, 1881-03-05
WOOD RIVER.
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scope Of country in northeastern Idaho $50
miles from north to south and 100 miles from
east to west. Its principal supply Of water
is received from the south end Of the great
Saw Tooth range. and its eastern scr.ggy
spur that takss of above Galena city, and
forms the watershed between Wood river
and Lost nver. II is the only stream from
the Henry Lake fork Of the Snake river to
the Boise river. . distance of four hundred
miles, that cuts its way through the great
lava beds 10 Snake river. From its head
near Galens city its conrse Is south southeast
to the Boise crossing from there to Snake
river is south southwest
rowNS
The first town on the river You arrive at is
Bellevue, which is something over 500 feet
above the level Of the sea. It was founded
and located the first day OF May. 1880, by .
patty Of prospecsors and miners working
their way mp the river Eighteen miles mp
the river from Bellevue, in what is called the
Upper Valley. at the junction Of the Warm
Springs and Trail Creeks with the main river
and on high bar is located the town Of
Ketcham Its situation is most central as
regards to mines, timber and water power
Galena city is about 800 feet above the
level Of the sea, and is the Oldest town on
the river.
MINERAL BELTS AND FORMATIONS
Wood river Is divided by formation, and
characters Of ores into three distinct sections.
By far the largest veins and richest ores
have been found on the west side Of the river
in the foothills OF the Saw Tooth range. On
the eastern slope Of these hills, next to Wood
river, and cut by all its western branches,
runs what is called the Bullion and Warm
Spring mineral belt. There are five different
camps located on this belt, viz: Jacobs,
Bullion, Deer Creek, Greenhorn and Warm
Spring creek. 1t starts in near Jacob city
and runs nearly north and south for over
thirty miles to the head Of Warm Spring
creek, where it is cut off by large belt Of
trachite Formations of this mineral belt
are quartzite, slate, black and magnesia lime,
dikes of porphyry. and trschIte with mar
row belt Of granite running in the center Of
it.
PECULIAR FEATURE
OF this belt is its hot springs coming ont of
the ground where the granite and lime comes
IN contact, and on every creek that cuts it.
The ores are cube galena and carbonates
they carry some antimony and copper, and
from GO to IS per cent. lead: the veins are
marked by large out-crop. of iron and quartz
on the surface; gangue of VEINS. quartz. iron
and tale ores run from Sl00 to $500 per ton
in nearly all the mines on this belt. On the
Camas Prairie or Wood river divide, about
eight miles from Wood river are situated
what are called the Ornament mines. They
carry the richest and only milling ores dis
covered ON the river 90 far. Characters of
ores, sulphurets, ruby and antimonial silver,
malachite, and some chloride and native sill
yer; per cent of gold generally small. Some
Of these ores run way up in the thousands.
In Boulder and Lake creeks have also shown
sonic fine paving ore. East from Ketcham
about three miles, near Trail creek, is the
Elkhorn mine. It is in calcareous shale, on
some rolling hills. There were
HUNDREDS OF TONS
OF galena lying on the surface loose, which
have siace been shipped to Salt Lake and
netted over Shopper ton above expenses. The
North Star has shipped some ore to Salt
Lake, paying from $50 to S75 per ton over
expenses. Jacobs or Mineral Hill, is the
first on the west side of the locations made
in 1873, and most Of the subsequent loca-
tions were made in 1879. The most prornis-
ing mines here are the Keystone, Jacobs,
Star, Ser,bner, Jess. Elliot, Scorpion and
Estella. The ores of this camp are high
grade most of them ranging from $50 to
$50 per ton. Ornament district, discovered
by Haighr, Edgngton and Boyle, in August,
1850. l, the latest discovery, and, strange to
say, it is outside of Jacobs district; the ear
lies. and easiest of access, Of any camp IN
the river The first piece Of ore ever assayed
from here, which Was float rock, went nearly
one
THOUSAND DOLLARS PER roS
In silver and some few dollars in gold. The
best mines discovered SO far are the Orns
men., Ohio South, OHIO North and Utah.
These mines are in n contact Vein between
porphyry and granite, and arc traceable by
groupings and ore on the surface for over 4
mile. The Ornament shipped lot oi sur
| face ore to Salt Lake that sold for over $3.50
per ton. The majority OF the mines ON Wood
river are held by men Of little or no means.
Hal there heen reduction works nm. nm here