The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-08-18

SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the lst ult., and in
reply beg leave to say that ia my opinion the
development Of the mines throughout all the
States and Territories West of the Rocky
Mountains would be greatly promoted by the
of assay offices, as proposed
in the bill for that purpose now pending be-
fore Congress. Doubtless the effect Wonld
be equally beneficial in the mineral regloRs
East of that range; but, having travelled ex-
tensively during the past three years through
the districts bordering on the Pacific slope, !
am better prepared to speak Of their resourc-
es and necessities from practical experience.
Il would not, 4 think, be judicioas 70 desig-
cate the localities for these assay offices IN
an act of Congress. Several Of the points
mentioned in the bill, as reported, seem to
have been selected without proper ini0fma-
tiOn as to the character Of the country or the
development of lis mineral resources; and
among tbeseB need only mention the follow
ing: --a o3 ga8 W al rsd hfsE civ ssss'9
t,s- GRRAT sALT LAKE CITY, isaga es
There are rich mineral ledgea In that vi-
cinity, but they have not yet been worked q
any considerable extent, owing to the dis
couraging condition OF affairs sxiBtiuR be-.
tween the Mormon and the Gentiie popula.
tion. The laws of the United States are i'm.
perative there, and musE continue 90 until
the government deems il expedient to enforce
them. 1t would be useless, therefore, to es-
tablish an assay Office at that point under ex-
is.ing circumstances,
AUBREY AND TUCSON, ARizoRA.
The town of Aubrey, so called, is situated
on the banks of the Colorado river, at the
mouth Of Bill Williams Fork, and consists
of few mud hovels, now for the most part
abandoned. No mining of any consequence
is carried on in that vicinity, and no bullion
is produced. A copper mining company has
some interest there, but it is questionable
whether they have yet discovered q true
ledge. Their present dependence 10 chiefly
upon groupings. Tucson is the centre of a
rich mineral region bat some Of the mines
are in progress of development, and but lit
tie, if any, ba.lion is produced. The Cerro
Colorado mines, south of Tucson, have been
practically abandoned, and the mines of San
ia Rita are now worked. In short, the dep
relations of the eApaches have arrested
nearly all the, mining operations in the Ter
rifory. Il may become expedient at some
future time to establish an assay Office at
Prescott, the capital, which is the centre of 9
rich mineral region; but even that part of
the country is not now in progress of devel-
opment. 50, - st.f..s. rsstsses a.84 y
There are other points mentioned in the
bill where assay Offices are really needed, and
where they would be of great benefit to the
miners, vizc:--- na aaes sd II notice
+, safef !, AUSTIN, NEVADA. "a aaa a.zsa
This is one of the most prosperous mineral
regions west of the Rocky Mountains. 1t
now produces about $500, 900 per month,
and will probably prod1ce double that
amount next year. At least fifteen quartz
mills are in active operation insthat district
The heighboring districts of Yankee Blade,
Smoky Valley, Bunker Hill, lone, Twin River,
&C., are all in prosperous condition and yield
more or less bullion, which finds its way
into Austin as the central point of trade.
-aB4 BOISE CITY, IDAAo. dl asaz
The Territory of Tdahe has already at
tracted large mining population, and is
justly regarded as one of the richest mineral
countries yet discovered within eur borders.
Aa assay Office, at this or some other conve
nient point. would greatly promote the de-
velopment of the mines. sa
VIRGINIA CITY, MONTANA.
The same may be said of this Territory
Here active operations are going on, and the
mines are yielding abundantly.
I'D have thus hastily and in general terms
referred to few points suggested to me by
perusal of the bill. Much might be said
onthe subject, but presume your time is
limited, and | am not now prepared to 20
into details.
A great drawback to the miners operating
in To o4riA 20 ha
of 6therOutes to the central points of trade.
This is especially felt in Montana and Idaho.
Within the past two years many cases of
robbery and murder have occurred on the
roads leading to Salt Lake City and Oregon
and California. If the miners could receive
certificates of deposit for their bullion, paya
BILE at Portland or San Francisco, it would
be great convenience to them as well as a
source of protection. m
Another advantage to be derived from the
establishment of assay Offices would be the
prevention of fraud. No reliance can be
placed upon the certificates of assay issued
by many of the private assay Offices; indeed
they are made the basis of those gigantic
sWindles which have done so much within
the past two years to discourage the invest
ment OF capital in mining operations. IfI
purchasers could be assured ofthe true value
of what they purchased, so far at least as
correct assays could determine it, greater
confidence would prevail
In view of the fluctuations incident to the
pursuit of mining, and the necessity of hav-
ing these Offices at such points as experience
may demonstrate to be the permanent centres
of business and population, am clearly ofl
opinion that it would best accomplish the