Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-03-30
WOOD RIVER.
The New Observation-Disclosures 10 be
the MetropOIis-6 Bright Outlook
A Rich Mine-what Route 70
Take.

Take.
BELLEVUE, March 25, 1881.
The SENTINEL comes so regularly TO no,
that l annot refrain from giving it a few
items from this camp. Bellevue is build
ing up rapidly, and will soon be the
metropolis Of this region, and may taxi
rank with Leadville or Tombstone in its
sudden enlargement. The town is pleas.
antly located, and from its site one may
behold the beautiful Valley Of Wood River
and the Sawtooth range Of mountains,
now white with snow, which will not melt
before the latter part of July. At present
there is not quite a foot Of snow on the
ground, which is disappearing fast under
the hot rays OF the sun, the weather hav-
ing been unusually pleasant for some days.
As soon as the snow is off the ground there
will be a great deal OF house building, as
many parties are making extensive prepar-
atoms to that end. Owing to the melting
snow the roads from the railroad are in a
bad condition, Ind passengers and freight
experience quite a little difficulty in getting
here. This has made some articles Of pro-
visions scarce and elevated tho price.
Flour sells at 81, oats and barley Sc and
potatoes So per 100 pounds. Strangers are
arriving daily in large numbers, and this
reminds one Of the excitements some ten
years ago In Nevada, Idaho and Montana.
There is, however, good accommodation for
those who ONE we'll heeled with
the dollar OF our dads, and not
until Spring fairly opens and the expected
rush begins will We taxed for quarters.
But Bellevue does not take all the visitors.
There are so many camps lying contiguous
and tributary to it, that they absorb the
surplus population, and one hardly knows
whittier the strangers have gone. Con-
corning the mines I hear only the most
favorable reports, and even il only one
third of them prove well founded, this will
be one Of the richest regions discovered
since the Comstock hegira. I was speak
ing with John Brewer, an old Utah miner
the other day, who had just com down
from his mine to see the sights and hear
the news. The mine is located twenty
miles from Ketchum and thrity-seven from
Bellevue, and is owned by Mr.. Brewer, and
Doc. and Tom Covert. 1t is considered
one OF the best properties in the district,
and when Mr.. Brewer left they had devel-
oped a ledge twenty feet in width, contain
ing ore the assays Of which average 60 per
cent lead and 60 ounces OF silver, with a
trace of gold. AS the hanging wall has not
been struck, the ledge must be Of immense
width. Near the surface the vein was only
five feet wide. which has kept spreading as
depth is attained. The mine is worked by
two tunnels, the first tapping the ledge
fifty feet below the groupings and the
second n~inety-ive feet. The total
length Of the lower tunnel is
1879 feet. This will give your
readers some idea Of what our mines are,
and as the facilities for working them are
easy, wood and water being plentiful, we
expect to show a bullion-producing camp
soon that will rival any other in America.
Prospectors are out in the hills contin-
ually, and every bare spot is scratched and
located. OF course many OF these pre-
emptions are totally worthless, but every
body wants to W a claim, n they
might as well be gratifed. The hills will
be full Of miners when the snow disap-
pears, and the country for a hundred
miles will be thoroughly prospected before
another Winter rolls around.
A word of advice to those who desire to
come to this region. / seei in the SENTINEL
that there are a good many axes to grind
by station-keepers and ferrymen. 1t is
generally conceded here that, while travel
ers are able to come from whatever direc-
ton they choose, the route via Ogden and
Blackfoot is the only feasible and comfort
able one. 1t saves a number of hours Of
hard staging, and is actually the shortest
by from 40 to SO miles. 1t also avoids the
possible danger Of Spring floods and con-
sequent delay. Besides, it passes through
an interesting country. But / I'm not cap
ping for any stage line. Brooks.