Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-09-28
SALMON RITER MINES.
Interesting InterrieW Regarding
Developments Mode.


from the Salmon river country,
where he has been during the past
two months prospecting and locat-
ing claims for number of citizens
of this city. A Statesman reporter
interviewed Mr.. Petit to-day re-
garding the rich mining prospects
along Salmon river Warrens creek
aud vicinity, and obtained many
interesting particulars regarding
recent developments and the oppor-
tunities offered for settlement in
that country.
Mr.. Petit first went to Warrcns
and thence prospected along War
rcns creek, which cmpties into the
Salmon river about 25 miles from
the town which bears its name.
From 1868 to 1870 he has mined in
this region, but all claims which
did not yield over SO per day were
abandoned in those days. Mr..
Petit went back to old placer
claims which he has located for
himself and others and which now
yield from $3.50 to s6 per day.
Along Warrens creek, Seccsh creek
and Deep creek there are now sew
eral thousand people who are aver
aging the wages above mentioned
with sluiccs and hydraulics. Many
families have moved in and all are
doing well.
The town of Warrens is the main
trading point for all these people,
which, during the summer season,
contains probably 800 inhabitants,
but in winter is reduced to about
$50 tradesmen, miners, etc. Dur
ing last week an edict was sent
forth that all Cinnamon should va
cate their claims along the Salmon
river and its tributaries, which was
promptly enforced, and they were
compelled to vacate claims which
were yielding So to SO to the man
per day. These claims are now be-
ing relocated by white citizens.
During this eviction Mr.. Petit
met with profitable adventure
which is worth relating. Himself
and son had entered an old cabin
formerly occupied by a Chinese
miner which had long been vacat-
ed. a file was noticed protruding
from the floor in one corner of the
cabin, and its peculiar position at
tracted the attention of Mr.. Petit.
Upon examination a small hole
, was discovered in the floor, and
raising Il board, there was found an
ordinary yeast powder can partial
/ ly filled with gold nuggets, several
being as large as pigeon eggs.
) These nuggets were shown the re-
porter by Mr.. Petit. He also has
: specimens Of gold quartz which
will go at least 81 900 to the ton.
: These were taken from a ledge
l which he has located between the
I claims of Luther johnson and Mr..
/ Reibold, well known in this city,
. who are located about three miles
( east of Warrens. Mr.. Riebold, it
| will be remembered, took out $780,
| 600 from his claim last year. The
} vein from which the above men
. toned specimens were taken is Is
: inches to p feet wide. The quartz
| taken out in the vicinity Of War
Y rens is free milling and worked
5 with arastras and small stamp
: mill, averaging from $50 to $40 per
= ton.
+ Speaking of the placer claims on
:. the streams tributary to Salmon
y river, Mr.. Petit stated that on
t Deep creek, 60 miles east of War
;; rens, and along Salmon river, many
a people have located with their
S families and there is room for half
d million more. Not alone will
k the rich placers yielding fine gold
k afford returns of from at least 81 80
e to So per day, but there are splen-
IT did fruit and agricultural lands to
e be cultivated. Fruits and vegeta-
o bles are already grown successfully,
t the climate along the Salmon being
y all that could be desired. Many
l. own quartz claims in the Warrens
Is district, which they work i'll sum
, mer, moving back to their locations
/, along Salmon river in winter. A
fairly good road has just been com
pleted from Boise to Warrens and
the route from Walla Walla to the
mines can be travelled in light wag-
!. ons at this season. The trip can be
a made in about ten days.
er Mr.. Petit wilireturn TO Warrens
ID within the next few days. As be-
e, fore stated his mission here was to
rs rs inform certain intending locators
cs of the selections which he had
le made. Among these are George
n. Lowell and John Knight and fam
: lilies, WHO, with about ten Others
= whose names the reporter did not
learn, departed overland for the
~ Salmon river country to-day. Near
III ~ all have quartz claims in stht
D. vicinity OF Warrens, besides placer
T. locations along the river.