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

VtbsOS vi tAatbO NO0IutY.
BY A. r. Parker In Boise Capital.
Very few people have an ade.
quate idea OF the immense mineral
resources which must evidently
perform an important part in the
history and development of the
state of Idaho. And fewer still
have taken the pains to study care
fully the wide extent Of territory
affording a basis of real and per-
manent wealth which the demands
of centuries cannot exhaust. The
attention of the people has not
been drawn to this important
factor Of our future gro 9TH and
prominence; and the federal gov
eminent itself has practically ig-
nored this vast and magnificence
basis of its future grandeur and
permenance. As a matter of fact,
the government owes to the public
good the establishment and main
tenance of this infant industry
whose beginning already gives
promise of future vigor and great
ness. In the midst of appalling
obstacles and adverse circumstan-
ces the prospector and miner, far
beyond the pale. of civilization, in
the wilderness. mountain fastness
and desert plains, and often by the
sacrifice Of their own lives, and al
ways by almost superhuman efforts,
have laid the foundation of an in
dustry, which when measured by
it's Importance and magnitude,
will take front rank in the future
lines If enterprise which are pros.
ecuted by the energy Of our people.
As broad as its ex oanse is al.
ready; as marvellous as it's un.
measured treasurehouse of indie.
structible wealth; as strong as its
guarantee Of inexhaustible supply,
no one has yet been able to sci q
limit to the field which, at this
time, reveals such colossal extern
and promise, because each season
shows, in new. and unexplored To-
calities,. new revelations of as
tonishing and wonderful treasure
The reflections are melted by thu
request Of the editor to publish il
1900 words an article on the min
eral resources Of the grand ole
county OF idaho.
To begin at the beginning
idaho county is the largest county
in the state of Idaho, and one o
the largest in the United States
1t embraces u territorial area o
nearly seven million acres, o
which only half million acre
have been surveyed. 1t extends
from Oregon on the west to Mon
tana on the east. The Clearwate
and Salmon rivers, the two larges
tributaries of the great Snake river
course through its, boundaries. l
is as large as the combined state
of New Hampshire, New Jersey
Connecticut and Massachusetts
with a large acreage to spare.
spread out fiat Idaho county woul
make a state as large as Texas
Within this magnificent area j
the heart of Idaho are 'immens
scopes of mineral country pregnan
with wonderful possibilities. Her
in the early eos were discovered
the placer camps Of Florence
Pierce City, Elk City, Newsom
creek, Dixie, Warrens, and tn
rich bars along the Salmon an
CT. arwater rivers, the golde
streams from which enables TIL
government to maintain the civ
war and thus cemented the unto
of States. But placer mining
now in Its decadence, althoug
from time to time new discoveri'
OF rich placer ground are made.
IN quartz mining we have stan
/ mills operating in all these o
time placer camps. In TACT,
, great deal of desultory prospectil
> has been going on for quartz +
! many years, with varing result
> But genuine mining We have non
and do not recall hole III tt
county lcday which has attained
depth Of 400 feet We have h
i gophering and prospecting, and u
e til the discovery Of the great Blu
e alo Hump camp we have new
known what genuine mining OPP
atoms were. But for all tn
! there are any number of rea
I great and strictly legitimate qua
mining proposition within the Ii
d | it's of this county which are OF
awaiting the magic touch Of ca
tai and industry to become W
table hives Of human industry a
great sources OF wealth in tn
mountain solitudes.
For neurological purposes
v. may divide Idaho county into
K. GREAT zones. the one on the no