Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-08-08

Of Idaho county, having taken
several trips along the headwaters
OF the south fork aud middle fork
of Salmon river some years ago,
aud also in the earlier days Of
Indian warfare. 1t is not an in
viting country to look at. A
birds eye view offers nothing more
attractive than a vast expanse of
mountains and woods, topped by
serpentine ridges and towering
peaks which attain an altitude Of
10000 feet, which show on their
abraided sides that they have only
recently Comparatively speaking)
been liberated from the pressure OF
great glaciers, while the terrible
canyons, ground out by the same
resistless agency, give to the
country an appearance OF gloom,
solitude and dcsolation which has
frightened away many IA hardy
prospector year after year. 1t is u
country Of weird and imposing as.
poets and the student Of geology
will find their object lessons
enough to impress upon his mind
the magnitude of the elevating aud
abrading forces which have
modelled the present Typographical
and drainage system Of this vast
and promising mineral belt
In this section are the camps Of
Alton, Monumental, Big Copper,
Thunder mountain, and other belts
which have not yet been organized
into mining districts.
In the camps north Of the Sal
mon river the characteristics of the
gold ore are sulphides OF varying
degrees of baseness but SO far as
tests have been made, yielding
readily to the cynanide process.
Such stamp mills as have been
erected have demonstrated that
a good percentage Of the gold values
can be saved on the plates. The
residue concentrates readily by
Vanner process, the results OF my
own experience demonstrating that
ten tons concentrates into one, re-
sulting in q concentrate worth
s175 ton in gold. The values
are generally uniform throughout
the lodges, timber is everywhere
abundant and cheap, and unlim-
tied water power is running te
vast waiting to be utilized 10.
power, or for the generation o
electricity with which to operate
and work the mines. Enough
work has been done throughout
this region to demonstrate the fac
that it is mining region of great
pl omise, and that the mines ar,
permanent and hold their strength
and values as depth is attained
With the advent of railroad trans
portation into this long isolated re
gion look for great activity il
gold mining in the districts nortf
Of the Salmon river, and | taxi
pleasure in inviting the attention
md personal investigation of dele
gates to the Mining Congress t.
this section, especially, such as ar
looking for investments of tina
character.
There are the finest bodies O
agricultural land in the state il
the near vicinity of these mines
assuring a plentiful and cheap sup
ply of the necessaries of life 70
nan and teams. All other essen
tails are here, except the skill an
the capital.
Notwithstanding her enormou
urea Idaho county has been of slo'
growth, owing chiefly to our grea
distance from railroad transports
lion, the difficulty of access, an
the fear OF Indians. But thong
growing to importance slowly,
} lis q county Of great value, and, a
| tho, gh we ha, made a phenom
a nal growth in the past decade,
: Twill be still greater in the mex
, viewing the prospect in the light
!. the tremendous changes that ha'
/; taken place in the character of o,
: population, the facilities for ne
a enterprises reaching her horde
d through railroads, and the flood
+ light which has lately shone up'
f. her resources.
r In point OF fact no county in t
r. entire northwest has q greater {
8, versity Of resources and natul
y gifts than grand old Idaho count
tz and her products are beginning
a. excite the attention Of the rest
ly the state, and IS awakening it
j. the conviction that it has prodn
i i've capabilities not heretofore 81
id pected in all lines of industry, l
Sc the least of which is mining
gold. A. F. PARKER
We Grangeville, Idaho, July 10, l9'
vn $50