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THE MOUNTAIN PRIDE 
 GOLD & SILVER MINING COMPAiNY. 
 
 '%r 
 
 This Company, organized undoi- the general Incorporation 
 Act of the State of New York, filed its certificate of incorpora- 
 tion in the nionth of Decembei", 1864. In this certificate, the 
 territory of Idaho was designated as tlie locality at which the 
 mining operations of the company should be conducted, pre- 
 senting, as it did, to the minds of the corporators, certain ad- 
 vantages not common to gold-bearing regions, chief among 
 which were the richness and uniform character of the ores, 
 their freedom from iron and other base admixtures, the abun- 
 dance of wood and water existing, and the adaptability of the 
 country to agriculture, and to sustain a dense population. 
 
 The property thus lar purchased by the company, consists 
 of the gold-bearing quartz lode, known, located, and recorded 
 in Bear Creek Mining District, Alturas County, Idaho Terri- 
 tory, as the " Mountain Pride" Ledge, a well-known and prom- 
 inent lode, of established characl(3r and reputation among 
 minei's in that district, as one of the most valuable among the 
 lodes of that exceedingly rich mining region. 
 
 The position of this mine, for rapid and inexpensive develop- 
 ment, could hardly be surpassed. The certitied copy of the 
 notice of location shows that the claim and lode commeuces at 
 the margin of a well watered creek, and extends over the iolty 
 adjoining hill for a distance of IJiOO feet. A tunnel, run in 
 directly upon the vein, from a level with the creek, would thiis 
 prospect and open the vein at constantly increasing depth 
 from the surface, whih% at the same time, draining the mine 
 and I'emoving ore continually. 
 
.2 
 
 The mine has been opened at several points along its entire 
 course, sufficiently to prove its great size and value. At the 
 summit of the hill the out-cropping is found to be about four 
 feet in width, and at the depth of ten feet, it is demonstrated 
 to increase to nearly live feet in width. The quartz is free 
 from iron and other base metals, and contains gold, not in 
 " pockets" or honey-comb, like cells — a form of gold ore known 
 to be most unreliable and precarious — but disseminated in 
 minute and scarcely perceptible particles, throughout the en- 
 tire structure of the ledge. The rock is dense, crystalline, 
 containing no trace of pyrites or sulphurets, and aflFording no 
 evidence of having been subjected to the action of fire or 
 other decomposing influence. It is in no sense a " refractory' 
 ore, and the gold contained therein can be easily and cheaply 
 secured by amalgamation, without the necessity of previous 
 metallurgical treatment or desulphurization. 
 
 Workings of the ore, made at the mine in an arastra, showed 
 an average yield of about $300 per ton of 2,000 lbs., and an 
 assay of the bullion obtained, proved the orei»to contain sdver 
 as well as gold, in considerable quantity. A careful analysis 
 of specimens of ore from the Mountain Pride Lode, made by 
 Prof. Torrey of the United States Assay Office, exhibits the fol- 
 lowing: very gratifying result : 
 
 New York, Dec. 16, 1864. • 
 
 Wm. C. Thompson-, Esq., 
 
 President Mountain Pride Gold & Silver Mining Company. 
 
 Dear Sir, — The sample of Gold Bearing Qnartz, from yonr mitie in 
 Bear Creek Mining District, Idaho, received from you on the Uth 
 inst., yielded as follows : 
 
 (Calculated for the ton of ore of 2,000 lb«.) 
 
 Gold $1,^96 14-100 ■ 
 
 Silver 53 58-100 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 $2,059 62-100 
 
 John Torrey. 
 
 That this great product of the precious metals, remarkable 
 as it %vould appear in other gold-producing sections, is by no 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
8 
 
 m 
 
 means unusual In Idalio, is cloarlv shown by the folio wine; ex- 
 tract from the report of tlie New York and Idaho Gold Minin«^ 
 Company, the statements in which are "made upon the moat 
 reliable data." The lodes referred to are siUiated in Bear 
 Creek District, a portion of them contij^uous to the " Mountain 
 Pride Lode:" 
 
 ., ; 
 
 f 
 
 ^ R'! 
 
 I 
 
 "Ore from Richmond lode yields per ton, from $75 to $*2,S80. 
 
 Ada p]lmore \. . per ton, $347 00 
 
 Golden Eag:lc (croppin.c^s) - do 2,240 00 
 
 Idaho ' <lo 1,744 00 
 
 Ophir do 1 ,844 00 
 
 Confederate Star do 250 00 
 
 Corastook do iJnO 00 
 
 " Many others worked by araatras are now producing from $250 
 upwards per ton. 
 
 " We have late information direct from this minini? district by 
 Mr. Walker and Mr. Nelson, who are now working some of these 
 lodes with arastras and mortars, with great success ; the orje 
 yielding regularly from $250 to $600 per ton." 
 
 S. B. Farnham, M.I)., one of the earliest prospectors of the 
 Boise Countrv, now resident superintendent of the New York 
 and Idaho Gold Mining Company, in a letter to Oliver B. Wood- 
 ford, Esq., of New York, President of that company, dated 
 October, 1864, gives the following history of the remarkable 
 discoveries in that region, together with some description of 
 the countfry, its agricultural resources, and the pfoduct of its 
 mines. It will be noticed that this gentleman alludes to the 
 " Mountain Prrde" as one among the " most prominent mines." 
 Additional value may be attached to this testimony, from the 
 fact, that Dr. Farnham resides in the district, is familiar with 
 all the mines in the region, and that his testimony comes with- 
 out solicitation on the part of the officers of this conipany : 
 
 Sir : In answer to your inquiries respecting the early history of 
 the Boise River Gold Mines, but more particularly the quartz mines 
 of that portion of the country, known as the South Boise, I take 
 pleasure in replying that, to the best of my knowledge, and from 
 all that I can learn from the newspaper reports, they date their 
 discovery from the 1st of August, A. I)., 18(')2. They were lirst 
 discovered by a party of prospectors from the Salm)ii River 
 
 - - ' . 
 
Mines, headed by a well-known mountaineer, by the name of 
 Grimes, who, with several of hin party, was massacred by the 
 •Snake Indians, This little l)and of explorers was surprised by a 
 wandering' party of Snakes, shortly alter striking eanip upon the 
 banks of a small creek where they had found the color of gold, and 
 which has since taken the name of Grimes Creek, near which is 
 now the city of IdaJio, formerly West Bannock City. The two 
 that made their escape, it appears, found their way back to their 
 friends at Florence City, Washington Territory, and after relating 
 the brutal murder of their party to their friends, as well as the 
 prospects of gold f(Huid there, but little time was retiuired to form 
 another company of sufficient strength to guard against any reason- 
 sonable number of red-skins. This party, numbering in all about 
 one hundred, having for their captain a well-known Indian hunter, 
 by the name of Jeff Stanford, returned to the place of Grimes' 
 massacre, and after s(»veral attacks from the Snakes, finally suc- 
 ceeded in killing and driving the whole band from that section of 
 the country. All fears from the Indians now being at an end, the 
 further exploring of the basin commenced, resulting in what the 
 past two years has proven to be the richest gold field yet dis- 
 covered upon the Pacific cotist, not excepting the early days of 
 California. For proofs, you have only to refer to the United 
 States Branch Mint Reports, at San Francisco, Cal , which show 
 that the gold received froni there assays t)V(>r one million dollars 
 per month. The placers are extensive and unequalh'd Up to the 
 spring of 1 868 but litttle attention has been given to the quartz 
 portion of these mines. These placers or surface washings yield- 
 ing so bountifully, and re(piiring so little labor or expense to work 
 them in comparison to the quartz mines, the latter had been passed 
 by as of little or no account, and but for the want of water to 
 work tlie placers the season through, it is probable that the quartz 
 mines would, until this day, have remained undeveloped, - 
 
 niSCOVERY OF THE QUARTZ MINES. 
 
 The water failing, the hardy placer miner looks about for other 
 employjaent. At first, one finds rich indication of gold-bearing- 
 quartz ; thoji another honest miner is to be seen coming in to town 
 with his hands full of rocks, and soon the placers lose their day of 
 excitemen; and quarlz, quartz becomes the word with every man 
 you meet, until it is as connnon to see the hardy miner with quartz 
 on the brain as it is now in your enlightened city to see many going 
 wild with the excitement in oil. The Grimes Creek has been noted 
 tor three important facts : first, the murder of Grimes and party ; 
 second, the first discovei-y of gold in the basin ; and third, the 
 first enterprise in quartz mining. After this the Granati Creek 
 diggings were discovered, which discovery was followed up by that* 
 of the quartz mine, known us the Princess Lode, out of which, from 
 the ore taken in sinking a shaft to the d(?pth of forty feet, the 
 
 -^ 
 
i 
 
 '! 
 
 u 
 
 diiscovcrorH obtained, by the; old piocoKis oi' iiiastraH,* $H,000. M . 
 Kubbiiis, thoir HujM.'riiitoiidorit, int'onnod me that hi; took looae dirt 
 from th(! shaft to a cicok tour hundred yards diHtant, and panned 
 out ia three weeks' time $1,470. This beinj^the tirnt (juart/ \vork(Ml 
 .to any extent, created mueh «!xcitement. In thiw mine is fre(iuently 
 Ibund \'dvge (h^posits of black sulphuretH, Home of whieh have 
 awsayod hh higti as $44,000 to the ton. These eni»rmous yiehls 
 induced others to work these mines, althoug'h th(!y could fj^et no 
 other miiansTjf recbicing- the ore than byarastras and hand mortars ; 
 still the work went on, and now there are many tine mines being 
 worked in this way, paying very fair wages. Near Idaho City are 
 located th(i (jraitd)rutiis and Landou Quartz .Mines. Mr. liandon 
 informs me that from his mincis lie has t)een able to produce, with 
 spring pole and mortars, as high as $23 per day to the man. A 
 portion of this mine has Ixton purchased by tin; Great Consolidated 
 Boise River Gold and Silver Mining Company, of San i^'rancisco, 
 Cal., which has now in course of erection a tine ten-stamp mill. 
 
 DISCOVERY OF THE SOrPH BOISE .MINES. 
 
 In the summer of l#l()3, a party of prospectors started out to 
 explore the country further to the south Among their number 
 was the lucky prospector Comstock, the discoverer of the world- 
 renowned (yomstock Mine, at Washoe, Nevada. This expedition 
 resulted in the discovery of what is now known as the South Boise 
 Mines, Bear Creek District, Alturas County, Idaho Territory. South 
 Boise takes its name from the fact that it is situated between the 
 main and middle fork of the Boise River, upon a small tributary, 
 called Bear Creek. It is now extensively known for its vast number 
 of quartz veins of untold richness ; here we also tind surface washing 
 but not paying sufficient to alford much compensation to the 
 miners, they therefore give their entire attention to the working of 
 the quartz portion of these mines. ^ , , . , 
 
 VILLAGES AND SETT. :iH?:. NTS. 
 
 We now find in this district, in the short space of twelve months, 
 three thriving villages, namely, Clifden, Esmeralda, and Happy 
 Camp, with a population of 2.00U ; the two former being situated 
 on Bear Creek, while the other is located at the intersection of 
 Bear and Elk Creeks, four miles below Esmeralda, the county 
 seat of Alturas County. ' • • ,,{'. s-v. i, v ;r ^ i , > , ; 
 
 • An arrawrra is tl\e primitive mode of re<iucing tiie ore. It is formed by 
 fifHt making aflat circular bed of rocks, with perpendicular sides eighteen inches 
 in height and ten or twelve feet in diameter. In the centre is placed a post from 
 which a beam ext^-nds acro.ss the pit, to which larore stones are fastened ; a horse 
 is attached to the beam, and the stones are^dragj^ed iver the bottom on 
 which the ore is thrown. One horae will pulverize from 250 to aOO lbs. of ore 
 per day. ' '• . ' -,--- ^ ■':-..,,,...'.;. ,i /• .,. ■^■■■'^ 
 
ft 
 
 PRESENT MOKE OP WOUKING THK QIART'/ VKINfl. 
 
 TTpoii tht'so tvvi» cn'(^kH !in> now Hoin(! thirty iirustras, worked by 
 wator [lower. 'I'Iichc will work about 1,000 pounds (^ac.h, <^very 
 tw»'ntv-fi)ur liourn. MewHrM. CloniMtock & (lo. havi- a six teen-foot 
 overHlujt wat<;r-wln'ol, whi('[ulrivoHtwo(Mj2;ht.-l<)ot arastraw, working:? 
 thf oro tVoni tl\(^ C'ornstock and Conl'cdorati' Star Mintis, ore 
 payin<v rcjiiulurly $'250 por ton, wliilt; otlicr mines arc payinj^" .all 
 as Wf'll and sonu; still hotter. Ada Kliiiorc .Nfinc, worla^d by Measrs. 
 (rriffith & Wiloy, puys $300, cinployiu}^ one (.!i<::ht-fuot arastra, 
 with u sixtijon-foot whool. 
 
 N'.XMKS :ip THE MINKP IX THIM DISTRICT, 
 
 The uiinos in this district arc toonuinorous to catalogue ; 1 will, 
 therefore, name but a few of tin; most prominent ones, which have 
 b(!on developed, assayed, etc.. etc., as follows : Tomstock, Rich- 
 mond, Idaho, Ihiion, Ada Elmor(.', (.^tnfederate Star, Mountain 
 F^uiDE. Wide Wt'st, ^lem of Altaras. Ophir, Golden Ea}j;le. Alabama, 
 New York. Jeft'lbivis, Caledonia. Knimett, vSilver 8tar, Gem, (lould 
 & Curry, and Indian Queen. From the above mines the following 
 is some true tests and iissays which 1 find published in the Alia 
 Califurnian : 
 
 PRODUCTION OF THE SOUTH BOIHK MINES, BKAR CREEK DISTRICT, ALTURAS 
 
 COUNTY, IDAHO. ... 
 
 the Golden Eagle croppings in gold. $2,240 per ton ; in silver, $27. 
 Idaho, thirty feet down, in gold, $1,744.90: silver, $94.s0. Ophir, 
 gold. $1,844.90 ; silver, $84,72 per ton ' • 
 
 The Boisf! Mhies are situated on the western slope of the Rocky 
 Mountains, in latitude forty-threedegrees thirty-six minutes north ; 
 longitude about one tiundred and fifteen degrees west ; from ocean, 
 direct, six hundrt.'d and fifty miles. Salt Lake is three hundred 
 miles to the southeast ; Rc^ese River about three hundred and fifty 
 rniles nearly s(»uth. The Bf»is( basin and adjoining mining camps 
 have an estin^uteil population of thirty thousand. 
 
 
 - 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 »MPi«^4 
 
 THE PRESENT WAY TO OET To THE MINES, MODE OF TRAVEL, ETC. ., 
 
 The best route to reach the«(,' mines, at this season of the year, 
 is by way of San Francisco, Cal., and Portland, Oregt)n, fiom 
 thence by river steamer and railroad, up the Columbia River to the 
 
 
 
^' 
 
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 iP^ 
 
 i • 
 
 ^f.:''^* 
 
 Uniatilla lanflir>(f, from thence by ThH and Curr'n lino of Concord 
 Ht.;ifijos direct, lo the mines, distamu' Ihrfic linndrfvl niiles. Stajj^o 
 time, three days, ^jrivinpf the ni^lit lor r<'.st. On arrivin<:r at BoiHe 
 City, porHons winhirifjc to rotnrn to the Atlantic States can do so hy 
 Salt Tiak(! ; they will find Holhiday's line of Htajjes running from 
 S.ilt Lake to Dalles, Ore<^<in, rc^ady to convey them, and at Boise 
 (Jit}' a regular tri-weekly line of stages to the South Boise Mtnea, 
 Idaho City, Ceutrcville, and Placerville. 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
 SB. Farnham. 
 
 It is proper here to add that still another route to this 
 region hns been opened up during the past summer by W M. 
 Gabb and associates of the California State Geological Survey. 
 The San Francisco Mwhiframl Scientific Press o[ Oct. 29, 1864. 
 states that this party crossed through Northern California and 
 Southern Oregon, going as far cnst ns the Owyhee or Jordon 
 (^reek mines, and adds " The route will undoubtedly be used 
 hereafter, since goods can be taken from San Francisco, via 
 Crescent City and Jacksonville to the Owyhee and perhaps 
 even to Boise, more cheaply and expeditiously than by the 
 roundabout route through Portland and Umatilla." 
 
 The mails from the Eastern States to Idaho are conveyed 
 o-vorland by the way of Salt Lake. This service was com- 
 menced on the first of Julv, 1864, bv Mr. Ilolladav of No. 84 
 Broadway, New York, who is also the contractor for carrying 
 the great overland through mail from the terminus of railroad 
 service '<\i the Missouri river to Salt Lake. The fact of his 
 entrance upon this contract was thus announced by telegraph : 
 
 . ;• . ' .■ . . h Washington, March 12, 1864. 
 
 The Post-office Department has just ci^icluded contracts for mail 
 service in Nebraska, Washington, Idaho, and other far-off terri- 
 tories. Among them is one providing that from the first of July 
 next, the mails shall be carried thrice from the intersection of the 
 overland mail route at Salt tiake City, Utah Territory, by the way 
 of Boise City and Auburn, to Wallawalla, in Washington Territory, 
 in ten days, in lieu of sending them via Placerville, California, to 
 Portland, Oregon. This saves 1,2U0 miles of travel, and ten days 
 in the expedition of the mails for Oregon, Washington Territory, 
 and Idaho Territory. This important mail service is let to Beu 
 HoUaday at $156,000 per annum. 
 
 $ * 
 
8 
 
 TIh' rapidly iiicroasin^ trufllf upon thi** northovn lino will 
 HMwltT if iMM'csHjirv ior its tMitiTpriHiiiLf proprietor to subntitnte 
 n (iiiilv for llio nresorit tri-wceklvHorvioo. whioli wo learn from 
 th(! Salt Lake Dolly Teletirnph of \ov. 5. 18f')4, is liin iiitoritioii, 
 Wo copy from that journal : 
 
 INCREAMK OF HTAiJINO. 
 
 " Yostcrrlay wo li.-ul a (•()nv(3rsatioti witli Ben Holl.iday, Es(|.. tlio 
 proprietor of thn Ovcrlaiul Sfijyo Tjiiie, and jj^leaneri, in tli(> runrse 
 nf (tur talk, ;i few itoniH of iiis busiiieHs not devoid of interest for 
 the puhlic. 
 
 Tt is Mr. H.'s iiitonrion, ab(-.nt nevt April, to chanfro the tri- 
 we<'kly line of Mtaj2:t'S northward into a dailv scrviiM!. Wr under- 
 Ntand that laryc and convenient eoachew will run from here with 
 pasxeno^ers and oxprews matter to a junction utation on Boar Kivor. 
 ^^ta(:?es will continnf on direct t<^ Virginia, Montana, and another 
 lino will br;jnch oft' to tho northwest, via Steeple Kooks, to Boiso, 
 thence to Umatilla, mnkinfjr a continnous daily line of coaches from 
 Atchison, Kansas, to the Colnnibia Kiver, a distiinc't of over 2000 
 mil(!s. Mr. 11. is now nnmin^i' altog-ether over 2,100 miles — with 
 Hfrovernment subsidy of $600,000, nufpiestionably th(OarjLj:est stage 
 line in the world crmtrolled by any one man, or any company. 
 
 In addition to tliis, which would be considered enou^-h by most 
 men to attend to, tho indefatiLrable Ben owns and runs a line of 
 steamers from San Franciscft to the Western Coast of Mexico, and 
 also from San Francisco northward — touchbifif at all the Ports on 
 the Pacific coast — to Portland. Orcfvon, thence to Victoria, Van- 
 couver. Portland and Umatilla, on the Cobnnbia, tho western 
 terminus of his stajE^e line, are only a few hours distant from each 
 other by steamboat. 
 
 An "Overland Exnress " will commence its tri- weekly trips 
 between .\tchison and Salt Tiake,carryinfi: express matter in waj^fons 
 t.horoug-hly braced and constnicted for that business, leaving to the 
 stages the mails and passengers imly. Every kind of express mat- 
 ter, will be carried, fiom the ponderous package of hundreds to the 
 parcel of units." 
 
 Extract from the Corre-s-jMndenoe of Hon. Judge tJ. K. Schaffer, of 
 ■ Orogon, to the AUa-Californian. 
 
 " ■ QFTARTTi INTEREST. 
 
 "During the fall and summer, the quartz mining interest has 
 steadily berm gaining in importance, and it now bids fair to equal, 
 if not to excel the placer mines. Since the first of May last, more 
 
 P 
 
 ^-■"'W 
 
• 
 
 r~ 
 
 ,.*■•#»* 
 
 than f»no hmidnMl ^old himI Hilvcr bouriii^ IoMch <>f quartz havolieeii 
 disoovMM-od ;it S(»utli I'miHr, at the Ow'vlui!, and ill tliiw " basin. " 
 
 Many nf thchc mv known t<t be rich in «.^(»M and silver, and 
 (»tli«ns arc >M|i|Misfd to be. ♦ * -i< * 'riic iiiiiicsat South Utiisc 
 (about seventy-live inih'H southciisl iVoni this jdarcj an- ^-eiieially 
 rej^anh'd hh bein^* ihv richest in <;ohl, and th(.' h»d(!S or veins there 
 most in favor hero nw the Idaho. Ksniorahhi, Ada Kbnoro, (Joldon 
 Kajj^lo, I'lh'ctnral, etc., «;le. ; all tliesf; are jyold lie.iriuf^', arc known 
 to be rich, but in some of them the ledi.;-cs have not Ix'cn traced far 
 beyond the discovery claims, and people are cautious about invost- 
 injj^ in ''extensions" when the Ifdgo has never be(Mi found or 
 firospected. There are oth(M"s there wiiicli ;ire probably e(|nally 
 };oo<l, l)Ut as yet they hiive nol commanded the sameutteiition here. 
 A.11 these v<!ins. I believ»i, with tjio exception of the* Golden KaiLj-h', 
 present indir-ntions of silver, but noneof thoni, as far as prospected, 
 arc rich in that metal. The fioUk'n (5ouri(>r is supposed to be the 
 best silver lead at South Boise." 
 
 Tlie Golden Age, publislied at Lewiston, Idaho, haft the fol- 
 hiwitig in its issne of April 80 : 
 
 Business of all kinds is lively. Both miners and traders are in 
 the best of sprits. 
 
 The coujitry to the nxirth of us is already attractinj^- tla? attention 
 of settlers. VVe arc^ told that after ascending the hill from Clear- 
 water IIk' Ht)il offers every induc(Miieiit to the farmer and ranchero. 
 Four miles from h<Me, alonj:;' the ILitM'iii creek, there are l,f>00 
 acres of as rich land as can be found on the Pacific coast. The 
 table land betAveeii the Paloiise and Clearwater is already cf»vered 
 with g'rass from six to ten inches hiii'h ; (md the Paloiise bottom 
 is extensive enouj^h to support a, lar^c farming community. 
 
 Mr. Bacon, the expressman reports miners at work, and taking 
 out almost incredible amounts daily. He thinks this country excels 
 in richness any yet struck on this coast. He reports the snow 
 upon the mountains as vcn-y deep, but the trail hard and pleasant 
 for foot passen;j^rs. Many art- returuinj;- from their Winter quarters 
 and gettin,ij^ ready for S})ring." 
 
 " Considerably more than a million dollars a month, are si^nt from 
 the Northern mines to San Francisco ; and yet, not a word is said 
 in the California papers of the richness of these mines. The fact is, 
 they persistently ignore our country, and it is only throuji^h private 
 letters that the people of Californin are able to obtain iuformation as 
 to our country and its rcsoiwces. Washoe occupi(vs the position of a 
 petted (laughter, ^"hilst O'-j^on and the adjoining Territories are treated 
 with all the coldness that usually falls to the lot of step children. The 
 reason for the difference in treatment has its origin in seltishnese. 
 ^ California finds in Wushoe a market for her surplus breadstuffs, and 
 
10 
 
 hence she pots her best cuHtomer. T!ie ineu who delve in the Northern 
 mines drjiw their supplies of flour and bacon from the Wi'iamette 
 Valley, ami heucc Califurnia journalists deny them a hearin;:, and in 
 the face of the most positive evidence of the richncHa of our mines, 
 attempt to ignore their exiHtenco. A policy so selfish as thiis is 
 unworthy a people clairnin<:( to l)e liberal, and is only paralleled by 
 the foolish stork, who, hiding its head in the sand, thinks that the 
 vision of all the rest of the world is ohscured. The cliaracter of our 
 mines is such that it is impossible to keep the world fn ij^norance in 
 regard to our mineral resources, and the press of Calitbrnia might as 
 well forego the attempt." — Dalles lilountaineer . 
 
 " Thr Boise Mines — IIjch Silver Ore. — The Hoiae News says 
 that an assay from tl ;> Morning Star qnartz ledge shows a yield of 
 $7,000 in silver find $2,«00iu gold. The silver permeates the entire 
 rook and not in spots and particles as is the case in many ledges, 
 specimens from which a>say well, but do not work up to the prospect. 
 A town (ill Jordan Creek, called Boonville, has recently sprung up ; it 
 contains liiirteen lionses, and covers about all the available building 
 ground there is in the vicinity. Two and a half miles further up is 
 Ruby City, and one mile still further up another town is laid out. The 
 Neios i^'ives encouraging accounts generally of that Mining lo(!ality.'' — 
 San Fram'isco Mining and Scientific Press. 
 
 The Levviston, Idaho, Golden Age thus alludes to the mines 
 
 of this region in its issue of Oct. 17 : 
 
 . • ^- ■■' ■•■■ ■ \ ■ 
 " A number of quartz leads are being worked and are paying 
 handsomely. But (me quartz mill that is in working order lias 
 been erected, ;;b yet, though three or four more are on their way 
 out from Pike's Peak and St. Louis, and are expected daily. When 
 we get five or six mills at work it will astonish the world at the 
 amount of gold that will be taken out in this section. Times are 
 lively, and everybody has plenty of money. Provisions command 
 good prices, with the exception of flour and bacon, which are very 
 low. '• - _ '. ■■■: - :; , i -' ' .. ■ ■ .. ■ ■ ■^^' '■;. 
 
 " On Alder creek and Bivan's gulch, Stinking-water district, the 
 miners are taking it out by ounces, and every man fe(ds confident 
 of making his pile. 
 
 " It is reported ut ITellgate that good diggings have b(}en dis- 
 ijovered some three or four miles from there, said to pay $10 per 
 day to the man. 
 
 "At Ilellgate, a Frenchman just from the Saskatchewan river, 
 about 400 miles from Ilellgate, had bfjtween 30 and 40 ounces 
 of gold dust which he had brought from that country, and who re- 
 ported that good diggings iiad b(H;n discovered, on that stream. 
 The gold was similar in appearance to the Beaver Head gold, and 
 was supposed to be worth as much as $18 per oiuice." ■" : -' 
 
 « 
 
 tV 
 
i 
 
 ■ 
 
 ' 
 
 4r 
 
 l! 
 
 The Reese River Reveille, ptiblished at the centre of the 
 richest silver mines in the new State of Nevada, copies as fol- 
 lows from a letter received in Austin from Boise City : 
 
 " Boise Valley is forty-five miles, long, and is the most trrtilc in 
 the territory. There are many g*)i)d ranches in the country, also 
 good placers and good quartz leads. The climate has been plea- 
 sant." 
 
 Idaho correspondence of the Portland Oreyoi^ian, dated Sept. 
 9, contains the following : ^ — 
 
 " We have had quite a pleasant trip so far. Tht; road from Furt 
 Lapwai to B(.)is(^ was a good mountain road There was plenty of 
 good water and grass, and any amount of fine trout, large (juanti- 
 ties of which we caught. ,. -v. -■ u j. ,», ; , , ,« 
 
 "There are good arable grass lands on the head waters (.f 
 Payette river — extensive enough to make a good sized county. It 
 is a well watered country, with fine tiuibiM* on tlie adiacent moun- 
 tains. 
 
 " Camas Prairie is rather a good (country for agriculture and 
 grazing — not so rich soil nor as well watered as the upper Payette ; 
 but the climate is perhaps bettcn- — the country not being of so 
 great altitude. The good lands of this prairie are extensive enough 
 to make a large county, with resources abundant to sustain a 
 large population. 
 
 ''There is also good land in the vicinity of Port Hall fi»r a large 
 county ; and this will be settled up in a few years ; for I believe 
 the mountains from Boise to Beaver Head are fidl oi' gold and 
 silver. , ^ , 
 
 " While we were at Fort Hall we had plenty of fresh vegetables, 
 onions, potatoes. anr|^ apples from Salt Lak(' We received our 
 latest news there — getting telegrams only four days from the 
 States." 
 
 From, the Sf Joseph (Mo.) Herald. 
 
 " The litAHo Gold Mines — The Rush from Colorado. 
 
 " We had the pleasure last evening of meeting an intelligent 
 gentleman who liad just arrived by the coach from Denver. He 
 informs us that the e.Kcit(3ment among the miners of (yolorado in 
 regard to the gold diggings at the North has grown to be an abso- 
 lute furore, 'fhis gcntleiuan stated that there could be no doubt 
 of the abundance of the precious metal in the Northern mines, and, 
 in his jadgnient, they would prove far richer than either California 
 or Colorado." 
 
12 
 
 The Oreju'on Dady Tuiicfi of November 28 sayn : 
 
 " The news from the mining districts is sufficient to warrant the 
 broad assertion that Oregon and Idaho Tci'ritory will soon be re- 
 cognized as the richest conntries in mineral wealth on the face of 
 the globe. Mr Luther Hasbrook, a gentleman who has just re- 
 turned from the mines, called on ns on Thursday hist, and exhibi- 
 ted to us a sack full of <|uartz specimens, taken mostly from the 
 Oi^o Fino, Mi>rning Star, Evening Star, and Noond;iy lodes. Con- 
 trary to the custom of selecting the richest specimens for assay, 
 Mr. H. brought down with him every character of rock which had 
 been obtaijied in thfi lode, from the richest to the poorest. A chem- 
 ical analysis of that taken from the Uro Fino shows a valuation of 
 $22,000 per ton, with tlie proportion of $3,000 per ton in silver. 
 Prom the Morning Star, an average of $11,000 in gold, and $2,000 
 in silver has been taken from a ton of the rock. The Evaniing Star 
 is said to 0([ual the Morning Star, while the Noonday, it is be- 
 liOvcd, will surpass all the others in richness." 
 
 Extract from the CojTenpondence of the Idaho Stateantan. 
 
 " Next morning ceniniftnccd auotucr hard day's travel. Reached 
 Red Warrior bar, and had a VGvy good trail from there to tiu? ledges 
 on Bear Creek. The tirst ledjie I visited was tlie Ada Ehuore. An 
 arastra had becti constructed .some time during the summer, which 
 was propelled by Wiiter power, and crushed out several tons of the 
 ({uartz, which yielded $270 on an average. Tho rock is rich in silver, 
 none of which can be saved by the present arranf:;ernent. The lead 
 is situated at the foot of the hill on Bear Creek, and runs parallel 
 with that stnnim in a west north-west and east south-east course. It 
 \< held tliero at fifty d liars a foot. On the hill north of the Ada 
 Elmore lead, the following leads have been discovered, a.jd rise one 
 above the other like the steps of a stairway, and run parallel with the 
 Ada Elmore, and with each other ; Gen. Lane, Esmeralda, Western 
 Star, or Sierra, Golden Star, Mendicino, .Abe Lincoln, and Idaho 
 Tho Gen. Lane, Esmeralda, and Idaho sire rich in both gold and sil- 
 ver ; the othSrs prospect rich in gold, with traces of silver. The 
 .Esmeralda is the largest ledge, measuring at where it is open eighteen 
 and three-fourths inches in width, and contains in addition to the 
 gold and silver ore, (]uite a proportion of the sulphate of copi)(;r, 
 and is strongly impregnated with aisenic These, I ani assured by 
 practical quartz niiners fr^nn Washoe and Catiforniu, are the best pos- 
 sible indications of silver in a metallic state at no great depth. S(jme 
 of the ledges measure no more than eight inches in width, but all are 
 rich. ,'- <:. , -. ■.-■.; .;' .\ .';;'■ ■, :"^^t^ • . . 
 
 "On Elk Creek another series of quartz ledges occur, Ihat are very 
 rich. Some of them have been tested by the ton in urastras, and 
 yield from $210 to $736 per ton. The Ophir is probably tiu! richest 
 lead in that locality. Between Bear Creek tir\d the South Jioisc, 
 and about a mile from the former, have been discovered the Golden 
 
i:^ 
 
 Courier, Golden Ea^le, Silver Star, Xew York, Wide West, J3urnt 
 Pilot, and other leads ; all rich in pi;old and silver. Four miles east 
 of Feather River, on Cayuse Cro*ik, and about ('i<>:ht from where the 
 Bear Creek ledp;es were discovered, the Bonaparte, P.lue Ledge, Bar- 
 ker, and some otliers have been discovered uud prospected, and the 
 best traces of silver that have yet been srruck out there. On Trinity 
 River three ledi^^es have been found — all good. The Eureka is 
 about seven hundred feet from the South l-Joise and within fifty feet 
 of Trinity 
 
 " Abundance of timber and water can be had at any point, and any 
 of the ledges mentioned will yield fifty dollar.s to the too in a com- 
 mon one-horse arastra. , ,. ■ 
 
 " A large number of these arastras will be constructed this winter 
 by the persona remaining out there, and next year will, to a certain ex- 
 tent, develop the richness of the South Boise Basin, and l)rin^ to light 
 some of the uut;old wealth of that regicm, that will re(iuire ages in the 
 future to fathom. 
 
 " The extent of the basin 1 did not learn ; nevertheless, it is exten- 
 sive. Capital is wanted to develop the richness of the leads and their 
 extent. Machinkhy must j5R had at any hazard, and capital is thr 
 
 THINO TO GKT THAT WITH. (xIVR S'^UTH BoitsK BaSIN THK UK.VEI'IT OF A 
 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF KNTKRPRISE, LABOR, AVD M.yCHIXEHY THIS COM- 
 ING .-^UMMRR, AND IN TWO YEARS' TIMR IdAHO, INSTRAD OF BRING THE 'GeM 
 
 OF THE Mountains,' will be the Gem of the World!" 
 
 Excitf':mkn r at Washoe as to the Boise River Mines. — The 
 CroJd Hill (, Nevada) News says : 
 
 '■'■ Considerable excitement prevails here among the miners in re- 
 gard to the Boise River mines. Several parties have already left this 
 town for that country, and quite a number contemplate going in the 
 spring." ; 
 
 Mr. Wiliiam Ilolnies, of the St. Louis RepubUcan, on a tour 
 of iuspoctiou through the different niiniiiL*' regions of the 
 United States and Mexico, writes as follows to that journal 
 from Salt Lake City, on the 2d day of August, 18G4 : 
 
 "Salt Lake is not in a mining region, although it is believed that 
 the very city itself contains phicers of gold which would amply repay 
 working. But from Salt Lake run stage lines to mining districts, and 
 quite naturally the precious metal fever breaks out even hern, VVhile 
 in (.'olorado we heard mn<;li of the exceeding richness of the gold mines 
 in Western Idaho. We hear of the sam<' here The district of the.se 
 mines is greatly circumseribed. But it is rich in proportion, if the 
 tales we hear may be credited. There has been a prodigious emigration 
 there, lured by th<! rich mines. But capital only can develop the rich- 
 
-'>: 
 
 M 
 
 nesR tliercin. And as nine out of t(Mi who have gone them are poor, 
 the proHjtect o! siiffcrin/j: from want of common necessaries is great. 
 I am informed that more than thirty thousand people hav<^ congre- 
 gated at the mines, the majority of them to find that they can do 
 nothing without money. The earth and rocks around tliom are full of 
 precious metals. But money is needed to get it out. On our way 
 hither we met numy returning froni the mines. They reported the dis- 
 trict rich, but every inch of the territoi'y of the mines prospected, and 
 covered by claims. I*rovisions tiiey said were plenty, but no money 
 to buy uny, and that the coming winter must witness much destitution, 
 
 " These mines occasioned a large emigration from Colorado. Those 
 whom we have seen returning report the ndnes richer than the (Colo- 
 rado mines, but that " no poor man has. any business there, for the 
 mines cannot be developed without ample means. 
 
 " Boise City, about 300 miles from here north-west, is exciting much 
 attention now. It is a mining district of much promise, and many 
 people are wending their way thither. We saw specimens from that 
 neighborlrood of the precious metal rock, which pay abundantly the 
 succesi^.ful owner of the ledges producing the rock, 
 
 " I repeat that capital, and enough of it, is indispensably necessary 
 to realize any profit from the gold and silv(ir mines of these regions 
 If the history of all who have emigrated westward to the different 
 mining districts was known, it would appear that nine out of ten had 
 been disappointed, and for the simple reason that they had not the 
 means to avail themselves of the advant,ag(is offered to the capitalists 
 in these regions. 
 
 " One may secure a claim in a gold or silver ledge. But the riches 
 therein are locked up. It costs thirty dollars per foot to blast down 
 a shaft, more money yet for mills, or if one builds no mills, then one 
 hundred dollars per ton. to break the rock and get out the metal. 
 
 " 1 havf^ seen more than one owner nf a mine who would trive haK 
 or two-thirds of it to any one who would furnish means to work it." 
 
 The President and Bonrd of Trustees of the Mountain Pride 
 Com])anv, are inclined to the belief that the testimony already 
 adduced is auflicient to establish, the fact that the Territory of 
 Idaho is exceedingly rich in the precious metals, and that the 
 immediate h)cality of their property equals in its treasure- 
 deposits the most fsimous mining regions of the continejit. It 
 is also rendered a]iparent that no obstacle exists to the success- 
 ful prosecution of their enterprise, which energy and capital, 
 properly directed, will not ovorcomo. Distance, that chief 
 barrier to the development of the mineral wealth of the Pncific 
 States and Territories, is being rapidly overcome by the exten- 
 
 «ix. .1 
 
•—>' 
 
 15 
 
 
 sion of railroadsi, telegraph lines, and postal facilities, and the 
 prophecy of Bulwer, when Colonial Secretary to Lord Derby's 
 Administration, that the region of country, of which Idaho now 
 forms a part, " is destined in less than a century to be the 
 wealthiest country where the English language is spoken," 
 can hardh' fail to be realized. Tliisvast Teiritory, embracing 
 an area of 32(),0U0 square miles — enough to make eleven States 
 like New York — has now a stable government with a white 
 population of 32,342 and 7,409 voters, and contains, it has been 
 estimated, gold and silver sufficient to more than pay the National 
 debt. The Secretary of the Interior witii a just appreciation 
 of the importance of a rapid development of this source of 
 power, in his Report to Congress, dated Dec. 5. 1864, says : 
 
 '* During the past year additioual discoveries of precious metals, 
 particuluriy ot silver, have been made in the region tlanking, ou the 
 eastward, llie extended mouiitaiu range of the iSierra Nevada. A vast 
 belt of 8unie uiie or two hundred miles in width, and eigut or nine 
 hundred lu k'ligtli, embracinj^' pornons of Idalio, Nevada, and Arizona, 
 is rich in silver ore. Owing tu the reujote locality of these muies, 
 and the diflioulty of transportation thereto, but little inachiuery well 
 adapted to the rapid and economical reduction of the various ores has 
 been intri.iduecd. In that portion of ^Nevada, through which the 
 Faeitic railroad will pass, many rich veins have been found, and it is 
 estimated by persons faniilar with the subject, that, if the mines now 
 opened there were supplied with the proper machniery, they would 
 yield ten Uiiliiona of debars per mouth lu the same region vast beds 
 ot salt have also been found, which for its value in the process of separ- 
 ating the silver in the ores, has given a fresh impulse tu mining. When 
 we reflect that the region of country in which deposits of the precious 
 metals abound, includes large portions of three states and six Terri- 
 tories, and tiiat the richest veins of ore heretofore discovered aie as 
 yet but slighrly developed, while new discoveries are constantly made, 
 it will be perceived that the annual product of the mines in the United 
 States must soon reach a maguitude without precedent in the history 
 ot mining operatious. ' • - 
 
 *'l'he wealth imbedded in the rocks of that extensive region is actually 
 inexhaustible, and it will furnish in future years, indirectly, a principal 
 part ot our means of liquidating the debt contracted by the govern- 
 ment for the overthrow of the great rebellion. As a measure lending 
 to accelerate the reduetion of these vast mineral deposits into available 
 wealth, and to strengthen the public credit by an authentic publication 
 of our vast resources, i respectluliy recommend that provision be 
 made for the appointment of experienced and skillful mineralogists to 
 make a scieutilic examination ol the principal mining localities, and of 
 
IB 
 
 the mineral reji^iona generally, and to report the reaults. Their reports 
 should be printed and widely circilated. An appropriation would be 
 required for theso purposes. 
 
 " With the prospect r)f retnrnin<? jieace, and the consequent increase 
 of emigration io the inininfj; rej^ious I'.kely tl\ereidter to euHue, it seeinn 
 to he demundod of (Jonp^resa that the rif>-ht of minerH shonid be defined 
 and st^cured by law, and tiie prospority of those rejj^ions and the preser- 
 vation of <;'ood order therein thus insured." 
 
 "The principal quartz ininino^ is on Bear Creek, by means of 
 arastras. Tiie Ada Elmore is workinj^ one arastra with a sixteen-foot 
 wheel. The oro from this lode, even when worked in the rude way I 
 describe, whereby they lose all the silver and a portion of the fine j?old, 
 yields $300 ]ier ton. 'L'hoy have one hundred tons of ore out, which, 
 by a proper process, would avera<2;e $500 to the ton. 
 
 "The Coinstock lode is runninp^ a twenty-fuot over shot wheel, 
 working two arastras, each crushing 1(500 pounds per twenty-four 
 hours. In this lode a great deal of gold is lost. From one pan of dnst 
 taken from the tailings one hundred tcet below the arastras, Comatock 
 took $10. The Oontederate Ledge is working a thirty-foot wheel, 
 with on ! arastra ; Independence has a twonty-foot over shot wheel, 
 working one arastra ; Ophir n thirty-foot wheel, with six arastras. 
 From the above onumerated lodes and seven others there are taken 
 out like yields, making an average of $250 per ton Besides these 
 there are five powerful arastras nearly completed, intended for custom 
 work. The- water used to run the wheels is taken from Bear Creek. 
 
 " The work thus far done has developed the richness of this section 
 far exceeding 1;he most samguine expectations There is the steam 
 saw-mill in the district cutting pine lumber, of which there is an 
 abundance, and meets a ready sale at 20 cents per foot Something 
 has been said about the difficulty of getting machinery into this dis- 
 trict, but if a fiiteen horse power engine and boiler, with all necessary 
 machinery tor a sawmill, is not satisfaetory evidence of the feasibility 
 of taking fifty crushing mills into the same district, people must be 
 prejudiced or ignorant of the subject." — Cor. AIM California. 
 
 A correspondent of the Oregonian, writing from PorthiTul on 
 the 15th of August, says : 
 
 " Having lately returned from the region east of the mountains in 
 Oregon and Idaho, it may be that a few items can be gathered of 
 interest to your readers. The mines of the Blue Mountains and of 
 Boise Basin, South Boise ami Owyhee, are proved to be a success not 
 only by their results and by the remittances of treaauie that are so 
 (.'onstantly flowing thence, l>ut also by the growth and prosperity tiiat 
 attends these re,L'ions aside from the mines — the settlement and culti- 
 vation of the valleys that tempt the hand of industry,, and the ripening 
 crops that already rewards its endeavors. ' ; 
 
«-•*• 
 
 17 
 
 "The road from the Columlna river to the mines in every direction 
 aflbrds the travelers cointbrtahle places Jbr re^t and refnjshment. li) 
 many localities, private enterprise ha.«* improved the roads, and 
 shortened the line of travel ; and the valleys of Idaho — eKpecially 
 the Fayette and the Boi.se — pronuse to almost fnrnisjj the mining 
 regions around them with 8np})lie8. The Boise valley is the g'em, I 
 think, of all the spots east of ns ; and Boise (?ity, situated in its midst 
 Burroimded as it is with moniitain rang'es full of mineral treasures, is 
 destined to be the capital of the new State, aiid the most eligiljle spot 
 east of the mountains. The Boise Basin is scarce a day's ride distant. 
 South Boise, with its brilliant [jronii.se, is not more than luO miles off, 
 and Jordan Creek, in the south-west corner of Idaho Territory, is but 
 60 miles south across Snake river. . ^ . 
 
 "Q"«'itz mills are in progiess of erection at Soulh Boise, in the Boise 
 Basin at dillui-nt points, and also ai Jordau creek, at which point my 
 experience was pruicipally couHued. 
 
 "Considerable timber for lumheriii'' can be found in these mountains, 
 enough for many years to cumo, and tiic wood is abundant. Water 
 power is unceitaiu, and the winters will pr(»ve severe, l)ut the climate 
 is healthy. Springs abound of the most delicious water, and the 
 wi^alth of the country teems to be an assured fact." , , - --• 
 
 Fiom the letter of Hon. J. K. Shatfer, published in the Mta 
 California^ Jan. 25th, 1864, we extract the following : 
 
 " As to the productiveness of these mines, you will be able to form a 
 pretty fair estimate from the amount of gold dustsliip|)ed from Portland 
 to San Francisco. As far as my obsiu'vation has gone, no mines dis- 
 covered in California since the year 1850 of ec^ual extent, have been 
 superior to these. •■ >^ ' , • . ' 
 
 " During the fall and summer, the quartz mining interest has 
 steadily been gaining in importance and it now bids fair to equal, if not 
 excel, the placer mines. Since the first of May last more than one 
 hundred silver-l)eiiring h/dt's of quartz have been discovered at South 
 Boise, at the Owyhee, and in this " basin." Many of these are known 
 to be rich in gold and silver, and others are supposed to be. 
 
 " The miu'^s at South Boise (about 75 miles south-east of this place), 
 are generally regai'ded as being the richest in gold. On some of them 
 shafts have been sunk to the depth of fifteen or twenty feet, and on two 
 of them, arastras have been running durintr the fall months, with, I 
 understand, very guod ri'sults ; and on the " Oro Fino" aad 'Mor- 
 ning Star " leads^ an acquaintance of mine is pulverizing the quartz 
 in an iruJi mortar and melting out bars of gold and silver, and is 
 making l'r<irii twenty to thirty dollars per day. No quartz mills have 
 yet been erected, and it is not probably that any will be before next 
 June or July. 
 
18 
 
 " Most of the "discovery claims " are held by working men, who 
 have not the capital to purchase machlDery, and liav«j a dread of incor- 
 porated companies, bnt next yciar they will be corapciled to do .-oiue- 
 thing to work their claims." 
 
 " In South Boise they liave two millH and ten arastras at work 
 there are several very vahiable lodes of which the owners sav but, 
 little. 
 
 Everything we see or hear in relation to this important interest 
 confirms the opinion first entertained of their richness. Several more 
 mills have be^Mi ordered, and it scarcely requires my pen t(» repeat that 
 they daily become more valuable. Perhaps an objection exists, that 
 in consequence of the extent, number and magnitude of the various 
 lodes, spreading over such a large area of country, the capital necessary 
 to develope the mines, instead of being concentrated, will be so divided 
 as to be unequal to the demand. • 
 
 Gold is now coming down in large quantities, and with it a consider- 
 able number of miners, the latter consisting, as usual, of men whose 
 fortunes are as varied as their previous lives, as a gejieral thing ; but 
 few return without money, and many have large sums. 
 
 Over three hundred thousand dollars will ^o down on the John L 
 Stephens, with about four hundred passengers." — Cor. Alfa California. 
 
 "■ Immense Richnkps of the Boise Mines. — A letter received in 
 this city yesterday from Idaho TeiTitory, vfrora a well known citizen of 
 this city, whose statements are entirely reliable, says: "W. A. 
 Williams, the Superintendent of the Consolidated Boise Mining Com- 
 pany, found several of the parties pounding quartz by hand, on the 
 Landon Led^e, and some idea of the richness may be had by saying 
 that they wfSre makinfi: from twenty-five to fifty dollars a day in this 
 way. Thev were very much pleased to learn that the company were 
 intending to work in earnest, and promised assistance in putting up 
 the arastras. Gold can be seen the whole length of the shiift, some 
 thirty feet in leng-th. The ledge is now five and a half feet wide. Mr. 
 Williams will send down a ton of the rock, which will V)ethe richest ijver 
 sent to San Francisco." — Alia California. 
 
 " Bear Creek. — The reports from the Bear Creek District, South 
 Boise, still come to us in glowing colors. From a gentleman just in 
 from there, we obtain the followinji: account : Th<! working of seven 
 tons of the Ada Elmore and Ophir quartz yielded $2,429, nuiking 
 $327 per ton ; also, from assays made by Messrs. Tracy & Kinj:;, 
 Goldsmith & Brothers, Portland, and Menry Lnvesten, the following 
 results : from the Golden Eagle croppings, in .y'old, $2,240 per ton ; 
 silver, $27 ; from the Idaho (30 feet down), in gold, $1,744 3' per 
 ton ; in silver $94 8f> per ton ; from the Ophir, gold, $1,H44 y6 per 
 ton ; silver, $34 72 per ton. I am also informed that the owners of 
 the above lodes are making every preparation for the working of tlie 
 
 ■i^ 
 
 i ', 
 
same through the winter, wheQ they expect ta have a mill to operate 
 witli, haviug already gone to your city to procure the siiine At 
 pn^Kerit they are worked by arastra8. The water tor the working of 
 the placers sstill holds out good, and tiio yield of gold in at a good paying 
 rate ; many making as iiigh as from $500 to a $1,000 a day, while 
 yet otherH, not so lucky, make hut fair wages." — ( 'or. AUa ( 'ali/ornia. 
 
 "Quartz Mii.i. for Idaho — Mestsrs Livingston & Jlopkiiis, owners 
 of the "Fourlh of July" and " Gumbriuus " 'ledges, Idaho, lett, per 
 steamer Sierra Nevada, tor I'ortliind yesterday, taking with them a 
 vory anperior hve .-tamp mill, whieii wdl be taken through to Idaho 
 direct, and will be set at work on their ledgeH very soon after its 
 arrival. The mill was manufactured at the Miners' Foundry in this 
 city. Idaho is better known to the people of the Western States 
 than to those of California at the present time, the great bulk of 
 iiumigrution to that point thus far being from that direction. l)Ut 
 San Francisco will soon oonnnence to reap the b(!ntfits whiili will flow 
 from her undoubtedly rich and fast developing mines ; and the time is 
 not far distant when shipments of bullion from that far off interior 
 territory will be as large and as regular as those from Washoe. — AHa 
 California. ., ^ , ^ 
 
 " The ndners who are at work are taking out fabulous amounts of 
 gold, and Boise is daily demonstrating its claim to be regarded as the 
 richest auriferous region on the Pacific coast — Dalles Mountaineer. 
 
 The Doily Mountaineer of July 25th, says 
 
 4 
 
 " A. X. Grenzebach, a well known citizen of the Dalles reached 
 home oh Thursday last, direct from Boise. His reports are like all 
 others from that locality — rich mines and untold wealth. In one 
 instance, Mr. Grenzebaeh saw 22,000 dollars paid for a claim, and in 
 three weeks the purchaser had taken out nearly the whole amcmnt of 
 the purchase money. Beyond question the Boise diggings are the 
 richest yet discovered, and their yield will astonish the world. 
 
 " The " Landon" is a well defined lode, and has been traced a great 
 distance, and prospects extremely well. A shaft about five feet square 
 has been sunk to the depth of about twenty feet, and the lode is now 
 live feet wide, although only three feet wide at the top. As near as 
 I could learn, from the party who sunk the shaft, and kept a strict 
 account, between $3,-500 and !$4,00o have been taken out by two 
 men crashing and pulverizing the quartz in two wooden mortars, 
 fornuMi from burnt out pine stumps — rather an antiquated mode, but 
 it pays hugely, and there are yet about forty or fifty tons of the rock 
 taken out on hand."— Cor AUa Calif ornia. ,, 
 
 "The mining news from South B^ise is quite cheering. A friend 
 of mine, just over from that .section, i-eports the many gold ledges in 
 
10 
 
 that vicinity as yielding evoi tnon; than the tnoat Hanguine expecta- 
 tions of the hicky holfUnH. S«v<«ral iirustniH worketl by water power are 
 running continually, cjioli iiruHtra grinding on an average one ton in 24 
 hours. When some of your iiunu'rous tinurt/. millH uuiko iheir way 
 into that country, bullion will be coinpar;itively a drug in the nnarket " 
 — Cor. Ongonian^ May 8. 
 
 " The further we prosecute our investigations in this matter, the 
 more convinced we are of the fact that Boise is already th<! richest 
 portion of the known world in gold mines. Wo do not believ«! that 
 there la another spot of the same dimensions on the whole earth — and 
 if there be, we are (juite sure that no man knows of its existence — 
 wliere there is so much gold, so generally diffused through and so near 
 the surface of the ground." 
 
 ' ♦ 
 
 "South Hoise, fiO miles from Idnho City, is a quartz country, with 
 few placer diggings. The miners are making preparations for working, 
 and timbers for several <piarfz mills, now on the way our from the 
 Atlantic States, are Ix-ing got out. Several arastras hud coinmenced 
 work. Gold tmd silver was plaiidy discrrnable to the naked eye in 
 the rock."— Fit'/orm Chronicle, ,^\\\\ii 'I'L 
 
 The regular correspondent of the Mta California, writing 
 from these mines in July Inst, presents the following statistics 
 concerning their prorUict : 
 
 " Our cpiartz mills are going up rapidly. Some have already com- 
 menced crushing, and as I have before written and again repeat, tho# 
 first yield from this interest will condrm all that has been said in their 
 favor, and no doubt is entertained but that u dividend will be declared 
 before Christmas. ^, 
 
 " Gold is now coming down freely, and I arn well informed that the 
 exports of treasure during August will exceed those of any previous 
 month ; a large proportion will, as hei'otofore, pa-s through in private \ 
 hands, but a larj^o increase in nianifrst shipments will be apparent 
 During the the months of June and July, when trade was stagnant and 
 mercantile remittances light, the following amounts of gold dust were 
 assayed by the two principal offices : 
 
 Wells, Fargo & Co . ; . ; . . . . $.559,875 1 9 
 
 Tracy & King 575,818 75 
 
 Total !|], 135,193 94 
 
 "Not being permitted to publicly use the return of Goldsmith Bros., 
 I cannot hon(trably add to the amount ; but as I am cognizant they are 
 doing a fair business, it is presumed the sum total will reach one and 
 one-half millions of dollars. During the same period, I selected the 
 
 ;{ 
 
 4 
 
 .. .i^«»^» "ft ' W ^ M >i W i 
 
81 
 
 "(I 
 
 i»tk 
 
 ^:* 
 
 namc-8 of ti few prominont firms as the pmchiwern of ^old in dnst and 
 hare : 
 
 LiuM ATilton, barw |101,3rt5 
 
 Aili'M it Fiewis, bai's 1 43,7;}2 
 
 Fullor tt Co , dust 1 13,1-25 
 
 Tracy & King, dust 1 12,;iH2 
 
 W«'Il8, Fiirg.) & Co., bars and dust 558,455 
 
 Showiii},^ a total of $1,119,039 
 
 "Altli<)u,u;li those firtns arc tho principal |)nrohaH0r8 of gold, there avo 
 many firms not t.iniinierati^d, who Ijuyand Hlii(» variouH amounts, which, 
 in the aggrcf^ato, sum um a liij^h fif^^nre. TIk^ information hcniio ^^iven 
 is not guessed at, hut, at sointi tioublo, coUeetod from the h'dgt'rs of 
 honoralile business men, who have not a single olijet't in view by this 
 pablication. After diligent, and not hap-hazard (ialcidation, I hav<j no 
 hesitation in stating that the above is about one-third of what comes 
 from the jnines to Portland, independent of what goes overland from 
 the mining country (which is considerable) to Salt Lake? and (^Vdifbinia, 
 besides what is being invested in farming, agrieuUural and grazing 
 operations in Idaho and Montana Territories. That the open ship- 
 ments, as per manifest, will, dur'ng the ensuing months, average one 
 million and a quarter per month, I firmly believe." 
 
 The Indinn difficulties which have 8o seriously interfered 
 with mining operations in our new territories, are now set at 
 rest in Idaho. We copy the following from the Idaho Sfafes- 
 man : — 
 
 "Governor Lyon held a council with the Shoshones at Fort Boise on 
 the 10th of October and concluded a treaty with them, purchasing all 
 the land of Boise River Valley, for thirty miles on either side, froni its 
 mouth There vvi-ro two hundred and fifty Indians present. The 
 Governor bus gone south to effect treaties with other tribes." 
 
 Nrw Discoveries, — The Idaho Statemnan of (Jet 12th, says that 
 good placer mines have been discovered on the Yuba, a tributary of 
 the Middle Boise. They are attracting much attention. 
 
 Rich. — It is said that a ledge has recently been discovered in Idaho 
 that yields .$26,108 to the ton. — Virginia Daily Union, Nov. I'Jth, 
 1864. 
 
 " Kvery one from Idaiu) Territory unites in saying that the quartz' 
 ledges are the richest on the Pacific coast and rival the rec<!nt discov- 
 eries on the Colorado river. It is from the Boise; country that the re- 
 cent larjie deposits made at the Branch Mint in this city, came. Tfio 
 last steamer brought down over 12,000 ozs. which came from this .sec- 
 tion, and is now I>oing coined at the Branch Mint.'" — Daily Alia Cali- 
 fornian. ■ :■ ■ -•■-.^i-r-'-.j''.' .-■•■', 
 
22 
 
 i ' 
 
 "Rush for the BniaE River and Owvhkb Mines.- -The steamship 
 Brother Joiiathiui Hiiilwl last Sniulny luoriiin^^ for Porrliiiid and Vic- 
 toria coMiplotely crowded with passe liters hound for the Boise and 
 Owyhee mines in Idaho Territory. From present indications u very 
 lar}?c uumlx-r of peo|>lt! will leave this city in the sprinjj for the ahovo 
 named mines." — San Francisco Bulhiin. 
 
 " On Thursday hist, there were 104 deposits of i^old made at the [I 
 S. I'ranch Mint, nine teiithHof which came from the Boise River Mines 
 Idaho Territory. Tluj amount of deposit were about 10,000 oniiceR. 
 A recent assay of the Consolidated B(»iNe River Quartz (.\)m{>any'H 
 ro(;k, ^the Pioneer, Laiieaistor, and Landon Lodj^eH.^n ade by Mojitor 
 & Co., of this city, yielded $42,000 to the ton."— ISan Francisco Newn 
 Letter and Pacific Mining Journal.. 
 
 "Twelve hundred iinct seventy-threci pass(Hi^ers passed rhronj^h the 
 Dalhs, Orejron, duriii«; the week eiidinji: March 5th, en route for the 
 Boise Mines"— S. F.'Mmw Letter, A\m\ IH, 1864 
 
 (By Overland Telegraph to the A^^soviated Prenn) 
 
 San Fkancisco, March 1, 1864. 
 
 The steamer Pacific left here to-diiy foi-the northern const, with over 
 a thousand })asHengers, moslly bound for the Idaho niiiu'S. Emigra- 
 tion in that direction overland hay also coinmenoed on a large scale, 
 considering the earliness of the season. 
 
 San Francisco, March 30, 1 8t)4. 
 
 The rush of emij^ration from Oregon and California to Idaho is im- 
 raense. ** 
 
 The present piodiict of these mines may be inferred from 
 the following telegraphic dispatches from San Francisco : 
 
 San Francisco, Nov. 5, 1864. ' 
 
 "The receipts of bullion from the interior and northern coast daring 
 the past ten days have l)een unusually lar^e aud exceed twenty-three 
 hundred thousand dollara. This is a gratifying exhibit, and shows the 
 unabated productiveness and value of ihe leading interest of the people , 
 of this coast." ^ ^ 
 
 San Francisco, Nov. 14, 1864. 
 
 '•The Sierra Nevada came in from the North, Saturday evening, 
 bringing $460,073 in treasure from the Northern mines." 
 
 ( 
 
 * \ 
 
 ■ t 
 
 .-I 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
-,* 
 
 ^ 
 
 ' s 
 
 23 
 
 San FRAN<;rsco, Nov. 14, 1HH4. 
 
 'rh<^ Hteumslii|) Pacific in riviil lu-re Tcsicnliiy from tlio N(>iihi?rn portH, 
 l)riii^^iii^|<r)4H,ft01 ill tit'Hsun — of which $2(10,37;") canic from Victoria, 
 and $291,826 from Porthmd utifl Hoibo Uivor " 
 
 Sav Fbanoihco, WiMliiortday Dec. 7, 1H64. 
 
 " Th(? fltoaiit. from l*(irt(«n(l, Orcg'oM, brinies nearly half a million 
 in gold from the uorflu-ru iiiincH." 
 
 Han Fkancihco, Monday Dt-c. 12, 1804. 
 
 " The Treasure roceiptH from the interior for the last ten dftjH arc 
 nearly two millions and a quarter." 
 
 San Francisco, Dec. 14, 1S»)4. 
 
 "The Orejron Stemnfr, Brother Jonathan, brings $400,200 in 
 jijold, VM'Hides $150,000 in the handu oi passengers." 
 
 San Francisco, Dec. 31, 1864. 
 
 "Sixty tliouHfind dollars in silver bars have been received at San 
 Francisco from Idaho, the fir.st Hlii[)inent of silver from the new mine.*^ 
 in Sonth-western Idaho, which j»romisc to rival those in Nevada." 
 
 H 
 
 »(> 
 
 w 
 
 The eonneotioii of" this wondei-fnl region with the jj:re5it 
 mineral belt extending from the extreme southerly point of the 
 American continent ns far north ward as the hardy miner iias yet 
 prospected or the foot ofcivilized man has ever trod, is plainly 
 marked. These mines are situated precisely where reason and 
 science teach us to look for the most valuable and enduring 
 mineral deposits. Precisely on this line in the Mexican States 
 of Sonora, Durango. and Chihuahua, are the great silver mines 
 which, wrouglit for three and a lialf centuries by the Spaniards, 
 with no labor-saving machinery and no improved processes, 
 furnished the world during that period with its coin and bullion. 
 A line drawn due south frt^n the Boise Mines cuts in its course 
 the wonderful silver mines of Owvhec, the remarkable treasure 
 deposits of the New State of Nevada, severing the "Reese 
 River " silver mines, — characterized by scientific writers as 
 " the richest in the world "-—bisects the rich metalliferous moun- 
 tains of Arizona, and passes through the Mexican States, whose 
 
24 
 
 namcB are abnost synuiiymous with wonderful mine8,aii(l whose 
 history ii^ resonant ^N'ith metallic wealth. It cannot be denied 
 that the Bear Creek Mining- District is a section — perhaps th^ 
 richest se(.'tion — of that vast and almost infinite region of the 
 precious metals, extending along the volcanic formation from 
 
 ■ the Antarctic to the Arctic extremities of our continent, 
 embracing the Andes in South America, the Cordilleras of 
 Analiuac in MVixico. the Sierra Nevada in Nevada Territory, 
 
 'and Califuinia and the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. Upon 
 this vast mineral belt, supplying the world with the coin ex- 
 tracted from its flanks, science fixes its gaze and calls to its 
 aid CAPITAL, with which to exhibit its powtns. Vast cities are 
 springing up around this continental belt of precious metals. 
 Mining, now in its veriest infancy, is destined to become the 
 great and all-important branch of industry upon our continent, 
 fostered as it is certain to be by liberal legislative enactments. 
 Already it returns to capitid a higher rate of interest than any 
 other investment. What it will afford in its maturity cannot 
 be estimaiod, can hardly be imagined. 
 
 I While negotiations for the purchase of tne " Mountain 
 Pride " mine were pending, the officers of the company sought 
 information as to its value from all available sources, and the 
 result of the most careful investigation was entirely satisfac- 
 tory. Hearing that Hon. R. M. Walker who liad visited the 
 Boise country as special agent of the Post Office Department, 
 to arrange lor the establishment of mail service throughout 
 the Territory of Idaho, was in the city, the President of the 
 company addressed to him the following letter, \vhi(;h elicited 
 a prompt n^sponse. We append the correspondence : 
 
 OVficr ok the Mountain PRir»i<: Gold Mining Co., | 
 New York, Dec. lolli, 18()4. ) 
 
 My 1H<:.\r Sir : — Understanding tliat you have visit<>(| the Vnww 
 Creek Miuitig District in Altunis Co., Idaho Territory, under ;i cdiu- 
 )uif<isiou from a (l(!j)artnieut of tho IJ. S. GovernfU(jnt, mikI tlial^ 
 you po8«^ss inncli information concerning ilie tnines not only of tiiis 
 distrit;t, but of the entire Boise iind adioiniiig sections of couiih-y, T 
 beg, re.spectfully, to ask that you furnish me with sacli iiiforniatiou us 
 
 i 
 
 f 
 
26 
 
 may be in "our power and may Hcemtoyou of interest, concurning the 
 mines of the particular section alhuled to. 
 
 Any information concernini^ the property known and located as the 
 " Mountain Pride" Gold bearing quartz lode in thin district, itt; ex- 
 tent and value, an well as the estimation iu which it is held by yourself 
 and others familiar therewith, will be very thankfully received. 
 
 Yours, very respectfully, 
 
 . ^ WiM. C. THOMPSON, President. 
 
 Hon. R. M. Walker, Nevs' York City. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 New Yokk, Dec. 20, 1864. 
 
 Sir : — Your note of in(|uiry relative to the gold and silver mined of 
 the Bear Creek Mining District, Alturas County, Idaho Territory, bet- 
 ter known as South Jioise, has been received. 
 
 In reply I have to state tlui t the South Boise Quartz Mines are con- 
 ceded to be the most extensive and ricli in g'old of uny district known 
 up to the time of my leaving the Territory iu the month of August hist. 
 The lodes are numerous, of good size and well delinud with walls of 
 granite. The quartz is known as free gold quajtz, the precious metal 
 being more generally ditfusod throughout the whole vein, insread of 
 being of that character oftentimes found, known among miners as 
 " spotted quartz." 
 
 This district, like most of the mining regions of Idaho, has a great 
 abundanc(! of as line pine timber as ever grew between the two oceans, 
 and of mtich larger growth than that found on the Atlantic slope. 
 T'he tir, oak tind other growths are found h<^'e. Streams of tli." purest 
 water flow thr(mgh the South Boise district alfording sufficient supply 
 for niiriing })urposes. • ^ 
 
 The qnartz lode known as the " Mountain Pride" of which yon make 
 ■particular inquiry, I have been over. It is a well d(.'Hned ledge of the 
 same charactei- of quartz as the other lodes of that district and stands 
 well among " qr.artz-nien" tiiore, who are posted as to the value of 
 mines in lhat vicinity. It ranks with the "Rielnnoiid," " Indian Queen," 
 "G.ni of Alturas," "Union," "ISew York," "Lincoln," and other 
 ledges, any of which if developed by the |)roper application of labor 
 and njachinery, 1 am (•onfident will amply )(;munerato those who may 
 invest capital in this branch of industry.. 
 
 Very respect tully. 
 
 B. M. W ALKER. 
 
 To Wm. C. TnoMPt^ioN, l']sq., 
 
 President of Mountain Pride Gold and Mining Co., 
 
 New York. 
 
2fi 
 
 The Company j^roposc to erect as speedily as possible, a ten 
 stamp mill, to lednco the rich ores ol the Mountain Pride 
 lode, with power sufficient to run tXventy 8tam])8 and thusdouble 
 the ore capacity of the mill, which is in contemplation at no 
 distant day. It is evident tliat with proj)er m;ina^ement, the 
 abundance of rich ore owned by the company may be rtiduced 
 at a cost so far below the value of the product, aa to leave a 
 himdsomo margin of profit to the stockholders. Judging from 
 the known value of the ore contained in the mine, a dividend 
 of horn two to six per cent, a month in coin, may reasorrably 
 be expected. Petroleinu property producing two per cent, a 
 month in currency, is considered an excellent investment, 
 while the foct that a market must be found for the product, 
 and that the markcjt varies according to the supply and de- 
 mand, while dold has a market and an established value every- 
 where — is apt to be overlooked. - 
 
 We append the calculations made by a company working in 
 the same locality : 
 
 "A ten-stamp mill, with crnsber, will pulverize and aranlgamate in 
 tho battery twenty tons of ore per day oC twenty-four hours, and it is 
 sale to calcnhitc tliat the mill can be run five days in a week, say 
 twenty in a month, or two hundred and forty in tiie year. 
 
 f, 
 
 THE mU. WILT, PRODITOE. 
 
 From ore yielding |?.50 per ton 
 From ore yielding $75 per ton 
 From ore yielduig $100 per ton 
 From ore yielding $200 per ton 
 From ore yielding |:i00 per ton 
 
 Per week. 
 
 Per nioiitb. 
 
 P(T year. 
 
 $5,000 
 
 $20,000 
 
 $240,000 
 
 7,500 
 
 30,000 
 
 360,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 40,000 
 
 480,000 
 
 20,000 
 
 80,000 
 
 0()O,000 
 
 30,000 
 
 120,000 
 
 1,440,000 
 
 The expense of mining and reducing (he ore aft(;r the mill is in 
 operation will not exceed ironi $5 to $8 per ton, or say from $2,500 
 to $3,000 per month, or less than $40,000 per year." , 
 
 n^ould the ores of our mine afford an average yield within 
 fifty per cent, of Prof. Torrey's assay, it will be seen from 
 
27 
 
 the foregoing computation, that the product of our mill of ten 
 stamps will bo not h^ss than $4,800,000 per annum, or a very- 
 large percentage per month upon the capital stock of the 
 Company. . ■ ■ . , 
 
 The title to the property has been carefully examined and 
 approved by the Attorneys of the Company. The stock is 
 full paid and unas>!essablo, and the terms of the Charter are 
 such as to avoid all individual liability on the part of the stock- 
 holders. 
 
 Specimens of the ore may be seen, and all infoi-ran tion ob- 
 tained at the office of the Company, No. 29 Pine Street, under 
 the Fourth National Bank. 
 
 n