, 1883-12-29
NEW SILVER MINES.
A Discovery Near at Hand TO the
North That Promises n Rich
Development.


For some months we have known Of
the existence OF rich silver ore between
this city and Colville, in which some Of
our citizens are Interested, but at the ear
nest solicitation Of those connected with
the company we have remained silent.
They promised to give us timely notice
when the find could be made public, but
wenow have the chagr!n o. going ell sewbere
for report Uf the mines, one Of the COM
papy giving taway to a Portland reporter.
The reason for the desire on the part OF
the owners to keep the discovery quiet
was an honest one. They did not want to
awaken an excitement until they were
certain that there was some value to the
find. The owners have been at work on
the mine all summer, and have spent sew
eral thousand dollars prospecting. J.N.
Squier, OF this place, visits the mines very
frequently, and has some rich specimens
OF ore in his possession. Now that the
mines have by actual assay proven unex-
ceptionally rich there can be no excuse
for further silence. We give below the
report on the mines taken from the Port
land Telegram.
MT; f. T. Smith, who for more than a year
phsl mas been experimenting the develop
ment OF group OF important silvcs mining
properties In the Cnlville country, about sixty
mlles north of spokane Falls, arrived I'm the
city rev days ago. As he brought some fine
specimens OF ore, recently opened up, re-
poilet look occasion to Interview him and
learn the character Of theeountry, the nature
oi the mines and their importance. From
a AZ that has been gathered Il would appear
thht the Colville country, like the CRuT d.
Alene, is likely TO attract many people dur
q,f,sllon are known as the Colville mines,
17nslst of n group Of six claims, in which
NYshowh eight wen defined Lodges. They
are owned eonJOintly by Supt smith, W. II.
Fife and f. $. Smith, Of Tacoma, j. N.
Squier, Of Spokane Falls, and j. NJ. Buckley,
manager Pacific division OF the Northern Pa
cihc railroad. The group owned by them
were among the best located In the ColvIle
country and have been worked steadily. All
Of them show development, but the greatest
work has been done by sinking an Incline
shaft to the depth Of seventy feet. A free
milling ore Is the result and the specimens
brought TO this city are certainly very hand
some as well as Of'a nature sufficiently rich
TO Justify the owners in their large eNpectn-
tiOns, The mineral Is bromide Of silver and
silver chlorides. very little ruby silver Is
noticeable, but the ore contains no gold nor
lead. Copper stain is shown slightly. Two
tons OF the ore were milled some time since
at Hoffman BrothcrS' works, San Francisco,
slR per ton. Supt. Smith says the ore can be
treated TOR ten dollars per ton, because Of It's
free milling nature, and absence Of nearly all
refractory minerals. He asserts also that the
ore recently discovered will average 500 per
ton, which, as will be seen, would leave very
large margin after paying all expenses Of
mining, milling, shipping, etc. The proper
ties being owned exclusively by private par
ties who have abundant means to push the
work, some unusual results may be expected
They were pioneer prOSpcctOrs when they
first took hold Of the property and they made
such discoveries that evidently much atten-
tiOn will be given that locality hencefOrth.
The owners intend next spring 10 put In a mill
for treating the ore, which will cost 5000
They are now maturing plans AMI making
the needed preparations. The district which
until last spring was 50 new that scarcely
pick had been carried into Its mountainous
region, now has u number Of other prospect
ors, who recently have unearthed enough to
show that the region In other sections Is des-
Opments. Mr. Smith says that the mines arc
situated on the west side OF the Colvllle val
ley, about six miles from the CheweIah Indi-
an reservation, and distant only one mile
from the COlville river. The altitude ls 2OU
feet, and the mountains are very precipitOus.
II Is stated, however, that considering the
northern location and altitude, but little snow
falls In winter. The mountains are a spur OF
the CUur d. Alene, and resemble them as
they appear In Idaho, with the exception that
they are somewhat more abrupt. The prin-
clpal work on the COlvillc mines commenced
last spring, and at the present time day and
night shifts are engaged, and will be through
out the winter.