Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-02-08
MILLIONS or PRECIOUS METAL
YET UNCOVERED.

To TVS BULLETIN:
The mineral resources of Idaho,
both in placer and quartz, are
about TO astonish the world. Here
tofore surface prospecting has been
the rule. During the past two
years, however, more thorough work
has been done and in many dis
tricts with most gratifying results.
II is not the intention Of the writer
to devote much time to the descrip-
ton Of old mining properties in the
vicinity of Rocky Rar, the history
Of which are SO well known, but
rather to call attention to some Of
the more newly discovered boz
nanzas.
The Ophir mine, owned and oper-
ated by the Comfort Consolidated
Mining Company Of New York
City, is situated north Of The old
Hardscrabble placer mines and
about two miles northeasterly from
the town Of Rocky Bar. This lode
had been located and relocated by
different parties who were without
the necessary means to develop the
property, and although well salts
fled that millions were there, they
were forced by circumstances 10
abandon the claim, hence the Com
fort Con. Mining Co have the honor
of developing the first bullion pro-
ducer on the Ophir belt, simply be-
cause they were the first and only
party that was able to couple good
Judgment with the requisite capital.
Fortune has smiled upon them, and
the outlay of a few thousand dol
lars has rewarded them with a well
defined vein of ore, six fectin width,
milling from S75 to 800 per ton.
A fair estimate Of the value Of the
quartz now in sight would not be
less than $1,5OO,000, tone and a
half million dollars). Last fall this
company was so well satisfied with
the developments made by the SUI
perintendent, Steve 0glesby, that
they resolved to erect n mill, al
I tbnnuh xufntar u,S eto ripu thaY,
in the face. The result is, that
after encountering numerous diff
culties they have, through the
energy and zeal of that indcfatigable
mill builder, Col. John NJ. Thexton,
been able to realize their fond
est hopes, and to-day and for the
past three weeks an improved
Frazer Il Chalmers twenty-stamp
mill, with a large double drum
hosting plant, two Golden Gate
Concentrations, and a three,eompart-
ment working shaft is in operation
all the machinery moving with
the precision and correctness of
planetary revolution. | must say
that the Comfort Company are to
| be congratulated for the energy they
have displayed and the success they
have achieved in Rocky Bar.
The Empire lode, situated north
of, parallel with and adjacent to the
ophir, gives every promise Of be-
coming equally as valuable as its
Z ranowna1 naighbor
Last fall, while on a prospecting
tour in Central Idaho, the writer
had the pleasure of meeting Major
Comfort at Salmon Meadows. The
Major, together with Superinten-
dent Oglesby and Surveyor Towne,
were on their way to survey some
placer locations at the northeastern
end Of long Long valley on Boulder
creek. Boise county. These placers
were found and worked by Oglesby
as early as 1868; bitches were built,
and water brought upon them, but
the Indians becoming troublesome
he was forced TO leave. They have
lately been relocated and sold to
the Comfort Company. After a
thorough examination the owners
were 50 well pleased with their bar
gain that they intend to construct
the necessary fumes, bitches and
hydraulic machinery to successfully
work their ground this coming
spring. They have 20 locations
with an area of 400 acres, and |
believe they will meet with as good
success there as they have at Rocky
Bar with their lode mining property.
The reason why these placers have
not been more extensively worked
before is this: The ground does
not afford sufficient fall for n
dump. and although known to be
rich, the old-fashioned miner had
no means of obviating this defect
This company has secured a large
volume of water, with ample pres
sure from the numerous water
courses and lakes in the mountains
northeasterly from their ground and
intend to work with hydraulic ele-
vators, thus raising the gravel to
any desired heighth and in this
way securing a sufficient dump for
their tailings. This process neces-