Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1899-08-11
THE SALMON
RIVER MINES
A Rich, Undeveloped
and Accessible
Region.
IDEAL CLIMATE
Hospitable People. Fine Fruits, Good
Roads, Moderate Charges, Fish
and Game all Tend to the
Attractiveness of This
Delectable Section.

Never, since the early days OF
placer mining in what was then
termed the far west and Australia
from 1849 to 1865-have there
been 50 many gold and copper seek
ers in the field as the present time,
but for some unaccountable reason
the average prospector is looking
for the most isolated and inacces-
sible region to be found, often pass
ing over ground richer than is to
be found in the far-off places. Most
of the first -class camps in the west
have been easy OF access and some
of them have been found after the
rush of prospectors have left ex-
elements and scattered for pas
lures new.
The writer OF this article has re-
Gently returned from trip to the
Salmon river country and can con-
scientiously state that better field
for the careful prospector, or capital
seeking investment in mines does
not exist in the state of Idaho than
Salmon river and contiguous coun
try. There is section of country
bounded by Chair creek on the
south, Squaw creek on the north,
Salmon river on the west and
timber belt ON the east-on the top
of the mountain above the mineral
belt--that gold in quartz and por-
phyry is found the entire length
about s miles. 1t lies IN stratas
running across the formation, said
formation trending northerly and
southerly and the stratas cutting
the same east and west, Those
stratas are dotted with iron cubes
from the size of a pinhead to
pigeon egg, all of which, when oxi-
died, will show a good pan pros
pect. Where the sulphurets oc.
cur fire test is necessary. "Grab"
samples have assayed as high as
$3.50 and averages across the stratas
run from SIS to $50. The stratas
are from few feet apart to 90 or
80 feet, in some cases, with little
work, they run together. Some Of
the stratas are about foot in
width and others as wide as 8 feet.
Varying impressions as to the fu-
ture of this belt when developed
are: The stratas will run together;
the stratas will widen and remain
separate bodies; a large ledge ira.
verses the belt, with formation,
close to where the porphyry comes
in contact with the lime on the
east or upper side and liken it to the
backbone Of an animal, the bone
representing the ledge and the ribs
the stratas. A lime belt parallels
the formation on east and west side
of the porphyry, All concede it
to be cyaniding proposition.
Aside from the river, which lies
to the west about a quarter of a
mile distant, there are several creeks
with plenty of water for mining,
milling and domestic purposes. The
timber on the mountain above the
belt can be slid down to the mines.
Little work has been DONE
barely enough for recording-owipg
to lack of funds of the locators,
but it is safe to surmise that tun-
mel of sufficient length to cut the
claims say 800 feet, the belt being
about that would show up
the richest, most extensive and &C
cessible mining region (gold) in
the domain of Uncle Sam.
The climate is unsurpassed, little
snow, and development work can
be prosecuted throughout the year.
Placer mining is carried on along
the river, both in the upper and
lower channels, some of the former
being very extensive. The first