THE WEST SHORE.
303
THE WOOD RIVER MINES.
A 8 B.n enml)e of what can be accomplished in a
kriii tiiiitt iu U,u uihiing regions of the West, the
famous Wood River mines are deserving of special t
tont:on. Compared with plaoor mining the development
of quartz lodges is n slow pronoun, nnd yet in fivo yonr
tho rogion under consideration luw lieen transformed
from rii uninhabited wilderness to tho home of from 0,000
to 7,000 people, living in threo well built towns, nnd pro
ducing this season 85,000,000 worth of bullion. Truly,
wo are living in a fust ago. Tho country is moving for
ward with giant stridos, the Grout West leading the vau.
Tho almost magical transformations of this region, the
rapid creation of wealth, the audden springing up of pros
jxtrous towns and cities, and the establishment of groat
industries are astonishing, oven to those whoso enterprise
is mainly instrumental iu causing them. To others such
results, accomplished iu so brief a period, must indeed
scorn marvelous.
The term "Wood River Country " embraces the reg
ion lying along Wood Rivor, and tho outlying and tribu
tary country, nearly all that is valuable of Alturoa County,
Southern Idaho. Through tho lower cud of the county
runs the Oregon Short Line, from which a branch ninety
six miles in length extends up Wood Rivor into tho min
ing rogion. At tho junction of this branch with the
main lino lies tho town of Shoshone, a prosperous busi
ness point, containing nlmut 000 iiooplo. It contains a
numW of good stores and lias an excellent weekly paper,
tho Journal Its location makes it tho actual gateway to
the Wood Rivor mines. It iu distant from Portland (522
miles. Here are locatnd tho shops of tho Oregon Short
Lino, and from hero visitors to tho celebrated Khofhoue
Falls take tho stage. The surroundings of Shoshone are
not very inviting or encouraging to tho agriculturist, but
a journey of twenty miles up tho branch lino brings the
traveler to tho beautiful and fertile valley of Silver
Crook. It is about twelve mile square, well watered,
and nearly all settled up, though, no doubt, a fow good
locations might yot be found No finer laud can bo
found anywhoie.
The road next enters the main Wood River Valley,
which is thirty mile long an'1 one-half to fifteen wide.
The road passes in succession through the towns of
Bellevue, fifty miles from Shoshone, Hailey, five miles
further north, and Ketchum, the terminal jxiinl Kach
of these towns is tho centre of quite an extensive mining
region, and each contains a number of mills and smelter,
besides being the shipping point for largo quantities of
crude ore, which now goes to Denver, Omaha and Kansas
City, but which could be diverted to Portland, provided
the 1 ilU-r city pscsod tho facilities for its reduction.
Rcllovue, tho first one reached by the railroad, is a
town of 1,500 inhabitant, and is located on the east
branch of the rivor. Across the river is the small town
of Droadford, a general miners' headquarters, and prac
tically a portion of the main town. Itellevue has
Hpli'iidid brick school house, and in man other ways
exhibit signs of prosarily. It draws its piimipul sup-
Hrt from the surrounding mines, tho chief of which are
the Queen of the Hills, Minnie Mooro, Queen Victoria,
Monday and Oswego. Tho most successful is tho Queen
of tho Hills, owned by the Hellevuo Idaho Mining Com
pany, whoso head oflleo is in Salt Lake City. Of this
company John A. Hunter is President; Hoyd Park, Vice.
President; J. C. Oonklin, Treasurer and General Mana
ger; l O. Horn, Secretary; J. A. Lusk, Suorintondont.
Tho oomimny hasalxmt "0,()00 invested iu tho mine and
concentrating works, an engraving of which is given on
another page, and omploys aixty-flve men. Tho mine has
lawn worked threo years and tho concentrator ono year.
It is paying a monthly divid- nd to tho owners, and
enough ore is iu sight to insure dividends for some time
to oomo. Tho concentrator works forty tons of oro r
day, and threo hundred tons of concentrations per month
are shipped to Denver, where a ready market is found.
Tho oro averages 70 to 75 per cent load, with from HO
to 100 ounces of silver ar ton. Some of these gentle,
men, with other parties, are owning up tho Triumph,
near tho famous Parker mine. The Overland ia also a
very promising mine on tho oast Pork of Wood River.
It is oMniug up finely and shows oven a higher grade
ore than tho Queen of the Hills.
Five miles north of Hellevuo is the town of Hailey,
the largest in tho valley and county seat of Alturas
County. It contain a population of 2,500, and ia tho
great centre of the Wood River and Sawtooth mining
regions, financially, politically and socially. It contains
three excellent para, tho 7'iWa, AVint-.ViW and Inlvr
Idnluxtn, each publishing Mil a daily and weekly ndi
tiou. The town is admirably located iu tho very centre
of the quart region, ami its enterprising merchants
draw trade from all parts of tho surrounding country for
a ratlins of a 100 miles. Within half a day's drive are
the farms audatock ranches of Camas Prairie. Hailey
has a lino brick court house that cost $10,000, an cflloiout
fire department, oompleto water works system, telephone
connection with surrounding towns, two saw mills, smelt
ing nnd concentrating works, numerous good stores,
shops, eta There are several good hotels, ami one Is iu
course of erection that will cost 9.10,000. Hailey contains
more brick buildings than any other town iu that region.
There is a small bank, but the town offers a splendid
opening for a bank of suflleient solidity to command the
entire confidence of the mercantile ami mining interests.
Seven miles west of Hailey is Hullion, exclusively a
mining ramp, situated in a gulch. In this vlclnty are
some of the richest mine in the Territory, such aa the
Bullion, Maytlower, Jay Gould, (). K., Kureka ami
Main u. The Inst ha mid three dividends in thirty
day. Two promising claim, Red Cloud and Cyclop,
have recently Imnui purchased by a gentleii.au witi
plenty of capital to work them. Just Imck of Hailey i
Quigley Gulch, iu which are the Ophir group of mi in.
There are four claims showing high grade galena. On
Deer Creek, jiut alsive Hailey, are the Montana, Silver
Moon, Mountain View, Wolf tone ami Dnvilt mine, all
promising oins. Tho Narrow Gauge group luw pro.