The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-12-07
THE RUBY CREEK GOLD MINIS.
SEATTLE. W. T.. Dec. lst. 1879.

SEATTLE. W. T.. Dec. lst, 1879.
Hon. Orange Jacobs:
DEAR SIR - Knowing the interest
you take 10 all that concerns the vel
lara of the inhabitants Of Washington
and more particularly thst
which would aid in suy way the dsvel-
opment of the Ruby Greek mines. con-
sequently l herewith submit the result
of my investigation Of the much talked
of Skaeit mines. hopisg il may interest
you and prove perhaps OF soms benefit
to those who contemplate journey to
this new Eldorsdo
1t would b. superauous to give yon
minute detail OF the vicissitndes Of the
trip mp the Sksgit river and over the
toughest Of trails to RUBY Crsek. 6uf-
flee it to say that the trrror. OF navi-
eating the Skagit river. % widely cir
cuiated, were not brought to W obser.
walton. Instead OF the boiling oaldrons
reported as being on the river, seetbing
and boiling, ready to swallow any CRATE
that might venture upon u, ] found "ns
Of the easiest savi liable stresns for
steamers built for thst purpose, ~ there
are not any impediments. snsgs. boul-
ders or rifles 70 prevent st~smsr -
cending Is Tar - what 10 known - the
Portage. about one hundred miles from
its mouth and about nine miles from
0oodsll's Landing, or that point whore
the trail conn ences.
The trail from Goodell's Landing to
the mines follows the left bank Ut the
river except whore one Of the many
mountains intervene. in such Gloss prox-
unity TO the river that it becomes ne
cessary to cro%s it; and the fatigue Of
crawling on hands aud feet. Gliding. and
frequently tambliog heels over head.
will have to bs endured before any de-
scription could be appreciated. The
trail ~ now travelled crosses level bar
from 0node.l's 70 Tsylor's. distance II
two ami one. half miles. and oil that il
requisite to make II . first class mule
trai! is 10 cut the brush sni clear the
fallen timber.
Alter leaving Taylor's the ronghes.
portion of the trail begins. in order TO
cross Cedar Bar Mountain, which il
nearly perpendicular and about two
and one-half miles fsom base to bsse.
On this mountain are encountered the
most frightful passes OF the trip. some
Of them known % Abrsham's Slide. ia.
cob's Lsdd-r, Wilson's Creep Hole.
Break Neck Peak. Frightful Chssm,
Perpendicular Rock. aud many other
points. the names of which are very
appropriate. The crossing Of this
mountain can be obviated By crossing
the Sksgit river either BY bridge or
ferry. and grading . trail on compsr.
atively easy glade TO . point known %
EkedsdiIe Greek, where 10 found lsvel
bar ard foothills on which trail can
10 made 1t comparatively little OF penss.
Then Is encountered what II known NJ
Sour Dough Mountain, which 10 the
highest altitude known on the route.
This mountain eau be avoided by
crossing the Hkngit either BY ferry OF
bridge. and grading . trail along the
foothills and continuing il on that side
OF the river up to the mouth OF Ruby
Creek. have also been Informed that
Sour Dough Mountain can be avoided
by crossing ito t0othills to the left oi
tho mountsin. where IN available pass
has boen discovered. Either Of tn %
routes 10 practicable; and after reaching
the upper foothills OF Sour Dough
Mountain. the other portion Of the trail
can be easily made until the mouth oil
Ruby Creek 10 reached, aud there 1
ferry or bridge would be uccsssary,
The distance from the mouth Of Ruby
to tho head OF Canyon Greek 70 about
twelve miles. aud. - the whole Of The
Creek prospects we'll and the most oil
it 10 located and will no doubt DO ener.
gsticslly worked next year. l am salts
ned that the miners would sxtoud the
trail Tor thor own oonvsnisncs up the
Greek whenever required, II = trail
was completed to the mouth Of Ruby
Creok.
Ruby Creek il one Of the tributaries
Of the Skagit river. and smpties into II
about $50 miles FROM tls mouth, and
heads adjacent to the 49th parallel. II
has for lie feeders Panther. 0r.nits and
Canyon, and Que known - Three Fol,
Creek. Ruby Crssk proper 10 about Ter
miles 10 iength. ann h ted Ct tie f~ks
BY Canyon aud 0ranite Crerks. Ths
bedrock found IN the Creek 10 slA'e
formation. which stands aimcst perprn.
dicular, notwithstanding the evidences
Of vast aqueous erosion and glacial
action, which 10 couspicuaus IN all sidee
more p .rticulsrly on the adiacsn: moan.
.tans The gravel deposit in the Greek
10 principally granite quarts ami por.
phyry. aud IN many placss arc found
serpentine aad gssenstnnc. The bed.
rock stanis well to hold gold. ~ il i
nearly perpendicular. aud Partially lie
composed, thereby having M, ural rim !.
for dspo-ising aud holding the gold
that may havs siftcd into them. thus
prepared By nature to catch il.
My first object after Ruby Greek was
to make a thorough Investigation oil
these much talked Of mines, and Ia
learn for myself IL one.foasth Ut what
has been said OF late aboat tho richness
and extent Of the deposis MAS true, and
being rather skeptical H. regard 70 such
ramors. having good caass TO DO o.
from previous experience. but l VA
sgreeably disappointed Ia finding the
deposit yuore extensive. and much rich.
or than expected. prosp~ct~d tbs
creek for several miles, ard found in
every pan dirt that would pay iron,
i've t. 6fseen dollars day. to the
hand. when properly worked either by
wing damming or by hums. THIS I con,
sider extremely good for surface dig
gings with the prospects of = much
larger yield on the bedrock; which
have been told Yields in many instan-
ces from tivo to six dollars to the pan.