The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-07-23
PLEA FOR MINING
INDUSTRY MADE
THE SALMON RIVER DISTRICT
is DECLARED TO HAVE IRE
MENDOUS POSSIBILITIES

me name is Tim McCarty. l claim
500 feet running in westerly direc-
ton and 900 feet running in north
erly and southerly direction. l claim
to hivin above and to hell below, and
woe be unto the man who dares to
dispute me claim"
| ]. B. Eldridge of Boise, in the course
of short address on the mining in
dustry, told of the foregoing mining
location posted in the early days near
Idaho City, says the Boise Statesman.
He cited the illustration to reveal the
desirability of preserving the tradi-
tions, the romances, the tragedies and
the humor of the pioneer mining days
of the state.
while many of the traditions of
early mining history have been pre-
served in song and in poetry, yet much
of the richest has not been recorded"
said Mr. Ildridge. 1.-The quaint ex-
campfire, the naming of mining
significance not appreciated by one
unfamiliar with mining history.
Brave Fight Made.
! nc ItCOIulI6 OoOho VI
claims contain such names as Last
Chance, Golden Chariot, Miners Hope,
etc We see in the name Last Chance
a prospector who is approaching the
end of the trail. We see one who has
devoted his life to prospecting in the
mountains, and who has spent his last
dollar and drawn upon his last energy,
driving the last stake and in stalking
ln~ al hi Hoo,
edly concluded will be the last one, he
looks back over his past career, and
realizing, as he does, that he has made
a losing fight with hope and the flu
ture, he drives his last stake and
names his claim the Last Chance"
! Taking up the practical side of the
mining bushes in Idaho, Mr.. Eldridge
deplored the lack of public and pri-
vate recognition for the industry. In
this connection lie pointed out that
the total production in the most re
cent normal or pre-war year was S49,-
0000G0 of precious metals. The total
production of all other industries in
the state for that year was S115,00o,-
600. About one-third, therefore, repre-,
sented mining output.
Mineral Resources Vast.
Referring to the Salmon river min
ing districts, and using them as an
illustration of state negleetfulness, Mr.
Eldridge said: in central Idaho, on
both sio'es of the Salmon river, is one
OF the worlds great wonderlands, in
which We find the greatest unde-
felopel mining region On the Amer
lean continent tissure veins carry
ing ore values extend throughout this
region OF hundreds of square miles,
tae Veins being from so 10 500 feet in
idth ana extending for miles, in
which, it has been declared by expert
mining men with worldwide know
ledge there are 10 be FOUND the great
est ore bodies that have yet been dis
covered il the world But those ore
bodies remain isolated and absolutely
closed TO exploitation ard develop.
Iaent, due 70 the fact that VIE have
slept, 10 measure, while Rome
burned, and have failed to provide
road facilities whereby these regions
may be opened UP by capital that
would be forthcoming il the people Of
Idaho had performed their duty.
y In addition to the great mining in
dustry OF central Idaho, il good roads
We're provided there would be brought
20 the state millions upon millions of
dollars annually by tourists from all
ever this union. The great Salmon
river canyon is little thought of bv
those OF us who live here as the great
est indentation of the earth's crust.
hot this Is true. OF all the great can
lons known 10 exist, the canyon of
the Salmon river is the most wonder
lai. II may not be known, bnt it is a
tSe. mat the mountains OF central
ioaho aiong this great Salmon river
canyon are the highest OF the Rocky
mountain range"