The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-09-18

0ERMANIA BASIN.

presents O feature in mine develop
ment that has hardly parallel in
the Territory or very likely on the
Pacific slope. A tunnel has been
run 221 feet below the surface and
is now in 1873 feet, the entire length
being through frozen ground. The
surface of the claim is interspersed
with crevices Of various widths that
extend downward through the in
tervening ground to the tunnel
level, and so great is the velocity
of wind through these apertures
that bulkheads have to be con-
structed in order to prosecute work.
Solid blocks of ice, some weighing
over 200 pounds, are found in the
crevices while running the tunnel,
and at times the atmosphere of the
tunnel is as cold as "Greenland's
lev mountains" Yet with all these
difficulties Superintendent Hawks
worth has continued the work of
development. He has contracted
with Mr.. Pardun to bring 80 tons
of ore to Ketchum, all of which is
high grade in character and carries
60 per cent. lead. Two years ago,
when work was first commenced,
Is tons of ore, averaging 5000, was
taken out without dulling a pick.
Since the completion of the new
road from the Basin to Ketchum
ore has been sent here direct, being
purchased at the Sampling Works.
YANKEE FORK DISTRICT.
The placing of the Charles Dick
ems mining property upon the Lon
don market has been attended with
great success. The mine was pur-
chased some time since by j. Ham,
ilton, presumably in the interest of
r. c.. Chambers, a we'll known min
ing operator, Mccormack & Co.,
bankers, and John Dooly, agent of
Wells, Fargo & Co. at Salt Lake
city, and other gentlemen. A COM
pany has been incorporated in Lon
don with capital stock of 9225,-
600, and shares have been in great
part taken and allotted. The par
value of shares was E1O, but were
sold at e.. The mine is one of the
best in Idaho, but since the death
of Mr.. Norton, two years ago, it has
been idle, awaiting the settlement
of legal complications. So soon as
the stock is subscribed active work
of developing the mine will begin,
and Bonanza will enjoy a boom
that will prove to its residents the
reality ofthe somewhat ephemerous
name given to their town.
The second extension west of the
Charles Dickens claim embraces
what is known as the Morrison
group ofmines, a one-halfinterest in
which has recently been sold to n.
A. Person. of San Francisco, fol
$4,000. This is inclusive of 40
acre tract of placer ground, out OF
which was recently taken a nugget
of gold weighing one pound. This
portion of the property is being
worked by hydraulics. The ore
from the mines carries from % to
% per cent gold in addition to the
silver. Arrangements are now be-
ing made to have the ore product
of the mine sent to the Smelling
Works here for reduction.
The first westerly extension OF
1900 feet from the Dickens, lying
between that property and the Nor
rison group, is known as the Pilot
mine. owned by Chris. Johnson, and
bids fair to be valuable property
The Sheep mountain mines are
also attracting attention, and the
ore now being taken out is giving
satisfactory results.
| THE SILVER STAR.
This mine, owned by the Phila
delphia Company, is rapidly de
veloping into a first-class property
Twenty-four men are employed ir
the mine. The ore vein varies ir
width from four to nineteen feet
and carries streak of high-grad'
ore, which in places is three feet il
width. Experiments are being made
as to the best mode of treating thu
ore, andan expert is daily expected
to make still further investigation
At the present time there are abou
n OoO A IS o.o an <ho dunn -