Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-10-03
Yankee Fork.

w. j. Stephens. who returned on
Sunday from an extended trip to Ida
no, was interviewed this week and gave
n the following account of his trip in
the vicinity Of Yankee Fork:
! arrived at Bonanza on the evening
Of the 23d, and the next day being
Sunday I expected to see tn /, main
street crowded, as lie usually the case in
oil new mining towns; but such was
not the case. The fac. is, the people
had been constantly leaving the place
for month. Salmon City took away a
good many during the term Of court
there, which lasted from the 4th Of
August until the 2lst, good many
had gone to Wood river. about sixty
miles southwest from there, where ttere
had been some new discoveries made.
Idaho, although not possessed Of the
agricultural resources OF Montana, will
.excel the latter in the richness, j. not
II the extent, Of her mines From the
border Of Montana on the north ,sss to
shc country bounded by the Paye,te
ande Mood rivers on the southwest. there
Is almost . continuous mineral belt.
embracing surface and quartz mining
% which public attention is now special.
y directed, and which in the coming
three years will become developed be.
yond the most sanguine expectations
Of any of it, people The range east
Of Salnop city has been invaded aod
it, canyons explored. Eastern capital
A6s tssetrated the mountains and is
making them yield up their treasures.
Surface mining is always constant re
soarcc; but the portion Of the country
70 which the most special interest is at
tsched is the country in the vicinity of
Bonsnzs City, and from thence ex
tenlise 70 the Saw Tooth range. The
latter country will soon be the scene Of
great mining activity, San Francisco
capital has already made Judgment
iAare, The principal mines at present
are the Charles Dickens. the Montsn.
ian and the General Custer. The two
Arst are very rich in gold and silver,
au1 are being worked by their owners,
yielding large profits. The last is prin.
eipally silver, and was recently sold for
$4,000. These three mines when in
full operation, will astonish the mining
communities of the Pacific coast, as
their yield will be immense. The
Dickens and Montanian are richer than
tho Custer, but the latter is mammoth
in size; it is, perhaps, the largest min.
eral deposit Of high grade free milling
ore on the continent of America. FROM
present developments it is not conjec.
tural to say that the mine is three hun.
dssd feet in width.
Most Of the mines except the Custer
are blind. Float is sparse, and discov
cries on that account are difficult; but
When } lode il once found it pays for
oil the toll and means expended. Near
the town Of Challis; 30 miles south Of
Bonanss, h the Rams Horn district
the mines Of which are more like the
Butte mines, or even those Ct the Wal
lace mining district near Missorla.
The packers have done a good bust
ness in the transportation Of ores from
al those mines to tho town of Chailis,
from whence they are shipped on wag
ous (, Salt Lake; but recently there il
general disposition to cease shipping
on pack trains because Of the mashin-
cry at home consequent on the compile
ltion Of roads through the country, aud
particularly the road between Challis
and Bonanza. The cessation of such
transportation has created dearth Of
money and measurable decrease ia
the price Of town property in the towns
Of Challis, Bonanza aud Custer city.
This depression is bound to continue
until the arrival Of machinery tho com
siag Summer, when prices will again
adyaaee with amazing rapidity.
BONANZA city is 30 miles from Chal.
liz. The new road will be completed
Il judge, about the 10th of October;
they have an average force Of about SO
mon, and have about "a miles vet ia
complete. Il has an easy grade, aud
when finished will.be an excellen. road
II was expected they would be able "a
get in machinery this Fall, but that il
nors than doubtful now; but few will
Winter here. Town lots are inclosed in
every direction, and oil kinds Of desira.
BILE locations for grass or timber have
been taken up both for use and specu.
1nti0n T.umhar Il ~c.AL oOn