The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-06-15
Resources of Shoshone County

was under such conditions that the
Occur d'Alene district was born, in
the wild, free life of the old west
which has ever been a theme for song
and story, and which developed the
finest types of manhood whose stern
sense of justice backed by unfaltering
physical courage subdued the lawless
and laid the foundation for the or
derby government we enjoy today.
1t is a far cry from the golden mug
gets of Prichard creek to the pigs of
pure lead turned out at the Bunker
Hill smelter and yet the one was the
forerunner of the other and INSOFAR
ably connects the gold hunters of the
North Side with the development of
the vast silver-lead and zinc industry
of the south. Where in all history of
mining is there a story more roman
tic or more pregnant with human in
terest than the discovery of the Bun
ker Hill & Sullivan by two grubstak-
ed prospectors following a burro into
the then wilds of the South Fork OF
the Occur d'Alene river in search of
gold? They did not find gold, but they
did find the OutcrOp of a vast deposit
of base mineral from which they de
rived a quick fortune and their
achievement marked the beginning of
an industry that for almost forty
years has added hundreds of millions
to the wealth of the world, all of
which has been disbursed in the form
of dividends, wages, in the purchase
of products of the farm and range
and in the countless avenues of trade
and traffic The story of the discov-
cry of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan has
counterparts in the history
Of this wonderful district, all having
their own distinguishing features and
adding variety to the fascinating ro-
nance of mining in the Occur
1Alenes. Who has not read the story
Of the Hercules whose bonanza ore
body brought fortune to it's owners
who for years had kept themselves
broke backing their faith in a pros
oect above Burke? Or that of Jim
Callahan who for more than a quar-
er of a century kept his lonely vigil
n the shadow of Sunset peak and
inally received his reward in the mil
ions paid in dividends by the Gala
ian mine? OF a different type than
hese, but illustrating the even great
+ possibilities of large returns from
mining, it is recalled that some TWEEN
Y years ago stock in the Hecla mine
5as no more inviting than many of
he low priced issues now on the mar
ct and yet the man who bought
hen for a few cents per share has
Ince received dividends amounting to
etter than SO per share his stock is
Iorth 81 a share today and the future
the mine is even greater than il.
as twenty years ago.
l mention these examples. and
ould mention many more of the same
ind. to show that while mining I'm
le Occur d'Alene district has been
'duced to a cold. calculating bust
ass, it has not lost the charm of ro-
ance and adventure, the element of
lance and I might say the fascina-
On of a gamble. These are inherent
the mining industry. for with all
r knowledge gained by experience.
rough geological research and in
stigation, the prescience Of man has
t been able to penetrate the hidden
1steries of the mountains We find
e under certain geological condi-
ms. and when we find those condi-
ms elsewhere we expect to find ore
ain. But inscrutable nature has
'stifying habit of violating all geo
(Continued on Pace x