The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-14
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
DEAR READERs or The NEW NORTHWEST.
Canyonville is hospitable aud pros
porous little town, IN the midst of an
enclosure of tree covered hills, at whose
ieet little river sings merriIy. Here
We found our old friends of legislative
memory, Hons. Riddle and Colvig, the
former brother OF our stanch CO.
worker, Mrs. Merriman, of Manzanita,
and the latter brother Of the gallant
Major Of Willow Springs. We do not
remember how these gentlemen voted
on the woman question, but We know
that they met Us in Canyonville with
that recognition and courtesy which we
have never failed to meet anywhere ex-
cept In Jacksonville, and that they not
only gave us respectful treatment, but
they emphatieally suppressed any at
tempt at the Jacksonville style Of guf-
Jaw aud burlesque whenever 1t was at
tempted by others.
The lectures were held in the church,
aud were very largely attended, the best
elements among both men and women
forming the audiences on each occasion.
There was plenty of goOd-natured en-
thusiasm, but the very best order
marked the exercises throughout, al
though we were told by ladies that
trouble was expected from the whisky
ring, and we were looking for it. A
rabble always takes it's cue from men
who are looked upon as leaders, and
without such encouragement they will
not organize riot.
There are two hotels, schoOl-house,
mill, half dozen stores, etc, etc, in
CanyOnville, and several very good and
substantial dwellings, besides a large
number of dilapidated shanties, and we
didn't count how many saloons.
Mr.. Frank Woodward, who knows
every body, and who has been for many
years a mining engineer, and is now
operating in mining stocks under the
direction OF San Francisco stock brok-
ers, introduced US to Mr.. w. +. Briggs.
President OF the TellurIum mine, and,
accepting his invitation and the latter
gentleman's escort, we on Monday en-
barked in Mr.. BIS family carriage and
paid a visit to the mine, about three
miles distant from the town. This
mine was opened and Incorporated in
November of '76, under its present man
agement. A road leading to it has been
constructed at great labor and expense
around the mountain side, and Just wide
enough for single track. Below this
track is a tree-sIudded precipice, sug-
gestive of speedy dissolution in case Of
accident to horse or vehicle as you
travel up or down it. Up and up and
up We go, and at last we reach the
boarding-house, where Mr.. Jennings,
the general superintendent, and Mrs.
Webb, the efficient landlady, make US
welcome in a primitive cabin, with sky
lights in the roof, long table on the
floor, and mineral specimens every
where. Here we rest among the rock
ribbed fastnesses of this mountain
crowned retreat till dinner is ready, and
are then Joined by Mr.. Webb and half
dozen wOrkmen, with whom we indulge
in a substantial meal, for which the IA
tigue of the journey and the glorious air
has whetted our appetites to voracity.
After dinner, our party, including Mr..
and Mrs. Webb, Messrs. Jennings and
Woodward, self and some of the miners,
each armed with lighted candle, sal
lied forth to explore the tunnel, which
at the date of our visit had been bur
rowed or driven into the resisting heart
Of the euncOmplaining mountain for a dis
tance Of ago feet, at a depth Of four or five
hundred feet beneath the surface at its
terminus. We confess that 1t looks as
though these men have reached a silver
bonanza. But its development has in
volyed great expense, and for want Of
sufficient capital to go on rapidly with
the enterprise, its progress is necessarily
slow. They are now erecting a small
crusher, with a capacity for crushing
four tons of rock per day. This rock, a
gray quartz of a greenish tinge when
first exposed to the light, essays from
$50 to $50 to the ton, with a remarka-
bic evenness in the average yield. For
long distance the tunnel was driven
through a finty gray granite, from
which the fire flies at every stroke Of the
pick. Then came a sort of pumice stone,
so soft and shelving that it had to be
heavily braced with timbers to keep the
tunnel safe. and after that quartz was
again reached, where free gold glitters |
here and there quite temptingly in the
arehed chambers as the tunneling goes |
on. There is a large per cent of plati- |
mum in the late assays, and also a vein /
Of asbestos, which is remarkably pure /
in quality. o. course it is impossible to /
estimate the fiual yield Of this mine,
but the present outlook Is certainly 1
promising. This whole mountainous
country is vastly rich in minerals Of
every description, and we believe will .
ultimately surpass the widest dreams |
of the old miners of 40 in its yield of |
precious ores.
Returning to Canyonville, we made
ready to continue our journey on the
morrow, and were off at an early hour
for the village of Myrtle Creek, about
eight miles distant, where we were in
due time safely landed at the Overland
Hotel, kept by Mr.. and Mrs. Buick,