The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-11-09
THE MINING GROUND.

THE hlNlNt ohopND'
Eagle creek is about II miles long and Is
about all taken up.
Pritchard creek is 10 or 16 miles long and
all taken up.
Beaver creek is about ~ miles long and
nearly all taken up.
The claims were formerly 100 acres in ex-
tent, but have been cut down to 20 acres each,
and only three or four men pretend to hold
that amount on Eagle creek, having gener-
ally taken in p artners or sold interests until
there are four to ten men to eac h twenty
acres. The "160 acre" and power Of attor-
ney" business is all broken up.
Eagle and Pritchard creeks join about one
half mile below Pritchard's claim on Pritch-
ard creek, and empty into the Cgur d'Alene
four miles below. Pritchard creek is the
principal creek. 1t flows fully 1000 inches
of water and, IL Is said, does not freeze up.
In Eagle City there are 10 or 20 cabins,
ranging in size from 12x12 to 16x20. Many
men are now hauling logs for other buildings.
Messrs Odell and Peterson only found about
40 men in Eagle City. They were told, how
ever, by old residents that there were about
200 men altogether in the mines. In coming
out they met from 100 to 40 men going in or
waiting for opportunity to do so.
THE GULcH, AND CLAIMS OPENED.
Pritchard creek, fifteen miles long, varies
from 300 yards to ! 200 yards in width. The
hills rise abruptly on either side to height
of ! 800 feet. Hills and gulch are heavily
timbered. The gulch is gravel formation,
which shows up nearly everywhere with
some soil. The gold found SO far has been on
the rim rock, and considerable of it has been
in crevices, the bed rock being very rough.
No one has yet found bed rock in the gulch.
Water is struck at or feet and, as there
are no pumps, the deepest hole yet sunk does
not exceed O or feet. The gulch is very fiat
and trouble in working is apprehended from
this fact. Geld is found from the surface
down and as high as 40 cents to the pan has
been obtained In the deepest workings.
Only five claims are being worked on
Pritchard creek, and none that is known OF
on any other creek ...a
George Ives Company, working five men,
is taking out little more than one ounce per
day to the man.
What rs known as "The Widows Claim, !"
above discovery, has been jumped by ten
men. They have appointed VIM. Hellifer
foreman. This claim the first 40 days paid
81 10 per day per man; the next days So to
Sc per day; since that the yield has been $40
| to $40 Der day to the man. The average of
the above two claims to date has been about
| / ounce per day Of SIS gold. Hellifer works
| 8 to men In the mine, the others being en-
gagged In getting In provisions.
Louis Want, above discovery, found the
largest nuggets on his claim, selling respect
| lively for sI68, $40, $50, and s1s Want has
been working with a pan only since July Sd,
| and has taken out about 500.
Sam Hayes, of Rathdrum, Is opening a
claim at the confluence of Pritchard and Ea-
| gle creeks. VIM. Payne, formerly of Butte,
| is his superintendent. --
Barney Roudebush, Pat Flynn, and Tom
| Argyle are also opening up claim.
| Eagle City has two stores--one by Cole, of
| Palouse-and two saloons. Flour was $40
| per cwt., bacon 40 cents a pound, and whis-
Ky % cents. The Indians began packing in
for four cents, but, finding they had mo.
nopoly, had raised to IL cents.
The altitude at Fort Ceur d'Alene il $500
Il T..
/ HOW TO GET IN AND OUT.
Pritchard, who claims to know the coun-
! try, says 1t is 40 miles from Eagle City to
Heron; that the nearest point on the North
ern Pacific railroad Is about Trout creek,
% miles east of Heron. He says he will cut
a trail to that point-3O miles for $500, TAX
ing 500 in advance and $500 when complet-
ed Several persons got to Eagle City from
Heron after being out TO - days. II is $50
miles by the Mullan road from Evolution to
| Missonla.
Sam PoiEt is recorder Of Eagle creek, and
A. j. Pritchard deputy recorder.
Our informants did not visit any quartz
leads but saw some good quartz brought In
from locations mile or SO from Eagle City
GENERAL ITEMS.
Messrs. Odell and Peterson did not locate
any claims or buy any. The ground gener.
ally appeared to be taken up under the 20
acre plan, which was agreed on at miners
meeting, although no representation day Wa
set. On these 2o-acre CLAIMS there were
number of contesting locations, parties hav
ing Jumped them while the original locators
were out after supplies, and on some claims
the filings were three or four deep. These
claims were offered for sale rs low as s1oo fol
Interest in 20 acres, but not wanted. There
In liable to be trouble in adjusting rights IN
the spring. It would take weeks to Prov
through the brush and trees and find the 10
cations posted on the 2o-acrs lots n they are
| at present, and, ~ practically no work car