Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-06-16
The Gold Creek Timing Camp.

Inc UOld Ireek Iiiniug lamp.
John Lamb, editor of the De La
mar Nugget, recently visited the
new mining camp at the headwaters
of the Bruneau river, just across the
Nevada state line, and gives his inn
pressions of that locality as follows:
The writer Of this has been to the much talked of
mining camp at Gold crook, Nevada, and of
the readers of the Nugget who propectors
looking for locations or wish to make invest
ments in mining properties, expect us to give them
our impression OF the camp. The embryo town OF
Gold Creek is located ON mesa Immediately north Of
Island Mountain, about ten miles south OF the Idaho
line and east Of Ponrod creek, small stream run
ming past the base of the mountain and emptying
into one CT the numerous small streams which form
the head waters Of the owy hee river This is near
the divides from which the waters run into the Hum
boldt, the owyhee and the Bruneau rivers, aud the
the mountain peaks to be in several directions
from Island Mountain, rise to attitude Of nearly
ten thousand feet, with Jarvitch mountain upon the
summit OF which is immense volcanic crater, loom
ing up TO greater height thirty forty miles fur
Their east 1t is drobable that the lava which flowed
from this mountain, formed the Immense lava beds
extending down the Brunean all the way TO Snake
river, through chasrns In which, at places nearly
four thousand feet deep, the Druneau finds its way
Immediately around Gold Greek and west TO Mount
ain City % miles distant, the counts rolling we'll
watered by small streams, the hill tops and valleys
well covered with soil all constituting one of the
finest summer ranges have ever All the
country bears evidences of being richly mneralize
the country rock being granite porphyry and quartz
lite. Timber for fuel and mining purposes is very
scarce, consisting only of frs and nut pine in patches
on the north side OF the higher ranges
Gold Creek is by no means the town one would eN-
pect to find after reading of it in various newspapers
more especially the Gold Creek News, which, BY the
way, is exceptionabe publication from the fact
that the first number issued from the old Penrod
ranch house, twenty miles from the nearest postofRce
and three or four miles from the nearest neighboring
stock ranch, the plant being atterward removed to
the Gold Creek company's business office and then
short time since a well htted-up tent The editor,
c. NJ. Sain, is Colorado man, who had spent year
in Boise (He is brother-in-law of Mr. Baderson,
of the statesman) He is enthusiastic believer in
the prospects of Gold Creek and make the
most of any local and mining item. He is whole
souIed good fellow and publishes better paper than
can be found In many older camp,
All Of the gulches around Gold Creek have been
prospected and worked more or less for more than
| twenty years by of small means who did not
have money construct bitches and reservoirs and
could consequently work them for few days or
weeks at most during the year. Two years ago cap
italists went In there, examined and prospected all
the gravel deposits along several streams and have
since organized company to build bitches and
voirs a very comprehensive plan and have, up to
this time, built large reservoir. three miles
above the town, near the divide from Brunoau, and
probably twenty to twenty-five miles OF intake
bitches to catch the water from varons small streams
But owing to the greater portion Of the bitches be
ing completed so late last year and during last win
ter but small amount OF the water stored and
this seasons work cannot amount to more than a
test Of the gravel in one gulch They have construct
ed elevator with oufces and tables, and have B.
inch nozzle with 1870 feet of pressure, sucking up
gravel from Penrod creek with results yet be
certained, as the work only begun day or two
before arrival.
If the gravel deposits only extensive the
men in charge claim them be and only half rich
and the supply of water nearly what the engineers
estimated it be made, Gold Greek will turn out
a great camp. In addition to the pacers they claim
that they developing large amount ofrich quartz
ground, but this remains to be proven, the work
done up to date is very limited 1t all looks like
immense stock dealing job TO many outsiders but
let us hope it may prove otherwise Apparently the
company has secured the capital to push big enter
prise, and everybody except the sheep and cattle
men, more than ten miles Of whose best grazinl
grounds have been appropriated, wish them abundan
success. The town is rs miles north Of Elko, tn
nearest railroad point, and a tr-weekly mail and pas
senger coach, running over fairly good roads make
the trip in twelve hours.
As the company has corralled everything bearin
the semhlanee of mining ground for miles around,
is not good country for prospectors to go to- and
to miners the notorety Of the camp has overstocke
the labor supply and it is poor point for peopl
, hunting work. to strike for
An itinery OF our trip may be of interest to some
our home readers 1t is:
From DE Lamar TO Stevens ranch via Louise cree
| and Flint over bad mountasn roads, Il miles.
From Stenvens' to Hardman's, over some stee
grades and stony roads, miles
From Hardmans to Meadow Greek, over fair roads
6 miles.
From meadow Creek to Big Springs, goo
] roads with the exception OF about mile of badl
washed out gulches, 25 miles.
From Big Springs to Battle Creek, over hol
terror of a road running round rim rocks, over lay
beds and across skirting miry meadows, wher
there are myriads of mosquitoes "a miles.
From Battle Creek, miles of bad road and
miles not bad to Riddles, at head of Duck valley
From Riddles to Indian Agency, 20 miles of goo
road with exception Of some ugly soughs.
From Agency to Mountain City, good mountai
roads with some steep grades Is miles
o From Mountain City to Gold Creek, good road. :
miles.