Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-10-30

not be before May, and put in large
portion of the summer there. My con-
illusions are that Spokane should use
every endeavor to have men there next
season and secure the best CT all that
can be located, and hold the OWNERSHIP p
of the mines in this town. All through
the settlements heard Spokane talked
of as their trading point. and in nearly
every house, store or hotel l visited ]
found The Rerie,o. The people down
there know all about this place. its early
history, its fire, its splendid rebuilding.
and they all appear to regard it as their
| natural depot of supplies. On Camas
prairie | heard no other town spoken
of. 1t was Spokane, Spokane, wherever
| went. II am not very much mis-
taken in this present unprospected and
almost UNEMPLOYED part Of Idaho very
rich mineral region will be opened mp.
Now it is a trackless wilderness, but be
fore another year passes by the prospec-
tor will have run over a great portion
and have determined in part its pros
pective value as a future mining camp.
with the advantage / have of this
years trip | expect to be on my pros
pecting ground while others are outfit
ting or hunting the way. / can assure
you as matters stand it is no easy matter
to go there. but nothing deters a pros
pector. Now II the citizens of Spokane
aim to keep up the prestige of this
place in this southern country they will
outfit men to go and secure the control
of the best mining property, and by
this show the people down there that
they are interesting themselves in them
and their country, and aside from min
ing interests avail themselves OF an
acquaintance and the friendly relations
it promotes, which will accrue to the
benefit OF this city, which has often
been accused by the mining element OF
being too selfish to regard their inter
ests. but fortunately for all concerned
that is passing away, and the right feel
ing is being awakened, for on the mines
the material prosperity of Spokane
largely depends.
In answer to your later question l
will say that outside of the quartz found
around the gold basin, all the mineral
saw or discovered was silver bearing
and evidently high grade. None of the
veins within my personal observation
exceed five or six feet in width. The
country | have been speaking of is a
rough one, the ranges are high, but
once the prospector locates the veins
aud shows his discoveries to be of COM
mercial value, wagon roads must be
built to haul in the supplies that
Spokane will be called on to furnish the
settlers of the new mining towns, and
by the time the ores are on the dump
ready to ship, the railroad companies
will have finished their lines to do the
transporting.
II do not know of anything farther to
say of interest except that the country
is well watered and there is abundance
Of timber, and in places good grazing
ground for stock. As for any special
incidents of the trip all can say is that
many things reporter would pick up
are overlooked by prospector who is
doing 400 mile ride in an unsettled
country. at home every night when he
makes camp. In conclusion will say,
went there and got back, with sufficient
reasons to feel trifle enthusiastic oyer
the results of my trip"
1t may be added that during the past
season the attention of many has been
attracted to this same general country
described by Mr.. Thomson, and several
prospecting parties have gone there,
two or three from this city, but their
operations were confined more immedi-
ately in the neighborhood of the old
camps, and good reports have been sent
back. 1t is also said that at Boise City
much interest is felt in this section. and
the belief is prevalent that discoveries
of orc will be made, over which they
hope to gain control.