The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1884-02-16
CEUR D'ALENE
An Interesting Letter from a Base
Ranger.

The following letter from John +.
Parker, late OF Eureka, TO B. Berg, OF
that place, published In the Sentin ell
of recent date, Is the most descrip-
"veand interesting of any account we
have seen from the northern Eldo-
RADIO:
Now to the point, and 10
be brief, the country hae not been
prospected 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 Tails adjacent 10 the placer
mines. In one or more instance the
discovery was right IN the creek bed
At u point where the waters have been
washing the ledge, then traced to
the mountains. 1t Is the opinion of
miners that this will be great quartz
country, aud there are many of them
lying here for The purpose of being
on hand carly in the spring 10 Iros-
pect for IL rs soon as the snow goes.
The placer ground already discov-
cred lies Oh the Two creeks, Pritchard
and Eagle. On Pritchard there are
| ii TO Iii miles OF placer ground. But
there are only few claims opened.
most Of these are paying good. At
the upper end of Bear Gulch "a side
gulch ON PTitchard) there are ounce
| diggings. Then there are several
claims at different points which are
paying from $40 10 $50 a day when
working. Al the lower end there
have bven six .dollar-a-d day diggings
worked. The gold Is coarse, called
heavy wash nugget dust, and assays
at the lowest from Sl6 50 to Sl7 SO
per ounce.
The distance TO the Northern Pa
chic railroad by the only practicable
route al present Is 90 iniies. This
route Is FROM Kathdrum, on the y.
| L. Railroad, 10 Fort Coeur d'Alene,
then 10 Evolution Dy Wagon, then TO
| Eagle CITY by pack animals or hand
sleds. T..is trail Is at present showed
over with from 20 to 40 feel OF SNOW.
There are three big pack outfits ON
,hls traIl AT present, shoveling their
way through, that have been within
elgnt Inlles VI this place for four days.
Tne North Fork trail is impassable
aud Will probable remain so until
high wafer, which will make IL en-
lirely iInpractictDle. The Trout Creek
trail from the railroad Is 40 miles, but
II Is only a SNOW trail.
There are from five TO ten men a
day arriving over this route with She
boggins with so 10 2j0 pounds 10 the
man. This will probably bs the best
trail and the wagon road 10 this camp
next summer. Ills Impossible 10 get
goods in mere short of 70 10 20 cents
pound FROM the railroad. IL costs
parties this amount VINO own their
oan pack trains. There is very lillle
difference ON freight rates on railroads
to the nearest points to the mines.
Some merchants buy East. others
West. There are no merchants here
yet who buy beyond Spokane Falls
or Portland; and la iaci there are no
merchants here yet at all. There are
three men established here VINO in-
tend dong marcantile business
whenever they can get goods IN.
There are probably 40 ions OF mer-
| chand sc here now and from two TO
three hundred tons on the trails at
different poiuts.
We have five established saloons or
cabins where they sell whisky. More
properly THESE intend Keeping saloon
next Summer.
There Is considerable money in cir
culalion for the number of men.
Spokane Valley is about 100 miles
oil. We have only Eagle CITY, though
there is some talk Of other cities.
No express yet. Have only mail
carrier who makes II trip every eight
DAYS and charges so cents letter.
II costs about 50 to So so per log 10
deliver logs on lot. Whipsawed
lumber, $3.50 per NJ. Mechanics here
now are equal to the demand. Num-
ber of men in the district now estl-
mated at six to seven hundred.
Plenty OF water aud wood-too
much OF both, as the quantity Will
operate 10 re ard tho development OF
mines.
Would not advise you 10 prepare to
bring goods in here until you nave
been here and seen the country, and
i'm formed Yourself of your chances of
getting goods in, etc., il yonare hunt
ing q place to go TO. 1t would weii DC
worth the expense Of the trip IN mere.