Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
BIG STRIKE IN Elk
MORE RICH ORE ENCOUNTERED
IN MINERAL ZONE.
Will INSTALL MORE STAMPS
Showing in Sight win Pay for Mine
Developing Snowstorm Group
Activity in Other Mines.

The mining country contiguous to Elk
City and Dixie is displaying more than
usual activity this season in the way
of development work and the installa-
tion OF stamp mills and other mining
apparatus. There is not an idle man
in the entire district and prosperity
is noted on every hand. Joe B. Wade.
special correspondent for the Lewiston
Tribune, who was in the territory last
week, visited the majority of the camps
in that section and secured data for
considerable interesting reading, q part
of which is herewith reproduced:
| Ore estimated to run in good values
from $500 per ton up, has been encoun-
tered on the hanging wall on the east
drift on the Colonel Sellers claim Of
the Mineral Zone group
Planning made show it to be i'm
mensley rich, some of the miners plac-
ing the value as high as $1,000 per ton.
The rich ore vein on the foot wall
continues and the new vein on the
hanging wall came as surprise. The
ore body is about seven feet wide, but
the high-grad stuff lies on the hang
ing foot wallsi The people of Elk City
now feel more confident than ever
that the Mineral Zone is the greatest
property ever opened in that district.
From the collar of the shaft to the
bottom of the sump, the Colonel Sell
lers claims have been opened to depth
of about 100 feet. The east drift
is now 50 feet in and being pushed
ahead. The ore bins are full and one
team is hauling Is tons per day to the
mill.
The mill is treating Is tons in "a
hours with five stamps. Five more
stamps will be put in operation next
week. A look at the plates in the
mill will convince any mining man
that the ore is very rich.
The Mineral Zone group embraces
nine claims and is situated two miles
from Elk City. 1t had been owned by
Mrs. M. A. Parr for several years, who
has had the assessment done on the
American creek side of the ridge ON y
claim known as the Enterprise. Last
December the assessment was done ON
the Colonel Sellers on the side of the
ridge nearest to town. The work con-
sisted of open cuts about IL feet deep.
In these good-looking ore was found,
but no one made a test of it until
Jack Anderson went to the claim to
work. Seeing what was being uncover
ed Jack said "That stuff looks good
to me, ! bet it will pan." Jack tried
it and it did pan and panned rich
so rich that no assay was needed to
show that it would pay to mine and
mill.
Mrs. Parr Immediately got busy,
employed men and took out about 90
tons of ore, which was hauled to the
Elk City Reduction works and treated.
The returns from the SO tons was over
$4,000, as shown by the U. s. mint re-
ceipts.
This ore was mined under great dif-
ficnlties, there being .our feet Of snow
on the ground, and the men employed
walked two miles to and from work,
there being no cabins at the mine.
The news Of the new discovery soon
reached the ears of prominent mining
men Of the outside world and negota-
tions were soon under way for the pur-
chase of the property.
After thorough examination of the
property, several assays and mill run
tests, the mines passed to the owner
ship of j. R. Painter and associates.
While the price was never made public,
it is learned from reliable source that
the consideration was $4,000, of which
$4,000 was paid in cash, 10000 to be
in six months and the balance in pay
ments every six months.
After the deal was closed, B. @.
Austin, who is one Of the associates
of Mr.. Painter in the investment was
secured as manager, and Art Hilliar,
one Of the best miners in Idaho, a. fore
man. The two hustlefs immediately
got busy and in six weeks had both
mine and mill in operation, breaking
all records for speedy work not only n
this camp but for any other camp IN
the northwest. Conservative mining