Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-09-20
DLE CITY PROSPECTS.

An Elk City correspondent Of the
Free Press, signing himself G. G.,
states his observation of Elk City and
surroundings in matter of fact style,
and we have good reason for believing
that he has aimed to portray the truth
in what he says. We judge this from
what information We CLEANED from that
camp years ago when we published the
old journal in Lewiston, and when
others published the Signal, and an
account of some of the discoveries were
published in those papers. The amount
Of placer gold then being taken out Of
the placers in the camp induced the full
belief that the camp contained some rich
gold lodges which had fed these p'acers,
and while several lodges had been par
tally uncovered which showed rich pros
poets, yet no one in the camp was then
prepared to give up placer mining and
turn bis attention to quartz. But quite
q number said that at some future time
they would prospect more thoroughly for
quartz veins, and when they bad the
means or could induce the means to
make development op some of the veirs
uncovered or pursue further the pros
pectipg of float gold rock which was
found in the placcrs, in the foil belief
that very valuable quartz prospects
would be uncarthed. Years have passed
and only few spasmodic efforts have
since been made to develcpe any Of the
lodges that had been struck, as the
miners then termed, the ore found in the
numerous small holes opened on what
appeared to be quartz rock in place.
Several parties then in camp left and
promised to 60 abroad and induce men
Of capital to come back with them and do
some further prospecting. Some one Of
two did go away and return, bringing
others with them who examined and
expressed themselves pleased with the
prospects, but up to tho present time no
bold and fearless strike with capital has
been made. During the two years last
past somc prospecting has been con-
tinued in small way and in every
instance il has been quite successful, as
shown by G. C's. letter to the Free
Press, enough to convince the hitherto
unbelieving that many valuable quartz
properties exist in and about that camp,
and that it cannot be long before Elk
City district will come to the front as
quartz camp. Like Warrens, it is stu
ated at distance from any prominent
thoroushfare except mountain trails.
No railroad is within 1875 miles of the
camp, and no wagon road is within fifty
miles Of the camp, although if railroad
should be built up the middle fork of
Clearwater and on to the Bitter Root
valley, which is now in contemplation,
that road would pass through the north
extreme of the district and would be of
the greatest encouragement to the work
ing Of the quartz mines in the camp, and
would induce very energetic prospecting
in the mountains east of the camp along
the line of the road where valuable dis
coveries have been made in places clear
through to the Bitter Root valley. We
nay this without any fear of successful
that no country north Of
Salmon river offers more promising
6eld for the quartz prospector, than that
portion Of the Bitter Root mountains
which is drained by the Clearwater river
md its tributaries. This whole country
abounds in mineral bearing quartz of
both gold and silven. We have had
ncontrovertible proof Of this fact from
he samples Of the ere which has been
exhibited to US by numerous prospectors,
With whom we are acquainted, who have
'ound their samples in these mountains,
On account of the dense growth of tim
Der these mountains are difficult of pene.
ration with animals. But the cncour
nent to prospect them is great from
THAT is known Of them by those who
AVE travelled in them and seen their
ndices of mineral wealth, and time, and
short time too, will develope the truth
f what We say.