The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1885-10-10

by the editor of the KEYSTONE to
the West Shore" of October is a
moderate resume of our immediate
resources:
"Warm Springs Greek mining
district, of which Ketchum is the
centre, embraces all that portion of
the great Wood River minerl belt
lying from point six miles south
to q distance twenty miles north,
and is about the same width. Con-
tingent and tributary to it are the
Sawtooth, Wood River (proper)
and Smoky districts. Within its
boundaries is one of the busiest
prospecting scenes in the world.
lnnumerable good lodges and good
ore bodies have been discovered,
and although like all other new
mining districts that invariably
feel adversities and encounter dis
advantages, not few fortunes have
unquestionably been made. Many
of the best mines lie within radius
offive miles Of Ketchum, and within
this limit the most fattering dis
coveries are constantly being made,
though heretofore it was thought
the prospector had "done up" the
the country. Blind lodges appear
in the most unexpected places, and
three or four Of these have devel-
oped into bonanzas in the past year,
creating a renewed enthusiasm
among prospectors in those parts.
Close to town may be pointed out
half a dozen dividend-paying mines
that have netted from $4,000 to
$250,OOO in the past year, one of
them having made net dividends in
the past three years of nearly
100000. This showing does not
include other districts, great min
cral wealth being developed in
points directly tributary to and
dependent upon the town of
Ketchum.
The gross output from mines,
smel.ers and samplers last year,
together with private shipments not
reported, amounts to fully $4,000
600, and that shown by statistics
over 100000.
The ores of Warm Springs Creek
mining district-chiehy lead ores,
accompanied by iron oxides and
carbonates-are either reduced at
the Philadelphia smelters in
Ketchum, or sold to the Ketchum
Sampling Works or private buyers,
who ship them to Omaha, Denver
or Kansas City. The Philadelphia
Mining and Smelling Company has
extensive works at Ketchum, and
owns fourteen mines on both forks
of the river. The company also
purchases ores from other mines
From $50 to 800 men are employed
in the mines and works. There
are five furnaces, with a capacity OF
200 tons per day, from which ter
carloads Of 24O bars ofbullion each
are shipped weekly to Omaha fol
refinement. The works are run by
water power, which is prevented
from freezing in the winter by the
hot springs whose waters run into
the ditch short distance above the
smelters. The company ha:
100000 invested in its plant. The
officers are James NJ. Rhodes, Pres
ident ; Sydney L. Wright, Vice Pres
ident and Treasurer II. ]. Hardess
Superintendent.
Ketchum has a population o
1900, and is one Of the most beau
tifully located towns in Idaho. Th'
natural scenery surrounding it il
grand. 1t is situated at the con
fluence of three mountain streems
has abundance ofrich, level ground
pretty drives, and every natura
advantage. The hills are a complet
shield against wind storms and biz
yards. There is an abundance o
timber, and the manufacture o
lumber is a thrifty industry. TIL
town contains two churches,
weekly newspaper (the KEYsToNE)
two banks, a good school, fift,
business houses, and in addition t
the smelters two saw mills, tw,
planning mills, two breweries an
ii busy brick yard"
The illustrations ofthe town an
smcltcrs referred IN in the Mes