Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-02-12
IN THE OLD CAMP.

Season of Activity in Florence
Predicted.
| Spokane Review.
Mining men having interests in
the old Florence camp in Idaho
predict a season. of great activity
the coming summer. Last sum-
mer about 1000 men went into that
section, and the district took on q
trace of the old-time life of the
days when 10000 men were wash
ing the golden placers in and
around Florence. About 800 min
ers and prospectors are wintering
in the famous old camp, and it is
expected that the coming sum-
mer will find 5000 men prospect
ing and at work ON the quartz
lodges there.
The Banner and the Goldbug
mining companies, s. 8. Glidden
president and Frank Culherson of
| the Tiger oorman secretary, have
let contracts for 900 feet Of de-
velopment work ON the Banner and
the Goldbug. About 100 feet will
be shaft work.
Gin the face of the Goldbug tun-
nell" said Harry Glidden yester-
day, I'VE have 20 inches of ore
that will mill between 500 and $25.
We have assays running all the
way from $40 to $500. There is
a three stamp custom mill in the
camp, and 1O3 tons Of ore was run
through this mill and returned
$2778, or an average of nearly $27
per ton"
Samples of the ore sent out re-
Gently show free gold in handsome
specks. The owners have a boiler
and 20-horse power hoist on the
ground, and will push the work of
development.
Harry Glidden put in q large
port of the past summer in the old
camp, and is familiar with the
country and it's history and ira
ditions. "To reach the district"
said he, Zone travels over wagon
road from Lewiston q distance of
1O7 miles. It is 81 miles from
Lewiston to Grangeville, and AZ
miles from Grangeville to Florence.
In summer the trip is made from
Lewiston in two days. The freight
rate from Lewiston to Florence is
one and half cents per pound. There
is saw mill in the district, and
lumber costs about $25 per thous-
and delivered. Wood is 81 per
cord at the minc.
Gin summer the trip into that
country is pleasant and interest
ing. There are excellent stopping
places along the road. On the old
Fountain road, meals are served
for % cents, and the fare is good.
On the new stage road the charge
is 80 cents per meal. The old road
is eight miles shorter than the new.
The new road passes by Waha
lake, favorite summer resort
with the Lewiston people.
"Thirty-five miles beyond Flor
ence, on the Warren road, are hot
springs which have become famous
for remarkable cures. A great
many people go there in summer.
1t is an inviting country for the
angler and the hunter. Numer-
GUS mountain streams afford sport
for the fisherman, and in the
mountains the hunters find elk,
bear and deer.
"The old town of Florence has
an elevation Of about $500 feet
above the sea. It sits in a nearly
circular mountain basin, seven or
eight miles in diameter. This ba-
sin is coursed by many small
streams, and is sparsely timbered
with scattered black pines, with lit
tie underbrush.
Only 20 or 80 of the buildings
have survived the wear of time.
Among these is the old Jail, used
when Florence was the county
seat Of Idaho county, and the most
populOus and lively town in the
territory. The old Masonic hall
is now used as a stable.
Of the old-timcrs who were in
the camp when a miner counted it
hard luck to wash out less than
500 a day, 20 or 80 still linger
around the scenes of past wealth
and excitement. Some of their
"reminiscences are hard to believe.
They tell of one memorable Fourth
OF July celebration. In that high
basin the SHOWS linger until far
into the summer. A Norwegian
then in the camp was skillf6l at
moulding snow images. It occurr-
ed to number of the patriotic
miners that it would he a novel