Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-06-11

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surface. Besides the mines, the
country is densely covered with
fine timber. We have one mine in
this state, the Anaconda, that
gave a 81 mile road daily over
5000 tons of freight. I saw, 6De
mine, the Peacock" in the Sevefs
Devils district, that has a larger
surface showing than the Ana
conda ever had"
The Peacock, which is mention
ed above, is believed capable of
producing 500 tons a day, as there
are several acres of the ore body
already exposed and it is develop
ed to a depth of about 100 feet
The ore improves as depth is at
tanned. The average is given by
different parties as from 20 to 81
per cent. copper. The Seven Dew
lis district is a belt of about four
miles wide by over 20 miles long.
The Peacock claim and the town
of Seven Devils are the center.
Outside of this central nuclus,
there are sources of rich copper
claims and many rich silver and
gold veins. The veins of all char
acters throughout the district are
so very large that when they arc
opened it will not be necessary to
mine anything but ore.
To show that the statement al
ready made in regard to tho rich
ness of the ores are not cxaggerat-
ed, it is only necessary to quote
the official returns of the Block &
Hartman smelling works Of Belle
vile, III. Eleven carloads of ore
were taken out by pack animals
and wagons to the railway. This
ore was really sample taken gen.
orally from the 81 mines, including
the Peacock, located in the imme-
date vicinity of the town. The
net weight of ore, exclusive of
moisture, was 35O, 1924 pounds, and
gave at the smelter 41.90 per cent.
of pure copper.
The facilities for mining and
milling the ore could hardly be
improved, as the mountains are so
steep that depth is rapidly gained
by tunneling, while the excellent
timber give ample and cheap sup
plies for both underground and
surface work. The water supply
is large, affording opportunity for
water power for milling purposes,
short transportation of ores, the
electric lighting of the town, and
ample supply for all steam and do
nestle purposes. The railway
from Baker City already mentioned
would enable the mining pOpula.
ton, which will be necessarily
large, on such extensive mines
an opportunity to secure Their
supplies cheaply from Portland, as
we'll as to secure their agricultural
products from the lower Powder
river.
Aside from the construction Of
the road mentioned to the copper
district, there is a greater amount
of activity shown in the develop.
ment of all of the mining districts,
tributary to Baker City, than has
been ever known before. The
items which have been published
from day to day during the last
season in the columns of the Ore.
gOnian show that the era of deer
mining has been entered upon. II
is also we'll known that in every
instance, where the shafts have
been pushed down to the depth O.
500 to 800 feet, that the ore bodies
have found continuous and the
grade of ore as good, and, in mos
instances, better than in the upper
levels.
While the people of Baker City
are doing and will do all in their
power to secure every Legitimate
advantage from this increase il
mining activity and prosperity
which in no respect resembles Sc
called 'bOoms," at the same time
they recognize the fact that in or
der for Portland and her citizens
to share in this era ofgeneral pros
perity which is now invading the
mining districts of Eastern Oregon
they will have to cease keeping
alOOf from mines and mining en-
terprises, and permit outside states
and capital to reap all the benefit
to be derived. +. X. MELLIs