Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-03-27
FLORENCE QUARrz BELT.
"PrOspect0r' TMrns Hts Ims-
sNaOinatioM L0ese on the
Prospects Of TIA Camp
a Year Hence.


New Florence, March 16, 1896.
FRIEND PARKER. extend to
you an invitation to visit this new
Ell Dorado and inspect the rich
gold quartz lodes in this famous
old placer camp. The fountain
head from which came the gold
that filed the ravines ages ago is
now discovered, and makes glad
the heart Of the prospectors, as it
CT azed the minds of some in the
wild rush for position in '62. The
present indications promise a re-
petition of those palmy days. Those
old placer miners write and en-
quire if such and such gulch is
located, as they intend to return
this season and locate q fabulously
rich quartz property they discov-
cred in the early days. which pros
poets high grade ore, they are
now eager to possess. At tho time
they were here quarts mining was
but little known; but times have
changed, and the demand for gold
again prompts those old pioneers
who made and lost fortunes in
Florence, to try their hand again.
How many will meet success or
disappointment time will tell.
l view the camp and note the
development for the past year. 1t
is simply astonishing when we
consider how the prospectors were
hampered for want of means to
open their claims rapidly.
One year ago there were five
men in camp, and one mine pro-
ducing, having about 20 tons Of
ore on the dump. One year aae
the mining fraternity were 1eth to
believe another great gold mining
camp existed under tho black pine
forest of Florence. One year ago
the steam whistle from q stamp
mill was not heard in the dreary
solitude that existed; no stamps
dropping night and day to reveal
natures wealth and nurse the in
FAINT camp into adolescence. One
year ago the sound of the miners
axe was but little heard, in fact no
sound to betray the presence of
the lone prOspectors. But now
how changed, hundred men are
in camp; As mines and prospects
are producing, and others are de-
veloping; 500 tons of ore are on
the dumps, and this amount will
be doubled within the next five
months. Mining investors are
sending agents to inspect, and in
vesting in the new Ell Dorado of
the northwest. The steam whis-
tie echoes over hill and dale, the
steady drop of stamps is noted
day and night and has nursed the
embryo camp into manhood. Our
flag is heralded to the world, for
we no longer fear the great gold
deposits in the famous old placer
camp are going to pinch out. Our
lowest shafts show greater ledges
and richer ore, which buoys our
spirits and goads us on for some
thing better further down. tt e
miners axe is heard ON every side
from dawn to eve. The teamster
shouts as he drives along with a
load of ore; or perhaps you hear
him repeating the first verse Of
lngersolls favOrite poem when he
mires down in the snow. Fred
higgins deliyers our mail four
times q month, which fills q want
we appreciate.
One year hence there will be 1OO
stamps dropping day aud night in
the Florence mineral zoEe, for men
of means to devevelop have al.
ready secured valuable property
and assure us Of 10 and 20 STAMP
mills. One year hence there will
be a city here of $500 souls. All
kind of business vocations carried
on, the square gamblers and "Cen.
tipede Hates" and "Moccasin
SAILS" will throng the streets. One
can get jag on and work il
Of in the dance halls in the qua,
drille; the scenes Of the sixties will
be reproduced One year hence the
church spires will supercede the
black pines that dot tho hillside
The school bell viii mingle its
chorus with the chime Of 10 or
more mill whistles in various parts
Of camp. One year hence the ex.
press will have an escort when ON
the way to Grangeville to delives
bullion. One year hence money