The Weiser signal. [volume], November 07, 1901, Image 1

About The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904

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THE WEISER SIGNAL.
-
Tlie Sworn Avorafo Olroulation for 1900 was 1164 For WealL.
VOL. XI.
WEISER, IDAHO. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7. 1901.
No. 49
Work of Settlers Indicates Course of
P. & I. N.
A BAKER CITY PAPER TALKS
Latest Information of Number of Men En
gaged in the Seven Devils Hines.
Oregon Dally Republican,
The Blue Jacket mine,. of the
Seven Devils, is still operating and
at present there is no indication that
it will be reduced to the compara
tively idle state of several other prom
inent properties of that camp this
winter. N. M. Indians has just re
turned from the Meadows, beyond
the Seven Devils, but learned during
the course of his trip much relating
to the famous copper district, which
is now absorbing much public inter
est because of the lull in operations.
The force retained at the Peacock,
Mr. Imiiaus says, will number per
haps 20 men. This crew will be
kept at work in the shaft of the Pea
cock all winter, and it seems to be
the purpose of the management to
secure depth there immediately. At
the other properties, except the Blue
Jacket, very few men are retained,
which numbers of course may vary
slightly any time that the manage
ment desires to change the nature of
work they are performing. Three or
four meu as a rule now are in
charge of each of these properties.
One indication Mr. Imhaus noted
was the number of persons taking
timber claims beyond Council, to
ward the Price Valley and Me"àdows
country. It appears that all these
people had assurance that the rail
road would extend in that direction
and they were acquiring timber
tracts for future use in connection
with the lumber business that must
spring up whenever transportation
facilities are offered. Price Valley
and the Meadows is the natural di- j
rection for a railroad from Weiser to]
take, as the former place is on the j
Weiser river, upon which the line is|
constructed, and Meadows is across |
a very low divide on tbe Salmon side |
of the watershed. This was sup
posed to be tbe original destination
of the railroad, and the Seven Dev
ils enterprise was a later considera
tion. One way ot reaching these
copper mines was constructing the
regular road to Price Valley and
thence running a branch to Seven
Devils.
These facts emphasize tbe neces
sity of pushing work on the Oregon
line
tended for the Seven Devils, and if
the Oregon road would get into the
field via the Snake, there would be
The P. & I. N. line is not in
encouragineut for the Idaho concern
to construct the branch into the
mines.
At present the sawmill of the P.
& I. N. at Council is running to a
capacity of about 30,000 feet daily.
This mill keeps the railroad busy,
together with the freight arising
from the agricultural products and
shipment of supplies, notwithstand
ing the cessation of ore hauling.
There are considerable settlements
along and adjacent to the Weiser
river, which are building up rapidly.
Senator Dubois' Plan
A special dispatch from Sioux
City Iowa, says:
Senator Fred Dubois, of Idaho
proposes to devote the earnings of
tbe United States land office to the
establishment of a complete irriga
tion system in the arid west,
passing through Sioux City today on
his way east he announced that all
the Congressmen of California, Ida
While
ho, Wyoming, Montana, Utali, the
Dakotas, Nebraska, Colorado and
Nevada bad practically agreed to a
concerted plan of action in support
of Ibis to sesure an appropriation
for irrigation.
"Tbe receipts for the sale of gov
ernment lands above expenses are to
be used to build great reservoirs and
canals to catch tbe water as it comes
from tbe snow on tbe mountains," he
said.
"You see, government irrigation
will permit lands now unused to be
reclaimed and sold to home seekers,
which will each year raise money and
in this way the system will be virtu
ally self supporting after it is
started. The reservoirs, which must
cost millions, will be built as fast as
the income allows.
"There are 100,500,000 acres of
land to be reclaimed in this way,
12,000,000 in Idaho alone. In Snake
River valley, where 2,500 miles of
ditches have been built by private
7,00,000 acres have been
owners,
ARRESTED ON SERIOUS CHARGE,
made fertile and are raising from 200
to 300 bushels of potatoes and 25
bushels of wheat to the acre.
Wni. Riggs Accused of Horse Steal
ing-Examination Set for
Monday.
James P. Gray, sheriff, and W. D.
Lovejoy, prosecuting attorney, of
Washington County, arrived in the
city Sunday from Weiser. They
are in Boise for the purpose of secur
ing evidence in a horsestealing case.
William Riggs, who is accused of
the crime, was arrested at Baker City,
Ore., Friday by Sheriff Gray. He
is now under $2000 bonds to appear
before tbe probate judge of Wash
ington county on Monday of next
week.
The crime of which Riggs is ac
cused was committed about a year
A horse belonging to I. F. S.
ago.
Devens ot Vale, Ore., was caught
on the range east of Payette and
taken to Weiser, where it was sold.
Devens found that the horse was at
Weiser and from evidence he had re
ceived suspected Riggs ot tbe theft.
No warrant was sworn out at that
time, as Riggs was in Omaha.
About three weeks ago Riggs re
turned to Weiser.
jj e wag t| lere au( j h ac ( a warrant
9Woraout for his arre9t
a „ ain disappeared,
of him at Union and North
Devens heard
But Riggs
Sheriff Gray
Powder, Ore. He went to both of
these places but could not find him.
He finally got his man at Baker City,
placed him under arrest and brought
him to Weiser.
The bondsmen are E. M Barton,
W. F, Sommercamp, A B. Ander
son and Tom Pence.—Statesman.
Bully for Bill.
Silver City Avalanche.
It's "an ill wind that bloweth no
man good." The late session of the
district court was instrumental in
forcing Will Sommercamp away
from his family and business at
Weiser long enough for Silver City
friends to say hello to- him, if noth
ing more. Mr. Sommercamp grew
to manhood in this mountain ham
let, commenced business here and
was married here. Ten years ago,
however, he scented the future great
ness of the "fat Weiser land," and
removed with his family to that city.
The following summer he made us a
brief visit to fix up some business
matters, and hasn't been here since
until he was summoned as a witness
m the mining case last week. Mr.
Sommercamp is one of the leading
merchants of the prosperous town of
Weiser, has a beautiful home and no
regrets for his change of base in '91.
His time was fully occupied while
here in renewing old friendships and
giving his personal attention to tbe
numerous mining and property in
terests which he still retains in this
Everybody was glad to meet
camp,
him.
OLD STORY EVER NEW!
North Dakota School Ma'am Writes
of Washington Couuty.
DELIGHTED WITH THE WEST
Chaimlng Description of Her Trip From
Welser to Seven Devils.
Miss Toinette C. Peterson, sister
of M. A. Peterson, P. & 1. N. agent
at Council, made a visit to this
couuty last summer from her home
in Fargo, North Dakota, where she
is principal of one of the schools.
On returning home she published
the following article iu some of the
in tbe Union who wait anxiously for |
Near the western boundary of Idaho,
in the Weiser valley, at the confluence of
the Weiser and Snake rivers, western
sagacitv, money and enterprise have
built a pretty city of about 3000 inhabit
ants, the center for a large and ever in
creasing inland business, and to this
prosperous marl of trade has been given
the name of Weiser.
Weiser is the starting point of the
Pacific and Idaho Northern railroad,
which now extends northeast to Council,
a distance of sixty miles, but whose ob
jective point is the Seven Devils mining
region, forty-five miles farther on.
Leaving Weiser by this road,commonly
called the "Pin," we pass by numberless
ranches made surprisingly fertile by ir
rigation. Luxuriant fields of alfalfa
(of which three crops are raised every
year), wheat, barley, oats, rye, corn,
vegetables of all kinds, and of those lus
cious fruits, which are making Idaho
famous are seen on all sides, while here
and there herds of sleek, fat cattle testify
to the nutritive qualities of the Idaho
Fargo paper*. It is an old story to
us, but ever new and interesting to
the eager ones in almost every state
the Signal to come to them with its
tidings from this western land of
promise to which their thoughts turn
with the hope that this year Or next
they may be able to pull up stakes
and strike out for Idaho:
grasses. Occasionally one finds a dry,
unirrigated farm, operated with such a
degree of success as to convince the skep
tic that irrigation is not absolutely es
sential to farming in this portion of the
state. Back in the (mountains, at no
great distance from Weiser, sheep raising
is carried on extensively and profitably.
The banks of the rivers and small
streams are well wooded, although the
hills, as elsewhere generally in moun
tainous districts, are covered with worth
less brush.
About nine miles from Weiser at the
edge of the Weiser canyon has recently
been built an immense smelter, indica
tive of the mineral wealth yet to be ex
tracted from the mountains. Through
this canon for a distance of twenty miles
the railroad follow the Weiser river. In
and near which are hot springs, whose
medicinal qualities are loudly praised,and
which are destined in no far distant day
to make this region a resort for health
seekers. The practical farmers in the
neighborhood of one of these hot springs
utilize its waters for scalding hogs. Near
them in winter cattle graze and find
warmth, the steam melting the snow for
a notable distance around. In summer
it is not uncommon to see women at the
springs with their wash machines doing
their weekly washing.
The walls of the canyon are covered with
lava and sage-brush, but the rugged out
lines and the many turns of the road
make it so picturesque as to challenge at
once the admiration of theartist. About
twenty-five miles from Weiser is the
Diamond Springs, whence comes the sup
ply of pure water, which is such a boon to
the people of Weiser and of the surround
ng country.
At the end of the canyon opens up the
broad and highly cultivated Middle Val
ley, four miles in length. Here a pleas
ing change takes place in the scenery.
In place of sage-brush, the foot-hills are
doited with beautiful dark pines, and
behind the hills one sees here and there
mountain peaks with patches of snow.
At the end of Middle Valley begins
Salubna canyon, beyond which, 40 miles
from Weiser, is Salubria Valley,in which
is situated Cambridge, the trade center
of a large and excellent farming region.
The town was named by President H
of the P. & I. N. after his old home in
Massachusetts. From this point the
road gradually ascends, the mountain
scenery constantly growing more pictur
esque and the temperature of the hot
summer day gradually changing to a
delicious coolness.
Sixty miles from Weiser is Council,the
terminus of the Pacific and Idaho North
ern, and a town of surprising business
activity. Here are freighters with their
loads of freight to and from the Devils
and the Meadows, the large ore-teams of
six and eight horses bringing ore from
the mines to the P. & I N. docks, and
even the pack-horses loaded to their
utmost.
Horseback is a favorite mode of travel
in this region. Soon, however, much of
this will be done away with, as the con
struction of the P. & I. N. to Landore in
all
%
the Seven Devils has begun. During the
past summer stages left Council at 1 p.
m. for the Seven Devils and the Mea
dows. The road to the Devils, usually
a good one. is at times much broken by
the ore-teams, making the forty-five mile
drive a somewhat rough and dusty, al
though in every other respect, a very
pleasant one. Here are seen well-irrigat
ed and highly cultivated orchards and
ranches with the pine-covered hills on
either side. Entering the cool, black
pine forests one begins the climb up the
mountains, which present most charm
ing scenes. The clear, cool mountain
streams, with their myriads of trout, the
refreshing mountain air, the waving
pines, the balsamic fragrance, the rug
ged rocks, amply repay one for travel's
fatigue.
Late in the evening Landore in the
Seven Devils is reached—a town of fifteen
or more houses—where a little more than
a year ago was a wilderness of pines,
firs and underbrush. Here a saw-mill
of 8000 feet per day capacity turns out a
fine quality of lumber. The town is
located at the dump of the Deoorah
mine, and the beautiful cottages and
grounds of Manager Hancock are the
distinguishing feature of the place. One
mile farther on is Deoorah, a few months
younger than Landore, and a little larger.
This town boasts a fine flag-pole of Hr,
seventy feet high, which stands as it
grew except that the bark and limbs
have been stripped from the trunk.
The trip to the mines on horseback is
most enjoyable. The road winds around
description-baffling mountain scenery.
The first mines on fhe way up are the
Helena where about fifty men are em
ployed, and the Blue Jacket with its pro
gressive operations. Farther up the
mountain one ascends While Monument
peak from which a magnificent view
presents itself of the canyon on one side
—an awful chasm—and the distant
towering mountains of Oregon and
Washington on the other, while scattered
everywhere in profusion are most beaut
iful mountain flowers. Here one realizes
why this slate received the Indian name
Idaho, ''Gern of the Mountains". In
full view from this point are ihe seven
black g eaks * hi " h « ive lhis lhe
na ™ e Seven Oevlla.
A pleasant ride of nine miles brought
the wruer and her . P ar,v 10 the P, ' aco Ç k
r U l,le ' one of tba rlohe f 0H Pp er ™ lnes la
lhe ° ou,llr /' The " re here lles a11 arou , , ! d
on the surface. We were most royally
entenained,by lhe manager. Mr. Block
who took us down into the mine, and
showed us all its workings. T he scenery.
climate, and water to say nothing of the
va8t mlueral wealth of , 1,18 «8 10 "- wou . ld
^mpt one to give up all modern luxuries
l ? eu J?* " a,u 1 re as we fl,ld 11 1,1 thl8
charming land
Toinkttk C. Peterson,
Principal of Central Bldg.. Fargo, N.D.
Ranching Profits.
Silver City Nugget.
L. Smitchger, for many years a
milkman at DeLamar, Idaho, find
ing that good wages there did not
permit him to lay by much and at
the same lime support a large family
of small children, therefore went
over to a small Idaho town in the
agricultural region three years ago,
and purchased for $1,200, iwo-tbirds
on credit, a small ranch of twenty
acres, with a small house and or
chard on it. Mr. Smitchger was in
here this week with a load of pro
ducts from his ranch and Nugget
interviewed him, and learned from
him that this year would pay him
out, and although a bad year, in
which the frost had played havoc
with the crops in this section, he
was pretty well satisfied with results.
Off of five acres of clover, after re
serving enough hay to keep four
horses, a cow and a calf, he had sold
ten tons of hay. From his prune
orchard with scarcely half a crop, he
had dried, m an evaporator,construct
ed by himself, at a cost of $400 he
had dry weight, 1200 pounds of
fruit to sell. The fruit is superior
and fetches the best going prices.
After reserving a supply for his
family, he had sold 7000 pounds of
potatoes, 4000 pounds of cabbage,
2000 pop-corn and several thousand
pounds of other garden truck,
has put up barrels of pickles, saur
kraut, chow-chow, etc. His poultry
yard, Belgian bares, bees, berries,
etc., have shod and clothed his
family. He has a wife and several
children, the oldest one a girl of 13.
They have done all their own work
except about $20 paid in wagons for
picking and packing fruit, made
their own living paid for their
He
ranch, now worth three times the
amount paid for it. This item, every
word of which is true, is written for
the benefit of home-seekers.
Get your baled hay, oats, and
rolled barley from M. & R.
Positively the largest and most
complete stock of wall paper, paints,
oils, brushes, glass, etc., in southern
Idaho at Moyer's Big Paint Store.
BIG BRITISH LOSS
Stirring Fight in Which English Forces
Suffer 214- Casualties.
BOERS STILL EIGHT
ON
In Another Scrap Britons Lose 28 Killed and
65 Wounded-Boers lose 40
London, Oct. 29,—A dispatch
from Lord Kitchener, dated Pretoria,
Oct, 28, says he has received report*
of fighting Oct. 24 oea»- the great
Marico river, where Delarcy and
Kemp attacked a British force and
wore only repulsed after severe fight
ing, leaving 40 dead on the field, in
cluding Commandant Omstireysen.
The British lost 28 men killed and
55 wounded.
The Boers carried
light British wagons. The republi
cans appear to have paid special at
tention to the guns, and 37 gunners and
drivers were either killed or wound
ed. Tbe Boers got eight wagons
which they succeeded in making way
with.
Lord Kitchener mentions a num
ber of minor affairs and says this
week's "bag" consisted of 74 Boers
killed, 17 wounded aud 353 made
prisoners. In addition 45 Boers sur
rendered aud the British captured
471 rifles, 75,950 rounds of ammuni
tion, 216 wagons, 530 horses and
8,000 head of cattle.
BOERS SUMMON COUNSEL
What Shall Be Done About South Af
rican Reprisals?
Amsterdam, Nov. 1.—The Boer
deputation here summoned Messrs.
Leyds and Van Boescholen by tele
graph yesterday from Brussels to
consider dispatches received from
the Boer leaders in tbe field, saying
that the fighting burghers were
determined to make reprisals if the
British continue hanging and shoot
ing rebels and others, to the effect
that the Boer authorities in South
Africa affirm that the adoption of
reprisals would be bad policy and
that, in order to strengthen their
position they request Mr. Kruger to
let them kuow his opinion, as he
still has tbe greatest hold on the
minds of the burghers. The meet
ing lasted four hours and it was de
cided to advise Mr. Kruger to comply
with the request of the Boer author
ities and to take the opportunity to
bring the subject of British execu
tions in South Africa before the
European public in an open letter.
London, Nov. 2.—Lord Kitchener
has reported to the war office a
disaster to the British near Bethel,
eastern Transvaal, in which two guns
were lost, several officers killed and
64 men were killed and 160 wounded.
Following is the text of Lord Kitch
ener's dispatch dated Pretoria, Oc
tober 31st:
"1 have heard of a severe at
tack made on the rear guard of
Colonel Benson's column when about
20 miles northwest of Bethel near
Broken Laagte, during a thick mist.
"The strength of the enemy is re
ported to have been a thousand.
They rushed two guns with the rear
guard, but it is uncertain whether
they were able to remove them.
"Colonel Barton who marched
from the constabulary line yesterday
reached Benson' column early this
morning (Friday) unopposed. He
reports that Colonel Benson died of
his wounds."
Lord Kitchener gives the names
of 13 other officers who Were wound
ed, most ot them seriously, aud then
announces that 54 non-commissioned
officers and men were killed and 160
wounded, adding that four of tbe it
latter have since died of their
wounds. The dispatch then says:
l -Tho fighting was at very close 4
quarters and maintained with deter
mination by both sides. The enemy |j
suffered heavily but 1 have not yet
received a reliable estimate.
"The Boers retired east."
Colonel Benson bad been for some
time operating in the vicinity of
Bethel, which is northeast of Stand
orten. He surprised a Boer laager
October 22 near I'richardafonteln,
taking 37 prisoners. Three day»
later, according to Kitchener's report
at the time,after a long night march,
the commandoes under Grobelaar
and Erasmus, heavily attacked Ben
son's rear guard and flanks at Yirlvak
fontein, but were easily driven away.
Whether this waa the attack which
resulted so disastrously or whether
the tbe Boere who had been repulsed j
took advantage of the mist to retreat J
is unexplained. Kitchener does not
give the date of the Bethel engage
ment.
State News
It is understood that the first isane
of the Idaho American, tbe new j
Boise weekly, will be issued November J
9th.
Warden Arney of the penitentiary
ha* been attending the national 6on
vention of warden* at Kansas
this week.
M. C. Old, recently arrived from
Iowa, purchased a 160 acre stock
ranch of Nathan Draper at Payette
for $4,000. He brings with him a
large herd of blooded cattle and will
make a specialty of thoroughbred
stock
Jos. Degen, Sr., whose farm la
near Emmett, is making a specialty
of tbe man facture of pure cider
vinegar. The time is near at hand
when the pure cider vinegar of home
manufacture will drive out ot tbe
market the inferior article heretofore
palmed off on the public.
It is reported that the Short Line
will make an effort to reduce the
dust by surfacing the entire line with
gtavei west from American Falla.
The material for the purpose will be
hauled from the gravel pit at Lima.
Tbe gravel will make a great im
provement that will be appreciated
by all patrons of the road.
Although the exact date of depart
ure has not been decided upon by
tbe officers, those in command at tbe
Boise barracks are expecting ordert
early next week tor companies E and
H to go to Vancouver barracks, where
they will join the balance of regi
ment 28, and get ready to go to the
Philippines. This will leave Boise
barracks almost deserted again.
Harry Conway, a miner returning
from Idaho to his home in California,
was beating his way by freight, and
gave some money to tramps on the
same train. The tramps then at
tempted to rob him, securing a small
amount of silver, but overlooking
1100 in gold that was inside his
waistband. They were captured
after beating Conway and cause
ing him to jump from a moving train.
There was a case of kidnaping in
Cambridge last Friday. It was this
way, the kid napped in Phil Collins'
wagon while his team was standing
at Mrs. Sprague's,
gone several miles out of the town
the boy was discovered, but Mr.
Collins, supposing everything would
be all right, concluded to take the
boy home with him and bring him
back next day. But all was not
serene at the home of Mrs. Sprague.
When the boy did not come home in
tbe evening, a search was instituted,
in which the major portion of Cam
bridge took part. Finally N. Combe
went to the home of Mr. Collins and
learned the facts of the case. It is
safe to say that the boy enjoyed bis
visit much more than he did his re
ception at home tbe next day.
When Phil had