Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1913-02-13
VAST MINERAL ZONE IN Idaho
COUNTY LIES DORMANT.
Great As eOEUR D. AlnE
Mine Inspector Says Opening Would
GIVE Additional Wealth TO State and
Market to Labor.

in the central part Of the state, dis
trict which, in the judgement of some
of the most capable geologists and en-
gineers is capable Of producing large
supply of new wealth--furnishing a
market for the product Of the Snake,
Boise, Weiser and Payette valleys and
pouring into southern Idaho from ST.
100000 to $4,000, 900 of new wealth
each year.
State Mine Inspector Bell, in his an
nual report for the year 1912, says in
part:
Difficulties Of Development.
Being small taxpayer myself, and
making an annual tribute of over $675
per acre on small tract Of unproduc-
tive fruit and pasture land for state
and county purposes, fully appreciate
how difficult 1t is going to be for the
Legislature to provide ways and means
to indulge in additional state expen-
dtures Of this nature, unless it can be
done by bonding and transferring the
ultimate settlement of the obligation
created, to the population of the future
who are to be benefited by the maxi
mum results of this outlay. But |
firmly believe that just as big bust
ness can be created i'm the Big Creek
mining district, in the southern part of
Idaho county by a fuller development
of its magnificent ore resources, as is
annually produced by the mines of Sho-
shone county, and whose business bene-
fits could not get away from the south
ern towns of Idaho and their agricul-
taral interests, and also those of Lewis
ton and Salmon City sections when the
Gilmore & Pittsburg railroad is com
pleted through the canyon of Salmon
river.
Route Into District.
"The southern route to this district
would leave the railroad at Thunder
City and Long Valley, pass over the
present Roosevelt road to the cross
ing Of johnson creek, distance of 40
miles. To put this piece of road in
shape for heavy hauling would not re-
quire an outlay of over $4,000. From
johnson creek to Edwardsburg, the
postoffice center of Big creek district,
first class wagon road can be built
for $4,000 by the way of Yellow Pine
basin and Profile creek on very easy
grade.
Road Necessary to State
This believe, is one of the most
necessary and important pieces of
road construction required in Idaho
looking to the general prosperity of
the state, which would inevitably re-
suit, by making more attractive and
accessible the wonderful ore resources
OF this region, in addition to which it
would connect with the northern road
at Edwardsburg which has been built
by the state and private parties and
would offer vent for vast area of
Idle natural resources, which would
prove o valuable asset to the state in
the creation of new business, as the
resources of this section of the state
are OF such q definate nature in both
timber and mineral as to warrant the
prospect Of building up labor mar
ket worth 10000, 900, for in addition
to the great volume and variety of its
mineral deposits this particular region
carries millions of feet of yellow pine
and pulp wood pine, which is also preg-
nant with profitable business and
traffic possibilities.
Our active sister states, recognizing
the need of good roads in developing
the resources of the states, and awak-
ening to the fact that without roads
"a feeders, railroads advancement is
impossible, have since 1902 construct
cd over 1900 miles Of state highway
at the cost Of $lO1. .139 900.