The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-09-02
THE LOON CREEK REGION.

the most detailed and interesting descrlption VI
the new diggings yet obtained from any source.
Those about this section who are acquainted
with Mr. Angle will give proper credit to his
statements and views in respect to the mines
We give almost his own words:
Mr.. Angle left this city August 18th, in COM
pany with Drs. Belknap and Belts, and arrived
at Orc Grande on the 10Th. He was in that
region six days, during which time he indus
triously prospected the country for several
miles about. Alike all others who have given
sketches of the trail from here to Loon creek,
Mr. Angle says that between this city and
Deadwood is the only rough part of the way
except it be for short distance through Irall
creek, leading into the main stream-Loon
creek From Deadwood on, through Bear
Valley, Little Salmon Basin, and Cape Horn
Valley it is an easy road in pretty country,
where wood, water, grass and game OF all
kinds are plentiful Of Cape Horn Valley he
speaks glowingly, and says that never has he
seen more lovely level range, extending for
miles in every direction, in which there is
luxuriant growth of excellent grass, and the
most delicious sparkling cold water he has ever
drank in Idaho. From Deadwood all the way
to Loon creek-say IS miles-there is not a
high hill to 90 over, nor a difficult piece OF road
or trail to travel Out of Cape Horn Valley,
one goes over n low divide on to Trail creek,
and follows that tributary down tor twenty
FIVE miles into the Loon creek mining region
Near the confluence of Trail creek, two other
tributaries flow in from the eastward, IN
slightly diverging lines, on northwestern
course called respectively Middle Fork ana
North Fork Below their confluence also
flows into Loon creek, after tortuous course
from west to east, another tributary called
Canon creek 1t was on the North Fork that
Cody & Pierce sank a hole to more than 20
feet depth in prospecting Others also sunk
deep holes But as none OF them struck pay
dirt that district has been abandoned. There
are parties prospecting on the Middle Fork
and also on Trail creek for u distance OF more
than twenty miles up and down, tut with what
success Mr. Angle is not aware
Loon creek proper runs almost directly
north and south The mountains on either
side are much higher than any 10 be seen about
or from this Basin, aud their sides towards the
creek are almost precipitous. The bars which
form the mining ground are narrow, rs The
distance from base to base of the opposite
mountains is not beyond POO yards. II is in
fact a deep gorge, and just below the camp OF
ORC Grandc is a deep canon through which
the stream rushcs with great force. This
canon is n mile through and for three miles
below, SO Mr. Angle was nformcd-ior he did
not visit the district-gravel is found on the
bars to about three feet depth which prospects
all the way from three bits Ia 81 80 per pan.
and the gold is fine, while all that found above
the canon along the upper portion of tue creek,
is quite coarse, like California coarse gold.
Up to last Thursday morning. when Mr.
Angle left Orc Grande, only two claims had
been worked, and another claim was opened
that morning. These are in the rich district, !
in the discovery section, and the two worked
had paid very richly. Bat of all the other
hundreds Of claims, for twenty-five miles along
the creek none were opened They are owned
or claimed by the discovery crowd. who came
in from Leesburg and Montana, and they offer
the claims for sale at high prices, without per-
hitting any test OF their worth TO be made,
however, and consequently none of the crowd
from this section care to buy. The only sales
heard of were Of two claims in the discovery
district, Nos 81 and 80, and Dr. Belts and one
or two others from this city were the buyers.
The ground was all located by the discovery
crowd, who made mining laws to suit their
own interests exclusively. They made five
Districts, and in each District they allowed
each man Of their own number to take up
creek claim of 200 feet thence from it at an
elevation of five feet of bar, bar claim and
at another elevation of FIVE feet back, hill
claim Thus, to each of themselves they prac-
tically voted fifteen Claims and then passed
other regulations to further secure to them
selves every good thing to be had, They hold
their claims for six days without recording,
then thirty days after recording them, and
thereafter, each claim must be represented
one dav of every seven DAYS by work To hold |