The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-09-19
War Demand Has
Induced Consider
able Production
MANY GOOD PROSPECTS
State Mine Inspector Makes
an Interesting and
Valuable Report

N. Bell mas recently lSSueu Jul
letin No. l which gives the re-
suit Of his investigation of the
quicksilver and antimony resources Of
central Idaho. Owing to the shortage
in the supply of these metals, particu-
larly quicksilver, due to the demands
of the government in the conduct or
the war, Mr. Bell made the investiga-
ton through patriotic motives as well
as through a desire to encourage the
development of mineral resources OF
the state. The trip was a difficult
one, involving more or less hardship
and much discomfort, but Mr. Bell
has long been accustomed to these
conditions and he never permits per-
sonal convenience to interfere with
the performance of his duty to the
mining industry Of the state. he
found the production of quicksilver
had advanced to position of consid-
erable Importance, and with proper
encouragement from the state in the
way of construction of wagon roads,
the mines of central Idaho could
doubtless be made a factor. of ever
increasing Importance in the produc-
ton of this much needed metal. Mr..
Bells report is here given in part and
the balance will be given in the next
issue of the Miner:
Quicksilver District.
BY reason of the vital Importance of
quicksilver to the national govern
ment in the prosecution of the war,
as this metal is used extensively as
primary explosive in the form OF ful-
inmate of mercury in practically all
the detonators or shell primers of all
sizes, the high price and excessive de-
mand for the metal for government
purposes, the new quicksilver discov-
cries of central Idaho are of economic
promise at this time The further
fact that these discoveries and their
partial development has been almost
exclusively financed by Boise ana
southwestern Idaho citizens, this de-
partment has been repeatedly called
upon to make an investigation since
these activities were inaugurated DUR
ing the past year as the result OF dis
coveries and some demonstration
progress in the treatment of the ore
made by the Fem Mining company.
This article Is for the purpose of Civ
ing a preliminary report and review
of the situation regarding these In
teresting discoveries of this useful
LIQUID metal. This report would have
been made earlier but for the fact
that the district was not sufficientiy
free from snow for an intelligent ex-
animation until after July l.
These discoveries are situated along
the eastern border of the Yellow Pine
mining district, formerly in Idaho but
now in Valley county. This part OF
the district is entirely embraced
within the drainage area Of the east
fork of the south fork of Salmon riv-
er, and is approached from Cascade
on the Oregon Short Line railway
over the old Thunder Mountain road
that was built by state and private
capital during the Thunder Mountain
boom of Is years ago.
Bad Roads.
The total distance from Cascade to
the Fern mine, which is the center OF
the present activity in the district, Is
little over 20 miles. OF this dis
tance. the first 80 miles to Knox, and
in fact to Cabin Creek summit,
miles beyond Knox, Is within the
Payette national forest and has re-
ceived some support from that gov
ernment institution in the mante-
nance of the wagon road which Is now
barely passable for auto travel. as fai
az Knox.
From that point it is fully>4o miles
TO the quicksilver district, over the
most atrocious excuse for wago'
road in the state. a road that was
poorly laid out, when made. in rug
ged mountain country with four mgr
divides and almost continuous dug
way grades that have been nearly re-
duced to the normal slope OF tht
mountain by the natural disintegra
tion of the upper bank and the tramp
ing of numberless sheep herds, whicf
use that region as poor summer
pasture without any control or re-
gard for wagon road conditions be-
yond the forest reserve, border. 1t II
still possible to get over this old roat
with light load. and freight is haul