East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-05-04
IDAHO

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IDAHO.
AT the solicitation of many parties
here who were anxious to obtain reli-
able intelligence in regard to theme
territory Of Idaho, concerning which
50 many seemingly fabulous stories
are in circulation, DIR. G.. A. LArHRop,
of this CITY, wrote to the Delegate
In Congress from that Territory, Mr..
w. III. WALLACE, a warm personal
friend Of his, early in April last, and
in reply received letter from him.
dated April 18th, from Which wo have
been permitted to make somo extracts:
81 can only speak" says Ml.w'. '.nvn,
personal knowledge of the Western
portion, or that part lying West of
Rocky Mountains. OF that portion I
can speak understandingly. The dis
coveries so far prove that this portion
of idaho is one Of the most extensive
as well as one of the richest mineral
districts ever yet discovered, not ex-
cepting California in its palrniest days,
Aom this statement you, from your
experience on the Pacific Coast, know
all that is necessary for any one to
know who proposes to go to that ter
ritory. Iwould say this,
that in my opinion any man of indus
try who may DO blest with hoalth,
who may go to that country and will
--.-;,,e,. i,;asest o,a.;as to-. u.lariti,nato
business cannot fail to do we'll"
Mr.. WALLACE sends also copy OF
Capt. Fisk's report, which relates more
particularly to the Eastern portion of
Idaho, and from which we make SOW
eral extracts. We of course know
nothing of their correctness, and they
are only endorsed to this extent bv
Mr.. w. He says, "the territory East
of the mountains / have no doubt is
very rich and presents strong induce
ments for parties who sock location
in tho Great West"
The report says:
In June last there were 5000 or A.
600 people here, but most of them left
for the Sinking Water mines,' taft
forwards called Virginia City, on their
discovery la that:.rnUnth, tho snlch or
placer "diggings" being infinitely
richer on tho "Stinking Water creek"
hancock City ncstles among lofty
granite mountains; the Grasshooper
creek, tributary of the Jefferson fork
of the Missouri, running through the
valley, latitude 4I.30, longitude ll2 l-2
west. The city consists of one long
and some short, irregular streets, Of
log and frame shantics and stores,
built along the creek; bakeries " and
restaurants Astounding for the floating
population.
The BANNocK MINES. Following
the road along the creek through tho
canon, we came to the gulch diggings,
and found the miners busily at work
OH both sides of tho stream; their
"claims" are fifty feet wide, stretching
from base to base of the mountains,
md extend about four miles. These
are the Poor Mans" mines, re1uir-
ing littlo capital to work them; the
yield | found to be from 50 to SIS per
day to. the man, although there are
some rich claims producing large
amounts. Watcr bitches are carried
around tho mountain sides Mt different
heights, to supply sluico boxes, the
water having been brought distance
Of 10 to ID miles, near the tops Of the
mountains The miners have turned
the crock in some places, aud are sink
ing shafts in the old channel
Further down the canon there is a
small water-power quartz mill, with
four woOdsa stamps. This rudo con-
trivance, conducted by one man, crush
es 81, 500 worth of gold per week.
y TnE QrARrz LoDEs.oF BANSock.
Here are the quartz loads. The sides
Of the mountains are dotted with red
spots, tho ore thrown ont from the
shafts. Invent up 10 examine the dis
coveries. The Dakota lode is the only
one worked at yot, the ore being crush.
Ell by the little mill have mentioned
The yicld varies from $500 to $4,000
per cord, and they can only crush
about two and half cords per week
This lode was tho first discovered, is
wonderfully productive, and they find
that the ore gets richer Us they lower
thpwn. The quartz ~ barnt of rcd
chocolate color, very soft, and read
lily crushed. Tho lode is mainly work.
oil at pros mt with pick and shovel
without drilling or Blasting; as III,
rocks through which tho quartz has
Bcsn freed up are calcincd 10y tho in
tense hcat 10 which they have beer
subjected Tho lode, as il dcsecnds
rims into pyrites &c iron. Tho car
rock IN not yet pierced.
With tho exception of tho Dnfota
the miners arc not working tho quartz
lodes at any great extent, as they need
capital and mills. They have, however
sunk shafts and tested the ore. Some