The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-01-01


the year 1913 with feelings Of much
satisfaction, both for what It brought
in the way Of prosperity TO the mining
industry. and for the substantial basis
for confidence In what the new year
holds In the way Of development and
utilization Of the great mineral re-
sources, To some the most remark
able achievement to be credited to the
year 1913 will be the fact that the min
eral output Of the district was far in
excess of any record heretofore made.
and this applies to both tonnage and
value, and to all minerals mined In
the district with the exception Of gold
The prices Of the metals have main
tanned a good average throughout tbs
year, giving feeling Of security to
operating companies in carrying out
plans for increased output which In
some cases involved large expendi-
lures both In expanding development
of old properties and in the acqui-
sition and development Of new ones.
The Best Achievement OF 1918.
But If the tremendous record of pro-
ducton Of 1918 had marked a decline
in the productive ability Of the dis
trict, there would be no insp!ra-
alton for the future in reviewing its
achievements. But the opposite is
true. Some Of the mines that for
years have been pouring out their
treasure have more ore in sight than
they had Il months ago and they are
today giving positive proof Of produc-
tive ability greater than they were
credited with in the past. But the
crowning achievement Of the closing
year has been the addition of new
mines to swell the output and the ad-
dition Of nsW and undeveloped terri
tory which can be counted upon to
duplicate the marvellous rec )rd Of the
past. And the most satisfying feat
ure of these new fields thatlaie ye. to
be exploited is the fact that thay are
not confined to any one section Of this
great mining district
Mines OF the Future.
The most important Of the new
fields that will soon be the scene of
pr ,ductive operations are the Sunset
district. the copper belt above Mullan,
and Pine creek. These stand out pre-.
eminently now bacaus, of actual re-
suits accomplished, but there are ctn-
er sections pregnant with possibilities
and which may ad,an to first place
within the new year Am ing these are
Big creek, the North Fork, Oeburn
and the Murray section In consid-
erng these sections in looking
forward to the future Of mining In the
Occur d'Alenes, it is no Vague and VI
sionary subject that Is being dealt
with In the first three sections nam
ed the demonstration has been made
The ore is there, proved beyond ques-
ton, and the actual work Of extrac-
tion and reduction has begun and will
increase as transportation facilities
improve. In the other sections sub
the results already accomplished am
ply iustfies steady development that
is now in progress.
Improved Transportation Facilities.
dAlene district today is better. trans
portation facilities to the end that the
newer and more remote sections may
be able to market the ore and have the
benefit of the impetus which a railroad
gives 10 mining development. The
situation iustiaes the prediction that
the year 1914 will witness much rail-
road activity in this district, and IT is
altogether probable that early spring
at tbs latest will see actua! ocnstruc-
ton on the line TO connect Wallace
and Coeur d'Alene. II Is impossible TO
state az this time who Is financing this
line but The Miner has 1t from local
parties interested that 1t is certain 20
be constructed at an early date.
The present inadequate facilities for
handling the large and rapidly in
,reasing tonnage Of upper Nine Mile
leads to the conclusion that the Nor
1hern Pacific will this season extend
It's branch to the Interstate Callahan
and Tamarack. and also making II ac-
,essible to some Of the Sunset prop
.rties
The wonderful progress that has
oeen made In opening up great bodies |
# commercial ere en- Sunset forces
he conclusion that the O.-W. r. & ~. |
IAN not long delay the construction OF
he line 1t has located up Beaver
creek from its Murray branch to the |
base of Sunset peak II is an easy !
grade and the tonnage is there to JUS
ify It's construction.
Pine creek is the other section that
S in crying need Of railroad. 1t is
, much larger section than most peo-
ole realize and on every hand are pro.
,erties with permanent ore bodies
which would be rapidly transformed
nto shippers with cheap transporta.
ion available.
Price OF the Metals.
The sudden drop in the prices Of
j M . i Et