The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-10-25


We have received copy of the
Duluth News Tribune of October 10,
which contains the following article
in reference to the operations of the
Merritts:
]. S. Wood arrived Tuesday morning
in Duluth and closed up deal on some
Montana gold lands whereby he form lily
conveys several mines TO the Merrirts.
This is the last purchase of a number of
mining properties by the Merritts in Mon
tana New Mexico and Idaho. Lon Mer-
rift has lately returned from Weiser,
Idaho, where he has closed deal giving
to himself and those interested with him
here 70 per cent OF the copper mines of
the Seven Devils range and of the Snake
river valley. He has also made plans for
railway to run from Weiser to Indian
creek, distance of about l 10 miles, which
will reach an elevation of about 5000 feet
above sea level. The road will pass
through fine farming country aud a
rich mineral belt, which are only waiting
proper development.
The first 80 miles of the line as 1T is
now projected pass through succession
of fertile valleys, but the land in general
is not cultivated for the reason that there
is no market. The Seven Devils range
which will be reached covers large area
about 100 miles long and % miles wide
There are four well defined mineral oelts,
the southern being silver and lead, an
other copper belt containing large
percentage of silver, third an iron belt
which was only discovered recently and
the fourth gold belt. Placer mining is
now carried on to some extent and is
found to pay, but most OF the gold is
found in quartz. This has not been de-
veloped on account of lack of transpor-
tation facilities, as it is almost impossible
TO get machinery into the mountains.
Tue development of the silver and lead
deposits has Just begun, but the legisla-
ton of the last congress put stop TO all
work in that direction. This copper mines
have received more attention than the
others but have the same trouble TO con
tinue work, the impossibility of getting
the product to market. The copper from
these Mines unlike the Lake Superior
product, is not free milling or, bu
must be worked in the same manner n.
iron ore. This increases the cost but tn,
defect is overcome by the larger percent
age Of copper in the Idaho ore. In 1892
one hundred carloads of copper wer'
taken out of the mines in which the Mer
ritts are now interested. which averaged
AZ per cent copp n and $40 to the ton il
silver OF the forty mines tested anC
assayed by Lon Merritt the average wa
10 per cent copper and Sl2 silver.
A company has been organized 10 buil'
and operate a road which will reach thes
mines and Lon Merritt has been electe'
its president. The company has secures
the right-of-way and all the preliminar.
work has been done. The company ha
received large ira is of land. both at th
terminals and along the line. and has tw
years in which to begin operations. 1t !
expected beginning will be made Ion
before that time.
If the statement that Lon Merritt
has secured twenty-five per cent @
the mines there is true, it is yer
fiattering incident in adding weigh
to the prospects of railroad mex
year, as so large an interest in til
mines of the Seven Devils would d.
mand the road on its own accoun
regardless of general traffic.
The statement above that they hay
two years in which to begin is q
error. They have that time to con
plete it in to obtain the subsidy.