Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-06-21
YANKEE FORK.
Rich Mines, bat No Facilities for
Working Them.

Rich Mines, bat No Facilities for
Working Them.
The Times Review" states that Mr..
Jordan, an old Nevada miner, has returned
from a two months visit 10 Challis, Bo-
nanza City and other mining camps in that
part OF Idaho. His opinion Of the country
is anything but ia vorable, though he
thinks it will ultimately become a great
mining and business center. From Chal-
lis to Bonanza City the distance is about
65 miles, over a rough mountain trail,
covered with snow about eight out of the
twelve months of the year. Every pound
Of freight taken into the latter place is
transported on mule back, at a cost of
from two to three and q half cents pei
pound.
Messrs. Pease & Co., Of Challis, have
commenced building a wagon road to b.
nanza City, which will not be completed
before the first of November. They arc
advertising for men to work on it, their
object being to get a crowd OF men into
the country whom they can employ at
their own prices. A large number Of Nor
mons have settled in and around Challis,
who are working, or are willing to work
for smaller wages than Nevadans are &C.
customed to receive. After the load is
finished, it must be borne in mind tina it
will be impossible for at least one-half of
the year, aud even with Mormon labor, the
cost Of %freighting will be exorbitantly high.
The immigration to that section has
been immense during the past three or
four months, but there is now scarcely
800 people in both Challis and Bonanza
City. Men accustomed to mining camps
can see at a glance that there is nothing to
do, and many of them have gone to Mon
tana, salmon River mines, other portions
Of Idaho, or returned to this State.
The mines are rich beyond anything that
has been said of them, but with the excep-
ton Of two, are non. producing. and must
necessarily be so until their owners can
erect mills. A small quantity Of ore has
been sacked and shipped to Salt Lake from
the Norton mine, and the yield has been
very large, in proportion to the amount Of
ore shipped. About 81 500 per ton is con-
sidered a fair average of the ore already
taken from this mine.
Mr.. Jordan thinks that the camp will
amount to nothing for at least two years,
as. even when the road is completed ami
mills erected, there are now more than
enough men in the vicinity to do all that is
to be done
The class of men now in Challis and b.
nanza City are prospectors, who have gone
there with probably three months sup
plies, and who must. no matter what dis
coyeries they make, seek other fields when
their stock is exhausted. About 50 per
week is charged for board, but as most Of
the men there board themselves, restaurant
men are not making sudden fortunes. Two
or three drinking saloons are in operation
in the two camps, the proprietors Of which
do not consider themselves on the high
road to fortune, at twenty-five cents a
drink. Yankee Fork is overrun and over
estimated, and those who go there twelve
month, from % will be fully as well off
and enjoy fully as many chances to make
rich strikes, as those who have been spend
ing the past winter in the now and living
on half ~rations.