Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-07-14
.DO|NGS At BUFFALO HUMP
A Summary Of Mining Operations Now
Going On In and Around the Camp.

| A Summary Of Mining Operations Nov
Going On In and Around the Camp.
1t is beginning to look like spring
around the Hump now. Inc snow
birds have quit the camp and terra
firma hobs up here and there. Still
there remains about four feet O
snow in the ravines and travelling
is simply wretched. However those
who contemplate coming in may
rest assured that by July 10 or l:
the different trails will be in gooo
condition with plenty of grass foi
their horses. The weather has beer
clear and fine. During the middle
of the day the sun is so intensely
hot that you can plainly see the
snow wilt and the bunch grass
grow under the big trees and along
the water courses. Buffalo Of
today is a picturesque camp. Six
log buildings and one frame build
ing, combined with some fifty
tents, make up the town. The
stumps of trees cut for wood and
other purposes during midwinter
now loom up from II to 10 feet in
height and will be sawed off close
to the ground for building purposes.
Two large tents serve as lodging
houses for the accommodation OF
the public. Meals are served UNI
der canvas at IS cents each, and
for lodging the same price is quot
ed. Provisions are coming down
in price, the following being the
quotations on a few staple articles:
Flour sells at SIG per hundred; ba-
con, 80 cents per pound; st. Char
les cream, 40 cents per can; dried
fruits, 10 cents per pound; butter,
60 to IS cents; eggs the same; kerr
osene oil, $l3 a case, and every-
thing else in proportion.
AS might be expected general in
terest here now is centered on the
Big Buffalo group, as the time for
the DeLamar Co., ltd, to examine
the property is drawing near. The
boilers and engine are in full re-
pair and the engineer awaits in
structions to pump the 7O-foot
shaft, drifts and cross-cuts dry. 1t
is authenticity known that since
Messrs. Clark & Sweeney gave up
possession, the owners have I'M
covered another ore chute on the
Orc Elmo, the south claim of the
group. The lead here shows ship
ping values for 80 feet between
we'll. defined walls. Some of this
rock is literally sprinkled with free
gold. 1t is the understood inten-
ton of the prospective purchasers
to inaugurate new plan of devel-
opment providing a satisfactory
deal is arrived at. With the mag
nificent tunnel site afforded on the
south end of the group the three
claims, viz: Orc Elmo, Merrimac
and Big Buffalo, can be developed
by tunnel run on the vein that
will, gain a depth Of $50 feet under
the present shaft. The ore can be
transferred by gravity south into
Sheep creek valley, where there is
a natural mill site and all essential
advantages for milling and reduc-
ton works.
The Jumbo and Crackeriack
mines, under bond to Messrs. Clark
\ Sweeney, are both showing up
well as development proceeds. |
Word came in from the Jumbo the
other day that big strike had
been made. The story originated
evidently from the display of a
a.rge piece of ore taken from the
breast of the tunnel that showed an
abundance Of free gold. Your cor
respondent visited the mine, but
Mr.. Sweeney, the manager, was
absent and had left explicit instruc-
ions with his foreman not to al
ow visitors nor to give any inform
'tion to the public concerning the
property. However, a man who
lad been working In the mine
alked freely of the work and re-
ults. He was satisfied, and said
hat all the miners were confident.
hat the Jumbo would make a
'reat mine. 1.-The tunnel" he
aid, twas in about 400 feet. and
vas being driven now along the
ootwall. For the entire distance
hey had ore of shipping value, as
rule from four to five feet and
the full breast of the
unnel. The vein was a little
'avy but whenever it pinched any
was sure to widen ont again
tronger than ever. A short time
go they had got a little to one side
the pay streak, but it was COM
,g back again and there was now
feet OF ore and widening with
very foot gained in the tunnel
ne ore now in the breast is very
oh and a cross cut was beino
arted.