New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-13
MINES OF IDAHO.
THE WOOD RIVER COUNTRY.

THE WOOD XIV Elk COUNIhI.
A MINERAL BELT OF WONDERFUL RIcuNEss-GEN-
ERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE REGloN-PRoPER-
TIES OF VALUE.
IFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
GALENA CITY, Idaho, Oct. 21.-The great
quartz fields Pacific slope attracting general
attention both in tue Atlantic and Pacific States, and
scarcely week passes by that does not chronicle IN
vestment MINING property by Eastern capitalists In
the earlier history of this placer minng was all
the rage. and thousands ured from comfortable
Eastern homes to seek fortunes the golden sands of
California. From ls49 10 1862 the great placer fields
Of that State yielded handsomely. but the MINES
were gradually worked and abandoned
and TIE interchangeable California miner sought
elsewege for the precious DUST" new fields
opened up, and mining instead OF being con-
fined to California spread through the Territories and
British possessions On the banks OF every stream,
from the The British line. traces Of the
miner can be found either IN the nearly obterated
prospect holes aud failing piles" in the fast de-
cayiug cabins that time homes Of those
who built the " failing piles" and robbed the little creek
OF treasure. As pacers gradually declined. the
ambitious prOspector turned his attention TO quartz.
anu and more permanent form OF
mining was thereby offered TO the speculative
word The ComstOck Lode made Nevada The
theatre OF quartz INNING and millions OF dollars were
freely expended opening the mother lode OF the
continent. The yield OF this fabulous ledge at
strike gave fresh impetus to INNING INDUSTRIES and Ne
yada carefully prospected IN every quarter. New
veins discovered. and miners ana capitalists
1Ockcd from al parts OF the country to silveTbOund
Nevada. Money ieckles.ly expended, and prosper
clowns spIang into existence as il by
Mining e1cloments, since then, have been OF fire.
quent occurrence, and IN nearly every mountain
dlsrrot now be heard the rum5ling Of the
qulrtz-niI and the echo OF the steam whistle.
We have had Bodie Waite Pine, Eureka,
Leady i.ic ami the BacK Hills eXcitemeuts and
comes c great Wood River country attracting
greater mining circles The coast Than has
been D,IOre manifested tie discovery of the Com
stock Ine stream from hch district derives its
name has the saw Tooth rauge of mCuD-
winds as way like silver thread. De ween
the mountains taa tower above 1t ON either side until
IL mites "a tributary OF Tue Snake River. Viewing
tni of majestic mountain peaks FROM 10 "
emhece one mus me ahutui OF tne scene ihdoScr1o
able III Whatever direction one looks grand natural
panorama Is expo'ed TO Wew' Deco1ing morr
sublime as dista-ce softens It's rugged outlines
Such brief. is tie topography OF the
country IN when the Wood River located
aud which Is destined, at no distant day to command
the attention Of the mining word Imagine one great
almost uninterrupted. network Of ledges extending
dl>ance II sixty miles, containing generous deposit If
ambitious grade. and iuca of tBe wealth OF tins
imagination. but homes, caEuid fscI.
do hesitate 10 say that future development viii fully
every wUrd have written. Ii even Vut
Wc Whom DOM" lbecom the weatSi
and extensive mineral belt 10 the world In making
this assertion, however. inciude Bay Horse |
Chals and Yankee Fork Districts wbich are IN the sane
mineral be 1 To the uOrtn.
Through lack the development of the mines
here has been greatly retarded, hut sufficient work has
been done 10 tstaDlisA their richness. Prominent
ing have visited this district. and have pre-
dicied bright future The entire camp. Strong
panies operating mines in the vicinity OF GaIend
CITY, and mighty Glazed with the developments
far. The hedges are. "a general thing large,
fined, with smooth walls aud every indication
OF permaneDey. TIE ores are Gaena chIorides
and book metal, Dut IL If the general opinion
among those familiar with Galena that the Galena
will eventually 10 chloride, and consequently, be-
conc mi Ing Instead OF smelling ore. Tnls question
will fully determined nefOie the erection OF redu, ton
work. The is high grade ana the country rock"
in proximity 10 the VEINS being soft, improvements
be placed the mines at comparatively small cost
Wool and water, anu IN act. every requisite for work
ing the nines have been generously placed at mans
disposal, and with udIclous management there be
no failure.
The Alturas Mimi Company. in which New-York
men are Interested, owns Elk promising veins in
locality, but 10 operating at present only OF them
These mihes VIII be Carefully prospeced aud the ore
bodies ana the Character oi tne ore dete mined upon be-
fore the return spring. and machinery will bc erected
Is as the roads are open. Twelve miles OIL
GaleDa CITY, OH III head waters VI the Salmon RIVER
situated the saw Tooth distfic which mas aitr4c,ed
mucn attention lor the past year The ores OF Saw
And ruby silver srikngly similar the the Aus
tan district, Nevada. viii require roasting process
Ine vesns exist III soft granite, and they be
Opened io great depth through the medium AT
tunnels orls ell Oh the vein. The Pilgrim and Lucky
Boy being a advanced state Of development,
H0r-e, ChaIlis KIDpIkinnicg districts the ore is
so0u the same as that Of Wood River, while the veins
In Yankee Fork both gold aud silver bearing, aud
require milling III thIs great mineral belt oyer a
hundred mics IN leDgb, proves 10 be even 0ne-haf as
rlcO as generally conceded to pe branch from
the Utah aud Northern Railroad will al disant |
1ay pass through the very heart OF this Held.
No trustworthy Information be Cleaned here regard
The snow fall IN tao winter, but AIN confident will
never u interfere VITA railroad enter
prise. Last winter the fall ali the
la yrecsdentaI, and. consequently. would be a SAFE
md criterion. Miners evesywnere tailoring
vigorously 10 place this section Of the country III good
Opd lt.ou tor the InArkets .ex