The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-03-02
GOLD QUARTZ MINES
ON THE NORTH SIDE
WAITING FOR CAPITAL
Wonderful Ore in the Pilot
Mine Described Showing
Its Great Potential Value

O3y Adam Aulbach. Murray Idaho)
" HE general public has heard very
little about the gold quartz re-
sources of the North Side OF the
Occur dAlenes during the past
four or five years on the work being
carried ON i'm these deep mines, AS
the Geological Survey designates all
ledge mining to distinguish it from
surface or placer deposits. whether
/ platinum, gold. tin or other minerals.
rock on clay Ii is therefore the in
/ ttntion of the writer to devote "a series
of letters to the amiferous belt that at
one time was the principal yellow
metal producer OF the Occur d'Alenes
/ This belt has not been shifted or is il
entirely exhausted or neglected I'm
some of the properties development
work has been carried on for years.
others have received little or 40 at
tention. and some have heen almost
entirely neglected by the owners or
the heirs who have acquired the es-
tates. From the very beginning the
industry was never thoroughly
grounded financially or by manage
ment; if the finances were adequate
the management was either extrava-
giant or extremely lacking in Judgment
or application Three of the largest
holdings We're originally strong fnan-
cially but woefully incompetent in ex-
Ecrienced management; hence the
f..f a. a lot,
Gated here in wrecks that have been
monumental eyesores ever since. How
ever Notwithstanding these discour-
aging wrecks. the industry was buoyed
up by smaller enterprises. mostly indi-
vdual. and the camp assured of an
asset that has been growing steadily.
with a most promising outlook for the
near future. In fact the near future"
may be at our very doors during the
present year or course. this is ana
optimistic declaration or observation
by the writer and the reader of the
Miner may look through pessimistic
goggles and vociferate: "Oh. have
read of these revivals of gold camps
before take no stock i'm that kind
of bunk" To convince preiudged
reader is not the province of the
writer A short period may furnish
the proof that is here attempted to bc
given in series OF letters that the
North Side has a branch industry Of
the general mining game unsurpassed
in any other Pacific state. either i'm
richness or extent The Pilot group
viii be taken for the initial letter, be
cause il has produced some of the
most phenomenally rich ore taken out
in the district and because it has been
in state of actual development since
1898 by individual miners and no as
easements to defray expenses; only
hard knocks. courage and faith. two of
the -four owners working for wages
to hold up their share of
xpense in prosecuting the extensive
underground exploration.
The Banner Gold Mine
The Pilot claim was located in 1883
over groupings that were exposed dur
ng placer work on the old channel
claim called the Arizona, lying on the
ridge between Gold Run and Cougar
sulches, one half mile due north from
he eastern end of the town OF Muir
'ay. Two of the four owners of the
placer were Captain Pease, an old ma
inc pilot on the Columbia river, and
John Docktor still a Murray resident
When the outcrop of the ledge in the
bedrock was fully developed a quartz
ocation was made and the claim
named 1.-THE Pilot" in honor of Cap
ain Pease No attention, however
VAS given to the Pilot for several
ears, except to do annual assessment
work. the agreement among the part
lers being to exhaust the placer first
so particular values We're discovered
n the groupings of the ledge as the
surface washing proceeded until 1892
n the fall, when the outcrop changed
rom pure white silica to a foot in
width of dark blue quartz literally
covered with gold, not solid, but in
irains and flakes. and a blush min
raj that resembled disseminated ga
cna. This proved to he tellurium at
lepth later Many persons visited the
trike, interfered with the placer OPP
'rations, pocketed scores of the hand
omest specimens, not "by your leave.
gentlemen" and liked down the trail
md to the town. communicating the
rood news to others. who i'm turn also
climbed the hill to pick up gold with
,ut even asking for the privilege or
,etting the consent of the owners. The
nuisance became unbearable and all
he quartz necessarily taken out by
he placer work was covered mn with
muck. There were no more visitors.