The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-04-12

~~>@@@B a@@~
Custer county, Idaho, offers vast inducements to settlers and
capitalists. Its beautiful scenery, its enterprising people, its var
led resources. and its brilliant prospects not inaptly commemorate
the name of General Custer, whose dashing, romantic. vet produc-
tive career has become a part of our national history. Thirtyfve
years ago, when placer mining was in its prime and quartz mining
IN its infancy, the territory now embraced in its confines was
known only to Indians aud an occasional party of prospectos
travelling to Or from Montana. To them a wilderness. to the max
es of maps it was "unexplored." In 1862 placers were actively
worked in Stanley Basin, on what is now our western border; and
in 1863 a few venturesome men found rich ground on Loon creek.
In 1870 other placers were discovered and Welded handsomely. but
until quartz claimed attention, five years later, the region now
forming Custer county was practically unknown. From 1875 to
1873 the fame of its rich mines spread Notwithstanding capital
lists and increasing its population-until the following year, by
Legislative enactment, Custer county was created, and has thrived
since that time, until today it has a population of 5000 people,
and has the following towns
Chalis-County seat, farming. stock-raising frut and MINING
Mackay-Mining and farming.
aouston--Farming and stockraising
Bayhorse-Mining.
GGlayton--Mining, farming and stock-raisiug.
Custer-Mining.
Stanley-Placera and quartz mining, and grazing land.
Custer county also has numerous large valleys where farming
and stock-raising is pursued to a great extent, viz Big Lost Riv-
er valley; Thousand Spring; Round; Pahsamaroi; East Fork; An
teope and Stanley.
Custer county embraces in irregular outline about 5000 square
miles, ard it is as large as the State of Connecticut, and larger
than Delaware and Rhode Island together; situated in central Ida
no, it is reached by the Oregon Short Line railroad on the east.
and this road will probably be extended to Chalis next year. The
Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone company have a line from Black
foot TO Challis. The resources of Custer county are found in its
mines and its agricultural and grazing lands.
Mines, Mills and Mining.
Custer county is one of the richest mining sections in the world,
out at present 1t needs better transportation, and capital to develop
its rich mining districts. In some states and territories mining
and agriculture, though progressing hand in hand, are yet nearly
independent of each other. The farmers market is widened by
the miner, to be sure but not relying on home consumption ex-
clusively. he can exist and prosper, but in this county the miner
and farmer depend upon each other to a great extent. Let us for
a moment call the attention of the capitalist to some of the most
important mining districts and mines in the county, viz Mackay,
with its great copper mines; Morgan creek; Garden creek lead and
silver mines; Bayhorse district with its famous Ramshorn. Skylark
and dozens OF rich lead-silver and gold bearing mines; Poverty
Flat; Centennial Flat: East Fork: CLAYTON: Slate creek. ThomnSon
creek; Robinson Bar; Stanley Basin, with placer and quartz; Fish
er gold mines; Sheep Mountain and Seafoam, with their hundreds
OF rich lead-slver mines; Loon creek, placer and gold quartz min
es; Washington Basin gold mines; and the celebrated Yankee Fork
district, which is gold-silver ores, and embraces within its confines
hundred of mines, the most prominent producers at this time being
the Lucky Boy and Yankee Fork. Custer county also has several
quartz mills and smeters-fve quartz mills at Custer; a dredge
boat and mill at Stanley; a smelter at Clayton;c oncentrator at Bay
horse, and a new 6Oton smelter at Mackay. In Custer county has
nearly 5000 located mining claims, and yet the vast region has not
been half prospeced.
AgriCulture and Stock-Raising.