1895 — Ten Men for Every Job

On the home front here, Salmon City has dropped the “City” and now goes by Salmon. Measles cases are cropping up daily—enough to keep every mother in town worried and every doctor too busy to sit.

As for us, Billy is at last living with us full-time in Gibbonsville. He’s overseeing both Bryant mills at the cyanide plant,[5] which is running at full capacity on ore hauled in from the Diamond and Twin Brothers mines, but I expect that he’ll get a better offer any day now.

Bert McNab is working the Monolith and there’s no news out of Shoup—and rarely a mention in the LOCAL INTELLIGENCE column. That said, ANON is still contributing to the Recorder from Gibbonsville, faithfully noting every passing visitor from Shoup—however brief the visit or banal the errand.

Joshua Brown, mining with Sam James on Pine Creek, has opened what they’re already calling “the biggest and richest mine ever discovered in Lemhi County.” I hope Sam and Joshua are right—they could use the luck and Shoup could use a boom.

In April Billy and I made a leisurely visit to Salmon—to visit our friends along the way and those in the city. Once we were back in Gibbonsville, I readied my garden for planting and with the children out of school, there were more parental duties and a garden to prepare for planting.

Idaho Recorder, May 8,1895

GIBBONSVILLE ITEMS

Editor RECORDER:—

Since our visit to your city, some weeks since, our time has been too much occupied to write a description of the trip.

Though we had but a few hours in which to look over your promising city, we formed a most favorable opinion of both people and place. We met with the warmest hospitality on every hand. A glance over the Brooklyn addition[1] convince us that the suburb was one of the most desirable resident portions of Salmon. If our residence should be that changed from Gibbonsville to that city we hope to be fortunate enough to secure a building lot in that addition.

Very little of interest occurred on our way to or from your city. At the North Fork we met our old friend, Jerry Bartl, who is running the hotel at the place, where we were royally entertained.

Gibbonsville continues to progress, improvements to both public and private houses can be seen on every hand. One who has been out of town for a few weeks and returns via Divide is apt to pass that old favorite resort, the Carl hotel, without knowing it. Ed Sealander has just completed a new front to this building which has transformed it into one of the handsomest buildings in Lemhi county.

Bert Maydole can more easily be found, he has had a beautiful sign painted and placed upon the front of his place of business, the Combination Saloon, corner of Anderson Creek Ave and Main St.

M.L. Davidson, of the Gibbonsville Mercantile Co., has been with us for a few weeks in charge of affairs during the absence of Mr. Jones.

Prof. Gheen is meeting with fair success here as an instructor of music. We would like to see more interest taken by the people here in that direction.

Jas. Dolan and John Gibbs, of Shoup, have been in town for a few days.

Judge Edwards is spending the most of his time at Three Mile, where he has some valuable placer ground.

F.P. Dunton has been doing the double act of postmaster and general manager of his brother Williard’s store during the latter’s attendance at court.

The boys of our town sympathized in a most substantial way with Thomas Barber, who lost his house and furniture by fire a few weeks ago.

Mrs. Emma Clark has built and fitted up a fine bath house in the upper part of town.

Mr. Thompson, our local artist, located west of Bennett & Ward’s saloon, has also a finely fitted bath room in connection with his business.

M.J. Rode can be found in the Dunton block where you can get a close cut and a clean shave.

Bill Loss, the bad man from we don’t know where, became a little “wild and wooly” yesterday when he threatened to perforate a few of our law abiding citizens, but alas for poor Bill, he was soon “Less” to view!

When his passion came to white heat, our ever vigilant officer, Deputy Sheriff Hughs, swooped down upon him like a vulture upon its prey, and bore the rampant Bill to a safe retreat inside the gates of the bastille.

In the absence of John Turner assayer for the Lemhi Mining, Milling & Reduction Co., George E. McFarland, E.M.[2] of the same company, has performed the duties of both offices.

Mrs. Alex O’Neal is doing a rushing business of her restaurant in the Dunton block.

The boys and old men from here were a few who have been courting in your city for the past week have about all returned, however, there is one noticeable exception of our worthy attorney, Geo. W. Noble. We hope the results of his courting will be profitable.[3]

Al Evans, formerly of Challis, is running Louis Bush’s blacksmith shop in the absence of the latter, who in company with Henry Stein and Jack Dalkin is making a tour of Big creek country.

The American Developing and Mining Company is going right along with its extensive work. The transfer of the Sucker group of mines to this company is one cause for general rejoicing in our camp.

The erecting of the poles for the telephone line from their main office to the mill now in course of construction, has added much to the appearance of our city. Dan Gorman, the mill-wright in charge has a force of seven carpenters and is pushing the work with all possible speed.

Considerable surprise was manifested here when it was learned that J.A. Qualey president of the Lemhi Mining, Milling & Reduction Co., had bought the Twin Brothers group of mines. This group contains large bodies of high grade ore. Their mines are second to none in the district.

The mill which this company built last Summer has been put in complete repair and, it is now running full time and capacity on ore from the above group. They are also doing extensive prospect work by tunnels and cross cuts, and in every way opening up the property in a systematic manner.

Nick McGree, their mining foreman is one of the best practical miners in the West and will see that the stamps are kept busy.

In the Diamond, one of the Allen group, they are taking out a fine lot of ore, which is taken from the lead about 90 feet below the surface, which they have followed for 150 feet; it varies in width from six inches to two feet in width and improves as they advance. The ore on this level is high grade sulphurate running as high as $130 per ton.[4]

The company has just started a tunnel from Hayes’ Gulch, which will tap the leads in this ground from 700 to 1,000 feet. This tunnel if carried through and timbered as started, will be the best in Lemhi County. It is to be driven 2,500 feet as soon as the formation is reached. The contractors on the Midnight, another property belonging to the L.M. M & R. Co., have just finished a run of 200 feet more.

The work at this point is under the supervision of Mr. Adams, as foreman, who is a man of wide experience in mining matters. The two Bryant mills at the cyanide plant, is running full capacity on ore from the Diamond and Twin Brothers. W.E. Taylor, the well known amalgamator, has charge of both mills in that capacity.

F.D. Qualey, the Supt. And general manager, is a rustler from “way back.” He is sure to bring all out right with the fine showing in the mines under his control. John A. Qualey, president of the company, is an experienced lawyer and business man, and while his choice in the selection of some of his former officers proved detrimental, he has not been slow in seeing it and prompt in replacing the unworthy by upright and competent men.

Wm Woodward and Henry Morris have 200 tons of high grade ore on the dump at the Star, one of the Twin Brothers group. Mr. Qualey is negotiating for this lot of ore.

S.V. Nagle, of the Idaho Commercial Co., and Allen Miller, of Salt Lake, the company’s attorney in the suits brought against them in the recent session of the district court, left this morning for the railroad. Mr. N will go to Chicago after visiting Butte, and return in about two weeks in company with John A. Qualey.

ANON

Gibbonsville, April 28, 1895

Idaho Recorder, May 15, 1895

GIBBONSVILLE ITEMS

Editor Recorder:—

An important mining sale has just been consummated within the last few hours. Judge Padgham has bought F.W. Hunt’s half interest in the Cern Morris group of ten mines for $10,000 cash. G.R. Hughes still retains a 1/2 interest in the property and he and Mr. Padgham will develop the mines.

It is their intention to build a mill near the same in a short time. Mr. Hunt has other valuable property here, which we are glad to know will keep him with us.

A strike of very high grade ore was made in tunnel No. 3, of the Twin Brothers mine. Assay samples going $176. The Anderson Creek Placer Co. are working night and day.

A ball is in progress as we pen these lines, and all appear to be having a jolly time.

Mr. Davis has an electric plant of his own, the light being generated the good old fashioned way, by pitch pine.

Three large teams loaded with machinery for the American Developing & Mining Co. arrived yesterday.

The Hughes Creek Placer Co. paid off yesterday. This company is going right ahead with their work. This ground has been proven to be very rich, and when opened will yield handsome returns to the fortunate owners.

Sherriff Miller was here this week in the discharge of his duty as referee in the Allen induction case.

ANON

Gibbonsville, May 3, 1895

LOCAL INTELLEGENCE

Owen Long has jumped some of Toponce’s mining ground at Shoup. A. Toponce came up from Shoup on Sunday. He reports the Monolith is looking as well as ever and the mill running steadily, day and night.

Joshua Brown was in town from Pine Creek the last of the week. He says he and Sam James have opened up the biggest and richest mine ever discovered in Lemhi county. We congratulate them on their good fortune.

Everything in Maine seems to have changed little. None of my siblings have married—except Edna, who is happily in California churning out babies like Mother once did. Little Alice Chamberlin now has plenty of sisters to play with—Edith, Ruth, and Mildred—and last but not least (for now), a baby brother named Thurston.

And Mother? She extended her visit to California. What began as a winter escape has turned into something more permanent. She hasn’t returned to the east since she went west, and I suspect she’s taken a page from my former husband. Jennie is still upset that she was left behind.

When Billy was home, Eddie followed him everywhere. Like a little moon circling its planet, he was never far behind. By then, Billy had nearly lost his hearing—years spent working inside a stamp mill had taken their toll, and most of what was said had to be repeated.

He’d spend his evenings in his shed, sanding, sawing and tinkering with whatever struck his fancy to build. He didn’t mind a bit if Eddie came along. The boy would perch on a stool, quiet and wide-eyed, watching every movement, or Billy would set him up with a project of his own.

One night, Eddie happened to glance up—and froze. A mountain lion was staring in through the darkened window, its broad face nearly touching the glass, golden eyes aglow in the lamplight.

“Look!” Eddie cried out.

And then stopped cold—he’d forgotten. Billy couldn’t hear.

Panicked, he reached out and tapped his step-dad’s arm, pointing hard at the window. Billy straightened up, squinted past the glare of the lamps and finally caught sight of the big cat.

“Shoo! Shoo!” he shouted, grabbing the corners of his carpenter’s apron and flapping it with all his might. Nails flew from the pockets, clattering against the window. The lion startled and disappeared into the night.

And that was that. Eddie spent the rest of the evening crawling around collecting nails, while Billy went back to his project like nothing at all had happened.[6]

NOTES

[1] The Brooklyn addition was a new part of Salmon, built of the west side of the river just over the bridge.

[2] E.M. are initials for Engineer of Mining.

[3] The ‘courting’ that George Noble traveled to Salmon for was not romantic—it referred to his involvement in a district court case.

[4] In 19th-century mining reports, “sulphurate” typically referred to ore containing metallic sulfides, especially silver-bearing galena (lead sulfide) or other sulfur compounds. These ores often required roasting or chemical treatment (such as amalgamation or cyanidation) to extract precious metals. The high assay value of $130 per ton suggests a rich concentration of silver or gold locked within these sulfide minerals.

[5] A cyanide plant processed gold or silver ore using cyanide solution to dissolve the metals from crushed rock. Known as the cyanide process or cyanidation, this method gained popularity in the 1890s because it could recover gold from low-grade ore that older methods left behind. Despite its efficiency, it carried serious environmental and health risks, often overlooked in the mining camps of the day.

[6] One of Ed Callahan’s stories he shared with his children.