Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-04-07
GRANTS PASS ALWAYS A MINING TOWN

The country around Grants Pass has been noted for
90 years the richest mining section of Oregon
In the old days Kerby the principal town the then
thnlypopuated country but for the last quarter of
century Grants Pass has been the business as well
commercial and political center of Josephine county
During many years Grants Pass known at home and
abroad as mining town for the reason that rich mines
and mining camps fairly surrounded it. During the last
few years the fruit business has been popular in the coun
y and consequently the orchards have attracted much
attention. they have produced large quantities of the
fruit that has made the Rogue River valley famous at
home and abroad This business has increased in volume
om year to year. but Notwithstanding the prosperity of
our orchards, mining has continued its popularity
ularity.
In the western part of Josephine county on the head
waters OF the illinois River many rich mineral deposits
have been discovered They for the most part placer
propositions and among them at this day is the Waldo
Consolidated large property which known to be very
valuable Previous to the consolidation the holdings
consisted Of several different mnes all producers The
new company will work the Waldo large scale dur
ing tins and the coming There are other va-
able discoveries in placer properties in that section and
mining men give 1t as their opinion that western Jose
phne county not only rich placer but in quartz prop
osltons. The country is crossed by mineral belt on
winch mas been found gold and copper for distance of
many miles The gold formation is rich and extensive
and In places the veins many feet in width The cop
per has been explored at various points but more thor
oughy on the Rogue River where the Ameda shows the
ioiBosI ucVeiopleul OF Tcn ORE IhlS hioh
per when depth reached and also carries gold in oan
uties sufficient to more than pay smelling charges Con
per deposits of the Almeda class are as rule permanent
that u.s. they have been continual producers in some
Tor centuries There every indication that this norr
Lar mine will keep up its values practically for all time
like the far-famed copper mines of Spain England and
some newer properties in Montana Nevada Arizona and
British Columbia The history of these mines has bean
that the ores have not only maintained their Quantity and
quality but in some have improved from decad
TO decade The copper found in this belt running bronCb
the Gace district experts tell u.s. is of the kind abS
mentioned. The Almeda, which has been opened M f
distance of over 5000 feet promises to equal anvtbnr
that has been found in any part of the United States o
British Columbia. 'NN ''''es VI
Inc od Channel mine, which is three miles west of M
Aeda, is one OF the most valuable properties in tb %
and has already yielded between $36OOOO and A ono 0Oe
IN gold 1t has been worked for more than half covt
with uniform results each season It is placer nroo
uon and will take more than century 10 eybanSt M
unwashed gravel in which the gold is found ''' d
There are other properties in the Galce district Li
nave likewise produced gold in abundance bv tb &
process and large quantities Of the shinnc mt @
oeen washed out of the bars along Rogue river ~ o.,
producing territory wv" "o'eu as gold G
Later the Sugar Pine, quartz property was d.o,,