The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-10-28
The Illinois Ledge and Mill.

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II g9.t eszs
ThrS celebrated ledge has long borne al
4 enviabfe reputation as ia chief among ten
thousand" Of the quartz. veins of Southern
/ Idaho. A visit to the groundslast week, and
a personal inspection of the ledge, the manner
of working it, the mill and improvements,
confirm the impression that the Illinois isone
of those lodges upon which brilliant antici-
lpations for the future Of the quartz interests
of this section of the Territory can be safely
founded. a a tass
The Illinois was located about two years
ago by two brothers by the name of Barrows,
and was by them sold tosthe present owners
about one, year ago. The ledge is situated
about five miles from idaho city on along
gulch putting into Moore's creek, -nea r
the head Of the ,raYine upon which the
Chiekahominy ledge is located The wagon
road connecting the mill with Idaho city runs
over range Of hills covered with a forest Of
pine timber, as everlasting as the eternal
ages: afording material for working the
quartz to advantage possessed by no other
portion of the Territory, and in fact, by no
other section in America.
The ledge is from six to fifteen feet wides
running in aNorthwesterly and Southeastesiy
course at an angle of about forty FIVE de-
grees. A tunnel has been run into the hill
on the ledge 220 feet, following. the south
wall-rock. This work has evidently been
effected under the superintendent an ex-
perienced miner, and is timbered-up in a
strong and durable manner. Above this tun-
mel and higher on the hill the original tunnel
was run, from which q large quantity of rock
has been obtained. Shafts connect the mp
per and lowertupnels through which the rock
from aboVesis shoveled into the ears below,
and thence run out on railroad to the mill,
which is near the mouth of the tunnel. All
the rock without distinction is run I'd ros4sh /
the mill. The mill commenced crushing in
the latter part of July, running ten stamps,
and the rock thus far has averaged frem for
tg-fEe to fifty dollars to the ton in gold But
very little trace of silver has been found in I
the rock. The gold dust assays better than
The average. giving about SIS to the ounce.
The upper portion of the ledge, which lies
along the south wall-rock is very much de-,
composed, hardening as it decends TO the
north side of ledge. The ledge is NOM B
tier rib of the mountains, and to the eye of a
luartz connoisseur is a beauty, for which he
will go far and look long, to find an equal.
tlliesin the mountain like an immense butch.
r knife thrust into the Eitals of mother {
Garth
The managers Of the Illinois company havel
very Systematically in the work
which has been performed, both in and around
be tunnel, and at the mill. The arrange '
nents forgetting out the rock, and convey /
ng it easily and with little expense, where it I
ais beneath the stamps, are as near perfect
s we have ever seen them. The experience. :
btained from the practical operations of
rushing in Nevada, where quartz operations
ave been reduced to science, have been l..
.ilfully applied here, reducing the expenses i
working, In the long run, very materially Il
nd laying thefoundations for a certain for i
me to those who are so fortunate as TO elf
umbered among the stockholders. Is i h
In addition to the ten-stamp mill now "a
'ushing, new and powerful machinery for !.
tWenty-stamp steam mill, is now on the y
'ound, which will be placed in running or =
II in the Spring. aa e =
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