Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-05-29
Mineral Resources of Pierce,
Idaho.

Pierce Mining District is situat-
ed in the foot hills of the Bitter
Root Mountains, at an altitude of
$500 #. above sea level; it's for
mer history is well known to most
miners on the Pacific slope and to
quite a number of mining men
east of the Rockies" 1t was dis
covered in the fall of 1859, and
the years of 1S60-62 found the
camp with II population of 10000
10000 men, all engaged in placer
mining; but for last 10 years (pre-
vious to 1899, there has not been
over 600 men at work in mining,
and most of that number Chinese.
Much has been said and written
concerning Pierce City, but its vast
resources of gold have rarely been
exaggerated or even fairly set
forth.
1t is only within the last five
years that true conception of
it's resources could be formed, as
previous to that time there was no
attempt at quartz mining. The
indications all point to but one
theory, viz, that the gold origin
ally found in the placer, was de-
posted from the quartz lodges; all
the lodges so far discovered have
been found in the old placer work
ings; in many instances, all placer
operations stopped when they got
up to the ledge. Another circum-
stance observable, would convince
the most skeptical that the gold
bed is local, and that is, that all
the different gulches and creek
beds, carry gold of a different fine-
ness, value of the placer gold rang.
ing from S11.50 to $3.50 per
ounce. The formation is granite
intersected by porphyry dikes
There are at present three quartz
mills in operation in the camp
running on ore ranging in value
from SIS to 500 per ton. There
are also number of quartz pros.
poets, on which mills are to be put
during the coming season. Among
the producing properties the Idaho
mine and the Bond mine are the
principal. The Idaho is % to 3.
foot vein Of free-milling gold ore
ranging in value from SIS to s3s
per ton. The Bond is a 12-incl
vein of free milling ore, average
value about 500 per ton. Among
the properties on which mills will
be erected this summer are the
Bole group; this group consists OF
six claims and is owned by DIR. II
IL. Bole. Last year he sold the
property for $50, 900, and received
the first payment of over $4,000
but for some reason unknown tho
deal was not consummated. In the
placer mines there are a large
force of men employed as there
are 10 big hydraulic companies il
operation and several small
companies. 1t is impossible tt
draw any arbitrary lines defining
the gold belt, but some conception
of its size may be formed from OBJ
serving the area which has beer
worked for placer and which GOV
ers an extent of territory 40 to 81
miles long by % to 80 miles wide
1t is safe 10 say, were the sam,
amount of capital invested in thi
camp, that there is in some of tn,
Colorado camps, equally large re
turns could be had from the same
The ore in this district is strict,
gold-bearing; some copper has beer
found on the Orc Grande, blu
whether there is sufficient guam
tity to pay remains to be deter
mined. The gold ore near the sur
face is free, but in depth it is in
variably associated with iron pyri
ties. Pierce City is connected b,
wagon road, with Kendrick, on thu
Northern Pacific Railway, distant
about 60 miles.