Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-09-14
Elk CITY LETTER.
Quarts Developments im that
Camp Progressing Most
FdcOrably.

| HA VA A1SPts Az Aoooe
EDITOR FREE Press:
Gotham hath its gessips, Boston II
,'culchur," Philadelphia its oily specr
lations, San Francisco its political dems
goguary. Lewiston its annexation
every locality hath it's boomerang whic
it flingeth at the world. and by which
claimeth recognition. Man every wher
seeketh notoriety, and from every emf
nence he trumpeteth forth his achieve
ments. and eagerly listens for the echoe
of applause. But what say you. will yo'
give US from Elk City2 Can any goot
come out of Nazareth? Well, let us no
haste; time will tell, and can tell yor
few things now, which my residenc,
of two summers here have assured me-
are matters Of resource from which will
shortly emanate an important addition
to the wealth of Idaho county.
Quartz prospecting has progressed
slowly, but efficiently, this seasons
number of locations having been made,
and several prospect holes been sunk
generally proving favorable. The ledges
run mainly to gold, and are not of very
high grade. but are usually large size,
and promise to turn out an immense
quantity. Little rich seams. which en-
liven many mining camps by furnishing
specimens" for the curious to gaze at.
are not found here, although there are
small quantities OF rock running into the
hundreds to be found in many of the
large veins. There has not been suffi-
cient work done upon any of the loca-
tions to prove them sufficiently for mine
seekers to buy. except they do 80 upon
bond trial. The prospectOrs are poor
men, and some of them are not very
"plucky." Il particularze no one, and
hope none will be 80 foolish as to think
the shoe fits him.
The Terwilliger ledge, discovered last
summer by h. Terwilliger has four loca-
tions upon it, but nothing is being done
by any one but the aforesaid gentleman.
He and another man are working with
a will, and by fall he will have had such
hole bored into it as will enable Elk
City to boast of having a good mining
such as can not be determined by shaft
or tunnel-nothing but cross-cut for a
long distance can do that. Two hum
dred pounds taken from across the
ledge at the surface, was tested at the
Portland works, and returned SIG.
Col. Spedden, of Astoria, this summer
found what he considers a cross vein on
the second extension of the Terwiliger,
which assayed SIS per ton. The Colonel
has four sons operating here, and they
all have most favorable locations.
8. w. Smith has at last got his little
stamp erected on his ledge, and having
made little run, went out to test
the concentrates, and 10 make arrange
ments for other improvements to his
mill. He has now returned, and has
resumed operations with a will that
seems to indicate that his test run"
turned out we'll.
Sutler and Shines are preparing to
work large cropping. eight miles fro M
Elk City, on Red River. A sample as
,ay intended to average the ledge across
The face gave return of S75 per ton.
Caleb Brinton has several locations.
discovered lately, among them the East
Dragon, which pans free gold and runs
sulphurets.
The Blue Dragon mine, discovered and |
opened IA feet last summer, gave return |
rom one ton sent to San Francisco of |
400 gold. Sherwood Il Sutler, who |
ire the present owners of this ledge, are |
low taking out ore and preparing to |
hip several car loads this fall having |
truck a body of ore assaying over $500. |
The same gentlemen are Just starting
IN arastra on the Arizona Pocket ledge,
which is free rock. running $50 per ton.
Now, although the prospects for
mining camp here are very
avorable, mineral is not the only re-
ource which Elk City offers. There are
valleys here with the richest
# soil. and small grain and hardy vege-
ables can be grown. These valleys are
t present covered with rank grass.
which makes the most nutricious hay.
everal hay ranches have beenStaken
his summer, which, in time, will be
tocked with cattle. Those who live
'here they boast of winter range for
tock. sometimes think that it is hard to
i've where feeding is necessary for few
months. But stock that are fed in win
er are notably superior to those that
ave to exc out a precarious living on
ne range, especially as the country gets
which Is the inevitable
DOM of all open range, in all countries.
1
Elk City is now developing into a
romising quartz camp, and would soon
i've rich returns. which would greatly
we'll the business of the prairie, only
nat there is practically no available
QUITE of transit thither. The old Indian
rail, used for the past twenty-six years
DR. pack animals, has become 80 worn
ut that it is barely passable. 1t is
deep rut for miles at stretch, with
bots and rocks standing across it, max
,g it slow and irksome travelling for
ne overloaded animals which men and
hinese employ on the route. The citi-
ans of Elk invite the attention of the
ounty authorities to this bad condition
the road, and beg for sn improvement.
hey are contemplating wagon road
ON the Midcle Fork. which would
lrow their trade away from Mt. Idaho
nd Grangevilie in the event of contem-
lated railways. The present trail could
3 converted into a wagon road for
10000. This is a matter which will .
'rce itself upon the attention of the .
,unty officials shortly, for the world
i'll move-the country will develop
u Il 4 4