Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-05-13
ROCKY BAR MINES.
The Great Eimore Strike---An
Interesting Write-up of the
Bear Creek District.


In the fall of 1863 a small party of
prospectors from the Boise Basin dis
covered rich placer ground along what
Is now known as Red Warrior, trih--
utary of Bear creek. The following
spring thousands of gold seekers rushed
to the region and numerous discover
les of placer and quartz ensued.
In 1864 the town of Rocky Bar WAS
established and an era of prosperity
followed, such as has been seldom re.
peated in the history OF the west.
At the close of 1865 three 10 stamp
mills and 80 arastras were reducing
quartz that ielded from 800 to $1100
per ton, while the gulches on every
hand were proving of fabulous rich
ness. 1t is stated, upon apparently
reliable authority, that the output of
gold, including placer and quartz, dur
ing the ten years succeeding the dis
coyery, reached the princely sum of
$32, 100000. To this amount must be
added TO date, continuous product
for % years, ranging from $4,000 to
$6O0,0O0 per annum.
SO far as development has progressed
in depth, the veins have proven larger
and more complete, while recent events
have demonstrated beyond doubt
that very rich free milling gold ore
exists in more than generous quaint
ties at least 600 feet below the level of
Bear creek.
An abundance of pine and fur tim
Der. suitable for all mining purposes,
is also on hand, and water power SUI
ficient for the generating Of several
hundred horse power can be secured
at slight expense.
Rocky Bar, the geographical center
of our mineral area, is 65 mil distant
from the railroad. Its mines and pros
poets are extensive and valuable, but
not, except in few instances, excit-
ingly rich. The camp is an old one
consequently strike that would be
heralded broadcast, if occurring in
some newly discovered region, excites
little interest among the groove fixed
people of Rocky Bar.
A judicious combination Of scientific
knowledge and practical common
sense, whenever controlling the ex-
penditure of money for the develop
ment Of our mines, has uniformly re-
suited in establishing the wealth and
permanency of the gold bearing veins
of the camp.
The following description of all prop.
critics, concerning which information
was obtainable, is accompanied by d
plat showing the relative situation oil
the claims;
The Ada Gilmore or Pittsburg.
This lode was discovered in 1868. The origna
owners after extracting to the value OF $500 900
disposed Of the claim to Pittsburg company; Sale
company constructed hosting works, sunk an incln
on the vein TO depth of 200 feet aud ran levels cas-
and west about 400 feet. From the ground thu
opened the yield Ia gold is reported to have exceeded
81 100000 The property, from no apparent cause
has been idle since 1876.
The Gilmore Ground.
This property now consists Of seven patented min
ing claims entitled Ida Elmore, Objection Republic
Great Eastern, John Bull, Confederate Star and Ii
Top, the workings being confined to the Ida Emor
and Confederate Star claims The ground was form
erv worked solely for the Ida Emore lode tie exist
ence of any other vein therein being unsupported
About 1876 the locators having sunk small inclin
shaft to a depth OF 20 feet and taking out to til
value of S1oo,oG0, the mine was purchased by Ne
York parties, who continued the shaft to depth {
$40 feet and levels and slopes, taking out 0ot
At this stage further exploration ceased coditio
principally due to the discovery OF another vein tn
richness and value Of which completely overshadowe
the famous Elmore and practically caused II
existence to be forgotten.
In sinking the incline below the third level arg
body OF quartz was encountered coming in from III
SOUTH and clearly not part OF the Gilmore vein.
This discovery led to crosscuts being run from tn
first and second levels mentioned above, to nterse
this new lode christeued ''Alturas, the width
which from 10 to Is feet valued at SIS per ton
gold. The ayowed policy OF the company being
develop and sell, the mIne was pronounced ready fC
q purchaser and became dormant.
: In 1886 the Gilmore property, excepting the Tip To
u was sold to English company, incorporated d
Alturas Gold, Limited This company immediate
4. commenced work and in the same year erected 5
stamp mill Prior e January l, 1850, this Altur
In June, 1889 the sinking of a vertical shaft mel
tim east end of the Confederate Star claim cor
menced, and continued until the present depth OF y
feet reached
n Due exploration was made, the result was unsat
factory ana about February, 1898, the works We
u closed down.
0 In New Hands and Rich Strike.
Within the following year by course OF legal pr
ceedure, the property passed into the hands of
" Koch and others. MI. Koch, sanguine of ultima
success Advocated further exploration Of the vein
II the lower level and the sinking OF the shaft &c
greater d9hth. The securing of the necessary capt
! was not readily accomplished Accordingly, July
1895 arrived before active preliminary operatio
were begun, thsn months Of incessant effort We
l. spent in Kidding the mine OF clearing the wor
ings of caves, etc, before any real advancement cot
n be made, but "al things come to he who knows h
|
demonstration Of sound mining Judgment by posit
n results have followed the present manager of the
more in every instance and at every point connect
with the mine
The lost ore chute of the Alturas richer than C.
Il before ami increased IN width has been found
IA bottom level 600 feet below the creek and l400
y below tine apex. No discovery or strike of ca
at magnitude has ever before been made in the dstr
~, and few of like importance in Idaho. The clu
- penetrating TO unknown depths, has already b.
followed along the lower level for distance of
feet and as advancement is made shows indcat
" Of pinching or flalting.
= In the Confederate Star ground that vein has b.
found at depths Of $50 and $40 feet below the cf
lk level This claim had been worked IN early days
is accredited with production OF $4,000. 1t
81 believed, however, that the ore was confined to
surface and the mine had been generally deca
worked out ard worthless The vein as lately opo
y at depth, is from ~ to 70 inches wide and mills IL
$50 to S7o per ton
IL As the foregoing represents no imaginary or
mored situation, but IS on the contrary, a very
ne serYative statement of actual occurrences at the
nj more the conclusion cannot be far wrong that If
be considerably mitigated by yield Of bullion nj
. before approached in any OF bonanza opochs OF Ro
oil Bar.
"a The Emore mine being the most noted, and 1t J
ing served for many years the mineral pulse OF
,at district such is offered in explanation Of the
goug somewhat lengthy account Of the property
ed The idaho and Nishnu lodes, both nov includes
bic tile Nshnu location, discovered at about
il9 same date as the Ada Elmore and have yielded I
one to one and a half millions IN gold the mine
worked at irregular periods Gp 70 1898. As the
lV proximity Of tile Emore shaft affords the same n
Tor exploration at depth there is little reasol
re- doubting that similar results would follow Us
q h. been attained IN tbs Confederate Star
,ri The Mountain Buck,