, 1883-10-13
THE DIGGINGS.
Last Word Prom the Field of
OpIF itiCns.

Ever since the first report gained
credence that gold had Leen found
in paying quantities in the noun
tains only II comparatively short dis
tance from Spokane Falls, the public
has demanded the latest authentic
reports from the mines. No sooner
was it known that. the metal was
there than there was II general desire
to investigate, and Il great many
men have gone from this place. to
make personal inspection of the dig
gings. This eagerncss to try ones
luck has by no means died out, and
fresh departures occur every week.
The desire to investigate is not con-
fined to this particular locality, but
from every quarter Of the Northwest
are advcnturerS tlOcking into the
New FL Dorado. Late as it is in the
season the tartnesS of the atmosphere
does not seem to chill the fever and
the stream Of humanity going in
will continue until the flying snow
bars it out of the mountain fastness.
\ fortnighty or three weeks ago,
| large parties went out after the
golden igHis .tdttuS from this city,
most Of whom have returned, bring
ing but little of the precious mineral
but all enthusiastic in the future
productive capacity of the placcrs.
Among those who reached home di-
rcctly from the mining district are
| Charles MCNab, Chas. Lawson, Harry
White, Jas. DOnnelly, 5. B. Linni-
ger, Frank Dyman, Mr.. Cox, Of the
firm Of Cox Il Rlney, and p. w.
Puulson. Stanley Miller and G. B.
Tcames Of this party remained over
to do further prospecting. From
these gentlemen we learn that the
reports received of the richness of
the mines are neither cOlorcd or
ovcrcstimatcd. There is a large eX-
tcnt.4f territory and over every acre
| of ii that has been examined color
can be found. Only few claims are
being worked and they are paying
big. In fact the owners will give no
satisfactory account Of the proceeds.
/ There are several hundred men on
the ground, about half Of whom will
winter there. \ great many are
still going in. These will be COM
PEELED to remain over as winter com
mcnces early. The formation of the
country is rough and rugged, cut up
with canyons, Of a narrow width.
/ There are several streams known as
/ Prichard, Beaver, Eagle, Butte and
/ Gold Run creeks, all tributary to the
CTur dAlene river which contain
gold. The chief diggings are on
/ Prichard Creek, where a town will
eventually spring up. The valleys,
or more properly gorgcs, through
which these streams flow, are quite
narrow with high mountlins on
either hand, and those elevations
will he the dividing lines Of the dis
trict when the country is thoroughly
worked. II is the belief that quartz
exists in the ncighborhOOd by all
who have visited the section, and aS
old prOSpcctors are noSing around on
the search it is likely they will be
uncarthed at anytime. The under
brush is dense and timber heavy
which intcrfcrcs with prospecting.
The general opinion is that there
will be few new developments this
winter Men are afraid to COM
mence operations knowing as they
do that the high water Of spring will
wipe out all improvements. The
next years work can not commence
until the latter part of May, but 50
confident are our pilgrims in the
genuiness Of the the mines that il is
asserted that no less than 10000 pCo-
pie will be on the grounds by July.
Many Of the claims were taken up
for parties living at a distance. Ev-
cry claim unworked has been
jumped. So far no trouble has grown
out Of Nhe high-handcd help-your-
self proceedings, but no doubt the
persuasive shot gun will act a prom
incnt part in putting down the free
grab game. A. J. Prichard is acting
rs recorder Of claims, and his views
weigh heavy among the denizcns of
the camp. Money has been sub
scribed by the merchants of Heron
Siding to construct a road from that,
point on the railroad in the mines, a
distance of 30 miles, over the noun
tains. OF course the old trail from
this city will be largely used, and
there is no reason why our mer-
chants should not always command
the trade of that region. There is
some talk Of running Il railroad from
Spokane within a short distance OF
the mines, but whether or no this is
only scheme mOmentarily growing
out Of the first fever Of the excite
ment we are not prepared TO say.
| We would like to see the project
carried out.
IneOnVenIent
The present arrangement as re-