Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-08
Rich UndsveIopsd District.


A portion of Josephine county
which is rich in mineral possibilities
yet which Is almost virgin ground as
far as prospecting ia concerned is the
extreme western and southwestern
part lying in the coast mountains,
This district embraces the Ohetoo
river ami its tributaries and tho lower
Illinois aud its affluents Big Silver,
Indigo and Collier creeks. The
insccessibility OF the district is the
prime cause Of its undeveloped and
save by hunters inexplored condition.
1t is to bo reached only by trails
nearly all OF them Of the roughost
variety. These trails are primstive
and generally follow the line Of least
resistance with little regard to the
distance involved They will often
lead for miles at right angles to the
direction Of the objective point as
cending the spur Of some high noun
tain in order to gain another spur by
which a descent Ia made, perhaps
thousands OF feet to gain some creek
or river point. A very great area Of
tho region is PERCEPTIONS and there
are many places wnere . man on
foot can not make his way across the
country without danger to life and
limb.
The upper Cbecto il rich In gold.
Its plaoers yiold heavy nuggets and
several magnificent quartz finds have
been made in the vicinity Of its upper
tributaries. Tho tellurium belt
which is giving a Wide spread reputa.
tion TO tho Canyon creek district in
luences the Chooto also, and import.
ant iinds in this IMMORAL are to be
expected The Chocto region Ia rich
In copper and nickel orc also II
found. The extent and yaluo Of the
mineral deposits are yet to be detor-
mined.
Silver creek the largest and most
important tributary Of the lower
Illinois has three branches known AZ
South Silver, Little Silver and Big
silver On these creeks mining up
TO the present date has been confined
to the branch known as South Silver
which has produced In its plaoers
many thousands Of dollars In coarse
heavy gold and is the scene Of import
ant placer operations at tho present
time. Big Silver creek, by far the
largest Of the three tributaries, IA
virtually an unknown region as re-
CARDS its mineral possibilities. Some
attempt has been made 20 mine il
bed for placer aud with fair measure
Of success, though the difficulty Of
working tho heavy ground prevented
any very great profit In the opera.
tions, which were conducted on a
small scale and without machinery.
The gold secured was coarse and Of
superior quality. No quartz opera.
tions are yet instituted on aPy Of tho
branches OF Silver creek, though tho
presumption is general that mineral
exists there IN quantity aud only
needs to be found.
Indigo creek il district more re-
mote and loss known than Silver
creek. II IL tributary Of the
Illinois. coming In from tho north
side below Silver Crock and il q
stream Of some Importance. No note
worthy gold finds seem to have beer
made In this district bat native cop
per In good sized pieces has beer
picked up in the creek bed.
Collier creek is another tributry o.
the Illinios. coming IN from th'
south side and living its source neal
those Of the Cheoto nibutries Col
lier creek has produced some place.
gold and pieces Of native copper Law
been found long i,s source.
All these streams arc producers O
platinum. Rich deposits Of gol,
exists throughout the district and tn