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

SEVEN DEVILS MINES.
Mr.. NIellis Gives Interesting
Facts Regarding That
Promising Camp.
From the East Oregouian.
1t is probably true that Fred R.
Mellis, Of Baker City, has as cor
rect knowledge of the mining in
terests of Baker City and the sur
rounding country as any man in
Eastern Oregon. Being personal
ly reliable, his articles on mines
and mining from Baker City pos
sesses especial value. In response
to request by the East OregOnian
Mr.. Mills has put into writing his
ideas on the subject Of the Seven
Devils mining region, as related to
the Baker county mines. Mr.. Mel
lis writes:
Baker City, April 1.-THE all
pervading topic of the day in this
part of the state is the Seven Dew
ills mining excitement, in which
section of the country there will
undoubtedly be second Cripple
Creek boom, just as soon as the
snow will permit active operations
will be instituted. The New York
Equipment and Construction Com
pany, a wealthy syndicate, is en-
cheering the construction of a
broad guage road from Payette,
Idaho, to the Seven Devils, which
road has already been surveyed,
and at present moment has suf-
ficient scrapers at work to hold
right of way and comply with
terms of agreement in relation to
subsidies which have been granted.
As soon as the weather modifies,
the work of construction will be
rushed forward as rapidly as pos
sible.
In addition to the above, a mar
row guagc road will unquestion-
ably be built out of Baker City to
the Snake river, coming out on the
river at or near Billiards. landing,
which will be the means of fur
nishing a second line Of tr,lnspor.
tation to the Seven Devils.
Mcssrs. Eccles and Nibley, d.
rcctors of the Sumpter Valley rail-
way, are the active promoters of
the Baker City road, and there is
no doubt but they have the CO.
operation of the o. r. & N. Co., as
we'll as ample capital from the
east. The road from Baker City
is not only the best as far as grade
and ease of construction is con-
cerned, but it passes through or
close to the richest mining district
in Eastern Oregon. To be more
specific, It would go through the
Virtue district, near the Sparta
and Sanger, and close to the edge
of the Cornucopia and Eagle creek
regions, giving an outlet to their
ores and carrying in all mine and
mill supplies.
1t would also pass through the
rich farming and fruit regions OF
the lower Powder river; and open
up new and valuable supplies OF
much needed timber. 1t would
also make accessible deposits OF
coal. limeston, granite, and other
valuable economic minerals.
1t will be seen from this that
the building of this road is not
wholly dependent upon the mines
of the Seven Devils, rich as they
are, but would have large local
traffic that alone would warrant
its construction. As soon as this
road is completed there is no doubt
but that the mining and agricul-
tural population from Baker City
to the Snake river will be doubled
within six months, and that many
of the we'll known mines along the
route would be converted into
dividend payers, owing to the in
creased facilities for taking in ma
chinery and supplies, as well as
the decrease in the cost of trans
porting ore and concentrates to the
smelters. To illustrate this, it is
only necessary to call attention t.
the fact that the Union Company
mill has been closed down tempo.
rarily, as they could not afford tc
have their rich concentrates scat
tered along the road for 65 miles,
during the period of snow melting
and bad roads.