, 1884-05-10
THE YELLOW DROSS.
After many Days the CRUr d'AIene
Mines showing True Value.

! coast tne Cpur a. Alene mines nave
been an ineXhaustible item for the
past eight months. Some of the
sheets have been radical in their
praise, others equally as radical in
denunciatiOns, while still others have
been cOntented with a conservative
stand. Located as we are within a
short distance of the treasure fields
we have had many opportunities Of
seeing the actual products of the
country, and frequently have seen
large quantities of the virgin metal
just as it was taken from the ground.
These products were exhibited last
fall by mary difFeront individuals,
and took all shapes from fine gold
dust to huge nuggets worth oyer
800. There were also pieces of
quartz shown that had every in
dication of richness. As these things
came under our observation and the
localities described bv men in whom
we had the utmost confidence so we
wrote them up, believing that we
were not misrepresenting the actual
facts, and with no intention to de-
ceive the public. Our faith in the
ultimate extent and richness of the
country is just as firm now as it was
last fall, with ample proofs to sus-
tain that trust. After the first snow
there was no gold taken from the
ground, but the reports Of the mines
had gone out and the adventurous
class Of the country were filed with
new life. This excitement was en-
hanced in the dead of winter by the
Northern Pacific railroad, which,
with reprehensible carelessness or
criminality, issued circulars giving
the most glowing and untruthful ac-
count Of the mines as then existing.
Men did not stop to calculate the in
consistency Of such statements and
their improbability at that season Of
the year, but blindly rushed to the
heart Of the mines, facing and over
coming all difficulties to get there
first. What did they find, or what
more could they expect ? The mines
arc situated in Il high latitude,
where the winters come early and
linger late in the spring. They
found many deludcd men like them
selves cooped up in a place with no
accommodations whatever; COM
PEELED to endure the hardships al
ways to be encountered in II new and
crude mining camp living on the
poorest Of poor grub and paying fab
ulous prices for every necessity Of
life surrounded with a population
Of mercurial dispositions, quick to ex-
cite and just rs subject to depres-
slons. lie found no mining because
mining could not be carried on.
Snow everywhere from three to
twenty feet deep, and prospect of
months Of the same weather. No
wonder men became discouraged.
There was nothing to sustain them
but an unfaltering trust in the fu-
turc, no trust at the stores and the
stock Of coin dwindling away with
startling rapidity. At one time
there were upward Of 5000 men in the
diggings, and that in the very midst
Of winter. Those who went in at
that time can only blame them
selves. They were advised to hold
off until May. They knew better,
hence their predicament. The re-
suit was that in March there was as
great a stampede out Of ,the camp as
there had been into it, and the crowd !
dwindled down until there were not |
more than /, 900 in the whole section |
a few weeks ago. Now, just at the |
season when these crazy prospectors
should have gonSin, the richness of |
the district is being proved beyond |
a question of doubt. At last the |
snow has gone, the ground bare and |
miners are able toinspect the coun-
try and pass Judgment upon its
worth. There can be no question as
to the richness of the placers, and
the indications point to as valuable |
quartz as has ever been worked.
Even the most skeptical have ceased
to doubt. Every report in from the
camp confirms those already re-
ceived. Placer claims are being
worked with astounding results.
Those who remained in the country
are now busy searching the gulches
for wealth, and the bedrock is kind
ly yielding a rich harvest to the
sturdy delivers. All the old claims
are paying, and such places as Dream
gulch, Buckskinguleh, Beavetcreek,
and a score Of new discoveries are
phenomnial in the extent of
their productions. The tide Of
travel into the mines is againa at the
food, and the arrivals in Eagle will
soon be greater than they were two
ago. Men are uncovering
quartz leads that show great prom
ise. or course it is not possible to
report anything like the exact
value Of the quartz. Some Of the
assays have been very high. The
mineral embraces gold, silver, lead
and other metals. In fact the coun-
try is rich in almost all minerals.
Some fine quartz has been taken out
ut the head Of Beaver creek, and the
mass Of mountains seems to be prin-
,g,,otI,r ,,,,gl, So, 81 -. - L t.-.-s. /