Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-04-10
FROM NEW FLORENCE.
II fs the Best and Most IuritiMO
Field in America for
PrOSpectOrs.

II fs the Best and Most INcifinO
Field in America for
PrO~pcctOrs.
New Florence. March 81, 1896.
FRIEND PARKER.-The murmur-
ing of the wind as it sings a sad
refrain, more dreary and dismal
than the surf of the sea, around my
rude mountain home, is harbin-
ger of the approaching storm and
clearly foretells the prospector that
winter reigns and spring is far
away. You who reside in the
lowlands with sunshine and flow
ers cannot fully appreciate natures
beauty unless seen from the dome
of our famous camp, which is so
eagerly watched by thousands of
pro ,rectors and investors for any
tidings that may be useful for them
to formulate plans tending towards
an investigation into the merits of
the mines of this rapidly advan-
cling and brilliant camp, which
have 80 suddenly achieved fame
in both hemispheres as the COM
ing Ell Dorado. The hardy un-
daunted prOspcctors of the sixties,
who scaled the lofty peaks in snow,
sleet and rain to reach this secluded
basin, is still fresh in the memory
Of many. The scenes and incidents
In those days, as handed down to
us, reads like a fairy tale in a fairy
land. You need not search the
pages of history to ascertain re-
corded facts, for there are many of
those old pioneers still in camp
who saw the rise and decline of
Florence 35 years ago, and who
still adhere to the idea that this
favored land when exploited will
stand second to none on the Pa
cific slope as gold producer.
These vast ore deposits have been
known to exist for over a quarter
Of century-it has been no secret
AS there are hundreds of men
all over the land who can testify
that they unearthed and again
covered up rich tailings, body after
body of free milling ore. The pro-
cess of extracting gold from the
quartz was too slow in that day
and age. They simply gathered
what gold nature had freed from
quartz and departed for fields
anew. The unexplorcd wilds OF
the Bitter Root range offered no
obstacles that they could not sur
mount, no torrent too swift, no
canyon too deep to stay the on
ward march in quest of gold by
those adventurous prospectOrs who
blazed trails in lonely ravines OF
left marks of civilization on noun
tain peaks above the clouds. In
their wake comes today the prac.
tical quartz detective, who is az
keen in his chosen vocation al
those who have gone before. Will
greater vigilance and equal yea
they seek for the hidden treasure
buried in our gloomy ranges. You
detect their presence everywhere
in dark defiles or on the highes
snow-mantled summit, CAREFUL,
scrutinizing the minutest piece O
float that may betray the idol o
their dreams, enduring privatiOn
snl vexed with Disappointment
ut fortunes wheel. The same fas
cination today that urged them Oh
yesterday, the same hope that tn
tide will reverse and their am
bition of long years be realized
and a competency wrestled from
mother earth that will enable then
to retire fiom dark mountain re
cesses to quieter walks Of life
Their mission is ended. BY thei
energy and perseverance they hav
made discoveries that will result
in lessening the wants of thous
ands, and are greater benefit an
friend to those who are in dire dis
tress than twenty such cabinets
senates and congresses that impos
upon the people today. The pros
pectors are selfreliant, loyal to tn
poor and their country, ever read
and willing to mitigate as far a
possible the universities of Others
Your readers to form their own cor
illusions of the other set referee
to, who destroy what the prospet
tor builds, who covers what h
may uncover, who legislates to cul
tail the scope Of mineral wealth b
destroying our vocation.
II you are fortunate enough
own lode in this field of gold yo
can by energetic use ofpick, shove
pan and rocker, soon have ban
account that will keep the wo
from the door. What others al
doing, you can do. In my years I
mountain wanderings, from I'll
arid deserts of New Mexico to tn
Selkirk range OF the north, I fin
no field that rivals New Florenc
when the halo Of success SURROUND
the prospector as you find it her
where nature the mother of a
wealth, has divided with q liber,
hand and placed more or less gol