Mackay, Idaho 83251: Blast from the Past - Mackay Miner Mid Summer Edition 1908 Page 6 of 9

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Blast from the Past - Mackay Miner Mid Summer Edition 1908 Page 6 of 9

Transcription:

ing industry and the packing of ore and matte from the interior to Mackay, at the terminus of the Salmon river railroad in itself brings a living to an army of men.

The Sunbeam mine is on the Jordan creek between Custer and Loon creek. At this mine there is a 100-ton mill and every day a brick of solid bullion is shipped from the refinery to the nearest mint. It is estimated that the company which owns this property realizes a profit of $1000 a day. There is a practically inexhaustible ledge from which the quartz ore is taken and the mine and mill promise to be in operation for an indefinite period.

The Lost Packer is situated in the same district, at Ivers, on Loon creek, and is another of the great paying mines of Central Idaho. The mine and smelter are over a hundred miles from the railroad terminus and five hundred horses are used in transporting the gold, silver and copper matte. Great lines of freighters are always on the road and in the course of a month 100,000 pounds of the matte, valued at fifty cents a pound, are produced.

Lost Packer Smelter Loon Creek on Salmon River - Burned 1931 in a Forest Fire from Dorothy Ewing Phillips Collection

THE PARKER MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

Back in the mountain above Challis is locate the Parker Mountain mining district, which is of recent discovery. About four years ago gold was discovered there and since that time work has been carried on with the result that one producing mine is a thing of reality and more are fast shaping themselves in this direction. A mill is being packed into the camp on mule backs at this time, no roads having yet been built, and another month will witness the plant in operation, thus saving the heavy transportation charges on the ore, which has heretofore been shipped to mills at distant points for treatment.

LITTLE LOST RIVER MINES

A district that is fast coming to the font is the Little Lost River Mining district. While no really big mines have been developed in this section, yet there are many small properties shipping ore at the present time and the work being done all over the district is bringing really startling results. The Great Western Lease, in which several Mackay people are interested, the Copper Uranium, the Daisy Black, the Bunting, and several lesser mines are shipping ore and some sensationally high values exist in the products. We doubt if there is a district in existence with as little development work accomplished that can show a record of production as can this district. New properties are being located every week and the work of making this section not only a good cattle and agricultural section, but a mining district as well, goes merrily on.

MINING GENERALLY

It would be impossible in such a small edition treating on the varied resources of Central Idaho, to five the reader a very clear idea of any one in particular. When it is said that nearly every shaft or other common means of development work has been accomplished in the mineral belt beginning at Arco and continuing to Loon creek, even beyond, a distance of three hundred miles, show the presence of minerals, with many really big, paying properties scattered through the district, some idea of the future of the country in a mining way can be gathered. But in this particular, as in other features of our commercial life and business importance, the interested party can only inform himself well by personal investigation as any description of such a country is beggarly.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CENTRAL IDAHO ANSWERED

In order that a few of the questions usually asked by the stranger may be answered tersely and satisfactorily, the following series of questions and answers have been compiled. Investigation will prove to the inquirer that these questions have been answered in a satisfactory manner?

Mackay is located in the southern central portion of Idaho, on Lost river. The town is the terminus of the Salmon river branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad company.

What is the population of Mackay?

There is at present about 1,000 inhabitants in the town, but the population of the town does not determine the business transacted by any means, for there is a scope of farming, stock raising and agricultural country tributary to it covering an area of 250 miles in length by 50 miles in width, giving it a large field to draw from, it being in the center. The working population of the country tributary to Mackay is carefully estimated at 2,000 people.

How is the climate?

The Central Idaho cou ntry, particularly the Lost river valley, is a mild, invigorating climate. The altitude is 5888 feet at Mackay. The seasons are nicely divided. The winters are about five months long and severe cold is seldom experienced, although at time the thermometer registers 25 below; however, this is not keenly felt, as the altitude and the dry atmosphere have a bracing effect in this respect. Springs begins in April and dwells some longer than in the middle states, with an occasional squall or two, and summer settles down about the first of July. The fall months are beautiful in the extreme, running well into the winter months.

What is the chief industry?

This question is indeed hard to answer, there being so many industries and we refer such questioners to a careful perusal of the first page of this paper.

How is it as a stock country?

In the Lemhi Forest reserve, which is tributary to Mackay, and which does not cover the whole section, we find that there are 18,500 head of cattle feeding from the hills practically free of charge, also 71,800 head of sheep. Hundreds of cars of stock are shipped from this district annually.

What are the wages paid?

Farm hands receive $35 to $50 per month and board; miners, $3.50 to $5.00 per day of eight hours; clerks $75 to $100.00 per month.

If this country is so good, why are you so anxious to sell?

One of the reasons is that at the present date we have not enough people to utilize our resources. The field is so large, the people so few, that sometimes it becomes impossible to handle economically what a greater number of people would handle at a great profit. To such an inquirer we will say, come and see for yourself, and the question will be answered to your entire satisfaction.

What is the price of farm land?

It ranges from $15.00 to $50.00 per acre, price depending upon location, the character of the soil and the amount of improvements.

What do you raise?

Grains; such as oats, spring and fall wheat, the latter a winner; rye, barley, alfalfa, always two crops, with a good pasture following the second crop; timothy and clover, which will make the eastern farmer think he never saw clover before; sugar beets, potatoes, which are claimed by experts to equal in both quantity and quality those raised in Greeley, Colorado, the famous potato belt; garden vegetables, small fruit, etc.

What profit will land yield?

As compared with the eastern farm, work required to cultivate, and all other condition taken into consideration, the profits on Lost river land will more than treble those in the east. And then, there is the absolute certainty of a crop each and every year by irrigation.

How are the social condition?

The city is well governed and the streets of the town and the country generally is orderly.

How about educational facilities?

This is fully answered in another part of the edition.

Other questions will be cheerfully and truthfully answered by the Lost River Development company, or any banker, lawyer, merchant, farmer or newspaper in the district.