Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-02-07
BUSINESS QUESTIONS ANswERED
Information for Merchants and
Others Looking Towards CGur

A w "a
Information for Merchants and
Others Looking Towards Ceur
d'Alene.
Through the courtesy Of B. Berg, one
of our substantial business men, we get
for publication the following letter, written
to him, as will appear from the text, in
answer to a set Of questions, by John B..
Parker, a former resident Of Eureka, and
a very intelligent observer:
EAGLE CRY (CGUR D'ALENE Mines,
(vis Fort Ceur d'Alene),
Koosenai County, L. T., Jan. "a, 1884,.
MR.. b. BERG-Sir: Yours of the 18th
at hand. Although 1 am 30 busy that I
scarcely have time to write, as the mail
leaves tomorrow, and is only IN eight-day
mail, l take time to answer your numerous
questions. / have never written a word
in which intended to induce any one to
come here, as the chances, even in the best
mining camp, are precarious, and only a
few OF the thousands who follow them sue
coed in doing better than they would do in
other places. Personally, I have almost a
fabulous estimation of the prospects of
this camp. although it is only a prospect
SO far; but If a prospect realizes here as in
other places, this will be the best mining
camp struck for years.
Now to the point, and to be brief, the
country has not been p~rospected for
quartz, although there have been several
locations made, both gold and silver. The
specimen gold quartz is very rich. All
the quartz claims that have been found
are near the trails adjacent TO the placer
mines. In one or more instances the dis
covery was right in the creek-bed at a
point where the waters lave been washing
the ledge, then traced to the mountains.
1t is the unanimous opinion Of experienced
miners that this will be a great quartz
country, and there are many OF them lying
here for the purpose of being on hand
early in the Spring to prospect for it as
soon as the snow goes off.
The placer ground already discovered
lies on the two creeks, Prichard and
Eagle. On Prichard there are IA to 16
miles Of placer ground. There are only Q
few claims opened. Most of these are pay
ing good. At the upper end of Bear
Gulch "a side gulch on Prichard) there
are ounce diggings. Then there are sew
eral claims at different points which are
paying from $40 to 500 per day when
working. At the lower end there have
been six-dollar-a -day diggings worked.
The gold is coarse, called heavy wash
nugget dust. and assays at the lowest from
sic 80 to SIT IS per ounce.
The distance to the Northern Pacific
Railroad by the only practicable route, at
present, ID 80 miles. The route is
from Rathdrum, on the Northern Pa
cifc Railroad. TO Fort Ceur d'Alene,
then to Evolution, by wagon, then to Eagle
city by pack animals or hand sleds. This
trail ia of nraaopt anamad nvar NTH frovo
40 to 20 feet of snow. There are three big
pack outfits on this trail at present shovel
ing their way through that have been
within eight miles of this place for four
days. The North Fork trail is impossible
and will probably remain so until high
water, which will make it entirely imprac-
ticable. The Trout Greek trail from the
railroad is 40 miles, but it is only q snow
trail.
There are from four or five to ten men a |
day arriving over this route with chebog-
gins with so to $50 pounds to the man.
This will probably be the best trail and
the wagon road to this camp next Summer.
1t is impossible to get goods in here short
OF 20 to % cents q pound from the rail
road. 1t costs parties this amount who
W their W pack trains. There is very
little difference in freight rates on railroads
W Tue ncukCb POiutb w Tic nlluob. DOulE
merchants buy East, others West. There
are nc merchants here yet who buy beyond
Spokane Falls or Portland; and in fact
there are no merchants here yet at
all. There are three men established
here who intend doing q mercantile bust
ness whenever they can get goods in.
There are probably 40 tons of merchan- /
disc here now and from two to three nun
bred tons on the Tails at different points. |
There have been several parties in here
looking at the prospects of getting in
goods.
We nave five established saloons or
cabins where they sell whisky. More
properly these intend keeping saloon next
Summer.
There is considerable money in ~circula- |
ton for the number of men.
Spokane Valley is about 100 miles off.
We have only Eagle City. though there is /!
some talk of other cities.
No express yet. Have only a mail car |
rier who makes a trip every eight days and
charges so cents a letter.
1t costs about So to So so per log to de- |
liver logs on a lot. Whipsawed lumber,
$3.50 per M. Mechanics here now are |
equal to the demand. Number Of men in
in district now estimated at six to seven
hundred.
Plenty Of water and wood-too much of
both, as the quantity will operate to retard
the development of mines.
Would not advise you to prepare to bring
goods in here until you have been here and
seen the country, and informed yourself
of your chances of getting goods in, etc., if
you are hunting a place to go to. 1t would
we'll be worth the expense of the trip in
here. You can walk in here over the
Trout Greek trail in a day and a half, and
in three or tour days you can gain all the
information necessary.
Town property has begun to boom
already. There are several transfers every |
day. and prices are advancing rapidly.
Well, l must close. Respectfully Yours,