Chapter 06 - Outlying Areas

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Elk City was not the only community in the mountain hinterlands, but it was a focal point and distribution center for some others. To the east some 20 miles was the Dixie district, covering a large area, and reaching, roughly out to the breaks of the Salmon River. There, mining activity was quite intense, but it consisted more of prospecting and development, rather than of production. The town itself boasted a Post Office, a hotel, saloons and other small businesses plus scattered cabins, mostly grouped along one side of the road-way. The road leading to Dixie was about as bad as the one connecting Elk City to the outside, but, having a Post Office, Dixie had stage service three times a week by contract, from Elk City.

In order to foster renewed interest in their district the fading little mining camp, Dixie, Ida. initiated an annual celebration called "Dixie Days" (1911 - 1912). The celebration was to resemble a July Fourth affair, with horse races, foot races, base ball game, etc., and all other mining camps in the area were invited to join in the festivities.

The Dixie Hotel was decorated with little fir trees, for the occasion, and a "large" delegation from Elk City was in attendance.

The baseball players "warming up" on the main street.

They had even erected and decorated a special "speaker's stand for the occasion.

But, with the coming of winter, Dixie soon reverted to a very lonley, sorry looking mining town.