Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-11-22

and Relief creek we noticed that
the claims, both quartz and placer,
were receiving more attention and
actual developments this season
than for many years past. The
owners are putting in extensive
bedrock fumes for their placer
diggings preparatory to beginning
work early in the spring; and have
and are, placing on the ground ma
chinery for the development of
their quartz lodges. Especially is
this true of the Relief Mining Co.,
who have a group of seven quartz
claims on Relief creek, eight miles
south of Elk City. They have
during this season erected large
sawmill, and a 25-foot water wheel
and pulleys to run it with water
power, as well as a one-stamp
quartz mill, Frue Vanner con-
centrator, rock crusher, engine
and boiler, and other appurtenan-
ces. Their quartz mill building is
designed for ten-stamp mill.
They have the creek enclosed from
one side to the other with their
numerous buildings. Messrs. Smith
and Thomas, managers on the
ground and heavy stockholders in
the company entertained us during
our short stay by showing US
through the buildings and the diff
ferent lodges. Their principal
claim and the one on which they
are concentrating all their devel-
ment work is the Cleveland, which
contains large per cent of free
milling gold ore. The claim is de-
veloped by tunnels for quite a dis
lance and the ledge is exposed by
the workings for fully 1000 feet.
This ledge in itself will pay it's
owners each a fortune as soon as
the scarcity of money and hard
times roll by. 1t requires capital
as well as labor to develop these
mines; these gentlemen besides
erecting their sawmill and saving
several hundred thousand feet Of
lumber and placing the one-stamp
mill on the ground, have extended
the Elk City wagon road from Elk
to their mines at their own expense
and labor. They expect to soon
increase the capacity of their mill
from one to ten stamps, when they
will be able to give employment to
from 30 to $50 men.
We think that vast amount of
the developing work done this sea-
son is due to the construction of
the Elk City wagon road and that
those who have in the past been
spending time and money on their
isolated lodges should now receive
every encouragement possible from
the people Of Camas prairie. be-
cause as soon as these mines are
opened up, it requires men and
teams to work them and men and
teams consume farm produce and
merchandise; thus people secure
employment at good wages, far
mers have sale for their produce
and our merchants demand for
merchandise.
We note that there has been
many outside capitalists and ex-
perts who have visited this miner
al basin since the construction of
the wagon road; many have in
vested, while others have express
ed themselves pleased and their
intention of returning.
We believe that the mining in
dustry of Idaho county will soon
surpass in productiveness and val
ne that of any other county in the
northwest.
Coleman Kerlee and wife were
visiting Mr.. and Mrs. w. II. Sc
bastian this week.
Everybody received their fruit
trees this week.
Geo. Schmadeka is blowing.
Douthard Kerlee was visiting
relatives on the Clearwater side
Friday and Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Brown were
visiting relatives in Cottonwood
last week.
Whooping cough has concluded
to remove to other vicinities.
A literary was organized at the
Star school house ON Saturday last
to continue during the winter.
Geo. Behean went to Lewiston
this week.
Messrs. Morris & Sons returned
this week from the reservation,
where they have been planning
and constructing houses and barns
| for tho TrI;a,,.