, 1888-04-26
AN ELDORADO.

THE WEALTH OF ROCK CREEK-A COUNTRY
ABOUT WHICH LITTLE Is KNows-RoAps THE
ONE THING NECESSARY.
While Eews from the C1ur d'Alene,
Conconully and Colville mines is frequent.
ly received, it is only at rare intervals that
tidings from the great Rock Creek district
reach this city, and the name itself IL COM
paratively unfam iliar. The general i'm.
preston seems to be that 1t is too far
away for its development and prospects to
be a matter Of local interest. 1t is like
some distant Eldorado. from which stories
OF fabulous wealth are occasionally brought
that cause momentary throb of interest
and then are forgotten, or remain in the
memory only as strange fabricatiOns.
Rock Creek, however, IL no legendary Ell
dorado, nor does its distance from Spokane
Falls prevent its being made an important
factor in the upbuild of the city, as will
be seen by perusal of the following very
interesting facts which were kindly furnish
ed reporter by Mr. J. L. East, gentle
man thoroughly acquainted with the re-
gion who knows whereof he speaks.
The journey from this city to Marcus oc'
cupies about three days, the road being
good except at point some four miles be-
y
uneven, owingto to the elects Of washouts
that it is hardly passable for teams. The
first stopping place beyond MAJ Gus IS at the
British custom house, thirty. three miles
distant, where travellers are sure of hearty
welcome from the genial officials in charge.
boundary creek. where q rancher
has taken up his abode and
hospita bly, provides the best that his
farm produces. On the third night, one
has to camp out, but there Is plenty OF
water and excellent feed. The whole re.
gion, IN fact is very fertile and vegetation
flourshes III the rich soil.
From Marcus to the Rock Creek camp
the trail Is comparatively good, but four
days are usually occupied in making the
one hundred miles. A wagon road is be-
ing built from Marcus to the boundary
line, a distance Of thirty-iive miles, and
twenty miles OF thesane is already com
pleted.
Eighty five miles from Marcus one
reaches the mouth OF Rock Creek, and
four miles further on the trail divides,
one branch running to Mckinney,
tie beyond the forking Of the trail
the land begis TO rise and for the re-
mainder Of the way the grade is up hill.
The mineral wealth Of Rock Creek WAS
first discovered in 1862, but the region
was afterwards abandoned by all except
SnlI1duleu, tlll hDOul Scdt a&Ob WuOh
Cooper and White began to wash gold in
the Ncrth Fork. O. Dletz * Co. are now
working bar from which gold is washed
out in paying quantities., and above the
Denver Company are preparing to 20 10
work, and still further up Hotter a. Co.
have located.
About three miles above the point
where the trail CROSSES the creek, stands
Jolly Jacks cabin near which the richest
piece Of quartz ever found in the creek
WAS discOve by Peavine Jim and jolly
Jack. Above his point there
are no traces OF the precious metals
A mile west of Jacks cabin, which the jol-
Iy frontiersman long since abandoned, lie
the Washington, Victoria. Champion, and
other claims. The Washington has lately
been bonded by J. Wilson. West Of these
claims and at q short distance are the On
Eldorado, which show large bodies of sui
phurets. bearing gold. The Truck kman
comes next, showing very rich body OF
ore, and mile above Is the Vulture,
owned by Geo. Gerty, one OF the Oldest en-
gineers in this part Of the country. He
has machine for crushing ore which
| closely resembles those used by the Mexi.
| cans The Vulture sh 0ws galena and sui
| phurets.
The Carbonate is located two miles west
of the Vulture and runs eighty.five ounces
| in silver. Next cOmssthe Amelia, in which
u shaft fifty feet deep reveals body OF free
milling, high grade ore, three feet and
half in width. Next TO the Amelia on the
east is the Mineral King, q wedge shaped
| claim. On this there is blowout where q
forty foot body of ore is visible, in which q
shalt has been sunk To u depth of fourteen
! feet, the walls showing considerable galena
and sulphurets running high in gold and
silver. :,
On the west side Of the Amelia Is tht
CAriboo, where at the bottom OF forty fool
SHAH . vein seven feet in width Is shown