The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-01-13
The SIGNAL.


on which success was not to be hoped
for. The expected failures which
followed undoubtedly had their part
in the defeat of more legitimate plans.
Seven years ago last summer an at
tempt was made to open the camp by
means Of boat and wagon transporta-
ton The Peacock mine Is four miles
from Snake river and over 5000 feet
above it (Which gives an idea OF the
roughness of the Snake river side of
the district, the Oregon side of the
river being very similar, the only easy
and gentle approach to the copper
territory being on the eastern or Wei
ser river slope). and In trying to over
come this
A WAGON ROAD
variously estimated at seventeen to
twenty two miles in length and with
6 to 19 per cent grades, was built
from the peacock mine to Snake river
at cost of $4,000 At the lower
or river end of the road, a vertical
offset of 100 feet was encountered
which could not be overcome. At
the same time of the road construc-
tion, steamer, the "Norma," was
built at the Oregon Short Line cross
ing Of Snake river at cost Of $35,
600 Considerable money was spent
in blasting out rocks in the river chan
mel. 1t was intended to haul the pea
cock ore by wagon to the river and
ship it by steamer to the crossing and
thence by rail; or, by the same route,
take coke and supplies in to any smelt.
er erected in the camp. The most
favorable stage of water was awaited
and the "Norma" started for the
Seven Devils landing, where, after {
maddened fight through the whitenet
rapids and whirling eddies OF th'
Snake, she arrived, stove full of holes
and presenting sad spectacle. Sh'
was temporarily repaired, and with
out freight started back up the river
1t took two weeks to line her over th'
rapids and get back to the starting
point After lying there for yea
or more she was sold to Portland
parties. An experienced captain ant
crew was selected and the Norma
started for Riparia, on the Snake be
low Lewiston, where, after hairbreadtl
escapes enough to last the crew life
time, she arrived in a badly wrecked
condition. The wagon road wa
abandoned and remained in decay ant
oblivion until this season. Thes
events caused the attention Of tn
mining world to be centered on tn
enterprise, under the misconceptiol
that, through the isolated position o
the district, this was its only trans
portation hope, and its success wa
watched for with eagerness by hun
dreds of operators who saw promise
fortunes in store. AS a matter q
course the expectant tension col
lapsed, with corresponding reactio
when the "Norma" failed, and til
mining world brushed Seven Devil
from its mind and sought solace else
where. Some are cruel enough to ir
: sinuate that this was the result sougl
I for, and that attention had thus bee
centered for the purpose Of hurling
, bomb in its midst and scattering
t about its business After the trii
/, trip of the "Norma" the Governmer
made some appropriations for in
8 proving the channel, but after spen(
: ing large sum in rock blasting
8 no avail, the Government boats wei
e sold or given away and the work SUI
! pended in disgust.
h DULUTH CAPITAL.
J. In the summer Of 1894 the Merritt
: q party OF Duluth capitalists and OF