The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-30
The RICH NORTH SIDE.
A Section Of the Cnur d'Alenes
Full of Promise FOR Praeti-
cal Capitalists.
Hundreds Of Thousands OF Dollars
Spent by Incompetent
Managers.
Abandoned Properties Being Worked by
Lessees at a Proft-Placer Mining At
tractinE Attention and Capital.

tracing Attention and Capital.
MURRAY, Idaho. April a7.-[spcoial.]-
Ths gold mines of the Cosur d'Alene are
enjoying unusual prosperity this season.
The snow is going away, II water is more
favorable for placer mining than at any
season for a long tins. Recent ~clean-ups
and some success with abandoned quartz
mills is beginning to again bring the north
side gold district of the Ceaur d'Alenes
into prominent notice and attracting some
attention in this direction. The mines of
this section have passed through 9 varied
experience and series of set-baoks amount
ing to almost an abandonment. Large
sums Of money were expended in the erec-
tion Of mills and for facilities to operate
mines, which in one instance alone
amounted to $3.50. 600, and then the whole
proposition was abandoned without drop
ping a stamp. The property stands here
to-day weather-worn and deserted, q scare
crow to ali subsequent intending invest
ors. The property alluded to IS
the Idaho mill, a substantial
structure with some pretensions at archl-
tectural design, surrounded by fine offices
and boarding houses. It is conservatively
estimated that these improvements cost
fully $3.50. 900. The victims were Louisville,
Ky, capitalists. who became uneasy and
impatient at delayed returns from their
manager, and Just as the mill was about
ready to start, sen out an expert to ex-
anime ana report. He made such an
.-kro~,,Jx, a 1vnpcn ana nr tn I'M m Q1Jatnlv
stop further work, and as a consequence
numerous complications arose IN the affairs
IF the company and the property has ever
since lain idle. except such portions Of the
machinery az have been sold by the sheriff
to work in other mines. The abandonment
OF this mine cast a shadow Of despair over
the whole gold belt of the district, from
which it has not fully recovered. just
what success might have attended the
operation of this mine, can only be surmlsed,
but it is the opinion of men familiar
with the cora .tlnns. and the intended
plan Of operation .nat the property would
had the ideas of the manager been carried
out. The rock was not supposed to be rich,
hut it was in large quantities and could
have been mined very prottably with the
facilities provided, and that the expert was
too hasty and failed to comprehend the sit
u6tkOus IA hhCA liz OdpakA4 Ao6 SCA4V
into the country, and only such mining has
been carried on as can be done by poor
men with their own means, and their sue
cess in some instances is really remarkable,
and a good indication Of what might be
dome with prober facilities, as we'll as on
properties that are laying idle.
A notable instance Is at the Golden
Chest, owned BY another Louisville. Ky,
company, who put up a ten-stamp mill in
1886 and operated it with high salaried
officials who had no experience in mining.
The mill paid handsomely or some very
rich surface ore that WAS only necessary TO
quarry out; when this failed She property
got into debt and operations ceased, and
the mine remained idle for q long time.
Some time ago. however, a practical
miner of the district ana a poor man, Sc
cured . lease of the mine and mill and be-
y gan a system of development of she vein
and source of the quarry Of quartz on the
surface. His plan was entirely successful
and he has been running the mill for more
than a year at considerable profit. YOU
correspondent recently visited the property
and in company with Mr.. Coumerilh, the
lessee went through the mine. A tunnel of
only 200 feet in length was required to reach
the vein at a depth that gives $50 Of stop
ping ground above. The vein dips out of
the hill. as it were. or somewhat conform
able to the shape of the hill, and was never
discovered or developed by the Golden
Chest company, and recent Developments
seem to indicate that the loose ~outcrop of
quartz worked from the surface was 3 some
what detached portion of the present vein.
The ore on the surfnce was very rich and
entirely free milling with considerable
oxide Of iron, indicating a sulphide as the
primary condition. The recently developed
yejn shows corresponding Characterization
wish tine quartz in place. The vein is
about five feet wide and entirely conform
able to its dip and strike. The vein filling
in most places is also of lamellar structure,
showing alternating layers of quartz and
slate which is referred to by the miners as
ribbon" quartz, the dark sulphite matter
in the cleavages contrasting with the white
quartz suggesting the name. When MIR.
Coumerilh first began working the vein he
attempted to select only the richest of the
seams to put through the mill, but he finds
now that 1T pays best to mill the whole
mass Of vein matter, slate and all. the slate
being SO soft as to but little interfere with
putting through the usual amount of
quartz, as will be understood from the fact
that fifty tons per day 10 put through a ten
stamp mill. The whole Of the vein does
not show the lanellar structure. but in
places is filled with massive quartz which is
distinguished from the other as ''hull'
quartz. These positions of the vein are not
regarded with as much favor as
that of the ribbon quartz. The gold
seems to be less free, but there is abundance
of pyrites of iron which are evidently rich
gold, and q significant feature of this is
that that portion of the vein trending to-
wards the point where the ore was taken
from OF the surface corresponds exactly in
character, and it ID evident that the gold in
the surface ore was set tree from the pyriteE
by o1ldization, Mr.. Coumerilh is con-
Ecious of these conditions and has Il email
tanner below the plates to concentrate
these sulphidea. He has not yet made an
practical test Of their value, but roughly
estimates them at 800 a ton. The cost OF
transportation to the smelter is so great
has a sufficient quantity to pay to put in
some process of chloron1Zing them. AS yet
only about 200 feet on the length of the vein
has been worked, and stopped up about fort,
feet. Meanwhile another tunnel is being
run to tap the vein at another depth of 15t
feet. The position of the vein, dippin,
with the slope of tho hill, makes it Wishil
easy reach.
There are several other irregular veins i,
the vicinity which seem to have been mia
leading to the former managers of til,
mine. The present vein is not what wa
popularity called the Golden Chest, but wa
an andeveloped vein known as the Kati
Burnett, and is really the source of suppl
of what was supposed to be the Golde]
Chest. Just what this mine il capable O
paying, it mas but little chance of showing
The owners have SO little confidence in it a
to lease it only for cash rent, and the Jesse
il not able to secure Il lease of it for a stuff
ciant lanOth of time tn iuatify him in =, l.