Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1896-12-23
COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER.


Mr.. E. G. McClellen, the we'll known
surveyor, for the following article on
the Salmon River mines. We hope
to have other articles from him on
the outlook in this promising mining
district:
Salmon River District is an old
Copper Mining Camp that excited a
great deal Of attention in the seven
ties, but at that time the cost Of ex-
tracing copper from ores was too
great to pay for working. Now. how
ever, with the cheapened methods of
reducing and present demand for
copper the camp has started up
again and the outlook is favorable
for a large mining district.
The mineral ground is in the shape
of a running capital V. Commencing
at Trout Creek at the north east, and
east of Salmon River, it extends
south west about twelve miles, cross
ing the river about four miles and
then turns east and crossing back
east ten miles. Inside this curve ID
of granite formation with lodges hav-
ing a general direction Of northeast
and south west. At the northeast
the lodges prospected are all adjacent
to the limestone, that extends all
around the district, and carries con-
siderable gold. At the southeast the
lodges found OF any consequence
are nearly all in belt of porphory
about quarter of mile wide and
forms the contact between the lime
and granite. It is in this part OF the
district the most work was done In
the seventies, and shafts were sunk
from $50 to 800 feet deep showing
good, strong lodges from 3 to 6 feet
wide OF Is to 80 per cent. copper ore.
This part OF the mineral belt was
called Portos District. New York
capitalists developed the mines and
after they we're abandoned many OF
them laid vacant for years.
The west side Of the river ID at
present considered the best and 30
far everybody who have examined the
minera. formation speak highly OF
it. Along the northwest side ID
porphory belt over half mile wide
that is so full of lodges that it might
be almost termed ledge itself. The
ore runs from 5 to so per cent. cop
per, 40 ounces in silver and some
gold, and none Of the lodges have
been opened up to any depth but
what shown upon the surface Is
sufficient to keep several smelters
running for years.
In the granite formation are
number of strong lodges extending
north east and southwest, from to
80 feet wide on the surface. Mr..
Poole, mining man well known in
Tuscarora, Butte City and other
mining camps, has sunk l20 feet on
Ouo AcuRO III OLAo BLahlVo eAhN viz ~
suits are so satisfactory that he is
preparing to sink to 500 feet this
winter. The most enthusiastic men
who have visited the camp are from
Butte City. They say the mineral
formation is very similar to that
famous copper camp, with the odds
in favor Of Salmon River. In Butte
only two mines found pay ore above
the 500. foot level. while in Salmon
there is pay ore on the surface and
all indications that the large lodges
will continue in depth and increase
in richness.
Several different companies have
been looking over the camps the past
year with the intention Of putting in
smelters and opening 1t up. A Butte
City firm got in ahead of the rest or
contracts from some of the mines 70,
ore and have a 80 ton smelter now
nearly completed and ready for work
There may be some trouble with tho
first run or two, before the best meth
oda are found tn emelt kha ora b,,