San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-07-21
IDAHo's OPAL FIELDS.
The Beautiful Stones Found in
Owyhee County

Thirty years ago, or Whereabouts,
the cry echoed by the crowds who
flOcked from all parts of the east
to Idaho was; "On TO the BASIN"
now il is: ION to Opaline," the
newly discovered opal tiebls in
Owyhee county, about forty miles
from this city. Then the search
was for gold; now it is tor dia-
monds, opals and other precious
stones. And as the gold and silver
mines of Idaho riva4ed those of
the world in richness and staying
qualities, so the opal fields bid fair
to prove as great a bonanza as
the mines of gold, silver and cop
per.
The opal fields are reached from
Nampa, a smart little town on the
Union Pacific railroad Stages
carrying both mail and passengers
leave Nampa for Opaline three
times a week, while almost every
day some one goes over by private
conveyance. During the past week
leading capitalists from New York,
Chicago, San Francisco, Denver,
and other points have visited the
district, and all speak quite hope
fully of the camp, while some have
made investments in the new dig
gingsl
When the news first reached
here that opals had been disco
vered in the new district every
body was skeptical. They thought
it was but a happy device origin
ating in the fertile brain of the inn
pecuniOus prOspector for the pur-
pose of raising the wind. But as
the days rolled by, and evidences
in the shape of valuable opals be-
gan to accumulate here, and as the
attention of leading capitalists
from abroad was being attracted
and they were investing in the
mines, the former impression
passed away, and Idaho people be-
gan to believe that the opal
industry was Variable reality.
The industry is as yet in its infan-
cy, but the valuable stones are
here, and all that is required is
pluck, industry, and capital to de-
velop the numerous claims.
Opaline, the embryo city of the
diggings, is situated on the foot
hills of the Owyhee mountains,
about twenty miles from Silver
City. 1t is as yet city of tents,
the only buildings worth men
tioning being the large and COM
modious hotel, now nearly COM
pleted, built by f. H. Flemming,
the leading man in Opaline, and
the founder of the town; and a
small structure owned by the re-
cOrder, who came over from Silver
City, to record the claims, taking
up small ranch and prospect
ing for Opals when he has the time.
Flemming, BETTER known here as
"the man from Texas" has had
great faith in the outcome of the
district, and owns quite a number
of claims in an around Opaline.
Hundreds are pouring into the
camp each week.
Opaline is situated beautifully,
and is modern mining town. All
around the place are numerous hot
springs, the water of which is hot
enough to boil an egg, while in
sharp contrast there is an almost
icecOld spring near there that sup
plies the town with water.
The formation of the country in
the vicinity where the opals are
found indicates that far back in
some remote geologic period it has
passed through an ordeal by fire.
Marks of theatre are on the rocks,
and lava aboy M. 1t is in those
favored spOtAENhere the tempera-
ture was just right that the Opals
are found.
The first thing to attract the at
tention of the visitor is the number
OF what at first seem to be large
ash-piles, but witch on examination
are found to be piles of decomposed
lava rock. In these piles are found
fine opal glass ground up by some
unknown force, and these are sure
signs that there are Opals near by
Another sure sign is what is called
opal "bloom," composite rock
tnat powders easily, and is of a
blush green color. 1t gives out a
slight degree of fire when you
touch your tongue to it. Wherever
this bloom is found opals are MOI
far of. This has been the expert
ence in Opaline.
The opals found so far, vary il
size; from that of pea to a small
acorn, and are worth all the way
from ~ to $40 to the carat. Severa