The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-12-06
LUCK'S REPORT TO
EASTERN INVESTORS
A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THUNDER
MOUNTAIN AND BIG CREEK
DISTRICTS BY AN
ENGINEER.

Charles W. Luck, Mining Engineer,
of Weiser, was among the first to
take pack horses through the snow
into Thunder Mountain last spring.
He spent the summer thoroughly in
vestigating the mineral resources of
that extensive region for strong
combination of eastern investors.
He has just completed his report to
see them actively operating in the
district, Mr.. Luck permits us to
take the following general extracts,
withholding the special matters
which the investors desire to keep to
themselves until their plans are com
pleted:
Thunder Mountain is name
somewhat unfortunately applied
to a large and indefinite tract of
country in central Idaho. Where
the meridian 115 deg. W. of Green
wich crosses the parallel on the 45th
deg. of N. latitude is about the
center of the district. Near this
point is situated the now famous
ThuuIor Mo,nto;,
LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES.
The district may in general way
be described as lying south of the
Salmon river and between it's South
and Middle Forks, tract of wild.
mountainous country about 30
miles from e. to W. and 40 miles
from N. to S. This includes the
Thunder Mountain district proper,
Big creek, Smith creek, Yellow Pine
Basin, Profile creek, and practically
all the discoveries in any way con-
nected with Thunder Mountain.
RAILROAD, WAGON ROAD, TRAILS.
Until the recent discovery of
gold which drew swarm of pros
pectors from every direction, this
whoud region was practically terra
incognita. The nearest railroad
station is at Council in Washington
county, 100 miles from Roosevelt,
and the nearest wagon road is at
Warren, rs miles distant Trails
lead in from all sides. Several old
ones pass through the country and
many new ones have been hastily
constructed. If a horse can posi-
bly, pass over the trail, the way is
generally considered good enough.
AS might, therefore, be supposed,
the trails are often steep and narrow
and in some places they are danger
Gus. But few bridges cross the
frequent streams which in early
summer are mountain torrents, and
these few are temporary structures.
PosToFFIcE.
Roosevelt is the only town and
postoffice in the district. The dis
tances above given are to this point
1t is on Monumental creek at the
western foot of Thunder Mountain
where Mule creek comes down from
the Dewey mine.
GEOLOGY.
Approaching and entering the dis
trict, one travels several days over
rocks of the Archaen and Palaeozoic
series, granite, gneiss, schlsts, quartz
lite and states. Then one comes to a
great sheet of dark gray quartz
porphyry which completely covers
the central part of the district, ex-
tending irregularly for eight or ten
miles on all sides of Thunder Mount
ain. 1t may be deeply eroded re-
mains of an extensive laccolite. AL j
though the country is cut In every
direction by deep and steep canyons,
the thickness of this sheet cannot be
told; for the streams are still run
ming on porphyry. They have in
many places cut their narrow chan
nels to a depth of three thousand
feet below the mountain SUBMITS
and yet the underlying formation
has not been reached. There are