Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-11-27
VAST RICHES IN IDAHO.
W. H. Skinner Of Lewiston, Idaho,
Tells of the Blue Bird.

The Chicago Record Herald of Mon
day tells of the visit of w. H. Dewey
to the Windy City. 1t says that Mr..
Dewey believes he is the richest man
in the world or that he soon will be.
Mr.. Dewey says there will be trumpet
tidings that will proclaim Idaho an
American Transvaal or an United
States Klondike, that will pale the
fame of Cripple Creek or any other old
diggings. Col. Dewey has gold mine
which has ledge 5000 feet long and
240 feet across. He estimates q ton of
the quartz will yield $4,000. He is an
old time westerner and is already a
multimillionaire, and he is developing
one of the greatest gold mines ever
opened up in this country.
The interest that the above would
have to the readers of the Courier is
that so many people here are interested
in the Blue Bird copper mine and it
only goes to show what mineral
state Idaho is. W. H. Skinner formerly
of this county but now of Lewiston,
Idaho, has been visiting his daughter
Mrs. Clarence Wight for the past few
days. He is located about fifty miles
south of the Blue Bird mine and he is
well posted on the mining situation of
that locality. A representative of this
paper interviewed him Tuesday morn
ing in regard to what he knew and had
heard of the mine in which the people
here are so much interested. He stat
ed that friend of his had property
right near the Blue Bird and through
him had become quite well acquainted
with the latter. From his description
it seems that the Blue Bird is the COM
ing mine of that section and that there
is no doubt about its becoming nine.
Other property owners, though work
ing their property, are not pushing the
work, but are watching the develop
ment of the Blue Bird.
This friend of his was out to the Blue
Bird short time ago and brought back
with him several samples of the ore
from the dump, of which Mr.. Skinner
had couple of samples, which those
who know something of copper ore,
pronounce very fine. This friend Sc
cured these samples, not for the pur-
pose of showing what the Blue Bird
was particularly, but to show that his
! N, xvoo naor hot bo onncidorod
and what the ore itself demonstrated,
was mine that had every prospect in
the world of being winner, and that
he was very much encouraged over his
own property through the development
of the Blue Bird as far as the work has
been done.
In regard to the way the mine was
being developed he said that he under
stood that the company was going to
pursue the right course; that is that it
is the intention to drift in from the
main shaft and side cut, and in this
; manner determine exactly how much
ore the company had in sight. When
this has been fully done the other
, property holders will begin to push the
, development of their claims and rail-
roads will be built to the mines. 1t
was his opinion that the Blue Bird be-
ing thoroughly tested by this drifting
that some railroad would Immediately
start to reach this district and then the
matter of getting the ore to the smelters
aud market would be completely solved.
In fact, he stated, several surveys have
already been made into the district by
the railroads. Mr.. Skinner further
stated that plans were now already
under way to erect smelters at Lewis
ton in order to care for this rich mining
district, the people there having faith
in the Hoodoo mining district.
Mr.. Skinner formerly lived at
Nashua and is still somewhat acquaint-
ed in this county and left Tuesday noon
for that place. He is a very pleasant
gentleman to meet, being an excellent
conversationalist. He has invested in
mining interests there, though having
no stock in the Blue Bird, yet he con-
siders it safe investment. New
Hampton Courier, Nov. q.