Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-06-09
The Age of Gold.

is the age of gold, and it is a fact
that never before in the history of
the world has there been so many
human beings engaged in the
search for the precious metals.
The search is not confined wholly
to the stronger sex either, and not
q few women are engaged in the
business Of prospecting. Others of
the weaker sex, who possess means,
or who possess the necessary push
and enterprise are engaged actively
in gold mining, or holding interests
in gold mines, either in stocks or
as sole owners. The cause of this
growing interest in gold mining is
due to the fact that the possession
of gold today is the open sesame to
everything in the world. 1t is the
talisman that affects all from the
highest to the Lowest, and even ma
tort kQYefssn6eats 'Are engaged in
n ilspt6 s3ysIry TO increase their
stfyy& i3f13fI y%l1ow metal. It's Of
fects, baneful or otherwise, per-
meate every grade of society, and
too often love itself, when pitted
against the power of gold, meet de-
feat, and youth and beauty sue
cumb to its influence, no matter
how vile or incongruous may be its
possessor who makes its weight felt
in the interest of his suit.
1t certainly cannot be gainsaid
that there is something wonderfully
attractive and fascinating in the
search and delving for gold. The
fascination does not confine itself
to any class or to any age or con-
dition Of civilized men, but is most
pronounced among the Anglo
Saxons. 1t is also known that
those'of that race who are stout Of
heart and strong of limb are the
ones who rush into the farthermost
corners of the world if they once
get the idea that gold may be
wrested from nature on arrival at
the promised Eldorado. Distance
daunts not, neither do hunger, pri-
walton, thirst, heat, cold or dan
ger, 80 long as the searcher believes
that gold will be his reward once
he reaches the place where report
locates the object Of his search,
The entreaty of dear ones will moi
lure him from his quest, and death
itself possesses no terrors for him
who has become seized with tn.
idea of obtaining gold. Such mel
always confine their attention t.
placer gold, which natures staml
mill and concentrating plants ha'
placed ready at hand for him Wit
searches for it with pick and shovel
open alike to the rich and poor
The PUSHES to Klondike and t.
California in early days were du
to the fact that placer gold coul'
be obtained in those regions. Sue
excitements move thousands in
short time.
There is, however, another kin
of gold mining called quartz mir
ing, necessarily slower and less al
tractive, though rewards are sure
and more permanent, which is tn
process of reducing the rock t
powder and separating the gol
therefrom, in some cases on tn
same principle that nature employ
of grinding and washing. Univel
sally the case in central Idaho
while in other cases the ore n
quires expensive and tedious trea
ment by fire and chemical actor
1t is well to note here that nearl
all Of the ores Of British Columns
are of the smelling or concentra
ing class, necessitating expense,
treatment while those of Centr
idaho are of the free milling elias
requiring only the least EXPENSE
OF machinery for the profitable I
duction of gold ores, and viii,
may be treated on the property ]
self, with no expensive freight
smelling charges.
Unlike any other commodit
gold never loses its value, no ma