The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-02-11

been "corralled" and was IN
strong hands. But large bodies
of very rich ore perfectly free
have since been developed and
prospectors have reported val
liable discoveries over a wide
surrounding area, of the same
character.
There is no doubt at all in my
mind that the discovery is an inn
portant one and opens field of
almost limitless mineral possibil-
tiles. l think little or no basalt
will be found Gaping the miner
al ledges. although l saw few
small patches near Estes. The
importance of this fact to the
prospector is very great, and if
my surmise be correct, the
country should be an easy one to
prospect though difficult to pene
trate except on foot.
The general level of the region
is high and the climate conse-
quently rigorous. The SHOWS
fall deep and lie very late owing
to the protection of so extensive
northern slopes to the mountains
and the presence of a good deal
of timber. 1t will be an easy
country to live in once roads are
opened to get in. supplies-fully
as easy as Creede but perhaps
more like Breckenridge than any
other camp in Colorado.
AS for water and water power,
both are limitless. The streams
are very numerous, of good vol
ume and an even flow the year
round. The region is the source
and maintenance of many of the
largest rivers of Idaho, and with
slight expense limitless amount
of power can be had in the dis
trict. The climate though rigor-
Gus will not be found bleak nor
severe to those. accustomed, as
we of the west are, to high alti-
tudes. But it would be danger
GUS to attempt to go in there be-
fore the first of May for there
are absolutely no roads-and
worse than all, there will be no
food till the trails are open.
l should say the best way for
people from Colorado to go in
will be to get to Salt Lake or
Ogden and from there by the
Oregon Short Line (there is no
other railrord), via. Blackfoot to
Mackay Houston on the map,
remember), in the southeastern
part of Custer county; thence by
!. daily stage to Challis, 80 miles;
thence by stage to Yellow Jack
ct, in Lemhi county. From there
in, with the trail open, it is about
a two-days journey, for though
the distance cannot exceed 5C
miles, the trail is slow one and
"sooners" will have to go in with
, a pack train or starve.
, To Yellow Jacket the Journey
is as easy as from Denver tc
r Colorado Springs and can bt
> made at any time without hard
? ship.
At Boise one will fall in with
. hundreds going out after Apri
. but the horseback ride will bt
5 $50 miles.
: Another good way will be tt
go to HALEY (the old Wood river
camp and from there a beauti
full smooth road runs nortl
: through the beautiful STANLEY
Y Basin valley east of the magniti
: cent Sawtooth range to Sheel
e mountain on the middle fork o
b the Salmon. Down the Middl
Fork there is now a blind trai
e and will soon be a wagon road t
Y Vinegar hill-which is Thunde
il mountain. If anyone tells 20
: it isn't and that I'm fool, don
e dispute the point The next ma
q you meet will tell you something
l. else. I am giving what cor
J. slider the most reliable informf
}, ton. III were going in myseI
:, 1 would go via. Mackay, Challi
d and Yellow Jacket. People froT
J. the north will go in via. Wal
5. rens, one of the rich, old place
Ie camps of the glorious early days
k l have myself a very high OF
k inion of the region as a probabI
r field of a great future, and it
A. certain there will be vast rus
l to it early in the spring from a
l. quarters. But whether it is g
a. ing to prove a second Californi
le or not l can't pretend to say fro
is personal knowledge. | have tol
id you about all 1 know, and yo
le see my information is meage
e, There is only meager inform
S ton to be obtained that is r
le liable. Of course, you can s.
ID plenty of precise and positive i
e. formation from the thousar