The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-04-12

river. In the sos it attracted
considerable notice, and attained
very prominent position as an
ore producer. The camp was
one of the best watered and limb
cred of any locality in Idaho, and
its accessibility and natural ad-
vantages were unsurpassed. Its
natural outlet is through the fer
tile valley leading past Spring
Mountain Nicholia and down
along Birch creek, thence to
Dubois, Idaho. Upwards of $50, :
900 were taken from one of it's
mines alone, and altogether it
has produced in the neighbor-
hood of SIS, 900 worth of bullion.
Something like 200 mining claims
were located within the district.
No great depth was ever attain
ed on any of its properties and
the shipments were principally
confined to surface deposits. 1t
covers stretch of country from
25 to So miles in length, compGr-
able in all respects to the Saw
tooth range in the Wood River
country. Want of capital, and
the high charges for transporta-
ton that at that period governed,
held the country in check un l
it was overtaken by the warfare
on silver, since which time it has
lain dormant as a mining section.
Its ores have ranged all the way
from $50 to $500 in silver to the
ton, principally chlorides, which
it is urged, is against it as a con-
centrating product. Galena and
carbonates are much in evidence.
But one or two properties are
now being actively worked there
and these are piling their ores
to one side in wait for an i'm
proved market.
The lava fields and districts f
Idaho, if they have ever been
the subject of considerable re-
search, have been but very little
written about. Their extent is
quite unknown and the causes
which produced them don't ap-
pear to have been very general
ly advertised. The traveller and
the tourist see hundreds of
square miles of black molten
rock and srnd, and it is doubtful
II they ever make q note of it in
their sketch books. In the i'm
mediate vicinity of the charred.
burned-up mass that has its track
ilfty miles in length, the indica-
lions are that in an age not far
distant, there was a grand vol
canic disturbance in which a vast
chain of mountains was burned
up and leveled to the condition
Of plain. 1t is a great field for
the geologist, the chemical ex-
pert and the all-round scientific
student. We would like to hear
Of their coming to make this sec
ton of our country study. The
country bordering this lava belt
mas been mined for years, for its
precious metals. and the lava
plain suggests the appearance of
IN immense Stag dump. AS met |
his and heavier substances settle
20 the bottom when everything
S IN fused state, our visitors
night conceive the idea of sink
ng on the mass for gold and sill
'er bullion. AS copper ores are
luite notable feature of the re-
ZION there is no doubt but what
he great lava plains are copper
'ottomed. This dual conclusion
viii not prevail with the practic-
i miner, nevertheless it is in
inc with quite all the theroies
ouching chemical and volcanic
ction. A couple of years ago
everal old miners from Lava
inning district visited the old
istrict of Spring Mountain,
.emhi county. They expressed
urprise in finding certain forma-
on conditions existing as en-
in the lava region
hence they came. On the sum
ut of the ridge, where what is
nown as the Lost river trail
rosses from Spring Mountain.
ley traced the border line of I
ne volcanic belt having its bed j
the great plain to the west and {
outward. The locations that
ad been made and worked for
ears by the old and nearly for
often Spring Mountain Mining
ompany, were we'll within this
me. In the old shafts and tun- +
lis of these locations wide seams I
ID caverns are found through !
hich air is forced from below ,
sufficient quantities to extin- 3
lish candle light, and vapors \
ngealing from the same depth Z
we filed the upper tunnels !
lth Ice that never thaws out. II y
rs URGED nv tbaca u;o;+1,,o - q