The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-12-18
WOOD RIVER MINES.
An Elaborate Review OF Oar
Mineral belt.

The Wood river region, like the
Ceur d'Alene, is mountainous
and difficult country, whose wealth
| is in silver and lead. 1t lies at an
elevation of from 5000 feet at the
south (Bellevue) to 5000 in the
north, near Galena, the distance be-
ing forty miles, or thereabouts. 1t
contains one of the most extensive
belts of argentifcrous lead ore ever
worked in the world, and only ex-
eeded in the massive size of its veins
by the gigantic lodes of Wardner.
The first locations were made in
1879, and in The following year a
grand rush began, which resulted
in the discovery and development
of hundreds of veins, over 200 of
which are now or have been paying.
Towns were built up, and business
grew so extensive that a railroad
was built to the mines from Gran
ger, Wyoming, to Shoshone juno
ton, Cassia county, and thence
north to Bellevue, HALEY and
Ketchum, the principal mining
centers, while a main branch, called
the Oregon Short Line, was pushed
on northwest to a junction with
the Oregon Railway e. Navigation
company's line at Huntington,
Baker county, Oregon. The intro
duction of railway communication
gave a great impetus to mining
enterprises on Wood river.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.
The Wood river mining region
has been divided into three princi-
pal sections, namely: Mineral Hill,
extending north from Bellevue
about fifteen miles Bellevue and
Warm Springs, thence ten miles
north; Galena district, from Warm
Springs to Sawtooth. Disregard
ing minor subdivisions, we will en-
deavor to tell briefly what mines
there are, how they are worked, and
what becomes of the ores.
The traveller entering the Wood
river country by rail finds that the
road rises gradually toward the
north, entering the mountains
proper at about Bellevue, the first
mining locality. Here we will leave
the railway. Across Wood river,
which flows along the west side of
Bellevue, is Broadford, the residence
of a great many miners who are
employed in the neighboring mines,
of which many are notable, among
them
THE QUEEN OF THE HILLS
Which has for three years occupied
a foremost place among the Wood
rives mines. 1t is owned by the
Bellevue Idaho Mining Company,
of Salt Lake City, John A. Hunter,
president; J. c. Conklin, treasurer;
+. o. Horn, secretary b. Park, vice
president; J. A. Lusk, superintend-
ent. The ore as it comes from the
mine is classified, and the second
class is put through the concentra-
ting mill, one Of the most perfect
and convenient in the country; the
daily capacity is fifty tons. The
mine is now shipping a carload OF
first-class ore and concentrates
daily. The ore is brought from
the mouth of the mine a few
feet down hill to the rolls, whence
it passes through the jigs, etc, sit
uated in building which is con-
structed in successive stages on the
slope. The machinery is propelled
by steam. There are from sixty
five to one hundred men employed,
and a monthly dividend is paid:
The 300 tons of concentrates and
first-class ore goes to Denver to be
smelted. The lead contents is 40
to IS per cent; silver, 80 to lOO
ounces.
The Queen has three-fourths of
a mile of underground works. 1t
should by all means be visited by
those whose business takes them
to Bellevue or Haley. The monthly
payroll of this and the other mines
near by amount to over $2O,OOO
per month. The Queen shipped in
1885 5000 tons of ore, worth S464,-
600. Transportation and charges
for treatment amounted to $37 per
ton, or total of $134 900. 1t costs
81 per ton to concentrate. This
splendid mine affords the very best
example ofintelligent mining work,
and we'll illustrates the advances
that have been made in a country
where six years ago only a few
prospects were being worked, and
less than 1000 people were found
where 10000 live to-day in pros
perity and security.
THE BULLION NINE
Has gray copper worth over zU
ounces, and in the mine are over
two miles of underground works.
1t has concentratOr OF twenty
tons daily capacity, which paid
for itself the first week it was put
in operation. The mine was first
opened in 1881, but not much
zl:-oI ,,rt;1 tho railway