The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-11-24
CLAYTON CORRESPONDENTS.
CLAYTON, IDAHO, Nov. 10, 1883.

by Mr.. Overton, of the Silverene
mine, Seafoam. your correspondent
some days ago started out to "do"
the country surrounding Clayton,
with the hope of striking it rich,
but any way to see some of the
properties from which the camp is
receiving its resources. Being un-
acquainted with the country we
cared little which way we went, and
as good luck would have it, the first
trail we struck after leaving the
main Salmon, led US to the CHINA
bar mine. This property is owned
by Mr.. George Kirk, the present
foreman of the Silver Rule mine,
and his brother who is now east for
his health. The property is now
under bond to St. Louis company,
and it is expected that a sale is
about consummated. The CHINA
bar lies at the extreme head of Bru-
neau creek, the main west fork of
Squaw creek, and is northwesterly
from Clayton some twelve miles.
We found no one at the mine but as
the cabins were open we entered
and made camp for the night. The
Cinnabar is developed by main
shaft about the center of the claim
that is 800 feet deep; by a 5O-foot
incline and 6O-foot surface tunnel
near the east end of the claim, and
by several surface open cuts. The
vein. shows the very free iron ore on
the surface that is characteristic of
all the lodges here, and varies in all
the openings from 3 feet to %
feet in thickness. Mr.. Kirk tells
me that this ore varies from Is to
60 ounces per ton in value, and be-
ing of the nature of the Ella mine
iron, is very desirable for fuxing
purposes. At the main shaft was
encountered large body of galena
ore that was high-grade in both
silver and lead. In sinking this
shaft ore to the value of $4,000
net was shipped, and that at a time
when both silver and lead were low
and the expense OF shipping great.
The mine is In good condition for
working, and as the expense of
building wagon road to it will not
exceed $4,000, it is the hearty wish
Of all Claytonites that the company
may take hold of the same and re-
alize handsomely from it. What
work is already done on the mine
is done well and speaks we'll for the
workmanship of the owners.
The next morning, the weather
being cold and somewhat disagree
able to tender soul, )" we conclu-
ded that it would be much more
pleasant to discontinue prospecting
until the weather moderated. How
ever, being of that turn of mind
that weakness covets ridicule," we
cared not to return SO soon, and as
we had been invited by the man
agement to go and see the "Rule,"
we considered this our opportunity.
The Silver Rule mine, (and the
name is very appropriate, as she is
as true as die, and as straight as
an arrow, is owned by A. J. Crook
& Co., and lies 20 miles from Clay
ton, on Slate creek; direction,
southerly. The mine was discov-
cred some years ago by Sammy
Holman and others. Con Sullivan
and others soon got possession of
the mine, but as the ore was not
over 100 ounces on surface, and
small at that, they could do moth
ing with it. About one year ago
the property passed into the hands
of A. J. Crook & Co., who went to
work with vim. 1t has been re-
marked often that 'everything
Crook touches has proved mint"
and the Rule is no exception. The
mine is developed by two main tun-
nels, the breasts of which are about
even. The lower tunnel is about
$50 feet long, and the upper tunnel
about 100 feet less in length. The
vein lies very fat, and consequently
is easily developed. Between the
lower and upper level there is $50
feet of 'back,' and from the upper
level to the surface there is an esti-
mated average of 200 feet more of
shack" Several raises and man
ways divide this ground up into
pillars ready for stopping, and it is
a celebrated fact that from the time
the tunnels strike the ledge, to the
breast of each and the top Of all
raises, the ore streak is continuous
and unbroken, and, generally speak
ing, very regular. In places the
ore is small, and in others reaches a
width of and 8 feet; is of black,
hard carbonate nature, and runs
we'll in both silver and lead. AS
the works penetrate the mountain
the ledge becomes stronger and the
ore bodies larger and richer. Mr..
Kirk tells me that the surface ore
is IS ozs. and the breast ore from
100 ozs. to $50 ozs. Taking for a
basis an average of $50 per ton net,
and estimating an average of IA
inches throughout the mine for the
pay streak, and the Silver Rule
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