The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-10
1a.n. end its SILVER dines.

Idaho Territory. These mines, though as
vet scarcely touched by the hand of labor
and capital, it will be seen are yielding very
heavy returns to the general wealth, and
augur rich and we might say astonishing re-
suits to well directed efforts made for their
development, results which may fairly be
considered of truly national importance.
Knowing that many Of our citizens feel
deep interest in the subject, and are making
spirited efforts in behalf of some of the most
promising of these enterprises, we take
pleasure in again presenting to our readers
the observations made upon the spot by one
of the most trusted and reliable OF our COR
respondents, who has visited the ground and
bears testimony to its unrivalled value in a
mining view, which we trust will fully repay
our readers for the perusal.
RuBY CRY, Owyhee County,
IDAHO, Friday, November II, 1865. !
The earliest gold discoveries in Idaho date
back to the summer of 1862. Some diggings
are still worked, but, like all placer mines,
these bid fair to be shortrh lived. The gulch
gold is largely alleged with silver, rendering
it winter and less valuable than the gold of
Montana
The first quartz lodes were found in July,
1868. This was during the strong re- action
: following the crazy excitements OF Nevada.
Neaxly all the capitalists of the Pacific slope
had burned their fingersin Washoe, wherefore
they kept away from this newer and remoter
fame, quite declining to invest their money
Itimpeded the growth of Idaho, but proved
ga blessing in disguise by rendering its de-
velopment legitimate aud permanent. Against
the advice of friends, and in deadly peril
from Indians, the early prospectors went
steadily forward for many lonely months.
have already mentioned the very great and
well-earned success of Moore FOCUS. A
third pioneer was George Collins Robbins,
ex Mayor of Portland, Oregon. When in a
single day this gentlemen pounded up ore IN a
mortar, amalgated it, and made heavy tea
spoon, all with no tools except those con-
structed by himself among the mountains, his
about Idaho ores after all. Though not born
with a silver spoon in his mouth, he found one
in his quartz lode, which promises to be bet
ter still, for he has secured many valuable in.
terests.
The gold and silver yield of Idaho for 1865
will exceed $4,000 900. Another season
ought to double that amount. Thus far, the
Territory has labored under the greatest dis
advantages, with labor, supplies and transpor
tation at enormous rates, and everything te
learn.
The most immediate and pressing need il
shorter and better communication with the
outside world. Now Idaho has but two out
lets First, Holiday IS tri-weekly mail coach
es from Boise 70 Salt Lake City, by which in
summer passengers and mails reach New
= York in twenty one to twenty-six days, or
San Francisco in ten to twelve. Second,
Thomas 4 Ruckle's daily mail coaches from
Boise to Umatilla and Walla Walla on Colum-
bia River, reaching Portland in seven to
eight days, and San Francisco in ten to
twenty. am assured by John Wasson oil
this city, and other gentlemen who have ira
versed the route, that an excellent road can be
opened from Ruby City to Virginia, Nevada
in considerable less than four hundred miles.
This would place Idaho within four days O
San Francisco, by o route practicable fol
teams as far as Virginia every month in the
year; connect the heart of this mining region
which gives such unequaled promise, with the
heart of the rich silver lodes of Nevada, and
strike the line of the great Central Pacific
Railroad which before 1867 viii be com.
pleted from Sacramento to the summit of the
Sierra Nevades, within sixty miles of Vir-
ginia. Congress ought by all means to
establish daily mail upon this route, with
soldiers enough to guard it against Indians
be assured, ard there will soon be settler.
enough in the arabic valleys along the road te
keep it open. Now, one can hardly go
mile upon that or any other thoroughfare
in Inaho without serious danger of losing hi.
scalp.
OF the quartz mills in Idaho, few were
made in New York, several in Chicago
Others in Portland, Oregon, but most in Sar
Francisco. In general, New York mill
delivered in San Francisco costs about the
same as one made in the latter city; but fol
work is far preferable. The Chicago mills ar,
cheaper and better than those Of New York
but their founderies are too far away from
Idaho, though Chicago and ST. Louis ma
chinery may do for Colorado, Utah ant
Montana Portland is the best natural loca
ton for Idaho, but thus far her mills are ligh
and imperfect. In due time she will doubt
less supply all this Territory, Oregon anc
Washington; but for the present the advan
tages are largely with San Francisco. Six o.
eight Of the great founderies there turn on
machinery unsurpassed on the continent
Usually they will engage to transport the
mills &c Idaho and set them up in good run
ming order for specific sum-much the safes
and wisest contract for eastern capitalists t,
make. In general, a company designing Il
erect twenty.stamp mill here with quart
sufficient to supply it for years, should b,
prepared to expend two hundred thousant
dollars in currency before expecting devi
dends. Then, if their business is conducted
judiciously, they may reasonably look fol
great and permanent profits.
Thus far Idaho is not in any just sens.
deveioped-only prospect little heN anc
there. Its gold and silver are demonstrated
facts; of the cinnabar l have already spoken
and stream tin has been discovered in large
quantities. The territory is far less attractive
to the eye than Montana, and its mineral
wealth, as whole, is probably less; but the
Owyhees and apparently the Flint district.
quite surpass any others on the continent.
The present population of the Territory is
estimated at 10000 to $4,000, There are
three newspapers: The Boise Statesman fUn.
,on;) triweekly, $l8 per year; weekly, $40:
nuoy City Weekly Avalanche neutral, with
1n'on proclivities), $40; and Idaho Cit,
Heek!y World [Democratic), $40.
in.intervales of the storms / have glanced
81 q Few mines. The Trook 4 Jennings lode
contains some harde quartz, beautifully crys
tallzed, out Is mainly, like most ores in this
district 80 SOFT that 1t can be crushed in the
hand. Ihe ore cutters with crystal;zed cold
and silver visible to the naked aSa az
surface the vein was three inches MD. III ~
go feet down, it is three feet, with ;no,a NJ"
walls four feet apart Ninety tuns have haa 3
crushed, with the rare yield Of $500 to s sseo
per tun. The claim, 400 feet long, is Offered
at $35O,OOO.
III biting wind which nearly ,vept y
from the saddles, our horses climbed the corl
screw road which winds up War EARLE Noun
fnfu No fho