The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-08-12
one OF the Leading Promoters of Sew
Ell Devils Projects Now Here.
TALKS OF THE ENTERPRISE
says 1t Is Not Expected the Seven Devils Camp
Can be Handled by the Snake River
Route.

Last Thursday Mr.. Isaac W. Blake
of New York, arrived in Weiser ac-
rcompanied BY Mr.. R. l.. Cox, of
Buffalo.
Mr.. Blake passed Weiser day or
two before and went to Huntington
where he met and conferred with diff
ferent parties on business connected
with the opening of the Seven Devils,
and doubtless was compelled to listen
to other persons with various doubt
ful propositions which they would
like to foist upon the capitalists who
are evidently becoming interested in
our great copper district. But it is
more than likely they will be doomed
to dlsappointment-it would be very
unfortunate for the future of our
mineral section if capital should be
drawn in on the plans of some spec
ulative rounders
Mr.: Blake, whose arrival has been
anxiously looked for by the people
of this county, has been represented
to us as one of the leading men en-
gagged in promoting plans to open
the copper fields here, and all are
glad to see him here On his arrival
he talked quite freely, and in an in
terview made a statement in regard
to the motives Of the organization of
the Idaho Railroad Company.
He stated that in order to interes t
anyone in building n railroad into the
camp it was first necessary to get Il
smelter ut work and turning out Il
product in order to practically dem
onstrate that the ores could be sue
cessfully and prolitably treated. They
had advanced in that direction so far
that the smelter was now in WeIser.
The next question was location JHe
was inclined to think it would be To-
Gated on the banks Of the Snake at
the foot of the Kleinschmidt grade,
about twenty miles from the mines,
the idea being that it would be down
out of the snow there, the coke sup
ply could be delivered cheaper and
the Oregon ore field be also drawn
from. The Idaho railroad was or
ganized to build narrow gauge from
the smelter to the mines.
Mr.. Blake stated that he had no
idea the Seven Devils, if the district
was all it was claimed to be, could
be handled by the Snake river route
when fully developed, but that the
operation of this smelter in this man
ner would demonstrate the possbil-
tiles of the camp and lead to Other
plants IN the future and eventually
the building of broad gauge rail
road from Payette, Weiser or some
other point to meet growing demands.
He said the 0. r. & N. had agreed
to deliver coke at the foot of the
Kleinschmdt grade at figure mucl
lower than it could be delivered il
the Devils for, taking in by wagor
from Weiser. He said while this 10
cation was most likely, it had no
been absolutely decided and investi
CATION might change their plans. "
So, after Mr. Blake's statements
it can be definitely settled that th
smelter will be put down on Snak
river unless the interested parte
find to their satisfaction that til
cost of getting the ore from th
mines to the smelter will exceed tn
saving on coke, and there is yer
little copper on the Oregon side, an'
what there is is not easily accessibl
) to the Snake river landing and tina
The Kleinschmidt grade is not likel
to be practically successful to con
duct narrow gauge operations upon
Unless these are found to be the con
ditions, by those who furnish til
capital, the smelter will be locate
on the Snake and not at the Peacoc
mine 1t is barely possible that
NAV he found more feasible to pl
the smclter on the Peacock and har
+ the coke up the Kleinschmldt grad
by wagon.
People who have built hopes 0
the Devils for years want to see