The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-01-23

OWYHEE silver AAN4os
sheet sss = ssseiy M; ss',ss IL 5syhss A.
alanche, published in Ruby City, ioano'
which. with its surroundings, requires more
than passing notice.
S;tus,ed in the Southwest corner of Idaho
.Tssritory, Tsorth Of sod i6mddiGsaH sd5oih-
ing Nevada, is a rectangular county called
Owyhee, embracing in its area what are
known as the celebrated Owyhee Silver
Mines, the most notable of which are found
in an isolated mountain spur, called the
"Oro Elmo Mountain" having length North
and South of about three miles, IL width OF
some two miles, and a mean height OF about
one thousand feet. Bounded upon tpe
Eassis a interval watered by Sinker Greek,
a tributary of Snake river; upon the "es''
a corresponding interval watered by Jordan
Creek. a tributary of Owyhee river Upon
this Jordan Creek, near the base of the noun
tain. situated Ruby City, the capital of
Owyhee county-having population of from
twelve hundred to fifteen hundred. Also,
distant one mile South and on said creek,
i. Silver City, with population of about
eight hundred. Skirting the base OF the
mountain, in either direction, are also the
towns Of Boonvile, Asby, and mining settle
ment-aggregating a population OF aboutfour
thousand.-'
i fhis Aoeaay Was fret occupied by the
whites in July, 1864, since which time
the entire development has taken place, in
voving several skrmishes with the Indians
within these grounds. OF the early pioneers
and explorers may be mentioned URIAH Per-
RY. the nephew of our townsman, U. RAP
LEE, who had previously spent some fifteen
years in the mines of California, and who, by
rare expe,ience and perception, had acquired
a distinguished reputation as a mineral dis
coverer. In conjunction with A. P. MiSEAR,
another expert, the value of THIS locality was
determined as mining region; and to these
gentlemen and their Immediate associates-J.
A. Posr, Judge J. W. JOHNSTON and others
lis due the wonderful results within brief
period since July, 1864.
The mineral features of this Orc Elmo
Mountain eoaisst in a series of gold and sill
yer bearing quartz lodges or lodes, running
comparatively parallel and longitudinally with
the mountain. OF these, there have already
been discovered and duly recorded over one
hundred distinct and visible lodes. In add
ton, as the mountain is penetrated, other
lodes are disclosed, called blind lodes, the
number of which can only be conjectured,
but probably exceeding the visil lie. In addi-
ton as the mountain is penetrated, other
lodes are disclosed, called blind lodes, the
number OF which can only be conjectured,
but probably exceeding the visible. Thepre-
dominating mineral ID silver, though gold aud
silver are found III variable proportions III all
the ores, and in productive yield exceeding
anything heretofore recorded in the annals of
history, ranging from 500 to $1,000 per ton
. of ore.
In an item from the paper before us. it is
stated than from two hundred and thirty two
tons of ore taken from single ledge, (the
Poor Man ST. au average yield of "a, 200 per
ton was had, agggregating 1914, 400-all done
in the space of about three weeks 1t is not
to be'preshmed that this extravagant yield is
a fair example Of the richness of the ores,
but extraordinary amounts from various other
Lodges are of almost daily occurrence. SIS
There are now in operation five mills, and
other machinery, with the expectation of ear.
ly operation in the Spring. 1t is an estab-
lished rule that silver bearing lodes grow
richer a. you advance. and what will be the
result when a complete system of mining is
in operation, is left to conjecture
The plan of working these mines consists
IN working a single ledge from the surface in
the usual manner, and in tunneling the noun.
tain. Slnth instance, t,innehng presentsthe
advantage of traversing all the lodes in going
through slaterally. i-g@1tee gzc~E rtF 2Es
Under the laws of Idaho, tunnel grants
are extended to claimants, subject 20 certain
restrictions; and in accordance with these
provisions the entire face Of the Orc Elmo
Mountain is occupied with tunnel rights, held
by Incorporated companies Orc of the prin-
cipai Of which, the Imperial Gold and Silver
Tunnel, mas an incorporation in our city. hav-
ing as its President z. RAprEE, Esq, with
Directors aud Stockholders beth here and in
Owyhee.
These tunnelgrauts possess right Of one
Thousand feet N width through the entire
mountain, crossing all the lodes, with all that
can be found above and below, including also
franchises at each end fof balIdihgsT ssd ms
cAtperN The great Advantage ofssp1linv
over every other method Of mining consists IN
the ready means of drainage end ventilation,
as well as in the easy accessibility to the ores,
and thesiaeExhaustible supply. sSnch pro-
perry IN successful operation would be in
mining sense vast monopoly, and in value
easaf 70 prnieipality1 aie41 ssareo 90