Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-07-05
THE POTLATCH MINES.

up. No one has visited them who
seemed to take enough interest in them
to 80 thoroughly investigate them as to
render himself competent to do them
justice. Many cxtravagant tales have
been told about them that but few place
any confidence 10 them, while if the
same or similar tales had been told Of
discoveries in the Occur dAlene country,
or in the Kootenai or Metaline country.
Men would flock there in crowds at
great expense, while the country to the
east Of Lewiston and q little north
iudices have been discovered by mex.
perienced prospectors, and samples Of ore
have been brought that discounted some
of the best samples that have been pro-
duced in the Occur dAlene country.
But when it became known that they
were found about the familiar stream 90
near At hand IS tie Potlatch, 20 mau
skilled in prospecting, or skilled 10 test.
Ing ores would venture to 60 there or
invest one dollar to have the country
thoroughly prospected. It always has
remained for tho inexperienced farming
man to stumble upon ore samples, and
bring them to the towns, and produce
perhaps an ephemeral talk about them
for few days, which would soon die out,
and the discoverers who had no time to
spend in developcnent, without some
encouragement from those who are
skilled 10 mining, or from men who had
the means and willingness 10 aid in that
development that would even, in short
tiMe, determine whether the discoveries
were or were not Of real and permanent
value, and thus, for several years, dis
coteries, which promised well, have been
entirely neglected, which, had they been
followed up, might have been more
prolific than any Of those in the Occur
dAlene region. We may have mines
near BY, where their developemont would
DO far less expensive, and the facilities
for working them to = large profit, be
made more certain than to 80 to the
Occur d'Alene, to the Metaline country,
or to Salmon river, or the Colville aud
Okanagan country. Why not have tho
monied men Of Lewiston combine and
take tho matter In hand to have experts
visit this Potlatch country and view the
ground and rcport3 It may prove
good and even better than our fondest
anticipations could paint the result. Il
Is claimed thata new discovery has been
made on small tributary Of tho Pot.
latch coming in from the east and south
about eight miles above Julietta. Some
claim that the vein is twenty feet wide
consisting Of white quartz with seame Of
galena and silver running through it,
one Of them more than twelve inches
wide. 1t is claimed that assays have
been made Of it, varying from $l7O II
$4,000 per ton. Several locations have
been made on the Head. Some Of them
have made q record OF their claims il
this county, and some claim that tn.
vein is in Latah county. Tho situation
is near tho boundary line Of the twt
counties aud about forty.6ve miles
distant from Lewiston and about ffty
miles from Palouse City. Numerou.
parties from Palouse city have gont
across and made locations and others arr
now prospecting for other locations. Il
10 in a mineral belt. Several parties
have mined for placer gold in thi.
vicinity and met with some success
One party washed out about $l1 in q
days time, but found no large extent Of
placer digging. The surrounding country
is filled With quartz, some Of which
seems to contain gold, silver and galeua.
We think that if somo adventurous men,
who love to prospect, would take the
time to 60 there and 20 prospecting in
earnest the chances sre good for their
finding good paying mines. If any one
Of the lodges are Of the sise. and value
in their assays, As reported, capital 70
operate them will not b. long in taking
hold Of them and working them Their
proximity to Lewiston with gentle down
grade for the whole distance will be sure
to make Lewiston their place of pro-
curing supplies and their place Of ship
ment Of the ores, aud especially if our
people take any interest in the develops
ment Of these mines. We ought to take
interest enough in that section to see
that it is CT is not rs good as represented
and ought not to delay the steps neces-
sary to know the truth Of these reports.
If poor men take the trouble to 70 out
aud prospect and find good indications of
= IL