Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-09
HISTORIC CAMP
OF So. MOUNTAIN.
This Richly Mineralized Region
OF Idaho is to be the Scene
Of Renewed Life.
PRODUCED BULLION IN THE 7O'S
Large Concentrating Mills May be
Erected--Electrlc Railway to Suake
River Projected.

The old South Mountain Mining dis
trict. located between Silver city, Ida
no, and Mountain City, Nevada, seems
to be coming to the front again and II
present plans carry, is likely to be the
scene Of much activity during the next
few years. This district was considered
very important one back in the 7Os,
and some Of the properties there are
credited with having produced many
thousands Of dollars worth OF bullion.
Freight was hauled into the camp from
point on what was then known as
the Central Pacific railroad.
Spokane parties have secured foot
hold and from George A. Sonnemann, a
pioneer of the Occur d'Alenes the
Nampa Herald has secured some inter-
estlng Information concerning condi-
tions in South Mountain. and says:
Historic old South Mountain, that
nourished, faded and was forgotten a
generation ago. may soon become the
scene of greater activities than We're
ever dreamed of by those who dis
covered It, The plans that are now
under consideration involve the possible
construction OF an electric road from
South Mountain to a point on the Snake
river directly south of Nampa; the
erection of smelter at this point on
the river ana immense concentrators at
the mines.
George A. Sonnem'tnn OF Spokane Is
the owner OF the principal group on
South Mountain. Mr., Sonneman spent
several days In Nampa this week, leay-
ing on Thursday for Spokane,
Mr.. Sonnemann stated that his plans
for the development and operation of
the property were yet In an embryotic
state, and for this reason nothing De
finite could be announced. or course a
large concentrating plant would be
erected at the mine, although there
was much Of the crude ore that would
stand shipment to the Salt Lake
shelters. II might be found desirable
to erect a smelter for the property and
II this were done il would probably be
located at some point on the Snake
south Of Nampa, where the various
classes OF ores produced by the other
districts would be available. He was OF
the opinion that the unlimited power Of
the Snake could be utilized to advan-
tage In the generation of electricity for
operating railroad, and mine, mill and
shelters but this was matter to be
worked later on.
MIR. Sonnemann stated that Victor
NJ. Clement. the noted mine manager,
believed that South Mountain offered
great opportunities and that he would
have taken up the proposition had not
his untmely death interviewed That
the mine will be developed and operated
upon an extensive scale Is certain, but
the details are yet TO be arranged
when questioned concerning his
plans, MIR. Sonneman stated that they
were not sufficiently matured to justify
any definite announcements and he was
dsinclned 10 make any statements
concerning what would be done, as he
might not be able to carry out all that
he contemplated. He had no hesitancy,
however, in declaring that South Noun
tain presented a finer surface showing
than the Couer d'Alene country, and IL
was certain that something would be
done to develop the rich field, He owns
a controlling interest In 500 acres, 20
claims. IS of which are patented, ex-
tending for a distance OF two and a
half miles along a great contract vein,
100 feet wide In places, and which shows
~ feet OF good clean ore. This proper
ty was worked in 20 and II, when very
high grade carbonate ore was taken
out and hauled by wagon to Winnie
mucca, New. owing to the long haul
and high treatment charges 1t was inn
possible to handle anything but the
very rich stun and operations were sus-
pended when the workings had reached
depth of $50 feet,
"'rhe ore now In sight consists of car
Donates and galcna, running high In
gold. silver and lead. with some zinc
and Indications Of copper In the lower
workings. The zinc ore, which was a
detrlment In the early days, is now in
demand and source OF profit, Mr.,
Sonnemann declares that the second
class ore Of South Mountain carries
four times the values OF the average
Couer dAlene ores and It Is found I'm
such immense bodies that the posi- p
bilitIes Of the enterprise can hardly be
estimated"