Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-05-20

ties for the favorable investment of small
capital with certainty of greater returns
than can be realized in any other form
of enterprise. Elk City is particularly
inviting field. In that camp are large
bodies of ore carrying free gold in more
or less paying quantities, and also gold
associated with constituent forms of
iron, snch as oxides, pyrites and sulphur
cts. Speaking generally, the ores of
Elk City are all concentrating propo-
sitiOns; but. OF course, some will be less
base than others. | have long regarded
this character OF quartz as Offering the
best form of mining investment, because,
with ordinary business judgment, the
cost of extraction and working, and the
proceeds thereof can be figured up with
approximate mathematical exacttude.
This class of mining enterprise can not
therefore be regarded as a speculation.
The purchase price of mine of this ma
ture is based upon the value of the ore
in sight. The cost of the batteries. con-
centrators and necessary adjuncts can
also be predetermined The cost of ex-
traction, milling and concentrating can
also be closely estimated. The amount
of ore in sight, it's value per ton, the
proportion of free gold which can be
caught on the battery plates and the
proportion which goes into the concern
trates can also he determined as aeon rate.
ly as the amount of flour which eau be
made from given quantity of wheat.
With ordinary business prudence in the
selection of mine, it is safe to say that
all current expenses connected with
working and operating the mine and
mill, as we'll as interest on total capital
invested, can be made out of the free
gold caught on the plates alone, leaving
the concentrates as pure profits. There
are many such properties in ELK City
more or less developed, which can be
purchased at nominal prices, consider
ing the amount of ore in sight. The
camp undoubtedly has a great future.
The quartz is there and the gold is there.
The one thing lacking is the necessary
machinery to reduce it. The expense
of exploiting these gold properties is
much less than that attending the de-
velopment of silver mine. la fact, in
these so-called "free gold" ores investors
get the maximum Of production with
the minimum of investment, since there
are not only no refractory ores to treaI
with costly chemicals, but the operating
expenses can be paid from the produce
from week to week.
Quartz mining in the old placer CAM
of Warrens has of late years developed
into prominence and permanency. Tn,
era of prospecting and development il
passed, and it has attained to its initia
stage of production. Here, too, tn,
character of the ore is such that golo
is the dominant metal, although
associated with more or less varieties O
silver. The mines of the camp ar,
owned and operated by individuals, W he
as they attain prosperity, are addiD,
improved reduction facilities to thei
properties. and the output of th
precious metal is steadily increasing
; The region between Salmon and Snak
rivers was prospected he first time las
! year, and the discoveries on Rapid rive
} and In the"Crook's cora" regions iustif
; the important development work whicl
is now going on there.
Idaho county is the sole remainin
tract of frontier in the Pacific northw cs
and while growing to importance slow
~ by reason eff its isolation, it is still
i country that promises great things fo
the future. A system of state WACO
3 roads is to be surveyed this year, tn
/ larger portion of which will he situate
t in Idaho county, thus affording cheap
5 or transportation to many rich district
in the very heart of the state whic
, have have hitherto been strangers t
3 wheeled vehicles. OF tins vast regio
e Grangevile is the business and CON
mercial center The town is we
e equipped with stores carrying enormou
stocks of general merchandise, wit
good hotels, bank, newspapers and Il
9 branches of business well represented
4 There is not II town in the state whic
: offers more or better opportunities fc
:, investment, with the promise of create
e returns, than Grangeviie. Much of tn
t vast area surrounding it is veritabl
: storehouse of natural wealth of wonder
y full diversity awaiting but the coming
}. immigration and capital to become til
i foremost region of the state in industri
i activity and material wealth. TIL
/ opportunities are greater from the fa
i. that the field is unoccupied and pract
a cally unexplored.