Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-03-29
A RICE MINING DISTRICT.


A RICE MINING DISTRICT.
Several years ago We called attention
TO very rich mining district almost un-
touched and wholly undeveloped. We
then had hope of railroad being con-
structsd through the heart of it which
would soon lead to its development.
It's prospects promised as much as any
section of country discovered. But its
inaccessibility without railroad through
1t forbade men Of small means thorough
y prospecting it with any hope of being
able to work the ore, which they might
find, owing to their iuacccssibllity. We
refer to the canyon Of Snake river be-.
tween Lewiston and the mouth of
Burnt river. Evidences Of rich hedges
everywhere exist along this canyon for
many miles. The lodges contain gold,
silver. copper, lead, iron and several
other minerals. Back from the river
have been found the rich mines of Pine
creek, aud Seven Devils, which are being
worked to profit, because they can be
reached from the country around them
from the cast aud west, with roads,
while the deep canyon Of Snake river
cuts these mineral formations at much
greater depth, but are inaccessible by the
river only in very few places, by
wagon roads or pack animals. The
steauboats cannot navigate the Snake
river only about forty Eve miles above
Lewiston, and then only under the mos,
favorable condition Of the, water. This
condition Of the margin Of the river has
long been known, and valuable mines
were discovered years ago, and samples
Of very rich ore have been produced
from mines 10 this canyon, but by those
Who had not the means to build rail-
road to them, nor had they the influence
to induce others to build, and thus they
have been suffered to lie hidden and
dormant for years. The Oregon Short
Line made survey through this canyon
and then it was hoped that building
would soon be commenced, when hun
'1reds would have gone to work making
developments. But foreign counsels
In that company prevailed and the con-
struction was abandoned, tor terms with
the 0. R. & N. Co., to 60 to Portland,
and thus this canyon has been neglected
till the present time. But a prospecting
party Of six started out about four weeks
ago and went up Snake river about forty
miles and took up ledge about one-half
mile from the river and opened upon it,
not cutting across it but into it abou.
four feet and found good ore all the way,
and promising to become a much larger
vein upon further Development. They
returned again to Lewiston. The mid>
u 20 near the steamboat landing on the
river, that smelling ore from it can be
transported cheaply to points for reduc-
tion, and if the mine proves largo it will
BE- q bonanza for the prospectors who
have opened it. Scores Of as good pros
poets have been found in this canyon
along the river, but above steamboat
navigation, and several have been found
whose assays ran up into the thousands.
These prospects have been discovered
upon surface rock, without develope-
msnt, and their locations have remained
concealed in the breasts Of the discoveries
till such timc as railroad comes sut.
ficiently near to make it possible to work
these discoveries TO profit. We have
seen many slugs Of native copper, con-
tanning small per cent. Of silver, which
were gathered near these deposits, by
men whose vsracity We have no reason to
call in question. We trust that the pres.
ent season will make known mines that
can Be worked and their proceeds fully
establish the rich field of this district,
and place the character Of the Snake
river canyon, above Lewiston, for min
eral richness, beyond question.
"a manlu-41o,tav ,r,;.,on H.,