, 1884-02-09

IT seems to be practiced system
with some Of the papers of the coast
to ignore Spokane Falls entirely as
fitting out point for the Coeur
PAlene mines, and yet the very cir
cumstances in connection with the
favorable notices of other points
along the Northern Pacific road in
juXtaposition to the mineral fields
tend to prove that shipping points
outside Of Spokane Falls and Rath-
drum are mere experiments, and all
transitOry with no prospect Of cut
ting figure in the mine excitement
beyond the mOmentary Importance
lent them -by nnwsplpor notioes-
This is clearly demonstrated in the
manner in which the "boOms" jump
first from one point and then to an
other. First it was Heron, then
Trout Creek, then Hope, then Gold
Run, then Belknap, and heaven only
knows what particular spot the
would-be town makers will light
upon next. To a great extent all
these routes have prOven'impracti-
cable, or why should they be aban-
dOned ? The truth is that the nat
ural location Of the mines, hedged
in with rough and rugged noun
tains, cut up with streams that
swell to mighty torrents in the spring
time, make egress and ingress to
the mines an undertaking accompa-
MED with more or less incOnveni-
ence. Especially is this the case at
this season Of the year, when snow
lays to the depth Of several feet, ice
crowds in for supremacy, and the
biting air Of winter searches through
and through the traveller. OF all the
trails into Eagle City the one by the
way of the Mission and Evolution
has been the only one over which
pack trains have been able to reach
the camp, during the winter, and is
the oldest route in use. There are
two other roads that can and will be
opened as soon as the weather per-
mits. The best one of the two is by
the way Of the Big Meadows. 1t is
almost on a line from Spokane Falls
and the Transportation Company Of
this city is now making the prelim-
mary arrangements for opening it
up as rapidly as the work can be
done. This trail crosses Eagle creek
but once, and that near Eagle City.
When open stages will run direct
from the Falls into Eagle City, and
prospeetOrs can buy coupon tickets on
the railroad for the mines ria SpO-
kane Falls. All efforts that may be
made to divert travel in another di-
rection will fail signally, and judg-
ing from the present drift Of the
stream Of gold hunters the largest
number will select this route. Be-
sides the advantages of transporta-
tion our city holds out the great at
traction Of being the best point from
which to draw supplies within reach
Of the mines. Here are located i'm
mense wholesale houses able to COM
pete in prices with San Francisco
and Portland, and handling every
line Of goods that the camp makes a
demand for. Without the aid of
outside support Spokane Falls has
taken the position as the key to the
Occur d'Alene mines and as such
will remain were a thousand new
towns along the road TO spring into
existence as the "only direct route
70 the Mines" The merchants pro-
pose to do their part in holding the
trade by treating the people Of the
mines with liberllity and fairness,
and by providing goods whereby the
camp dealers can afford to continue
trading at this place. The TranspOr-
tatiOn Company will also do much
toward holding this supremacy by
providing quick and comfortable
transportation at prices that will sat
isfy the travelling pu' lie.