The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-21
GOLD FEVER IN MONTANA.
The New Ceur darlene Mines which
are to AStOniSh the World.

are to AStOniSh the World.
With the spring comes back the
gold excitement, says a Fort Keogh.
Mont, letter, and miners are getting |
out their pans, sharpening their pi. ks |
and brushing up their outfits prepare |
tory to leaving for the diggings.
The principal attraction is the new
Ceur darlene mines, and they are
difficult to get at, but as the specimen
ore exhibited is very rich and dazzling
routes will be found and roads built
in spite of every obstacle. The eX-
element commenced last fall just as
winter was coming on. Notwith-
standing the difficulty CT access to
the heart of the mines, through un-
explored regions, some men braved
the rigorS of the winter climate and
made the attempt, so that all winter
long about 200 miners have been pent
up and isolated in the SnoW-bOund
wilderness, awaiting warm weather
and spring freshets to engage IN
placer washing.
The CRur d'Alene mountains are
spur of the Rockies, branching from
the main stem on the western slope of
the main divide into Northern Idaho.
The term C9ur d Alene means Hearts
Of Avis" and was given to tribe OF
Indians by the French trappers and
hunters sent by the Hudson Bay Com
pany years ago. When the men ar
rived in the region inhabited by the
Indians they found them unusually
obdurate and willing to make no
terms of friendship. After the settle
ment of the country the tribal name
was applied to the range OF noun
tains, the river and the lake, which
| they have borne ever since.
Gold was accidentally discovered
by an old Californian who came
through on mule last fall, and who,
when he reached civilization on this
side of the Rocky Mountains, gave
glowing accounts of the country. he
saw. Already specimens are coming
| out, and although it is entirely placer
gold, it is worth from $40 to $40 per
ounce.
Clutches full of gold-bearing quartz
are said to be there, but as the era OF
quartz-crushers and smelters has not
vet commenced for the C9ur d Alenes
the precious metal when mined Will
have to be transported from the dig
gings by means of wagons and OK
trains.
There are three routes into the
mines. One is by the way OF Rath,
drum. through tremendous noun
tain gorge and over eighty miles OF
circultous length. 1t is hard and tor,
tuous in its winding and is difficult tc
travel.
Another is by way of Spokane Falls
and Lake Ceur d'Alene. This is
beautiful sheet of water, nearly forty
miles long and is scarcely rivaled any
where for magnifcence of Alpine set
ting or beauty of pine-clothed isles
1t is 300 feet deep, full of trout, a per-
feet paradise for the angler, and pos
sesses charms in many respects supe
rior and in none inferior to those which
have enraptured artist and poet al
Killarney, Loeb Katrine and Geneva
Early in the spring party OF gen
tlemen propose to put steamer or
the lake to ply between Fort Ceul
d'Alene and the mouth of Eagle creek
the centre OF the mining district.
The third and what is considered
the best route of all runs via Trou
creek, and is from thirty to thirty-fiv'
miles long, requiring two days to ge
into Eagle City. The trail runs sew
enteen miles up the mountain to thu
summit, thence down the other sid,
thirteen miles into the camp, and il
distinctly blazed the whole distance.
Mr.. Wolf, Helena gentleman
went into the mines this way last fal
with a number of companions, and 10
Gated claim. He has since Dough
out their interest in twenty-acre lot
for which he paid $1,000.
Trout Creek is the name of station
on the Northern Pacific railroad
! ninety miles east of Rathdrum, and i
distant from Eagle City thirty-fv
} miles by rail. 1t is all plain sailing
} on the railroad to Trout station, bu
J then the overland route begins. Th
first eight miles are rough, but the re
, mainder is good ground, though no
in the very best shape at the preSen
, time. There is at this writing fore
of fifteen men working on the trail a
, different p ,ints, making preparation
, for wagon road.
! Eagle City is already putting Of
; the robes of municipality, and tn
!, following appointments to office have
I been made: w. E. Hunt, city recorder
| Frank Points, justice of the peace ant
mining recorder.
The miners have decided that claim
ants or purchasers must put fenc
= around their respective lots and cree
: the foundation of cabin four log
C high by July 1, at which time othe
( legislation for regular building in thi
new mining metropolis will no doub
/ be enacted. There are now forty lo
D houses in Eagle City, five stores, ST
J saloons, and W. F. Stall is going t
put in drug store within few days