr. Kreps began to pick up other machinery belonging to the crusher, hired men and horses as they were needed and swept the road clean of machinery needed at the Sunnyside mine.
Several miles this side of Thunder City he was again obliged to transfer his loads to wheels for a few miles and then back to sleds again. He accomplished this in the same manner as before – simply … (page torn).
At Big Creek Summit, 12 miles south of Knox, Mr. Kreps showed his resourceful genious [sic] in a remarkable way. The road along this summit was sidling and frozen hard. He hired Joseph Rollins with his team and an ordinary breaking plough and ploughed a single furrow through the snow and ice on the upper side of the road for a distance of two miles. This made a trench for the upper runners of his sleds and held them in place, thus preventing them from sliding down the mountain side with his tremendous loads.
Fortune seemed to smile sometimes, however, on the heroic efforts being made; at Johnson creek when the teams arrived, there was no snow on the grade; Mr. Kreps made preparations to again transfer his loads to wheels. At dark snow began to fall and at daylight next morning the road was covered with six inches of snow. The morning was warm and time could not be lost. Hastily harnessing his teams be rushed the great loads up the mountain side to the height where the old snow had not melted. He returned to Johnson Creek for dinner with men and horses, went back up the hilt and made Reardon Creek that night.
The road which Mr. Kreps had broken on a previous trip was of much value as it formed a firm foundation below tie new snow – across Bald Hill which is over 8000 feet high, for fully eight miles the new snow was over three feet deep.
Hearing of the approach of the teams, Supt. Abbott sent seven men in charge of D. S. Cotter to assist in getting … (page torn) … down Southwest Fork summit. This work was of great service.
Mr. Kreps himself, with two sixes arrived Thursday afternoon, leaving the crusher to follow from Bald Hill. Charles Haynes, a veteran driver, has been with that load during the whole trip.
Leaving his own superb six, driven by Al. Woods, to break the road to the Sunnyside mine, Mr. Kreps went back to see the last load in.
To feed this large number of horses 15 bales of hay and 11 sacks of oats were used daily. It is pleasant to be able to say that no care or expense was spared to keep the horses in good condition and make them comfortable. Mr. Kreps himself is a master driver and not only knows how to care for horses but insists that it shall be done.
This marvelous undertaking passes into the wonderful history of Thunder Mountain. In the dead of winter William Kreps has drawn 20,000 pounds of machinery over four mountain ranges and will set it down in perfect condition at its destination.
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Locals
Charles E. Curtis has opened a saloon at Belleco.
Wm. Queeney has gone to Middle Fork of the Salmon.
Mrs. Sam Hancock is spending a few days with Mrs. Pannkake at the Y. H.
Bert Merridth and Claude Taylor went to work at the Dewey Wednesday.
E. M. Thornton returned Thursday … (page torn).
Mrs. Morris went to Belleco this morning where she will take charge of the Sunnyside boarding house.
A. A. Lyden, R. B. MacGregor and Ed. Lewis arrived from the Ramey Ridge country the 27th ult.
Mrs. Charles E. Curtis and family, Mis. C. M. Taylor and Mrs. Hasbrook took the stage this morning for Boise.
H. C. Ailport, the sub-contractor for this end of the mail route, arrived Thursday afternoon with a sleigh load of mail. Mr. Ailport made great efforts to get the mail in.
E. L. Reid is quite sick. Stage-driver Ailport went to the Southwest Fork of Monumental Friday morning and brought him to town. We hope he will soon be about again.
McCrum & Deary, of Boise, always carry a first class stock of drugs and medicines. They make a specialty of mail order business, and solicit Thunder Mountain trade. See their advertisement.
A petition was circulated last week praying the county commissioners to declare the Thunder Mountain Road a county road and appoint a road supervisor. R. D. Almond was named as supervisor, and the petition was universally signed.
Ed. Collins, while working in the Blue Point tunnel at the 20th Century, narrowly escaped death last Saturday. While timbering the tunnel a huge boulder weighing nearly a ton fell from the roof grazing his head and shoulder. He is not seriously injured though disabled for a few days.
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The Oriental situation as we go to press seems almost axiomatic. After the battle of Liao Yang Japan intimated that she would gladly welcome peace. The Czar said, “I will risk another battle.” He risked it – the cost is some hundred and fifty thousand human lives – this doesn’t amount to much to the Czar – he considers his private soldiers in the same light as a freighter does his stock – “the collar will fit another horse” – the Czar has millions of men, his “subjects,” left. The autocracy of Russia must be sustained. The bankers of Paris, however, think that the down-trodden peasantry of Russia may at last reach the limit of endurance; they think that weeping Poland and strangled Finland may yet assert, and they refuse the Russian loan. Japan has not millions of serfs to throw to the front, but after she has buried her 50,000 dead as the result of the awful battle of Mukden she has left millions of men whose very life blood thrills with the noblest … (page torn)
… captain of modern warfare. The Japanese have never known defeat – they are fighting for principles as lofty as the blue dome and we confidently predict for Japan the victory.
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Every few months some obscure word is brought forth from the deep recess of the English language and inflicted upon the reading public until the word becomes so trite that newspaper men are ashamed longer to use it. The latest nuisance is the word “effete” applied to the eastern states – “Effete East” People who are acquainted with the East or who do business there find it is not very much “effete.”
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The reason we have such an irregular mail service is simply the fact of underbidding for the contract to carry the mail. Any branch of federal service carries with it prestage [sic] and responsibilities – many federal officials remember the prestage [sic] and forget the responsibility.
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The Standard Oil Company has had everything its own way for many years. It is now facing an investigation, national in extent, which is backed by the executive head of the nation. It is safe to say that its methods will be well aired.
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It is said that there is but one daily mining newspaper in the world – The Daily Mining Record of Denver.
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Locals Continued.
The Summit House was the scene of much activity Wednesday evening when 21 men with the Sunnyside machinery spent the night there. Fully 50 horses were tied about the grounds.
Fred Roesch is putting up a dwelling house 16×24 feet in the clear on his lot south of the pioneer meet [sic] market. He will set it back from the street so that the front of the lot may be used as a business location.
S. L. Gillam has a very fine mountain sheep’s head, a present from Ed. Myers, which he will have mounted and hang as an ornament in his saloon. He has quite extensive decorations in mind which we shall report later.
Says the Mining Recorder: “An important mining deal was recently made in Kansas City whereby George Brant transferred his interest in the Brant Mining & Milling Company for an interest in the Golden Islet, situated in Jones gulch. New officers were elected for the Golden Islet Mining & Milling Company, as follows: J. G. McKnight, president; S. E. Bowerman, vice-president; J. F. Mensing, secretary and treasurer.” Geo. Brant is well known in this section as the local manager of the Brant Mining & Milling Company.
I have been requested to state my prices for professional services; they are as follows: A common extraction, without anaesthetics [sic], $1.00; absolutely painless extraction, $2.50; seemless [sic] gold crown, 22k.-30 gague [sic], $10 to $15; for bridge work, $10 to $12.50; plates from, $25 to $100; silver fillings $1.50 to $2.00; platinum fillings, $2.50 to $3.00; gold fillings, $3.50 up. A word in regard to the painless extraction: I am inventor of an anaesthetic [sic] which has taken me years to complete, and the experiments incidental thereto have cost much time, trouble and money. Ask those who have used my anaesthetic [sic] if I missrepresent [sic] its effect. In no dental parlors outside, can you get first-class work done cheaper than I do it and the after effects commonly known to painless extraction, are not known to my patients since my anaesthetic [sic] is local in its effect. I do all kinds of dental work known to the profession. I avoid giving needless pain in all dental operations. Ask your friends about this. I take personal interest in my patients and so assume to refer you to any of them. C. T. JONES, D. D. S.
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Idaho’s Game Law.
During the session of the last legislature, considerable attention was given to the fish and game law. The law as it now stands is a good one and all good citizens of the state will unite in upholding it. We are too apt to disregard the value of the wild animals of our forests. There is perhaps the finest hunting ground in the world right here in Idaho. Elk, deer, bears of several varieties, mountain sheep, beaver, martin, grouse and all small game abound in our great mountain fastnesses. Nothing but wanton disregard of all decent and sportsmanlike hunting will ever despoil our forests. The only game which really needs protection at the present time is Elk, deer and mountain sheep.
Three great evils menace the increase, and even the continuance of these fine species of game in this section of the country, namely:
Destruction by cougars,
Wanton slaughter,
And sale of wild game.
The first named is perhaps the worst evil of till. Few people realize the terrible destruction of deer caused by the cougar, or American lion. Many mountaineers estimate that every full grown cougar kills not less than thirty deer each year, and so the wisdom of the late legislature is shown, in offering a bounty of $15 for every cougar killed – the cougar is of absolutely no use – a sneaking, cowardly beast which stealthily crawls upon his prey and springing from his lair sets his jaws in death grip on the throat of his victim.
The second evil, wanton slaughter, is fast disappearing from this section, though we have suffered from it in the past. It seems hardly credible that any man would stand and deliberately shoot a wild deer of the forest for the pleasure of seeing it fall in death throes. Unfortunately such has been the case and right here in Thunder Mountain.
There are men, God grant they are few, so deeply depraved that a living mark is preferable to a target for rifle practice, even though it be the finest specimen of wild game for which they have not the slightest use except the morbid satisfaction of seeing it give up its life.
Last year three fine elk were killed in the Chamberlain Basin – they weighed from 300 to 500 pounds each. Two teeth were taken from each elk and the carcasses were left to rot. The State Game Warden, Van Irons, used every means to bring the dastard who killed them to justice; he failed because the two witnesses who could testify for the prosecution were too cowardly to do so, and left the state.
But perhaps the least excusable and most disgraceful of all the agencies of destruction of wild game animals is claudestine [sic] sale of the meat. We believe there is not a state in the union where deer or elk may be legally sold – there is certainly not one where any attention is given to the preservation of game. No good citizen will sell a deer or elk. It is legally as well as morally wrong; and no man who has respect for himself and interest in his community and those who are to come after him, will, for a few paltry dollars, so degrade himself.
No restaurant or hotel keeper who is honorable and does a legitimate business will serve a piece of deer meat at his table unless it is furnished by his guest.
The state of Maine has the finest hunting and fishing of any or the older states. Why? Because it has the most stringent laws, and because every citizen upholds them.
Maine’s revenue from her game and fish probably amounts to $1,000,000 a year. That amount is brought into the state. A man may leave Boston in the morning and be in the very heart of a great game country at night.
On the shores of Rangely Lake, is situated a hotel property worth not less than $100,000 – the “Rangely Lake House,” which is supported by the fish and game resources. There, a man may be given six months in jail for killing a deer out of season and at the Parsons Hotel on Dead River where the deer may be seen any sunny morning at the edge of the wood, you can not get venison served unless you legally kill it yourself.
The preservation of the game makes revenue to every man in the country, farmer, guide, boatman, liveryman and hotel keeper.
The time is not too distant when the same conditions may exist here if every citizen will do his own honest part in strengthening the arm of the law. We owe it to ourselves; we owe it to those who come after us.
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The Great American Hen.
The great American hen, thrice hail! Here in very sooth is a subject for an epic. In his annual report Secretary Wilson says the farmers’ hens produce one and two-third billions of dozens of eggs every year. Think of that! Under a beneficent republican administration the hens of the American farmyards produce annually 1,666,666,666 dozens of eggs. What is the wealth of a Monte Cristo compared with the wealth produced by these cheerful, clucking, industrious denizens of the barnyard? It invites the mind to rhapsodical flights of fancy.
– Rochester Post-Express.
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International Happenings
During the week preceeding [sic] March 9th, deaths from plague numbered 34,000. Statistics show that the deaths from bubonic plague in India within a few years have reached 3,000,000. In 1903 the deaths from this source was 860,000.
On March 9th, Lord Rosebery in a speech before the City of London Liberal Club, said: “There is one thing to which no wise statesman ever will expose the country, namely, the curse of a dual government. We have sufficient warnings in the example of Norway and Sweden, and Austria and Hungary to avoid the peril of having the vulture gnawing at our very vitals.”
It is reported that President Castro of Venezuela has sold his government and himself for $2,600,000. Castro’s financial agent at Antwerp has been instructed to sign an agreement with German and British bond holders turning over 50 per cent. of the customs receipts of five Venezuelan ports until the full amount of the indebtedness is paid. This will take about fifty years and will give to Germany and Great Britain a preponderance of influence in the republic. He receives the amount referred to above as a gift.
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NATIONAL.
Wm. R. Hearst announces that his papers will not support Mayor McClellan for re-election as mayor of New York.
It is now reported that Mrs. Huntington and her millions are behind the Western Pacific railroad move, instead of the Goulds.
Harry S. New has been appointed vice-chairman of the Republican National Committee and will be acting chairman upon the resignation of Secretary Cortelyou.
President Roosevelt is not satisfied with the progression made by the Panama Canal Commission – we may look for important changes. Roosevelt has to be shown.
A terrible boiler explosion followed by destructive fire occurred in a Brockton shoe factory the 21st of March. The last accounts we have on going to press state that 53 bodies had been taken from the ruins.
A newspaper advertisement in New York offering a day’s work to fifty snow shovelers brought more than 300 men to the spot before daylight the next morning. When the man appeared with the fifty work checks a rush ensued which necessitated calling the police. When they arrived more than 20 individual couples were engaged in a fist fight for the privilege of shoveling all day for $2.
The President’s cabinet is composed as follows: Secretary of State, John Hay of Ohio. Secretary of the Treasury, Leslie M. Shaw of Iowa. Secretary of War, William H. Taft of Ohio. Secretary of the Interior, Ethan A. Hitchcock of Missouri. Secretary of tin Navy, Paul Morton of Illinois. Secretary of Agriculture, James Wilson of Iowa. Postmaster General, Robert J. Wynne. Attorney General, William H. Moody of Massachusetts. Secretary of Commence [sic] and Labor, Victor H. Metcalf of California.
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State Items.
There are but two mining camps in the West and Alaska that produce more mineral wealth than the Coeur d’Alenes, a section 10×20 miles in extent. These are Butte and Cripple Creek. In 1904 the smelter returns for ore shipped from the Cour d’Alenes [sic] was $12,317,375.
At the annual debate between the University of Idaho and the University of Utah held at Moscow, March 9th, the victory was awarded to Idaho. The question was: “Resolved, that it would be unwise to make provision in our laws for compulsory voting.” Idaho had the negative, thus favoring the enactment of such a law.
A terrible accident occurred March 12th to Mrs. P. E. Ellis, wife of postmaster Ellis of Stites. She was riding a spirited horse over a dangerous road when the cinch broke and Mrs Ellis was thrown against a sharp rock at the side of the road. Her skull was crushed, so that parts had to be removed leaving an aperture, 2×3 inches into which was inserted a silver plate. It would hardly seem possible that she could recover but at last accounts she was improving.
On the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River, B. F. Cressler recently had a most marvelous escape from death says the Stites Journal. He was hunting and had chosen a sunny spot on which to eat his lunch. He took a cup of coffee and walked to the edge of a cliff a few feet away where stood a lone fire tree fully 325 feet above the rocks below. Hearing a slight noise he turned and saw a huge black bear eating the bacon he had just left. His rifle stood leaning against a tree very near Mr. Bear who after finishing the bacon, came defiantly toward him. Nothing could be done but climb the tree; this Mr. Cressler did, and did it quickly. The bear came also but with exasperating deliberation. The man had climbed as high as e dared to go. The rocks under the cliff were fully 400 feet below him. He felt pitch on the limb he clasped and with perfect self possession he cut a small limb, split the end and fastened in a piece of the pitch The bear was now within five feet of him; with his only match he lighted the pitch and allowed the scalding drops to fall on the bears face. One burning drop fell into the nostril and the bear, crazed with the pain, raised both front paws to scratch away the fiery torture, lost his hold and fell with a dull thud to the rocks below. Mr. Cressler made haste to desend [sic] and in recounting the adventure modestly said “that was a close call.”
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Further Reading
Clippings from Idaho for April 1 – 8, 1905
Elk City Mining News April 01, 1905
A Five Stamp Mill.
W. Stoever, manager of the Thunder Mountain Gold Mining company, left on Sunday’s stage for Spokane to complete the details preliminary to the shipment of their five stamp mill which the company recently purchased and which will be installed as soon as possible. The first consignment will reach Stites April 20th.
source: Elk City Mining News., April 01, 1905, Page 1, from Chronicling America
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ARE WAKING UP.
Yesterday the Journal threw a word of warning in respect to the possible effect of the operations of the State Wagon Road commission on the diversion of Thunder Mountain business to the southern part of the state. It is common knowledge that the constantly growing business into Thunder now goes through northern Idaho via Moscow, Lewiston and Stites, geographical conditions being favorable, and the wagon road facilities much better than are available by a southern route.
If the northern wagon road receives a fair share of the appropriation to the disposal of the commission this supremacy, will be retained at the north, but if the road from Stites is neglected and the Boise-Thunder road built on an extensive scale the south will aggrandize itself at the expense of the north, because other things being equal this business would naturally flow through northern channels.
Business men throughout southern Idaho are keenly alive to the possibilities of extending their sphere of trade, and will not lose an opportunity of impressing upon the commission the desirability of improving the wagon road facilities from Boise to Thunder. This course is perfectly proper. At the same time the northern interests should insist if possible that the Stites road receive reasonable consideration. It’s a pure matter of dollars and cents.
– Moscow Journal.
source: Elk City Mining News., April 01, 1905, Page 4, from Chronicling America
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The Weiser Semi-Weekly Signal April 05, 1905
The State Will Pay Dollar For Dollar
Decision Reached by Road Commission Now In Session — The Warren – Big Creek Road.
Any section of the state desiring a [wagon] road built under the authority the act of the last legislature establishing a state wagon road commission must pay dollar for dollar [to] the state. That is the decision [arrived] at by the commission, which [is] now session in this city, says [the] Boise Statesman. The commission has but $50,000 at its disposal. Several times that amount is asked in [?] presented during the legislative session which went over by unanimous consent to be considered by the commission. In order that any [applicable] benefits should accrue to [?] parts of the state it was [?] necessary to adopt the dollar [to] dollar rule.
The Commission’s first day was a [?] one. Three delegations were [?] representing the Atlanta, Warren-Big creek and Sheep Mountain [road] projects. The commission also [set] up the work of charting the [roads] asked by the bills presented to [the] legislature.
The commission devoted some time looking over the wagon road bills [that] were printed, and in searching through the records for evidences of [?] that were not printed. As [?] as possible the routes are being charted. All these projects will [be] scheduled under the following [findings]: Length, estimated cost, [State’s] proportion of expense, kind [of] mineral opened up. The commission will send an engineer over [the] various proposed roads and will [?] inspect them. The inspections will be made as fast as weather conditions in the mountains [will] permit. Probably the first examination will be made of the Atlanta project owing to the likelihood [of] the trail being opened early.
In the Weiser delegation, which [?] on behalf of the Warren-Big creek road were E. M. Barton, Dr. G. [?] Waterhouse, Dr. J. R. Numbers and C. W. Luck, the engineer. Others who were present when the project was being discussed were J. B. Eldridge, James Green, ex-Governor Hunt, M. B. Gwinn, J. E. Clinton, Jr., Max Mayfield and Leonard Logan.
Engineer Luck presented a report based on surveys of three routs he had made into the Big creek section for mining companies. His surveys converged at the Werdenhoff mine, which is located in about the center of the district One, 40 miles in length, went from the Werdenhoff mine over Profile pass, through Yellow Pine basin and, via Johnson creek, to a connecting point with the present Thunder Mountain road. This he called the southern route because the nearest railroad point was Council and because it would be of little use to peoplo in the north. The other survey was from the Werdenhoff mine to Dixie and thence to Stites — the northern route, which would accommodate none from the south.
The third route, and the one which the commission was urged to accept and aid in building road over, was from Warren via Elk creek to the Werdenhoff mine, a distance of 35 1/2 miles, with three miles of the road already built. This route would be available for people in the north, south and west and presented no great difficulties in wagon road construction. There would have to be built three and a half miles of road above the Payette lakes so as to straighten out the state road and place it in the west side of the river. That, with some repairing on the state road, would leave a splendid route from the lakes to Warren. The total cost, including a substantial bridge across the south fork of the Salmon at Shafer’s ranch, would not exceed $30,000.
E. M. Barton said the mining companies and others would pay half this sum.
source: The Weiser Semi-Weekly Signal., April 05, 1905, Page 1, from Chronicling America
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Long Valley Advocate April 06, 1905
SMITH’S FERRY.
Smith’s Ferry, March 29,1905.
The crusher for the Belle of Thunder Mountain mining company, which passed here about two weeks ago, was at Riordan creek 18 miles this side of Roosevelt when last heard of. The crusher weighs about 7000 pounds all in one piece and is a difficult load to haul on account of condition of roads.
The new saw mill for G. Al. Snow of Knox passed the ferry a few days ago. Air. Snow is also going to put up a quartz mill this summer, a great deal of the machinery is now in Emmett.
F. A. Noland of Van Wyck passed the ferry Tuesday night enroute to Sweet, having got word that his father at that place was very ill.
Winter is again with us, weather has been stormy for past 14 days and in the last 36 hours snow has fallen to a depth of 10 inches.
Roads are very bad for heavy loads, so soft and muddy that wheels must be used and ground will not bear up heavy loads.
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ALPHA
Alpha, April 1, 1906.
The ranchers of this end of the valley are waking up to the fact that it is profitable to raise oats, and a very large acreage is going to be sown this spring.
The Snow freight outfit passed through here last Wednesday with two ten-horse loads of the saw mill machinery that they are putting in on Johnson creek.
B. F. Cushing, an old miner and prospector of Pearl, passed through here Thursday enroute to Thunder Mountain.
Lafe Cantrell and Oscar Pinkston of It attended the Odd Fellows lodge here Saturday night.
John Atkins was visiting friends in Round valley last Saturday and Sunday.
We are enjoying beautiful spring weather again after the recent snow storm.
Mrs. Laurence Herrick was visiting friends in Round valley last week.
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BEAVER MEADOWS
Van Wyck, April 2, 1905.
John McMurren has returned from the Thunder Mountain district, where he has been freighting for the Sunnyside mine. He reports three feet of new snow, also a narrow escape of B. L. Ward’s freight outfit from sliding down the side of Riordan mountain, however they are not going to give up hauling the machinery to its destination.
L. S. Kimball of Van Wyck is the man behind the district telephone project. He generally makes things go.
August Stunz and two daughters, the Misses Bertha and Gretchen, went to Van Wyck Saturday.
Frank McMurren is working at Fred Rutledge’s livery barn at Van Wyck.
School begins here April 3rd.
Source: Long Valley Advocate., April 06, 1905, Page 1, from Chronicling America
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NORTH & SOUTH ROAD
Col. Spofford Believes Long Valley Route Will be Selected.
Col. Judson Spofford, president of the Lewiston and Southeastern Electric railway, has returned from an extended visit at Boise, where he states a deep interest has been aroused in the north and south road project, says the Lewiston Tribune. In speaking of the conditions and the outlook for the construction of the north and south road, Col. Spofford said:
“The matters of the Lewiston and Southeastern Electric railway are progressing nicely. Everybody in the southern part of the state seems anxious to see it become the north and south road, between Lewiston and Boise.
“Of course there will be efforts made to have this north and south line terminate at some point other than Boise, but that is a matter the people of that section will have to settle for themselves. In my opinion no route for a north and south road would completely fill the bill unless it went through the Long valley country and would make it practicable to run a branch from some point in the Long valley country into Thunder Mountain. I am firmly of the opinion that if Thunder Mountain had railroad facilities, it would soon become one of the greatest gold mining camps in the United States. And with a north and south road between Lewiston and Boise there would be a fine summer resort at the Payette lakes.
“The joint resolution passed by the legislature, one submitting to the vote of the people a constitutional amendment allowing counties and municipalities to issue bonds in aid of great public utilities, and the one also submitting to a vote of the people an amendment to the constitution allowing the legislature to exempt from taxation for a period of ten years such railroads as would be of great benefit to the state, have already had a splendid effect upon eastern capital and the correspondence I have had with eastern people regarding these matters indicates that We will have no trouble in financing the proposition.”
source: Long Valley advocate., April 06, 1905, Page 5, from Chronicling America
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The Nezperce Herald April 06, 1905
For Idaho Wagon Roads.
The state wagon road commission met in Boise April 3rd and organized with Governor Gooding as chairman and State Senator M. E. Lewis as secretary. The other member is J. W. Wheeler, of Shoshone. It was decided by the commission that no project should be taken up for which private interests did not subscribe as much as would be appropriated by the commission. Delegations ware heard during the day and evening on behalf of the various projects. First came the presentation of the Sheep mountain project. Then the Atlanta road, to give Atlanta and other sections an outlet down the Boise river was heard. In the evening a large delegation from Boise and Weiser was heard on behalf of the road from Warren into the Big Creek district. It was announced the interested people would give half the cost of the road. It was also suggested that the survey already made be adopted as that would save much time, since it will be two months before the engineers can enter the field to make a new survey. The commission did not take action on any project. There is $50,000 appropriated by the state for roads, and it is the intention through the rule adopted to make $100,000 available. The singular fact developed that the law does not carry an emergency clause though it directed the commission to hold its first meeting April 3rd. Consequently the commission will not be able to enter into a contract before May 6. Work until that time will be rather informal.
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Frank and Wallace Hedrick started for Boise last Tuesday with fifty-five head of horses. These horses will be sold for pack animals to be used in the Thunder Mountain district. Jack Jackson of Kamiah, and Sam Bell, of Nezperce, accompanied the boys on their trip.
source: The Nezperce herald., April 06, 1905, Page 8, from Chronicling America
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Shoshone Journal April 07, 1905
Shoshone Journal
A Weekly Republican Paper,
W. D. Crocker, Publisher.
Issued Every Friday At
SHOSHONE, a city of 1,000; the county west of Lincoln county, and the best town in Southern Idaho, on the main line of the Oregon Short Line Railway and a junction of the same line of road to Ketchum, a distance of (?) miles and the nearest route to Thunder Mountain.
Subscription, Per Year, $2.00
Payable in Advance.
Entered at the post office at Shoshone, Idaho, as second-class mail matter for transmission through the United States mails.
source: Shoshone Journal., April 07, 1905, Page 4, from Chronicling America
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The Caldwell Tribune April 08, 1905
D. M. Traynor and family left for Thunder Mountain Thursday.
source: The Caldwell tribune., April 08, 1905, Page 5, from Chronicling America
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Elk City Mining News April 08, 1905
Rudolph & Medaris have put their ferry in shape to handle all trade with safety and dispatch. They are looking for a heavy travel toward Thunder Mountain this summer.
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Mixed in His Geography.
The Evening Journal of Portland publishes the following interview given out by the editor of the Grangeville News, who is visiting in that city, and who, if quoted correctly, is guilty of the provincial’s blunder of mixing more than his geography.
“Central Idaho is a land of virgin mineral resources, operating mines and witchery for the prospector,” says H. L. Herzinger, editor of the Grangeville News, who is in this city. “Many districts are being brought out, and most of these are equipped for milling and heavy placer work. Aside from being a much used highway to Thunder Mountain, this region,” Mr Herzinger says, “is thronged with mining men.
“In Clearwater district, near Grangeville, the Dewey and Evergreen are developing constantly. Arrangements are being made by the management of the Dewey for a 10-stamp milling plant to be erected this summer.
“Newsome district, next above Clearwater, is most conspicuous at present from remarkable developments of the great porphyry dyke property of Schissler Bros. Other men are doing heavy development in this district.
“Buffalo Hump, which is next in order, has several mills. The Big Buffalo’s 24 stamps are said to be dropping steadily on high grade milling ore. At the Jumbo ten stamps are dropping, and the Atlas and Wise Boy mines are equipped with 10-stamp mills. The Concord owner is arranging to put a mill in at an early date. The good ore recently encountered in the Mother Lode has encouraged the management to erect a mill, work on which is expected to commence early this spring. In general, the Hump is more active this spring than ever before in its history.
“At Four Mile there is one property destined to command national attention. This is the big Hogan mine, on which the great, milling plant of the old Republic mine, at Republic, Wa., is being installed. Over 100 tons of machinery for the Hogan went through Grangeville this winter and spring, and more is to follow. April 1 was the date set by the management to commence milling with the enlarged plant. The Hogan has been using a 20-stamp mill for some time, making in this work a record for low mining and milling never exceeded in the northwest, unless at the Barns-King, Kendall or Big Indian mines of Montana. With the new equipment the management expects to make even a better record.
“Elk City is another promising interior district of central Idaho, where several placers are said to be making good records. Moose Creek, where a big placer deal was recently consummated, is near Elk City”.
“Warren has several quartz properties and three or four prominent placers. Senator W. A. Clark’s eldest son was in there several days ago, and is currently reported to have an option on the McKinley mine, which has a good showing of ore.”
source: Elk City mining news., April 08, 1905, Page 1, from Chronicling America
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Link to Thunder Mountain and Roosevelt index page
Link: Public folder with images of the old newspapers
Link: November 5, 1904
Link: November 12, 1904
Link: February 4, 1905
Link: March 18, 1905
Link: March 25, 1905
Link: April 1, 1905
Link: April 8, 1905
Link: April 15, 1905
Link: April 22, 1905
Link: April 29, 1905
Link: May 6, 1905
Link: May 13, 1905
Link: May 20, 1905
Link: June 3, 1905
Link: June 24, 1905
Link: July 1, 1905
Link: July 15, 1905
Link: August 19, 1905
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page updated July 5, 2023
The Yellow Pine Times 