The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-08-14
MINING NEWS.
What Has been Demo During
the Week.
BOULDER MOUNTAIN MINES.

sible heights of Boulder mountain,
in the region of an eternal snow,
the daring prospector surrounding
the dangerous barriers with which
Nature sought in vain to bar the
way, has set his foot, and to-day is
busy wrestling from the hidden
depths the covert treasures Of old
mother earth. For several years
busy band of prospectors have
been delving into the mountain
sides, following the traces of min
eral wealth that stained its granite
walls. At times the work seemed
to be crowned with more or less
success, and then again for months
the patient searchers would meet
with such discouraging results that
ill-repaid them for the toll and
many privations they endured.
But still they persevered; an in
domitable will was theirs.
Faith in the future never faltered,
and at last conquered the obsta-
cles that concealed the secrets
locked within the rock-ribbed sides
of the towering mountain. The
most promising Of the group OF
mines on Boulder mountain is the
Ophir, owned Jointly by Harry
and George Murdoch, c. W. Wea-
yer and Judge Beatty. Operations
were commenced in 1881 by driv-
ing a tunnel in the side of the
mountain, where surface indica-
tons appeared the most promis-
ing. Now another tunnel has been
run a distance Of one hundred feet
from which point the work o.
sinking shaft was begun and
continued to the depth of sixty
feet, when a drift was started, fol
lowing the ledge, clearly defined
between the walls, a distance o
eighty feet. Through this entire
length ore is found in more or less
quantities, the vein at times mar
rowing considerably, then expand
ing to greater proportions thar
ever, until at the present time /
shows itself 'glistening in a wealth
of ore thirty inches i'll width, will
every indication of q steady ant
rapid increase in size with every
foot of extension. The characte
of the ore is of the best grade, rang
ing from 100 to $50 ounces to TIN
ton, and is readily mined. Tn
prospects of the Ophir proving
bonanza to its owners is very flat
tering, and in another season tn
mine should take its place as on
of the best producing properties o
the upper country. The propert,
is now being worked by the Muir
dock boys, representing their inter
est. and A. and +. Bassett, VIII
have leased the interests of the re
naming owners for two years
During the coming fall and winte
it is intended to run an adit, CON
mencing at a point about 100 fee
below the present tunnel, and eS
tend it n distance of about 30
feet. which will bring it under tn
ore body discovered in the uppe
works. Winter quarters will b
established at the mouth Of thi
adit, a new boarding house erecte
and work will be actively kept u
during the winter months. Th
owners will make another ship
ment of ore during the prescr
month.
TIE YANKEE BLADE.
Adjoining the Ophir mine lie
the Yankee Blade, another promi'
ing location, on which work is b'
ing done with good results. III
ore now being taken out is exceed
ingly rich, and a shipment will b
made to the sampling works durin
the month. The owners hay
great faith in the future of the
mine, and the present appearance
of the property justifics their e.
pectations.
THE ALMA NINE,
Situated on Warm Spring creek,
now working five men. The tunn'
is in 115 feet, the vein large an
vel! defined, with stringers of yer
high grade ore at intervals. 1t
intended to run the tunnel furth'
distance of 50 feet to a point und'
, the ore body found in upper worl