Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-11-23
MINERAL RESOURCES OF
SOUTHERN OREGON
Thomas Buckman Tells In Valley
Record of His Trip to
Copper District.

40 or so years, the mining was done
for placer gold and some very ricf
pockets were struck in those early
days. But the real mineral wealth Of
that part of the country has hardly
been touched as yet. The wealth lies
hidden in the rocks, in the way Of
copper, gold and other minerals.
"For an outing l went up a branch
of the Illinois river to look at some
copper prospects reported in the
mountains up there. I got into wha,
may we'll be classed as mountains,
though their altitude is not as great
as those farther back from the coast,
and they are not as rough and diff
cult to get over as / have seen in
many other places.
"In going in / stopped and made
some investigation of the mineral
deposits around Takilma, the place
where they have small smelter
started. They have worked this
smelter at intervals for three years
but as everything has to be hauled on
wagons for 40 miles, the coke they
use in the furnace, and the matte they
get as a product, it takes much profit
of but it has demonstrated the fact
of the wealth of the ore.
"Upon going on into the mountains
TO the groupings had been told about
found they corresponded exactly with
those around Takilma, showing that
they were an extension of the same
vein of ore. and to appearance more
OK tensive than around Takilms. 1t
is supposed that the two districts
connect without a doubt, but the
mountains lay in such shape that
the groupings Of the main ledge does
not show out to any extent.
This district known as the Pres.
ton Peak, Grown Point, Sanger mines
and the Ivanpah group of claims all
lay in Del Norte county, California,
and are from six to 12 miles south OF
the Oregon line, and properly in the
west end to the Siskiyou mountains
and near where they join on to the
Coast range.
The main portion of these.prospeots
are over on the slope towards the
river.
What is known as the Preston
Peak mine has been prospected to the
greatest depth. land the ore taken out
shows to good advantage. and proves
beyond doubt the value of the entire
field, and from what l saw while l was
there l am convinced that the ma
terial is there all right enough, in
quantity enough to last for genera
ions.
For the proper development Of
hose mines railroad is needed from
Grants Pass to Crescent City. 1t
would pass near by the Takilma dis
rict, and would run within 10 miles
# the one in California. There are
10 great engineering difficulties to
vercome in building the road and
here is plenty of power for cleo
ricity when needed.
''It is plain to be seen there is no
oor mans undertaking about this.
)ne hundred miles of railroad to be
uilt; though 80 miles would find lots
f other business besides hauling min.
lg supplies as quite portion of the
'ay it would run through good ag-
icultural country. The building of
ne road, and putting up the build
ngs, and installing the proper ma
hinery for reducing the ores, YOU
an see that 1t will run into big
CURES, but ] am convinced that the
laterial is there to Justify the outlay.
Ninety miles of the road could be
lsssed as road for general pur.
oses, and l believe il would pay
air interest in time aside from the
inning interest; but the development
the mines is entirely dependent up
n the road being built. Bot when
re consider the fact that almost the
ntire length of the road would be
hrough rich mining district the
mount of traffic the mines would
nrnish for the road would make this
oad one of the best paying roads N
he country in very short time.
Were these prospects out in the
eserts OF Arizona, or up in Alaksa or
ome other cut of the way place there
'ould be great rush for them, aud
apital would come in unlimited
uantty; but the trouble is they are
DO close to civilization. But their
ay will come some of these times,
nd fortunes will be picked up by
ome lucky fellows or | am nsis-
AIKEN. THOMAS BUCKMAN
An Historic House.