Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-03-30

OAnCe ana warrants the CONSTRUCTION d
the link Of steel that win Join the two
extreme portions of Idaho, in the opin-
ion OF George Huston, mining geologist
Of Mullan, who has given out the fol-
lowing statement showing the re-
sources OF the rich territory through
which the line will pass;
AS a scout mining geologist hunting
properties for capital. had occasion to
cover a portion of the Salmon river
country In the fall of 1916.
My early training as railroad man
was in the operation AMI traffic de-
pattments of several railways. On the
trip / was accompanied by a gentle
man, out for his health, who holds a
high traffic position in which he is
supreme in his department We
tramped and staged from Grangeville
to Pollock over q portion of the pro-
posed road, mixing generally with the
residents. We had no connection with
politics or commissions, nor we're we
gathering data for any transportation
concern; indeed, my partner was too
busy having good time to even take
notes.
Naturally, he was interested in
TRANSPORTATION opportunities, expressing
himself quite freely, as everyone met
with talked railroad. I had to study
the region critically as it Is remote,
the mining possibilities were found TO
be good, and the tonnage of commodi
ties other than mineral products was
of concern in attracting capital for
transportation facilities Another fea-
ture OF large Importance was that our
powerful producers of lead ore in the
tion with the. eastern and coast con-
Germs, and the use of the lead collector
in furnace work promises to draw aud
develop great tonnages of supplement
airy ores In central and south Idaho.
and this will mean stimulation of min
Ing there 10 the same degree as in
Colorado and elsewhere.
Construction Not Expensive.
The Camas Prairie region around
Grangeville is supposed to be served by
two railways, which to all intents and
purposes do not compete. There is
room for another to break up existing
conditions. there being tonnage enough
to support all Toward the Salmon
river to near White Bird the ground is
stock range with occasional good
patches Of arabic land From the
mouth of White Bird creek to Pollock,
IL is one succession Of ranches along
the main and Little Salmon river, as
far up in altitude as $500 feet above the
rivers Most Of these raise grain and
hay for cattle, sheep, hogs and horses.
Fruit does especially well along the
rivers, and there is water for irriga-
tien. The climate is semi-arid and
delightful.
As far as could be judged, construe-
ton Of the line would not be unduly ex-
pensive. provided the federal govern.
ment did not insist on impossible con-
ditions regarding water power reserva-
tions, compelling the construction at
point high above the river Opera
ton in the winter would be free from
snow troubles and beyond an ocea-
sional eloudbarst track seen there was
nothing TO render operation unduly ex-
pensive.
Tonnage Is There.
The conclusion / arrived at regarding
other than mine tonnage was that
there was almost enough of agricuta-
raj and timber commodities in sight to
render construction possible, provided
the line was honestly capitalized, but
that the region was at the low point Of
productiveness, due to its rernoteness.
Part of the tonnage was of a character
that would transport itself to a com
petitor IN the event of disagreements,
cattle and sheep, for Instance, but hog
raising, and with II more grain, would
balance this condition. The conclusion
was firmly rooted however, that under
the stimulus Of transportation the
growth of agricultural and timber COM
modities would be very great, that the
mild climate and productive soil of the
territory would be an attraction to set
tiers, and the revenue from said tom
mage would IN time pay a profit on an
honest investment II there could be
added to this the clinching argument
of steady tonnage of mine products,
the presentation to capital could be
made without hesitancy.
The Salmon river cuts deeply down
through the Columbia river lavas into
old sedimentary states. limestones and
quartzites Of Triassic age. These have
been intruded by diorite and other ig-
neous rocks which cut both the strike
and dip of the sedimentaries Along
the line Of intrusion the rocks have
been assured and fractured for dis
tances up to 800 feet In width, resulting
in strlnger lode condition, mineral
lied by pyrite carrying gold. silver and
copper. / found several occurrences OF
this nature
In one / studied and sampled a strike
about two and one-half miles for the
whole distance. About 100 feet OF
the work underground showed 1t to be
300 feet wide with the face stili in the
fractured area. With IS months 81
vigorous development with machine
drills, there could be produced enough
tonnage to yield not less than $50 tons
daily OF iron pyrite concentrate, carry
ing gold value enough to transport /;
anywhere within reason for treatment
The ground and economic conditions
are suited to million ton mining opera
NpEalEn NnrNTAngr