The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1896-04-07

Custer mill of thirty stamps is
running steadily on ore from the
Lucky Boy mine, and is produc-
ing considerable gold-silver bull
lion. There has been a great
amount of improvements made
since this company took
charge-the old mill has been
thoroughly overhauled, and the
worn-out machinery replaced by
new-besides erecting fine hoist
ing works at the Lucky Boy
mine. This mine is under the
same management, and it is pro-
ducing ore of good quality suffi-
Gent to keep the mill running.
Although they have expended
considerable money in getting
in shape, we are satisfied they
are now realizing good profit
from their investment. The
Black mine owned by M. L.
Crafts and others, on Custer
mountain, has been running since
last fall, and is producing a good
grade of gold ore. They have
the Fourth of July mill leased,
and it is turning out gold bullion
in paying quantities we are in
formed. This company will
erect mill of their own this
summer. Yankee Fork district
has very promising outlook,
and is fast assuming its ol0 time
activity. This western portion
of our county has many mines,
which are silver and gold, and
development will show that this
is district worthy of attention.
On Estes mountain there are a
number of gold properties, and
report has it that Col. James A.
McF adden who is at present in
Chicago, has parties interested
who will erect aquartz mill on the
Yankee Fork mine during the
coming summer. The famous
Montana mine is located on this
mountain. The Jordan creek
mill will also resume operation
as soon as convenient. There
is some placer mining done in
this district each year, and with
paying results. At Stanley
Basin we look for a big clean-u
this season. Messrs. Challiss
Sturkey, and others will be In
there in short time, and they
speak very encouragingly of the
outlook. This is mainly a placer
camp. Seafoam and Sheep
Mountain the western mining
districts of Custer county, con
tain many high grade mines, but
on account of the low price of
silver and distance from the rail
road or reduction works, the
mines cannot be worked at
profit. Owing to this state of
affairs we only expect that the
necessary assessment work will
be done on the majority of them
this year, but we feel confident
time will come when these
camps will be worked extensive
ly. Right near home-on the
headwaters of Garden creek-are
number of good claims, and we
believe that when they are more
fully developed they will show
good producing mines. At Cliff
are located copper mines, and
they are rich in this product, but
to what extent they will be work
ed this season we have been un-
able to ascertain. Over in what
is known as the Basin, are locat-
ed some mammoth copper mines,
and as work is being done on
them they are growing larger
and better. They are owned by
Col. Sharp, A. ]. Pierce and 9TH
ers. We look for big reduction
works on these mines, and indica-
tions point to another Anaconda.
Yellow Jacket, although in Lem
hi county, Custer county derives
a great benefit from it. We are
connected with this camp by a
good wagon road which will soon
be open for travel and traffic.
This camp, besides the new gold
fields at Blackbird and Wilson
creeks aid in the prosperity of
this county. The above is only
few items relative to the min
eral resources of Custer county.
undeveloped, we might say as it
is, but were our main product
lead and silver at a free coinage
price, Custer county, as isolated
as it is would surprise the world
in its wonderful production of
mineral wealth. Although re-
gardless of these drawbacks the
indications for 1896 are promis-
ing. Other industries of this
county depend on the mining
prosperity Whehathe mines are
running the farmers have a mar
ket, otherwise there is very little
demand for their products. We