Idaho County free press., 1924-10-30
SOUTH FORK
ROAD To OPEN
B|GTERR|T0RY
State Mine Inspector Advo-
Gates Construction of Much
Discussed Road; Believes
Elk City Has A Future.

That the Elk City mining district
has the greatest undevelOped rcSour-
ceS of any mineral holt IN the world
and that the completion OF a water
grade highway up the South Fork of
the Clearwater river Ia Elk City is
the only feasible solution 10 open
these vast resources 10 the world. is
the conviction OF Stewart Campbell.
state mine Inspector. who returned
Monday evening from visit to Elk
City.
"rhe present route To Elk City is
In excellent condition for travel con-
sidering the hate season. MIR. Camp
bell stated. "Rut II Is not the route
that will open the country and re-
lease the vast quantities of low-grade
ore 20 the people Of central Idaho. A
water grade road running up the
South Fork would allow motor truck
transportation the year round and
start big activities In the dormant
district.
Recognized by State
THE Department of Public Works
has already recognized the South
Fork road and has placed II ON the
list of state highways, but the econ
omy of the present state administra-
tion will not permit aid immediately.
1t Is my belief. however that next
year the road will be continued,
probably by the state, and with aid
from the forest service and county.
When one considers the advantages
10 be gained by completion of this
road to Elk City. Il is worth building
at any cost.
Three Good Reasons
II venture To say that the mall
contract from Sites to Elk City liz
the most expensive In the United
States. The reducing of this cost to
nominal sum would nearly pay the
interest on the cost OF the South
Fork road. Great timber belts would
be opened II the road was complet-
ed, the forest service would have
better means of fire protection 10 the
large forests and II would open the
greatest mineral-bearing district the
world ever know. These are only
three good reasons why the road
should be built at the earliest pos
sible date.
Open Other Mines
"The construction of the road Will
open other valuable mineral districts
Ia Central Idaho. Elk City alone
will not be benefited. The Buffalo
Hump. Ten Mile Dixie. and the
South Fork of the Clearwater will
be opened and their values released.
"All of these sections hold mill
lions of tons Of low-grade ore which
with adequate accessibility could be
made the greatest and most produc-
tive group of mines In the world.
The country just cannot he fcqualled
for gold content.
.The reason for little activity In
Elk City ut this time Is caused by
the prevalent conditions of the coun-
try and the waiting FOR the South
Fork road There are no large in
vestors In the district, simply be-
cause they cannot afford TO walt for
the means cf transportation.
Tons OF Low-Grade Ore
"Another difficulty with this dis
trlct is that the owners OF mines
around Elk City are inclined TO be-
lieve that they are the possessors or
high-grade ore mines. The section
does not bear high grade ore In vast
quantities, as some believe, but the
quantity OF low grade ore In sight.
as / have stated, is immense. There
Is more than this below the surface.
In one mine, the owners recently OPP
ened five foot vein of excellent
ore. The placer mines of any num-
ber were exhausted years ago In most
instances. 1t would not surprise me
to see n dredge In operation near Elk
City next year on worked-orcr
ground.
Day Is Coming
"The opening Of this fabulously
rich section must come. The coming
generation will live to see the day
when the Elk City mining district
will be the greatest that the world
has ever known. The South Fork
road, running up the South Fork OF
the Clearwater river with q water
grade to Elk City, is the only feas-
ibe solution to open II. advocated
this road as the best plan several
years ago and viii continue to do so,'
said Mr.. Campbell.