The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-23
NEW OUTLET.
Survey of State Wagon Road in
Progress in Idaho.
Claimed That 1t Will Open Up One Of the
Richest mineral Belts on Earth
Twill Be Big Success.

IDAHO CRY, Ida, July 21.-[Special
correspondence of TIE HERALD. The
survey of the state wagon road, beginning
at Banner. in Boise county, and extending
to the forks of ST. Mary's river in Kootenai
county, is now well under way. The sur
veying party is headed by the three COM
nlissioners, Hon E. w. Jones of Idaho
City. J. L. Sargent OF Mullan, B. B. Day
Of WarreIs. &. 7. Perkins. ir., OF the
geological survey engineer. These are ac-
companied by cook packer, two axmen
and head chairman.
There will be two branch roads from the
main-one from Mount Idaho to Elk City,
sixty miles IN length, the other from 3
point near Deadwood, and will run down
Salmon river through Custer and Lemhi
counties to point below Salmon City not
yet determined, thence 10 the source of the
north fork of the Salmon river and to the
Montana line.
Custer and Lemhi counties undertook to
build the road through their respective
territories, but the amounts allowed by the
statutes were exhausted before compile
ton OF the enterprise. However, Custer
has only three miles yet TO build-Lemhi
lacks twelve or fourteen.
The first fifteen miles completed gave
general satisfaction to the party and to
those who will be most benefited by it.
Serious doubts were entertained as to
the feasibility of the proposed route, as it
was supposed to be obstructed by many
high Buttes and very deep and wide
cafions. This is not the case. The first
part which was supposed to be the worst
has been carefully surveyed.
Hon. E. w. Jones stated to your cor
respondent that the first fifteen miles,
covering the worst part Of the road, had
been carefully surveyed and put on a
regular railroad grade OF 200 feet to the
mile.
Bear Valley will be traversed almost its
entire distance by the road.
This valley consis S of 900 square miles,
or 576, 900 acres. Enough to make 1900
happy homes Of nearly 100 acres each. The
soil is very rich and will respond to tue
touch OF labor and water.
Taken on the whole this enterprise will
open up one of the greatest mineral belts
on earth. It will intersect the great Dead
wood silver belt, so as to give the freest
access to all parts.
The Sheep Mountain district, rich with
the precious metals; the Alton district,
where the great Cleveland mine is located;
the well known Deep Greek district and
Rapid River district both of which are
very rich in copper, will be given SPLEEN
did outlet.
The Loon Creek district, an old placer in
WUlCu tAbeDotF0 MAAAuB WAS COuO Al lOfO
and which is yet rich in placer, will be re-
opened. Besides this a number of rich gold
and silver prospects lie in this district that
will be worked with profit.
1t is a notable. fact that the Sheep Noun
tain ana Sea Foam districts are very rich
in silver, lead and dry silver ores and that
almost anywhere an abundance of splendid
timber and magnificent water power exists.
Many readers of THE HERALD will be in
terested to know the attitudes of some of
the Hottest buttes and peaks that tower in
the distance along this imaginary road.
Archie mountain, six miles northeast of
Banner, is 1864 feet.
Another but nsmeless Butte between
the DeRdwooi fork and Clear Creek has
an altitude Of 1864 feet, while many others
are found varying slightly with lesser al
titudes.
II is thought by some even now that the
route is not practical and the road can not
be built, but Captain Sargent, one OF the
commissioners, is an experienced road
builder and is perfectly confident that the
undertaking will result in triumphant
success. This belief is shared by the en-
tire party.