The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-07-22
FROM THE MINES.
RUBY CREEK, July 8, 1877!

Ed INTELLIGENCER: THINKING that
Q few lines from this part Of the world
would be interesting to your many
readers. and wishing to let you know
that We are still alive and seeking for
the filthy lucrc, l take the liberty Of
addressing you. OF the original party
that came up on the Josephine in April
ell are here but five. who became sore
footed and started back for Puget
Sound, saying. "Clams are good enough
for u.s." We have oil settled down to
miners life--bake our bread in o gold
pan aud turn our plates over after eat
ing. All the miners on the crock arc
ct work on their claims Some of the
uubsl,evcrs are still looking for gold
on the bushes, but 50 far with poor
success. The season is very late and
there is great deal Of snow in the
mountains yet to come down. The 18th
of June went up Canyon creek to the
ease fork, five miles above the diggings'
prospecting. and found the creek COW
cred with snow for miles that had come
down in snow slides. In some places
the snow was fifty feet deep. This is
the toughest country I ever was in, and
if there is no gold III it do not know
what it is good for. Most Of the party
agree that we are near the boundary
line. but l think we are ct least twenty.
Ave miles south Of it. Canyon creek.
where most of the claims are located.
is about the size of Raging river, and
is very rapid stream. Our manner of
working it is by turning its course
across the low bars and then running a
drain ditch up the old bed until we
strike the bedrock, which is from six
to twelve feet deep. as we suppose from
oil appearances. No one has found it
yet except few spurs that have been
struck 10 running bitches. Coarse gold
has been found on some of the spurs,
and inc on all Of them. As for what
the creek will pay no one knows. We
all expect to strike it rich on bedrock.
and come down in the fall with our
sacks full.
1t these mines IRE good it will be q
big thing for Seattle. for the best route
to and from them is by the Sksgit
river. ! prospected for q trail in all
directions for six weeks They may
talk Of the Nootsack. Fort Hope aud
bunch grass - long Is they will. but
the trail will run down the Skaoit
still. The present trail from the dig
gings to Canyon City, thirty five miles,
is rough one. but can be improved by
bridging the Sksgit. which can be done
at . small cost From Canyon City
down the river by canoe is one day =
ride. and the trip up 10 made in about
five days. Freight can be landed at
Tsylors for $50 per ton at present. but
with steamer % good as the Srake
river boats il could he landed there for
$25 per ton. and that at . good profit
Work has fairly commenced in only
six OF the claims. On the Rich claim
owned by Rich 4 Fitzgerald they have
their mill-racc in and water ditch near.
ly completed, lumber for boxes out and
will be sluicing in few days. On the
Rabbit claim. owned by Rabbit & Glib
bons. they have their ditch for the
creek done and lumber out for boxes.
and are waiting for the creek to fall
Armstrong has his ditch in 800 feet
aud his sluices set and running be is
not getting much gold; his reason for
setting them was Ia get rid Of his
strippings. On the Pioneer claim.
owned by Woods. Sanger 1 Gibson,
they are in $50 feet with their ditch (:
have sluice boxes set aud running. aud
are getting some coarse gold; they are
carrying . thir,y.foot race and are in
good looking gravel with fair pros.
pcct Of striking bedrock in the next
$50 feet; they are all goo workers
aud il they do not find pay il will be
no fault Of theirs. The next claim
above them 10 the Seattle Consolidsted
owned BY Peterson. MAlle,. Boren L
Sperry; they have their ditch in 500
feet. logs for head dam and .luice boxe,
out and are saving ct present: they
will be oil ready when the creek goes
down, and will have their claim open
in go,d season. On the Prospect claim,
above the Canyon, under the manage.
ment Of the old miner, John Carnea,
they have tunneled the creek into the