OWYHEE NUGGET
BEST
ADVERTISING
MEDIUM
OFFICIAL
COUNTY
PAPER.
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES TO NONE.
EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL.
»
=====
NUMBER 23
SILVER CITY, OWYHEE COUNTY. IDAHO, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1909.
VOLUME XIX.
ThrOVlgK Dock Valley
day's
over
more,
fore
of
rock
creek
are
the
acres
[lïY PROF. A. D. BRAPFIEI.D.]
"Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
'This is my own my native land?' "
So sang the great Scotch bard as he
once returned from foreign travel to
his own native hills. If travelers
would adopt the motto, "See your own
country first," there would be, per
haps, more appreciation of the grand
eur of our own country and less desire
to spend so much money and time in
travel abroad.
It was with this principle in
that, one summer, I planed
through Owyhee Co. and Duck Valley
Indian reservation. I had always
had a desire to see the Indians on their
own ground from the time when I was
very small and used to pore over their
deeds in a big red book which grand
pa had with the picture on its front of
a captive dangling to a limb above a
pile of blazing fagots.
From Silver City to Duck Valley it
is, perhaps, a distance of about sixty
miles but it seems much longer as one
has to cross steep mountains, rough,
stream-cut valleys, rocky canyons,
sagebrush plains, and a lava plateau
over a road much of which at present
is traversed only by herders or roving
Indians. I consulted some of the old
timers as to the best method of making
the trip and some advised going horse
back with another horse or burro as
pack animal to carry camping equip
ment. Others said it would be better
to go in a buckboard with two horses.
Not being able to secure the later and
not relishing the thoughts of so long a
, horse-back ride, I. procured a horse
and cart with a large box under the
seat. With this outfit, I could take
provisions and camping equipment
and have only one horse to carry feed
for. An old stage driver said that a
tenderfoot would get lost without a
view of
a trip of
can
far
any
pass
from
tion
the
and
the
I
¥
a
guide, but in talking with people who
I was able
a
had been over the route,
to learn enough of tfle way to make
a map which served me very well
The first four
throughout the trip,
miles led over War Eagle mountain
and down into Boulder canyon through
which Boulder creek runs with rapid
course. This is a favorite haunt of
fishermen who resort thither for mount
ain trout. Along this creek, fringed
with willows and cottonwoods, the
trail leads for some miles, then strikes
across the open country over hills,
across valleys, through groves of junip
er trees, and miles of dry plains cov
ered with dusty sagebrush. From
early morning until late in the after
noon I traveled without seeing a dwell-1 t
ranches some day. if a railroad ever
runs near them. At present, few peo
pie seem inclined to want to segregate
themselves so far away and await the
approach of civilization. Although so
far from a railroad or town, Bochman
has his ranch very well developed and
raises fine crops of wheat and alfalfa,
I accepted his invitation to remain over
night and also spend the next day
around his place hunting and fishing.
We passed a cotigar's den in a canyon
a few miles above his house but saw
no cougar a» these animais usually
come out only at night when they prey
upon sheep, <*eer, calves, and cults.
The latter seem to be their favorite
booty. One horse raiser in that region
said that he lost fourteen colts from
'
ing. Then I came to Jake Bochmans
ranch located inabeautiful little valley
through which flows a small stream
called Rock creek. Within a few
miles of his place are several promis
ing locations that may make fine
*
them in one year. There are some
deer left but it is not very often that
,
at one. We killed sime sage chickens
and caught a great many trout. There
are several varieties of trout. The
a hunter is lucky enough to get a shot
rainbow, which has a row of pink
spots on each side and is covered with
dark specks, is the most beautful.
Next morning I started on my next !
day's trip to Big Springs. The region '
over which I passed this day was
more, solitary than that of the day be
fore and I was glad to come in sight
of the green grass-carpeted valley
around the springs. Big Spring
gushes from a large opening in the
rock and is so large that it forms a
creek from its very source. The waters
are diverted through ditches all over
the land as broadly as possible and
moistens the soil of about a thousand
acres of land. Years ago, a man
named Spencer settled here with*a
large family and as the latter became
of age, each took-up a quarter section
of land, so that now all the irrigable
portion is taken up. No hospitality ^
can excel that of these people living so |
far from contact with the rest of the
world. Every passer-by is to them as
any old friend. They are always
eager to hear the news as weeks often
pass by without their seeing any one
from the outside world. Modern inve
tion has produced one thing which con
tributes largely toward making so
solitary a life more tolerable, that is,
the phonograph. Each year on selling
their stock or produce, these isolated
ranchers invest in a supply of new
records.
Next day, I started on the most ard
uous part of my journey. From the
Springs, the trail led up a steep bluff
and upou the lava plateau. A stage
road, now disused, had been made
years ago across this region by filling
the chinks between the large rocks
with smaller ones; but in places,
streams from the melting snows of
spring had washed out the road, leav
ing boulders as large as a washtub.
I had to get out and lead my horse oc
casionally while the cart tipped over
Not
several times before I got across,
a spear of vegetation could be seen for
miles around—nothing but broken lava
rock of various shapes and all sizes.
Such a waste and desert place I had
never seen before. It reminded me of
a jest which the Ohio people, proud of
their own fair land, sometimes make
when poking fun at the West Virgini
ans on account of the roughness of their
land, namely, that on finishing the cre
ation of the world, the Lord, having a
large quantity of waste material left
large quantity of waste material left
over, just dumped it into West Virginia
in order to get it out of the way. Owy
hee county certainly has its share of
"waste material just left over."
southern side of the plateau slopes
t h e horse, tethered to the cart by a long
rope, browsed the scattering stalks of
grass among the sagebrush. I did not
sleep very soundly, for the dismal
howling of the coyotes is not a soothing
lullaby and the thoughts of a hungry
mountain lion are not reasuring.
daybreak, I started on my way and
soon the broad expanse of Duck Valley
opened before me. I took a trail lead
ing to the nearest building but found
jt deserted. After going a few miles
further, I approached some haystacks
near which was a tent and beyond a
meadow where a mowing machine was
"How far is it to the Agency?" I
asked. They all looked up but made
1 wor k. I repeated the question, not
! knowing then that it is a point of Indi
an decorum not to have any conversa
The
gently downward, and lower wheie the
detritus had washed downward, the
road became smooth and hard. I spent
the next night out in the open with the
starry sky for a sheltering roof, while
'
At
As I neared the tent,
rattling away.
I saw some squaws and girls apparent
ly fourteen years of age preparing veg
etables and meat for cooking.
The squaws jabbered to
no reply.
each other and went on with their
tion w ith a white man when alone, j
The girls ducked down their heads and I
'
I . ,
young imps by the snoulders and giv- j
.
j , ng them a sound shaking; but remem
: bering that I was not in the schoolroom
snickered. I felt like seizing the dusky
an d reflecting that perhaps such assist
ance.in training their offsprings might
not be acceptable to their elders, I re-,
! strained my feelings, and noticing a
' buck out by a haystack mending some U
implement of husbandry, I approached
him with the same question He was
more communicative and gave me a
long account of the way, partly in Pai
ute and partly in very bad English
from which I gathered that to the
Agency it was a journey of "three suns
and two shades. "
"Three suns and two shades?'' I re
peated, puzzled. "About how far is
that in miles?" Whereupon, the half
tamed aborigine, bringing his gesticu
lating arms into requisition to aid his
it
obscure Pai-ute and scarcely more in
telligible English, entered into further
description of the way, but I could un
^ derstand nothing more. However, I
| thanked him very heartily for his infor
mation, for should we not be as grate
ful to those who make an honest effort
of
to serve us as we are to those who ren
der us actual assistance?
"Three suns and two shades," I
mused as I drove on. Could he mean
a jout ney of three days and two nights?
No, it could not be more than fifteen
•miles at the most. I gazed on the
broad valley in front. To the right,
rose a range of mountains from the
foot of which the Owyhee river came
rushing across the valley with charac
teristic western swiftness. Then,
striking the foothills on the left, it
doubled back forming a large loop.
Willows and other trees were growing
along the banks and as I saw the yel
low, dusty, trail cutting across the loop
of the river, the meaning of the Indian
came to me—I would pass over a
stretch of country in the hot sun, then
would pass through the shady grove
by the river, then another sunny
stretch, then another "shade," then
another "sun" and then I would be at
the Agency. Indeed, the Indian's
method of reckoning is not so bad, after
all, for is it not just as well to know
that a long, hot, and dusty trip has
two shady places where one can rest
and be refreshed as it is to know that
it can be divided into an even number
of spaces called miles? I soon came to
of
of
a
a large tent near a house where a
group of Indians were lounging in the
shade. I stopped at a well to water
my horse and the curious natives, see
left ing my strange looking vehicle, came
ing my strange looking came
crowding around for a closer view
Evidently, they had never seen a carl
before. They handled the wheels, the
and asked all kinds of questions. "How
"Where did I
I
shafts, opened the box under the seat
much did it cost?"
get it?" "How much would I take for
it?" I told them I could not sell as 1
had no other means of travel. One then
offered me two horses, saying that I
could make pack animals of them and
ride my own. Not favoring that mode
of travel and thinking that there might
be some restrictions concerning traffic
with the red men, I refused their offers
and drove on. Most of them talked
very good English and all were dress
ed in the garb of white men—the blue
overhalls being very conspicuous. As
I started a well-dressed Indian rode
up and asked where I was going. On
finding that I was an unoffending
traveler and not an unscruplous trader
he was very courteous and explained
the shortest way to the Agency. I was
suprised to find an Indian whose dress,
language, and bearing were so much
like those of the better class of whites
As I went on, the dwellings were more
numerous and the population denser.
The houses were low, log structures,
well adopted to keep out the cold in
winter; but so intolerable in hot weath
er that all their occupants chose to live
outside, either in tents or under shelt
er made of willow branches.' Under
these, the squaws plied their house
hold cares while the smaller fry play
ed along the river, murmuring and
rippling
it was the haying season and
to
gurgling in unison to its
waters.
j t h e men we rc engaged in mowing,
I hauling, and stacking hay. I passed
' several teams and wagons coining from
the store, driven by large-armed, full-;
j . ,
I breasted squaws, the very picture of
, ( womanly health and vigor, though
( scarcely of beauty. They bowed very
"How do
graciously in reply to my
y° u do, madam?
;
(Concluded next week.)
re-,
AWVlipU PHIINTY
U II JLIIIjjU VJUUI* I 1
»»TVITl'm ITTVflTn
M 1 N 1 Nil NijWu
THE BANNER..
The work of developing the Banner
vein from the crosscut tunnel is pro
gressing very rapidly,
drift is now in ISO feet and the ledge
has widened out to over IS feet. A
crosscut of the vein is being made at
thé faceof this drift to determine the
width of the vein at this point, but the
hanging wall has not yet been reached.
Numerous feeders or stringers of .rich
ore are encountered in this work and
it is pronounced by all miners, who are
familliar with the ore shoots on this
mountain, as a sure indication of ap
proaching a large body of rich Ore.
The south drift on the same vein has a
good body of ore in the face which has
been getting wider as the drift is car
ried farther in.
The north
at
it
a
at
BOULDER..
James Demming was in from the
Boulder Creek mines the first of the
week and reports that in finishing the
annual assessment work on the "Mil
ton" he crosscut another body of ore over
8 feet in width that is much richer than
any heretofore encountered on this prop
erty, as it pans much free gold of high
grade. The Milton is one of the "Big
4" group recently bonded by Mr. Soo
ville, and upon which extensive devel
opment work will soon be commenced
by a wealthy company.
75/>e Silver City M. <8l M. Co.
Active work has commenced on this
property and the crosscut tunnel is ex
pected to cut the Nugget vein by the
first of the year. The managerment
assures us that they have ample funds
on hand to carry the work forward
without delay, and this will be one of
the new mining propositions in this
district that will be in active operation
in ihe future.
at
POTOS1.
The pumps have been taken out and
the mine will be alowed to become
flooded, as the expense of the work
was more then the management thought
advisable until the business of the com
pany could be satisfactory settled.
The flooding ot the mine will not injure
the property in the least as it can be
easly pumped out when thev get in
shape to resums work. There is a
rumor that the company will be reor
ganized.
At the recent meeting of the Mining
Congress at Goldfield, Nevada, no
definite action was taken on the silver
question although the subject was
largely discused. One of the most
important resolutions introduced was
as follows;
"Whereas, It has been the wise pol
icy of the government to reserve ail of
the public domain for the actnal set
tlers, and
"Whereas, The present patent law,
allowing individuals or c rporations
to patent up mineral land to hold for
speculative purposes, has proved more
injurious to the mining industry then
all other causes combined, and
"Whereas There have been thou
sands of mines patented a third of a cen
tury ago for speculative purposes, and
not a day's work done on said claims
since, and
"Whereas, The greater portion of
our mineral land has been withheld
from the prospector, compelling him to
go elsewhere, every idle patented
mine being a notice to the prospector
that he is to late, and
"Whereas, Most of the patents are
held by non-residents, many of them in
foriegn countries, and with the con
stitution of Nevada being not even tax
able; be it therefore
"Resolved, That it is the sense of |
this Congress that the present mineral
land laws be repealed or so amemed
that owners of patented mines should
be compelled to do at least $100 worth
j of work each and every year, and a
I failure to do so should forfeit all rights
to said mine, and the title should re
! vert back to the government and be sub
ject to relocation."
1 -
j
j ed business it will lie impossible for Tlieo.
h. Philipp to leave as soon as be ex
,
of and therefore will lie compelled
' ^ llleantim *, , ho
to " ta l >°ny r. n n lm aninu t,u
do reduction of prices will remain the same,
I Owing to quite an amount of unfinish- ;
I
for which a list will be made through
I the Nugget.
I
WEEK'S LOCAL
HAPPENINGS
Personal Mention-Coming and
Going of Owyhee County
People in Brief.
County Court adjourned to day.
Send your orders in to Sweeney for
summer suits.
A full line of Groceries and Granitware
at the S. C. S. Co.
Frances Best is suffering from an
attack of rheumatism.
Mr. O. F. Brunzell and family are
visiting with Mrs. Cavanev.
Hugh B. Latham of Murphy regis
tered at the Idaho the first of the week.
A full line of brand new Kodaks and
Kodak supplies j ust received at Rowett's
Send your measures in for summer suits.
Prices ranging from $15 to $25.00, at
Sweeney's.
The youngest child of Mr. and Mrs.
Dunham is reported to be down with
typhoid fever.
Mrs. Jeffery and daughter, Mrs.
Miller of Dewey were visiting friends
in Silver this week.
H. C. Weymouth and wife were at
tending Probate Court in Silver City
the fi rst of the week.
Attorney W. A. Stone, of . Caldwell,
was attending to legal business before
the Probate Court, this week."
Miss Marie Paul presented us with
a box of excellent apples, grown on
their ranch on Sinker creek.
Frank Scott and family of Reynolds
took advantage of the pleasant fall
weather to visit in Silver this week.
Mrs. W. B. Hurd left for Boise
Tuesday morning, enroute to Grange
ville to attend the Rebekah Assembly
The County Commissioners are hard
at work this week attending to their
duties of their regular quarterly meet
ing.
a
J. D. Demming, of Demmingville, the
ve'eran prospector of Boulder Creek
came in Tuesday and returned yester
day.
Joseph Babbington and wife were
visiting in Silver City the first of the
week. They left for home Wednesday
morning.
H. M. Stevens and wife were in
from their camp on Boulder Creek
yesterday after supplies, and returned
the same day.
A fine assortment of new fall suits just
Don't fail to call
of
received at Sweeny's,
and look them over, as he can furnish
the goods.
J. W. Rowett is spending several
at
of
J. W. Rowett is spending several
days in Boise On business. He left
for that place last Saturday, and will
return in a few days.
Theo H. Philipp, our rustling hard
merchant has been putting his
ware
property in shape for the winter by
doing considerable repairing.
Our Line of Summer Dress Goods at
D
a Bargain at S. C. S. Co.,
W. W. Hicks and family were in
Silver City, this week and stopped at
the Idaho Hotel. Mr. Hicks made us
a pleasant call and subscribed for Ahe
Nugget.
Mrs. Maxon has almost recovered
from her recent illness, and is able
to be up and around the house. Her
many friends are pleased to know of
her recovery.
Married at DeLamar, on Monday,
October 4th, 1909: Manuel Acordagoi
tio of South Mountain, and Eulalia
Mallea, of DeLamar. Rev. Father
Dreyer, officiating.
We wish to impress upon the patrons
of the Nugget, in order that no mis
understanding may exist, that the re
duced price of $2,00 per year, only ap
plies if paid in advance.
i
Elmore county went wet by 13 majori
ty, at the recent local option election,
but we understand that a contest has
...,
^ ln ' y MacKinzie regis e e at the:
Id.tno last Monday. Harvey Goble, j
an( jj. Gifford of Reynolds were
j
; been filed by the "dry" forces, claim
ing some illegal votes were cast at
I Glenns Ferry.
in town attending the trial, as wit -1
nesses, before "the Probate Judge, last
Monday and Tuesday.
Dennis Drlscol, one of the most ex
tensive ranchers and stock raisers of
Pleasant Valley, was in Silver City
attending to business matters
evening.
last
Mrs. Spencer gave -a fine chicken
dinner to a few friends last Sunday
When it comes to a genuine
evening.
motherly spread, where every thing
is cooked "like mother used to do"
Mrs. Spencer takes the cake.
Dr. Salter is back at his practice in
Silver City having been successful in
the recent state medical examination.
The Dr. has made many friends since
coming to this locality and we are all
very much pleased with his success be
fore the State Board.
For fine jewelry, silverware and cut
glass call on J. W. Rowett, next door to
the post office. He keeps a supply of no
tions, candies, cigars,
fancy cliinaware and many other articles
not carried by the other merchants.
On Friday evening, Oct. 22, 1909, the
Dewey "Hobos and Fisheaters" will give
a grand ball at the K. P. hall in that city.
The liest of music has been secured and
the Captain of the Hobo Poliee requests
patrons to appear in full dress uniform.
Miss Marie Paul returned last week
from a two week's visit to the Seattle
Fair and cost cities in B. C.
nuts, bananas,
brought in the
H. E. Wey
An action was
Probate Court by Mrs.
mouth, one of the heirs of the D. D.
McDonald Estate for an accounting
of the administration of said estate by
W. W. Hicks, the administrator. The
came to trial Monday and ter
The evi
case
minated Tuesday evening,
dence showed that all property dispos
ed of by said Administrator had
brought a higher price then the appris
ed value, and that Mr. Hicks had kept
The
his accounts perfectly straight.
Probate Judge sustained the adminis
trator.
Any Suit in the house for $17
8weeney, Silver City.
We have on hand a number of copies
of the Early history and discription
of Owyhee Couhty published in book
form that gives an accurate description
of the county and biographical sketch
of many of the pioneers who settled
the country and by their industry and
perseverence succeeded in making this
one of the best and most productive lo
calities in the west. A copy of this
book should be in every home in the
county. We will sell this book lor the
low price of $1,00 per copy, post paid
to any address in the U. S. Order at
once before they are all gone as we
have only a limited number of copies.
A Special Sale on Hats, Shirts and
Men's Under wear at the S. C. S. Co.,
Report Of The Finexn
cia.1 Condition Of
The OWYHEE COUNTY BANK
located at Silver City, State of Idaho,
at the close of business on the 8th day
of October, 1909.
RESOURCES
Loans and discounts .
Overdrafts.....
Bonds, warrants and other
securities . ..
D ue from banks..
Checks on other banks and
cash items.
Cash on hand.
$11,321.26
245.S3
29,339.52
8,241.11
245.84
5,509.05
Total
$54.902.31
LIABILITIES
Capital stock paid in.$10,000.00
1,326.37
2,799 65
40,776.29
Surplus fund....
Undivided profits.
Deposits.
Total
$54,902,31
State ot Idaho,
County of Owyhee.
I, Frank D. Hall, Cashier of the
above named bank, do solemnly swear
that the foregoing statement is true to
the best of my knowledge and belief.
FRANK D. HALL, Cashier.
Correct. Attest:
E. J. Burrough, Sr., Director.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
i this 13th day of Oct. 1909.
[SEAL] R. H. Leonard, Jr.,
Notary PublUf.
the:
j
at
-1
last