Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-03-10
trates can be shipped to smelters

trates can be shipped to smelterl
and sold, charging practically no treat
ment after delivery at the smelter. pay
and IS per cent of the silver.
Soon after the discovery, three tons o,
the higher grade ore was packed on pack
horses to Huntington mill, about IS
miles distant. This ore assayed sir
ounces gold and seven ounces silver, and
the yield was four ounces fine gold, and
$50 pounds of concentrates, which were
shipped to the Tacoma Smelling com.
pany. The returns on the concentrates
were 40 ounces gold and 81 ounces sill
yer, showing gross value of 81, 500 pc,
ton. 1t also shows that the saving was
fully 90 per cent Of the values. The
lower grade ore can be saved, at least, !
to 4 per cent better.
This higher. grade ore came from til.
first Io-foot hole sunk on the Big Buffalo
claim, being the discovery shaft. An
average sample, taken from that discov
cry shaft, seven feet in width, assayel
81 ounces gold and S ounces silver.
nearly $50 per ton.
During the past 10 years have visited
nearly every mining camp Of prominence
west OF the Rock les, as well as those
throughout Montana and Dakota, ard
have never seen, anywhere, surfac e
showing equalinR the showing made OF,
the Big Buffalo and Merrmac claims
There is no question in my mind bu.
what further exploration and develop
ment will prove these claims great gold
producers, equaling, If not surprising
any discoveries made since the palmy
days OF the Comstock lode in N vada.
Nearly all mining engineers, who havs
vis' ed this district, are Of the same
opinion that this is one of the greatest
discoveries OF the aye. The stream
beading at this Buffalo Hump district
and flowing into the Salmon and Gear
water rivers were placer mined in the
early 'oos, and one express company
Wells. Fargo & Co.--alone handled over
$40, ooo 900 that was produced out of the
placer mines within radius of 30 miles
from this new ell dorado.
This district has been visited by
number of competent and able mining
engineers. who ali are of the same opin-
ion that this placer gold came from
ledaes traversing the Buffalo Hump re
gion. There are several parallel veins
on other laims which have extraordin-
airy showings; one ledge in particular,
about one mile westerly, known as the
Monte Cristo or ST. Paul vein, is readily
traceable by its outcrop through II
claims, over two miles in length, show
ing on the differen, claims ledge vary
ing from 10 to 20 feet in width of ore
that will pay profit TO mine and mill;
on some Of the claims, the Gem City,
the Monte Cristo, the ST. Paul, the San
Francisco, all have big showings Of high
grade ore. varying in values from $40
per ton up as high as S., 200 On another
parallel vein, about four miles distan,
from the Big Buffalo, in a southe,ly
course, lies the Jumbo clains Develop
ment thus far on the Jumbo makes an
extraordinary showing. IAN adj, level has
been laid at "A depth, vertically. Of "a
feet, with drift on the face OF the level
a distance of 40 feet, and an average
sample, the entire length Of this level,
Essays ounces gold and AZ ounces
silver. Zone particular rich stratum,
about eight inches in width. runs from
500 to 81, 900 per ton in gold. This
mine is now being developed by lower
tunnel on the vein, and the same values
are found. There are number Of other
promising prospects too numerous to
mention.