The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-10-11
Thursday October II. 1928.
MUCH UNDISCOVERED ORE IN
THE cOEUR D'ALENES.

Tx OOEOn - AEENE0.
Twenty-Five years ago, and ever
prior to that time. it was not uncom-
mon to hear apprehension expressed
regarding the future of mining in tn,
Occur d'Aiene district The feeling was
quite prevalent that the mines then
productive would be exhausted within
few years and that the discovery OF
new mines to take their places was a
matter of grave uncertainty Being in
that frame of mind. many people hest
tated about making permanent invest
ments their idea being 70 be in posi-
ton to clean up and get out with as
little loss as possible when the fateful
day arrived that would mark the be
ginning of the end of large mineral
production in the Occur d'Alenes. Now
after quarter of a century, has passed
we hear no talk of that kind Mines
which at that time were looked upon
as having a limited lease of life are
still productive and with positive as
surance of many years of production
ahead. 1t is true that some have been
exhausted and it is possible that others
in few years will reach the limit of
profitable operation. but this has been
offset by new mines, and today there
are more mines on the verge of steady
production than at any time in the
last twenty years Perhaps the most
striking evidence of confidence in the
future production of the Occur d'Alene
district is found in the attitude of the
Bunker Hill & sullivan company
which within the past few years es-
tabHshed a smeiter at kellogg at a I
cost of over SlOOO,OOO and is now
planning the construction of a zinc I
reduction plant that will cost as much /
or more, to say nothing of the other
large OUTLAWS being made by that COM
pany in the development of ore treat
ment processes. These conditions have
completely dispelled all apprehension
regarding the future Of the district
As further support for this optimis-
tic view the recent ore discovery on
the McPhillips property suggests the
wonderful possibilities of Intelligent
and development The
ground is one of the early
locations in the district. and joining it
on two sides east and west ore bodies
had been developed from which ex-
tensive shipments were made Yet
with this favorable location and with
In stones throw of the railroad. year
after year passed with little work
being done ON the ground outside of
annual assessment work. The Nc
Phillips may or may not prove to be
, great mine. but in either event the
discovery emphasizes the probability
hat ore bodies may exist right in the
midst of the most active areas of the
district and adjacent to productive
mines to say nothing OF the possi-
'ilities of development of the district
which no productive mines have
cen discovered. The Occur d'Alene
istrict covers large area, and many "
ectons now unproductive have Just -
$ favorable indications Of pay ore as "
hose in which the big producers are "
'oated The McPhinips strike brings ~
ubstantial encouragement to the ~
rospector and small development
ompany. 1t is altogether possible that st
Their good things have been over
'oked within the shadow Of large op- AZ
-ations, while the field for promising 'e
Sploratory work in outlying sections us
practically unlimited. "'