The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-07-30
NORTH SIDE MINING HISTORY THAT
IS NOT WITHOUT POINTED MORAL
AssEssAeLE STOCK THE DEVELOPMENT OF
MNEs-cANT LEDGE COMPANY CARRYING OUT
EXTENSIVE lMNARY WORK.
By Adam Aulba ch, Murray Idaho>

mining properties on Granite creek
four miles east of Murray, on which
an expenditure of sumetnlng like
100000 has been made respectively
one of these properties was mentioned
in detail in the previous issue of The
Miner The other is now called Tho
Giant Ledge property, formerly known
as the Granite & Allie. 1t is one of
the oldest on the North Side, and has
perhaps experienced more financial
trouble in the development than usu-
ally falls to an apparently very re-
spectacle mining location. The orig
inal claim of the group that now forms
the property of the Giant Ledge com
pany was gold bearing on the surface
and an arrastra was erected by John
Kncannon, the owner, to reduce the
quartz This was accomplished with
some success, with the aid of water
power This was In 1887.
Gold Mill Erected.
Shortly thereafter John E. Steen
purchased the claim and plant, and lid
a little more grinding with the slow
pioneer Mexican invention Encour-
aged with the results, Mr.. Steen or
ganized the Granite Mining Company
and Immediately proceeded to build a
10-stamp mill and put in a flume for
water power The plant was an ex-
ceptionally good one and conveniently
located, but was lacking in saving APP
plances for the rich sulphides which
began gradually to develop in the
quartz, of which there was plenty. In
fact the main values were in the
pyrites. Some lead also made its ap-
pearance, and chalcopyrites AS de-
veloument progressed these latter ele-
ments began to predominate. The
milling process thereupon became a
failure.
A Cyanide Process.
About this time the cyanide process
was ntruding itself as a saving force
in the extraction of gold from the
more rebellious quartz. Mr.. Steen
thereupon. successful in stock sales,
attempted to install the process. He
built two large concrete watts at con-
siderable expense and the usual ac-
cessories. and imported a young man
from Utah with a cyaniding reputa-
ton. The initial test was an extensive
one. but proved to be an entire failure
the lead and copper contents in the ore
being of a percentage entirely too
high to overcome Besides, concrete
was not adapted to the preliminary
dissolution of the ore. wooden Vap
alone being employed for that purpose
The process was then abandoned.
Company Reorsanized.
The work and experiments covered a
number of years and were very eX-
pensive in labor, materials and ma
cbinery. This exhausted the treasury
stock and left some debts. To over
come these financial troubles a claim
called the Allie, Mr.. Stems own To-
cation, was added, and the stock IS
sue increased from 100000 shares
l,DV
were levied, all stock being sold with
the unders standing that none would be
levied. The stock was apparently
sold with much difficulty, and devel-
opmant work continued by the sinking
of an entirely new shaft on the Allie
in the bed of Granite creek where the
ledge was uncovered for some dlst-
ance. For a surface showing 1t was
most encouraging one, a fair grade of
concentrating lead ore covering al
most the entire area cleared off. IN
fortunately the shaft was started at
this place and lowered about 200 feet
at great expense. Hosting and pump
ing machinery were installed, and
from the start, not only was 1t neces-
sary to pump considerable water, but
the work of sinking was more or less
,interfered with by steady surface
drainage. 1t was what miners term
very wet mine. The shaft went direct
w through the ledge and the ore in
creased in value as depth was attain =
ed. While this was extremely encour-
aging. there was sudden cessation Of
operations about three years ago. Not
only had the additional issue of treas
,lry stock been Sold and The money
applied but the property had been
mortgaged and the interest allowed to
run unchecked. The mortgages were
foreclosed, and the entire property
passed out Of the hands Of the Granite
& Allie Company.
The New Owners.
The purchaser sold the property to
A new Incorporation called the Giant
Ledge Mining Company last year, and
this company Immediately commenced
systematic work to commence or re-
new opera tons. Additional ground
was secured, and during the present
season the construction of high
fume has been in progress and may be
completed in September. This flume
will be about 1000 feet long, two feet
wide and % inches nigh with W :