Big Boom of 1880
1880 was the year of the Wood River boom. Thousands
of miners came and found ready employment in mines that were reputed
to be making their owners "rich beyond the dreams of avarice." So
ubiquitous seemed prospectors that every mountain and hill was
covered with them in their search for precious metals. While the
country was virgin they struck many prospects, which afterward
developed into good pay ing mines. Of the prospector, it truthfully
can be said, in the words of Pope, "Hope springs eternal in the
human breast," and furthermore, that hope never dies while he lives.
He hopes on, hopes ever, firmly believing that he is within a short
distance of a rich streak of ore. In a log hut with a dirt roof and
floor, pole bunks for bedsteads, and candle and soap boxes for
seats, at times many miles distant from any other habitation, with
the bare necessities of life, alone save for his faithful dog to
bear him company, he spends a life of unremitting toil, too often,
alas, unrequited. Yet who will say that his is not a happy life?
When he lies down upon his humble couch, gentle sleep "weighs his
eye lids down and steeps his senses in forgetfulness." Here is a
good illustration of the following words of Goldsmith, and, at
least, a partial substantiation of them: "Still to ourselves in
every place consigned, Our own felicity we make or find." Millions
of dollars in ores were shipped out of this region, but how many
millions it is im possible to say. Many believe that there may be as
much ore shipped out of here in the future as there has been in the
past. Gold in good paying quantities was discovered on the Gold Belt
in the early eighties. There was considerable mining activity there
for many years.
A little town by the name of Doniphan was
built there. It was situated about 15 miles southwest of Hailey. It
was named in honor of Judge Doniphan, who was the principal
operator. It had a Post Office, a school house, a general store, a
shoe shop, a boarding house, several dwelling houses for the miners,
a saloon, etc. About 25 years ago all the tailings containing gold
were worked over by the cyanide process. With so many miners at work
all the way from Broadford to Vienna, on East Fork, Deer Creek,
Bullion, the Gold Belt, and Rocky Bar, and mining being a hazardous
occupation, it was necessary to have a hospital where they could
receive treatment.
A miners' hospital was accordingly built in the early eighties. It
was a frame building situated near the Hailey Hot Springs, about two
miles west of Hailey. Each and every man who worked at the mines was
assessed one dollar a month for board, room, medical and surgical
treatment. Any one severely injured was generally taken to a
hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. In connection with the miners'
hospital was a ward for the care of the sick and dependent poor of
the county. This building was destroyed by fire in the nineties.
Alturas County |
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