Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-07-10
IN CENTRAL IDAHO
Senator Wilson Believes That Trade
Should be Tributary to
Spokane.
RICH LANDS AND RICH MINES.

RICH LANDS AND RICH MINES.
Hydraulic Operations on a Large
Scale--Isush Into Florence
"A Promising Year.
Spokane Review.
Senator John L. Wilson has re-
turned from trip to the Victor
Mining Company's ground in Gen.
trail Idaho.
He said: "That country, in the
nature Of things, if conditions
were a little more favorable, should
be tributary to Spokane for trade
purposes. There is now consider
able trade from that section, but
it is not what it should be. Goods
are as cheap in Grangeville as in
Spokane, owing no doubt, to the
0. r. Il N. and river traffic. l
am in hopes that time will rectify
these trade matters, when Spokane
will receive a large benefit from
the country north Of the Salmon
river. Tho section includes
Camas prairie, beautiful piece of
country, as fertile as tho celebrated
Palousc.
at is we'll known fact that in
past years large amount of gold
has been taken from the placers
along the Salmon river, which
have only been operated to limi-
ted degree, because the people
were not able to put in hydraulic
plants, and building fumes in
order to secure o sufficient
water supply.
"Last year G. w. Ide, A. W.
Strong, G. S. Voorhees,, II. L. Will
son, Geo. Gabbert, S. s. johnson,
Mr.. Hughes and myself purchased
what is known as the Victor min
ing property at the mouth of John
Day creek ON the Salmon river.
The purchase included the Victor,
Wildcat and Idaho claims of 20
acres each. Since. that time we
have made additional locations
ourselves.
"All last summer and part of
early spring was taken up in the
construction of a flume in order to
bring in sufficient supply of
water for use on the Wildcat dam.
We have been in operation for
about 60 days, have plenty of
water and under these conditions
we can operate about 10 months
in year. We have made clean
ups and while we have not reach
cd bedrock, are entirely satisfied
with the proposition from a finan-
cial standpoint. With our pres
ent facilities and water supply
we are able to move 1000 yards of
gravel day. The moving of this
amount of gravel for 10 months in
a year will not exhaust the claims
in 80 years. At the time we pur-
chased the Victor claim, J. G. Ep-
person and A. w. Strong had pur-
chased another claim four miles ND
the Salmon river and are now en-
gagged in constructing a fume
which they hope to have finished
this season. The claim is q prom
Using one and the owners consider
it fully equal to the Victor.
"The location: of these claims is
but the beginning of operations
along that river where water is
available.
"On tho 22nd we left Mrs.
Cleary's place and started across
the mountains for the old placer
diggings of Florence. We had to
90 on horseback over a mountain
trail at an elevation of 5000 feet.
Two and one-half miles of the dis
lance was made on snow fully five
feet deep. We arrived at Flor
ence at 7 p. IN. and to look at the
few remaining log houses in q de-
cayed condition one would not
suppose that in 1862 $1,000 men
congregated here in the struggle
for the almighty dollar.
FLORENCE, or the Florence basin
is situated at an elevation of 5000
feet above the sea, and in the old
days millions and millions of dol
lars were taken from the old pla-
GERS. OF late there is considerable
activity in the old camp; claims are
being relocated, all of the lodges
are free milling. I should say
there were 400 men at work in
the vicinity, and as we were COM
ing out / counted 40 men going in.
"There is a marked improve
ment going on all over that coun-
try. The present year will be q
good one. Beyond question two
or three years Of development will
mako a wonderful improvement
in that section. Taking it all in
all, it was a most interesting trip
and l am glad to have had the op.
portunity to make it.
"On this trip l met one man
who had never seen a railroad
train, knew nothing of electricity
and its uses, never discussed high
or low tariff, gold or silver, and
who can say he is not happier
than those who know all these
things. In his own world he il
supreme.
81 could not helm CALLING tr