The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-08-30

nopeIul signs 0 the future. The
people are doing well, consider
ing their isolation and the fact
that the industry-mining-
which has supported the country
long, has been at such low ebb
for years. The people are living
o much more quiet life now than
before, and have adapted them
selves to changed conditions,
even if they do shows signs OF
restlessness.
THE CLAYTON SHELTER
at Clayton, is now making o run
of 100 days or more. having blown
in on July 25th. For a number
of years the company has been
making regular runs each year,
the balance of the time being oc-
cupied in general preparations,
development of their mines and
stopping some ore. During the
winter season about thirty men
are employed in their Skylark on
Ramshorn hill, in their Redbird,
Poverty Flat and Slate creek
mines. Now while the smelter
is in operation there are employ
ed in the mines fifty men, at the
smelter fifteen, in the charcoal
camps twenty-five, and ten men
with fifty horses hauling coal and
ore. Besides this, employment
is given to many men and teams
in taking bullion to the railroad
at Blackfoot, a distance of 100
miles, thus giving much life to
the district for about three
months.
This smelter has a remarkable
record for such an unpretentious
concern as it is. Located on the
left bank of the Salmon river, it
is SO constructed as to be operat-
ed by water from q creek enter
ing the river at that point. The
single furnace easily handles 35
tons of ore per day, which, with
the eight tons of charcoal and
seven tons of limestone, give a
total of so tons per day going
through the furnace. The ores
carry enough lead and iron to
only require lime for complete
fiuxing. Mr.. Lawrence Greene,
superintendent, has been success
full in making charcoal do the
work without having to import
coke at very heavy expense, as
was required in the early days of
this smelter. For years this
smelter kept a number of big
teams hauling coke from Ketch-
um, a distance of 80 miles, to aid
the charcoal in reducing ores.
Now charcoal alone does the
work as well, and at a greatly
reduced cost for fuel, a condition
brought about by judicious mix
ing of ores and improved furnace
construction. This seasons run
means the reduction of about
1000 tons of ore, with good re-
turns and the disbursement of a
large amount of money among
citizens of Custer and adjoining
counties.
AT BAYHORSE
the once prosperous town is al
most deserted. The large 9. e.
Taylor & Co. store is closed and
goods removed, leaving only the
store of Michael g. Sargent, be-
sides one restaurant and one sa-
loon, where once there were
many. But if indications are
right, this will soon all be chang
ed. Ramshorn hill, with it's
group consisting of the Rams
horn, Utah Boy and other mines
belonging to the Ramshorn COM
pany, is being pierced by tun-
nels which are disclosing great
bodies of ore. Under the guild
ance of the Hon. Geo. w. Emery,
these ore bodies r being pre-
pared for stopping, q good force
of men being employed in this
development work, and soon all
will be ready to again put in OPP
GRAFTON the concentrator and
smelter at Bayhorse, both of
which have been idle for several
years. These mines and reduc-
ton works, belonging to O. J.
Salisbury of Salt Lake City,
ought to be put in full blast or
else a new plant constructed at
no very distant day in the future.
The probabilities favor the cree
ton of a modern plant for hand
ling the great bodies of ore
which the district is destined to
turn out. The mines are pro
ductive enough to fully warrant
a plant to treat ores under the
latest and best processes.
CUSTER MILL.
The old Gen. Custer mill at
Custer is being operated by the