Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1914-02-26
IDAHO COUNTY RIPE FOR RETURN
OF PROSPERITY THROUGHOUT
ALL MINING DISTRICTS.
ELK STRIKE STARTS BOOM
Rich Find on Black Pine Re-Awakens
World to Wealth of Central Idaho
Mines-Revival Predicted.

All signs point to a mining revival in
Idaho county, and particularly in the
Elk City Orogrande districts, if the de.
velopments of the past few weeks may
be taken as a criterion and it is the
judgment of many level-headed and
conservative citizens, both mining men
and business men, that the time is ripe
for the return of the days of mining
activity which brought Idaho county
into the limelight so effectively few
years ago.
While there has been no great stride
forward in the industry during the past
four years, that is, strides marked by
reports of fabulously rich strikes,
stories that extensive and costly mining
operations would be continued broad
cast throughout the mining districts
reports that the average citizen is al
ways inclined to discredit-it is never
the less salient and all-apparent fact
that the development of the mines in
Idaho county has been going on steadi-
ly and surely; all over the county there
has been no let up. The rule has been
to peg away despite lack of transpor-
tation and adequate mining machinery
and equipment. 1t is true that the
Buster, one of the most famous proper
ties in the county, has suspended opera
tions, but in the face of this, the camp
hoy h., ,f
steady development of properties, many
of which already promise to eclipse the
Buster in due time. 1t is apparent that
all mines must pass through a certain
stage of development before they be-
come real producers. This fact, it is
argued, is particularly true of the
quartz properties in the Elk City, Buff
falo Hump, Ten Mile, OroGrande, and
other districts of the county. The past
few years have witnessed program Of
quiet but steady and certain work on
countless mines throughout this section.
The work has gone on for the most part
without clamor or comment; mining
tools have been worn, repaired or re-
plenished rather than press agents
pencils; men who by their work in the
hills have come to know that the yell
low metal is deposited there have
directed most of the work-in many
cases they have been the toilers with
the pick and the shovel and the wheel.
barrow-they have attested to their
faith in the district by actual work, by
sticking to the camp after many of the
pessimistic residenters had given up.
| That the patient efforts of those men
who have long proclaimed the wealth of
Idaho county's mines are about to be
The news of the recent strike on the
Black Pine near Elk City, together with
the announcement that the Colonel Sell
lers at that place is working night and
day shifts and the further realization
that countless properties in the hills
nearby have passed through the devel-
opment stages and are ready to become
steady producers gives foundation for
the belief that new era in Idaho
county mining is at hand.
Thompson Views.
Charles thompson, one of the best
known mining men in the county and
formerly deputy sheriff, came out from
Elk City the last of the week and while
he did not get to visit the Black Pine
mine he saw some of the ore from the
property which he pronounces excep'
tionally good. "From what was told
, by responsible parties at Elk City,
said Mr.. Thompson yesterday; "the
men at work on the Black Pine have
run thes drift in about 25 feet already
and all the way it is in splendid ore
l The lead was some two feet wide whel
5 it was first tapped but in the 25 fee
3 already traversed it has broadened to
total width of five and a half feet
. with % inches or ore on the hangin
t wall. 1t is said to be a hematite grad
of ore. The miners on the property al
Continued on page 4.)