New-York tribune., 1884-01-23
THE NEW IDAHO GOLD FIELDS.
PROFESSOR TIERNAS HAS DOUBTS ABOUT THE RICH
PIACERs
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l


IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON Jan. 22.-Recent dispatches from
Idaho Indicate that as soon the snow disappears
from the valleys of the CUur dAlene Mountains
there will be great rush to the rich goldi placers
which are alleged to exist in that country. Pro-
fessor J. VI. Tiernan. who has been engaged tor
several years under the direction of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, in exploring and testing
the mineral formation of the country from Puget
Sound along the line of that road eastward as Tar
as Helena Montana, is in Washington lie has
thoroughly explored the CGur dA'ene ooun-
try and gives an interesting account OF
it. He says Most of the published statements re-
spectinr the richness of the placer deposits are
greatly exaggerated, and some of ZEN are the pro-
dletions of the fertile imaginations of men who
have never been on the ground when 1t was bare OF
snow. prospected the region two years ago. aud
acan in October last. The supposed placers covera
territory of about twelve miles wide and fifty
long. roughly estimated. This district is in the
Cpur d'Alene Mountains, which in that vicinity
are about 1900 feet nigh. That the placer depos-
its are quite extensive there is no doubt; but
whether they are as rich reported, or whether
gold will be found in paying quantities, can only be
demonstrated by working them.
Iho stories that man with rocker took out
5000 in one day and that others have washed out
500 a day to the man, are only samples OF the
cxtravagant reports always circulated when new
placer is discovered. The reports from there at
this season as to the richness of the deposits
are. of course, untrustworthy, for the
gronnd is covered with two or three
feet of snow. some men have pushed
into the country since winter began and are III
samp there, waiting for the snow to melt. Some
twenty miles in an eaSterly direction are extensive
and rich VEINS of gold quartz | had shaft sunk
about thirty feet into of these veins aud the
yielded $50 to 1928 per ton. This was the
actual yield after the rock had been
put Though the reduction works, and was
hot the result of "a mere assay. An assay OF some
specimens of the rock will show $4,000 to the
ton but, of course such tests are of tte practical
Valuc.p
Professor Tiernan exhibited maps made by him,
which show the geological formation Of the CGur
dAlene and Pend d'Oree districts.
The newly discovered places are situated about
eighty miles IN a sOutheasterly direction from
Spokane Falls, on the Northern Pacific Railroad.
branch road IS TO be built the coming summer from
Spokane Falls to CUur dAlene Lake a body of
water f0rty-lye miles long The CGur PAlene
nVer, which hows into this lake is'uavigable for
c0nsderaole cCae1 distance The Government has.
slnall steamer on the lake now, and in
dlvlduals are building two others in
expectation OF a large trade soon as navigation
opens rom the nearest point on the Cnur d' A lene
River 10 the new placer mines is about eighteen
miles, and from the stream to the rich 9uartz
lodes described by Professor I1ernan the distance
is ABOUT sixteen miles. lhe latter are near Ness
ners Peak. which rises the heI ght of 5000 feet
and is n we'll nown landmark in that region.
Professor renan's maps show extensive deposits
of henatte irOn galena, MARBLE silver. and other
lninerals ia Ceur dAiene and Pend dOreille dis-
tricts. He has sent TO New-YOrk during the last
two years great quantities of specimen minerals
from the country through which the railroad passes
and these are shortly to he arranged and placed on
exhibition in the new Broadway office of the COM
pany.