Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-06-29
Red Mountains.
slLrER CRY. June 2s, 1869.

hasty visit to the Cope Mining District IN |
Red Mountain, 1t is thought ihst short de- |
scription OF what saw and part OF which |
was " might be of interest to the readers
OF the WAvE.
III. RED MOUNTAINS,
a somewhat indefinite term as 10 bounda-
ries. are located on and extend along both
sides Of the Middle E,rk of the owyhec, or
Duck River, as named TO Distinguish IL from
the other forks, for distance Of some forty
miles The river having its source near the
sDuthern extremity OF these mountains runs
almost due north to tho Cope disgings, where
il turns TO the westward and after running
| through a rough canon about twelve miles
enters Duck Valley, magnificent body oi
land containing several thousand acres OF
excellent soil. Near the foot Of this valley
| is tho point where the IdahoCentral road is to
cross the river Several OF the highest points
| of these mountains are yet covered with
snow, thus indicating an altitude probably
| greater than that of War Eagle, receding
towards the streams in lower mountains and
undulating bills, leaving very iew abrupt
caiions or precipices Nature seems 20 have
done everything for this country except sup
plyi:lg il with timber, there being nothing oil
The kind suitable for lumber. yet there is
| said TO be an abundance OF mahogany ana
some white Dir that will answer the purposes
of fuel and mining tImbers The adjacent
valleys are thckly set with aluxurient growth
ol wild timothy, bl ue,jont, clover ami other
excellent grasses, and the hills and noun
tains are universally covered With heavy
coating Of bunch grass, making ii equal, 10
summer at least, to any grazing country IN
tho world Crystal streams water the coun-
trv in every direction, in which trout are as
common as crlckeis ON the Jordan.
THE MINES
we're discovered about two months ago py Il
marry from this place consisting of A. }. and
Jessie Cope and Thos. Mellinger, and are To-
Gated about one hundred miles south anu
from thirty to thirty-i miles to the east
ward Of this place, near the bend oil the nv
or about thirty miles above the crossing oi
the Iiaho Central rod. The olly ledsss thit
have been prospected at all are within three
hun lrcd yards an not more th In two huai-
red feet above the level OF the riv'r Only
one of these Iedges-lhe Argenta-has been
developed to any extent, and that mol 10 eA
ceed the depth of four feet. The discoVerers
! had no to lls but those with which they wer'
nrosnectins. and consequently had done bu
little work. A tran arrived, however, whii'
, our marty were there, with blacksmlths' iool'
etc SO the work will now go on with rene"
oh energv Three tons Of ore have already
been shipped to Washoe for reduction tn'
rcsult of which will establish the value o
rh, ore. There can be no doubt as to tn
rich quality of the Aigenta ore; aid sever"
other ledges--the Pioneer, Excelsior, oaii
tou,ia. &c. show about as good cropping
with probably greater width oil VEN nidt'ci
fine only question as TO the permanency U
the cauip is in regard To the extent oil ore, ih
Arren,i ouiy showing about one loot oil quar-
and in fact that was not sufficiently define
nj the time saw il to give positive assuranc
,r nermaurnt ledge, yet, IN all nunia
probability, it will prove to be such III
,,,iue. are situated ia narrow belt of gran
lie running nearly north aud SOUTH As
nlacers. none had been discovered up 10 IN
lime left which gave sufficient pron'se
Justify working, although tolors had oec
t,u,,d m MANY places, and washed grave
bar formations aud otner indicAlions os so'
= .nprar ON several Of the slnall streams
IN ,,,,,n has been laid of Oh The northeast ban
of the river. where theie Is plenty oil ies'
ground for the purpose, IN WHICH arc SOM
- MALI dozen t..nts-oDe store-and generai'
from twenty TO forty people, It Is ciaiine1
= h,,y.xer by the soldest inhabitants " TIA
!. there are as many as hundred men scli'e'
h ed promiscuonsly through the mountains
il WAS the opinion Of our party, a ter Vainl
II searching three days in the vicinity Tor som
mark Of civilization, that thty must nav
= been terribly scattered II Is but Justiee
those Of US sO..o were not lost TO say that Oh
of our number got asiray and acciaen'aii
" Stumbled upon the camp, arriving Two uds
an advance OF the others The town, as ye
has no established name; some at the Cam
/ xue,ested - Mountain CITY" long nain'