The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-20
Fourteen Inches Of High Grade
Free Milling Gold Ore
TAPPED IN THE MAIN TUNNEL.
Another Blind Ledge in the Camp
Creek District, Making the Third
ON the Ida Elmore PROPERTY
Plans for Penetrating Lady,
rinth of Collaborating veins-Htgh
Grade ArsenicaI-A Coming Payer.

Charles a. Mariner, managing director
of the Ida Gilmore Company. has returned
from Camp creek with fiattering report
OF the condition of the mines. This group
of nascent gold producers is located on
the east side Of the Cascade range in Gle
Elum county. Thousands on thousands OF
tons of free milling ore lie exposed on the
surface, prepared by the oxidizing process
of nature, for the ten-stamp mill which
has been ordered and will be installed at
an early day.
What may be the depth Of this mass of
free-milling material Is problem that
remains to be solved BY deep exploration,
although the experiences OF development
up to date would indicate that structural
alterations similar to those of Peshastin
district win obtain. For this contingency
the provision of Mr. Mariner has enabled
him to make the necessary plans In the
matter of profitable treatment.
Two Rich Blind Lodges.
OF the Ida Gilmore group 1t may be said
that Its several locations cover network
Of gold-bearing veins. The ground is very
steep, and four of the claims take in
the apex Of the mountain. Running the
length of the Ida Gilmore claim, and under
the apex 450 feet, 2S7-foot tunnel has
passed three lodges, two Of them blind.
The first at distance of seventy-nine
feet, seven feet between walls, carries S4
Resembling ore. In the second, at 1853
feet which Is a six-foot ledge, are three
feet and eight inches OF arsenical iron. and
in the third ledge, tapped at 204 feet, are
eighteen inches OF the same character OF
ore. Its samples yielded an average of SAG
in gold to the ton. These latter veins. or
the rich arsenical iron strikes. were the
blind ones.
1t was decided. after having obtained the
foregoing results. to establish the main
working tunnel below the apex Of the
mountain on the Golden Star location,
through which was traceable frce-milling
cropping paraIleling the three Ida Gilmore
lodges although dissimilar in character to
the blind ones and resembling the one
exposed.
Plans for the Main Tunnel.
On this Golden Star ledge, which has
twenty-five inches Of s12 ore, Mr.. Mariner
decided to run his main tunnel. almost at
right angles with the tunnel above. The
future necessities of shipment, economy of
operations and the conformation of the
mountain, not alone made this plan expedi-
ent. Traversing the mountain at right
angles with the lodges already described
were two free-milling lodges that must be
met at their intersection with the Golden
Star ledge. When it is known that the
mountain falls at an angle of forty-one
degrees the advantage of Mr.. Mariners
plan will be appreciated by mining men.
His main tunnel will eventually take him
to the center of this singular geological
filigree. along it's various threads. When
he left the mine this work measured 104
feet.
Tapped n Free Gold Ledge.
At distance of forty-two feet from the
portal the tunnel tapped the third blind
ledge discovered in the group. Instead of
crossing vertically 1t was found to lie at
a slight dip into the mountains Its pitch
may be imagined from the fact that the
tunnel, continued in it's straight course,
traversed the new ledge for thirty feet.
In other words, the tunnel in passing out
and over the roof, or hanging wall, meas
ured that distance. In this vein was found
fourteen inches of the richest milling ore
yet discovered, for the quartz showed free
gold. Its value Is not known. as Mr.. Mar
riner has not received his sample returns.
The 81 400 assay published in a Post-Intel-
ligencer special dispatch from Ellensburg
is mere guess work. so far as he knows.
Calculations From the Surveys.
The surveys show that in a distance Of
14S feet, or forty-four feet farther, the
main tunnel should tap the first of the
cross Lodges, and within ia beyond that
point the second cross lead should be
found. From the fssure intersections
crosscuts will be run out of the Golden
Star and through the Ida Gilmore terri
toIys nat 10 W say, tHe CROSS leuSeS VIII
be pursued from the main tunnel to their
intersection with the lodges already known
to exist on the Ida Gilmore and when
this has been accomplished it may be said
that the ground plan for what should prove
to be a remarkable gold quarry will have
been laid.
Proving the Network of Veins.
The first crosscut, according to the sur
vey, to reach the third or upper ledge on
the Ida Gilmore, will be 2S0 feet and the
second 26O feet, Thus the entire develop
ment, intended to prove the network of
veins at 600 feet below the apex of the
mountain should be slightly in excess of
800 feet.
The upper tunnel, for the purposes of
production and shipment, will be connect
ed with the main in the spring by / 600
foot tramway. Between the main tunnel
and the mill, which will occupy an excep-
uonal site on the Cle-Elum river, will be
5,S00foo tram.
AS dividend payer. before the year
mas expired this property is as good as
guaranteed.