Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-12-13
EDITOR'S NOTE BOOK.
Mem0rGndHHis JOfted DOrn on
n Recent Trip to Ell Cifu.

>HeUsOEWNNWUS COttfU 1JOWn on
a Recent Trip to EiE city.
The surrounding country con
sists of rolling, Undiscovered hills
with n surface soil composed of 9
fine, healthy looking gravel con
tanning much wash quartz; evi
IDENTIFY the overflow of some buried
river channel which in ante-glacial
days existed higher up in the
mountains and was choked by
some geologic disturbance which
distributed the detritus from its
bed over the country beneath. II
is a gravel which conveys to the
eye of the practical miner an in
stinct that it is derived from a
gold-bearing source, although the
gold itself has been sifted and scat
tered to such an extent in the pro-
cess of distribution that the color
is rarely raised in a surface pros
pect. The principles governing
these gravel deposits are not vet
known, although my own theory
is that they came from one or more
old river channels which ran east
and west from the country north
of Florence, and since cut in twain
by the south fork of Clearwater.
whence the gold in the old river
bed was deposited on the bars
along that stream. But be this as
it may, the time is coming when
these mysteries of the mountains
shall be exploited and develop
ed through the instrnmentality of
geologic and mining science, and
then there will be production of
wealth from the now buried river
channels of the Bitter Root that
will rival the richest strikes of the
famous Big Blue lead of California
itself.
Newsome creek is the termina-
ton OF the state road proper and
thereafter we are on the road built
by public subscription. 1t is not
so good a road as the one built by
the state, but what defects there
are can easily be remedied. The
maximum grades everywhere are
ten per cent, while for the far
greater portion of the distance
they do not exceed six per cent
For the first five miles the road
meanders down the Newsome creek
valley, crossing the stream several
times. 1t is very evident to the
most inexperienced eye that we
are In the heart of a mineral belt.
and in many instances we noted
where locations can actually be
made from the stage while riding
ny that might turn out as favora.
bly, as those recorded at the end of
an expensive prospecting expedi-
ton into the mountains beyond, a
thousand miles from nowhere.
There undoubtedly is, or was gold
in the bed of Newsome creek. and
1t is equally certain that the gold
came from lodges located higher
up In the surrounding hills. At
frequent intervals for many miles
the observing eye of practical
quartz man will note the outcrop-
pings of quartz which, in all prob
ability, was the source of the pla-
Ger gold. Probably the pay chute
mas all been worn off these veins
by erosion and left a barren zone
beneath. Possibly it has not.
There are lots of possibilities in
gold mining and the chances are
at least even. AT any rate the
TACT remains that if professional
prospector had been in the hills
for six months, had climbed thou
sands OF feet of high mountains
and had struck good float ore in
gulch and laboriously traced it to
It's source in a blind vein, he would
have arrived at the very spots we
have indicated from our seat in a
stage wagon-at the proper place
to sink a shaft.
1t has always been a mystery to
ne why this mineral belt sur
'ounding Newsome creek has new
n been more closely prospected.
have always had a suspicion that
he fishing was too good. Some
'rospectors are built that way. 1t
an occupation that legitimately
'alls for much hard work. 1t is
70 child's play and there is many a
'ack-ache involved in the discoye-
y of a "blind" lead. But too
many of our modern prospectors
ct into the hills simply to escape
he hard work necessary to make
living in the settlements. In
~ younger days l have toiled la
oriously day after day up steep
fountains in a broiling sun with
lex and gun, looking for game.
oat or groupings, until the sweat
as filled my boots. But nova
ays l take life more easily and a t
up to the mountains hath no more 4
errors for me, for have l not indi- c
ated iii this instalment of notes c
nat l do my prospecting nova n
avs from the top of stage wa i
on ? and shall | therefore declaim a
sainst the shade-tree and fish a
ook prospector? or even against u
10 Sf0va. bardoy nh ,,... a.