The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1903-03-26
Bell Makes
Report on Mineral
Resources of the
Teton Basin.

State Inspector of mines, Robert Bell
of Boise, returned to st. Anthony on
Fridays stage from a brief trip to Teton
Basin where he has been making a pre-
liminary investigation of the mineral
resources of that section
In an interview Mr. Bell expressed
himself enthusiastically oyer the coal
resources of the Basin. and rhnricter-
ises one of the coal mines ps being the
pioneer inception of Il big coal mine in
dustry and confideniialN predicts that
what have been considered tWo of the
banner agricultural and PASTORAL coun-
| ties of the state Fremont and Bingham
! will, within a decade, be employing
more men underground than any pair of
counties in the State
Mr.. Bell considers it one Of the im-
portant duties of his office to promote
the development of new mineral bear
| ing sections of the state and assist the
prospector in bringing them to the at
tention of capital. He says that the
coal bearing formations of Fremont and
Bingham counties are OF cretaceous age
| that they are very extensive; that they
abound in igneous rocks, and are likely
| to afford geological combinations that
may produce very superior grade or
| fuel not excepting anthracite coal OF
the finest quality.
II can also readily believe says the
visitor that the numerous reports OF
oil evidences in this field are authentic
and that hydrocarbon oils will be fOuno
in paying quantities at number o.
points and as soon as the snow goes off
II intend to devote considerable timt
to this field and endeayor to delineate til,
extent and location Of its most promising
carbOniferrous horizons for the public
benefit
Gone mine which / visited says MI
Bell, is opened BY 400 foot tunne
driven on the vein all the way at al
average depth Of about 150 feet, tina
the vein ID 8 feet wide; ana all cleal
fuel with the exception of one marrow
parting Of clay ? to 6 inches wide tray
ersing the center of tie vein, ana analy
sis Of the coal he has recently had mad
show as high per cent Of fixed carbo
and as low per cent of ash and mois
ture as the best product Of Utah an
Wyoming mines
Mr.. Bell also visited the Red Mu
Hole gold district above Victor on hi
/ trip but found that the snow was sti
, so deep there that he was unable t
form any definite opinion OF its merit
at this time, he however, secured san
pie from the Red Mud Hole, which h
will haye tested and recites seem
plenty of samples of good looking coppe
silver ore at Victor, and one specime
! Of gold ore well sprinl1led with lin
: colors of native gold Trail creek, upo
which the Mud Hole district is locateC
affords ideal natural conditions in til
: way of water power timber adit tunne
? facilities, for the establishment OF
. gold mining district, if the values prov
/, to be there
> The roads he says, are in rath'
! bad condition just at present, but I'll
:, camp enjoys an excellent stage an
> mail service (six times a week. wit
G good accommodations on the way an
: the go mile trip from St. Anthony is
y picnic, even at this time of year, con
: pared to some new districts | have Vi
= tied.
: Mr.. Bell left for Boise on Friday ev
!. ning's train. He expects to pay. !
;, another visit about the middle OF Ma.