, 1883-06-23
THE OKANAGAN MINES.
A full Description of the Local
ity, and How to get There.
The Great Mineral Field Of the
Northwest.

eral fields in the section of land re-
Gently taken from the Moses Reser-
walton in the northern part Of the
territory from reports that had reach
ed them, decided upon exploring
that region. The party consisted Of
VIM. Kaiser, proprietor of the Sprague
House, r. r. Hargrove, H. A. Bate
man, A. S. J. Phelps and Mr.. Lin,
den and Mr.. Mansfield. They de-
parted fully equipped to make ex-
tensive researches and returned last
Wednesday morning, after travelling
upward of 600 miles, perfectly salts
fed with the journey. A number
Of fine specimens of quartz were
brought home, which shows indica-
tions Of gold, silver and lead, and
they will be at once aSsayed. The
gentlemen are of the opinion that
the country will fill up rapidly with
miners and the narrow territory will
contain upward of 10000 people
within year. Some of the lodges
are being worked now. But the de-
velopments are in their infancy.
One white man known as Okanagan
Smith, Who has made his home in
those wilds for over twenty years,
has some rich claims for which he
has been offered 100000. II he is
worth cent he is worth a million
dollars. The party travelled by the
way of Fort Spokane through
the Big Bend, but there are so many
difficulties to surmount on that route
that everybody is advised to go by
the way of Colville via Spokane Falls,
which is easy travelling. Jas. Lin
den, one Of the party remained be-
hind to work the claims taken up
and report progress. There is no
doubt but that the new mineral field
will develop into one of the richest
diggings along the long chain Of
auriferOus mountains that traverse
the continent from the Arctic sea to
the Isthmus Of Panama, and which
has been found rich i'm precious met
ais from Mexico to Alaska. The fol-
lowing exhaustive description of the
location and route to follow in order
to reach the mineral belt has been
kindly furnished by Mr.. Kaiser
The Okanagan Mines are located
on the Melcomine river, about Is
miles from its mouth where it enters
the .Okanagan river. The distance
from Spokane Falls is 225 miles, IS
miles north from the mouth of the
Okanagan river, and 125 miles west
from COlville, on the Columbia river,
and eight miles south Of British Col
umbia line. At present there are
two routes leading from Spokane
Falls to the mines, one to the mouth
Of the Okanagan via Foster Creek,
thence by trail to Asoyoos Lake, and
the other via COlville on the Column
bia river, to which point there Is an
excellent wagon road and . good
trail from the Columbia up Kettle
river to the mouth Of Rock Creek to
AsoyOos Lake. The route by the
way Of Foster Creek and Okanagan
is Travelled with much difficulty, the
crossing Of Grand and other Coulees
and the swimming of the Columbia at
the mouth Of Okanagan is only ac-
cOmplished with great danger. At
the mouth Of the Okanagan the Col
umbia must be crossed on horse back,
the horse swimming under the rid,
The river at this point is three quar-
tiers Of a mile wide at least and the
water very cold. One other great
drawback over this route is the nee
essity Of crossing through the Big
Bend country, and on the north side
of the Columbia the mosquitoes are
so thick that men and horses can
scarcely endure the terrible pests.
The other route by Colville from
Spokane Falls to AsOyOos Lake is
easily Travelled. There Is a good !
wagon road to Colville. At that point
Mr.. Brown, an old timer, keeps a
large store, where supplies OF every
description can be obtained at reason
able prices, and where one can get
one Of the best meals in the territory.
Mr.. Brown also keeps a ferry cross
ing the Columbia opposite his store.
The large ferry boat can carry twelve
horses at a single crossing, with the
men and traps, and the charges are
only Sl.5O per man and horse. Mr..
Brown went into the Colville coun-
try twenty-eight years ago as cook
for pack train. Some years ago he
began the mercantile and ferry bus
iness and to-day has large stock Of
merchandise. He is perfectly ac-
quainted with all the upper country.
Knows every road and trail leading
in any direction from his place, and |
he is always ready and anxious to
give all the in formation in his pow
er to those travelling in that section,
and above all he Is a courteous gem
tleman with whom it is a pleasure |
to transact business. There is a
plain trail leading from the Column
bia up Kettle river tOthe mouth of
Rock Creek and from that point to
the Okanagan river. The very best
Of feed can be found in abundance
along the trail, so that prospectors
need not burden their animals by
feed. At present there are
three mines partially developed,
Okanagan Smith is the owner of
some fine quartz lodges. One mine
called the Smith mine has a shaft
n I