| Show progress being bel ng made in 1 n mascot equipment equi ament and development BY WILL C HIGGINS A year ago the writer visited the property of the mascot mining milling C company 0 m limited in the sawtooth range blame blaine county idaho on the east fork of big wood river and about nine miles up the canyon from the north star triumph mine of the federal mining smelting smelling Sm elting company compan located a few miles above hailey since then considerable work has been accomplished in iii mine development and surface improvements made which impress the visitor with the thought that the man uncovered the four known veins coursing through that portion of the companas comp anys property pro p and at a great depth large bodies of profitable ore should be uncovered which can be easily and economically handled through this new avenue whose portal is located just above the and where ore bins can be constructed so that they will be easily accessible from the canyon wagon road A beautiful country the camp of the mascot mascot company is fifty feet in width and bordered by trees and shrubbery and in whose icy cold and limpid waters one can enjoy the finest trout fishing existing anywhere in the west the country also presents a great agricultural and stock region and the fields were dotted with haystacks while the pastures were crowded with cattle and sheep at gimlet the ketchum branch of the 0 S L railroad is crossed while a steel bridge spans the east fork of the stream just above the point where it makes its juncture with the 7 7 ix VC 4 ILI lk I 1 71 j ati ta k J photo by will C laer main tunnel site of the mascot company power house and mill site ager argement nent has every confidence in the ultimate success access of the enterprise and that it is the intention to carry on the work of exploitation under conditions calculated to leve the with greatest results possible adern and economic operation and ichen hen one considers the fact that it gener ay requires five years or more to place the e most promising property upon a regular educing and paying basis the substantial being made at the mascot is most encouraging encouraging to say the least and when the anew new two track main tunnel just being started ned above ave the creek level shall have picturesque to the extreme it is located in the sawtooth forest reserve in a forest of heavy pine the east fork of big wood river runs through the property affording an abundant supply of water for domestic milling and power YI purposes s good fis fishing hing prevails some two miles down the stream in the high mountains above the camp whose towering peaks stand sentinel over the great treasures of mineral wealth stored below big game abounds such as bear mountain sheep and deer leaving hailey in our auto the road follows big wood river a most won wonderful darful stream some main watercourse A few miles above is the north S star tar triumph mine and big milling millin 9 plant in whose workings millions in or ore e are blocked out according to report while on the other side of the divide is the independence pen dence mine mind owned by the s same co company and in which it is stated at least 2 in heavy galena ore has been demonstrated the ore being of most excellent grade and of which heavy shipments are being regularly maintained soon after leaving the north star the canyon narrows a and nd yet in the level places numerous ranches abound which are well stocked with cattle and horses while great herds of sheep are ranged in the rugged mountains by which the canyon is flanked above the star groves of quaking asps alps touched by the frost and responding to the call of the season have assumed a coloring of light yellow which makes a most pleasing contrast against the background of livid green aff afforded corded by the forests of heavy pines the wagon road is good from hailey to the mascot and the ride is a most enchanting one to the lover of nature in her ever changing moods and one is really sorry when the journey comes to an end although hospitality and comfort awaits him when the auto swings around a curve in the road crosses a bridge made of logs and the clutch is thrown out at the entrance to t 0 a log made garage developments during the year during the past year the mascot company has performed about 1800 feet of development all underground this work to a very large extent was done on the silver fortune and oregonian oregonians Ore gonian levels and alid includes the driving of the new oregonian oregonians Ore gonian tunnel in the accomplishment of this development d e considerable sid erable ore of good milling grade and I 1 some of direct smelting smelling sm elting values has been blocked out this ore when mined will be brought to the surface through the new lower tunnel level the portal of which is near the new compres compressor plant and just above the site selected for mill construction while mile this new work was of a most satisfactory is nature it demonstrated beyond stal lation of the new compressor plant will be driven as rapidly as possible during the coming winter during the year also the company has performed considerable work in the improvement in pro and maintenance of the wagon ti lation and a covered ditch two tavo by feet will be constructed four in the flo ficor drainage purposes A pipeline for coia ing compressed air for machine drill 0 aaion will also be included in the tunnel tun equipment eva 71 0 1 0 W ool t AJ ln aw one of the log dwellings built by the mascot M M company photo by will C 4 jr 1 RE 57 7 zi compressor om house under construction by mascot M M co mcany photo by will C fliggins a question of doubt the necessity of attaining greater depth and it was for the purpose of gaining depth and at the same time providing a more economical outlet for the mine that the lower main tunnel was decided upon and this with the in road leading from the valley into the camp and it is now in condition so that auto trucks can be used upon it in the spring the new tunnel work will soon be started in the driving of the new main or working tunnel whose v hose portal will be above the creek level this tunnel will be feet in the clear it will be double tracked with 14 pound rail and equipped with mine cars of two and three ton capacity it will also be piped for ven this tunnel is being started gonian vein and will have a vertical deo of feet below the oregonian oregonians Ore gonian w let in tiie the oregonian oregonians Ore gonian tunnel it till direction foy for A run in an easterly tance of feet at which point a 2 0 will be made from this station awu th will be driven in a nor northeasterly th easterly WCO di for a distance of feet in goto to cut distance the tunnel is expected main veins in that port portion on 0 of f the of the I 1 cree reet property on the east side ting through the veins on the four pa claims known as the oreg Ore oregonians oregonian gonian anian the i and the P fortune the snow clad de deve P of which have been P partially arti ally disc 10 upper workings which have sid erable milling and sh shipping aping ore 01 various levels i this tunnel when completed is to a vertical depth of from 1500 cres c below surface droppings crop croppi pings on the veins t are mountain when these by the tunnel upraise upraises up raises will be hect with the various upper lefeld 1 these all ore and waste from tunnel anel and a dropped to the lower tu port its through this avenue to be call which point the milling ore 0 re ered by gravity to the proposed pa 06 ore 0 tt plant and the direct smelling smelting Sm elting lie ff t eha ch this shipping bins through be to alad a or ore 0 c can waste or 2000 tons of in an 8 hour shift rent bla im improvements prove ments and new c bee during the past year the ade 50 oe the and ni 0 added new equipment improvements early in the fall of 1917 a three drill chicago pneumatic tool company compressor was purchased from the F C richmond machinery company of salt lake city and another compressor of six drill capacity has been purchased and will soon be delivered this will be installed in the new compressor building on the east side of the creek and will furnish the power for the drills to be used in the driving of the new foot tunnel fuel used will be oil or distillate the new water su supply aply system is another improvement that has added much to the convenience and popularity of the camp A thousand feet up the mountain side on the west side of the canyon a spring of pure and soft water has been tapped by a pipeline of equal length the line connecting with faucets in the beardin boarding g house compressor building office and dwellings the telephone line constructed by the company to connect with the system of the mountain states states T T company at the north star mine is an innovation the value and convenience of which can hardly be overestimated this line is a standard two wire line over which conversation can be had with hailey pocatello salt lake or even with new york city the line is nine miles in length and is most substantially built and equipped A private line connects the compressor house superintendents office and boarding house with the different workings of the mine on the east side of the stream the company is building or has in course of construction st a number of new log structures these constitute two homes for miners one of which is feet containing three rooms the other being feet containing two rooms compressor house and ma feet in addition there is a 1416 foot cabin and a fine home for the master mechanic has also been erected the compressor house and the dwellings will all be connected with the water system wood for fuel for the winter and mine timbers ls is I 1 in n and ready for use A dynamo and generator capable of sustaining from to electric lights will be installed in the power house and this will furnish illumination for the entire camp A complete sawmill plant has also been ordered this will furnish building material mine timbers and saw the fuel wood for the camp the installation of the com mill construction is to begin next spring when work will also begin in the building of the dam for the hydroelectric hydro electric plant to be built at the power site a mile and a half down the creek from the camp this plant A up it Z L U A hydro electric power site mascot mining company photo by will C higgins to start with is to have an initial capacity of horsepower but additions can be made so as to generate 1200 horsepower so that power can be supplied to nearby mines if desired the company has purchased a complete assay outfit which is to be installed in a building to be constructed for assay office and laboratory for comfort of employees realizing that the greatest efficiency can A R 4 4 4 ap alj a av the terra photo by will C higgins group of six claims recently acquired by the mascot M M CO ie shop feet and carpenter shop and timber shed feet ll 11 at the portal ot of the oregonian oregonians Ore gonian tunnel a blacksmith ecksmith 1 shop and change room have I constructed while at the entrance to the if e new W tunnel a building will be erected lighting plant and sawmill should be completed by december all supplies for the winter including drill steel mine rails powder oil provisions and meats hay and grain should all be in camp by that time only be obtained healthful and pleasant for company employees plo charles peter president and manager has plans which when executed and accomplished will make the mascot one of the mining camps camp s to be found in the west although even now it is noted for its comforts and conveniences here nature has contributed almost every charm beautiful scenery fine forests cold sparkling water and a delightful and invigorating climate and mr peter to make conditions ideal has in mind the construction of a large hall for social and amusement purposes this building to contain music room pool room library dance floor and conveniences for theatrical entertainments moving pictures etc he will also build a bath house with hot and cold water conveniences later on change rooms with hot and cold shower facilities with lockers for the men will be constructed near the portal of the main working tunnel thus making the mascot one of the most sanitary as well as one of the most modern and up to date mining camps in the west A building for school purposes will also be constructed at an early date as well as a general store while an effort is to be made for the establishment of a postoffice post office in the camp to be designated as peter in honor of its founder the terra group the company has recently been fortunate in acquiring the terra group of si six ix claims the group being located on the west side of the canyon and is considered as being very valuable mining ground this new acquisition adjoins the mascot and can be economically and successfully i scully worked in conjunction therewith the systematic development of the terra group will be as soon as the three drill compressor on the west side of the creek can be released for that purpose the terra produced high grade silver lead ore in the eighties eign ties the veins on the property it is believed being continuations and extensions of the ledges of the mascot this addition to its holdings giving the company a domain that is rich in its mineral possibilities the stockholders of the mascot company have voted in favor of a bond issue of of which it is stated will have been taken by shareholders and the underwriters under writers within a short time and this should soon be available for use in carrying on oil the improvements and developments now under way the willingness of the stockholders to approve of this bond issue is certainly an expression of appreciation of what the management has already alrea dy accomplished in the way of mine development and equipment and of their confidence in the ultimate outcome of their property realizing that their earnest and hearty support will be necessary in order that a full measure of success will eventually be recorded it is an old saying that mines are made and riot not found and the efforts of mr peter to transform a prospect into a producing and paying mine are untiring and when the mascot can be listed as one of the large profit makers of the state of idaho his greatest ambition ivill have been achieved under mr peter the work of develop dev eloi ment and equipment is being carried under the direction of superintendent aa H p johnson r cs nn |
