, 1888-12-06
THE LOCAL NEWS.
The OkanogOn Country Being
Fast Developed.
George Miller Placed on Trial
~ for Killing Kohl.
Moody Makes a Succession Appear ior
the Y. NJ. q. A.-Mining Losses
Suicide.


the Y. NJ. q. A.-Mining Losses
Suicide.
During the past year good deal of at
tention has been directed to the new min
inc location known both as the Okanogan
district and Salmon river country, com.
prising, as was alleged, the most extensive
and richest mineral belt known to modern
discoverers. In order to refresh the mem
ory of the general reader IT may be stated
that Okanooan county, which was created
by an act passed by the last session OF the
territorial legislature, contains 5000 square
miles, of which there are not less than q
OOO, 900 acres of tillable land, and the
mineral belt extends from Lake Chelan in
the Southwest, clear through into the
British possessions in the Northeast por.
tion of the county. covering important
spurs of the Cascade range OF mountains
and exposing all along the line valuable
deposits Of gold, silver and other minerals.
A reporter of the REVIEW yesterday in
terviewed w. b. Macdougall, editor of the
Okanogan Outlook, the pioneer Newspaper
of that remote section, who has travelled
extensively throughout the district, and
learned from him Of the progress and
prospects of the new land Of promise. This
gentleman states that 80 far as mining de-
veiOpinent mas Hono tuo Pass soaSoh tuoro
is every indication that the country 10 as
rich in pay mineral as was first supposed.
A great deal Of random prospecting has
been done and over l400 claims have been
recorded in the county auditors Office. On
a large proportion of these claims assess.
ment work has been done, but on the ma
jority of them little more has been at
tempted this season, as the disc0verers are
poor men and unable to develop their prop
- asl Ia aokt kao hot nm.
wards of 300, 900 has changed hands in
mining properties the past season, but
aside from assessment work less than
5000 per month has been spent in the de-
velopment of the principal mines.
MINES OF THE REGION.
It is now acknowledged that there are
several promising mines both in Ruby and
Salmon districts, and there are excellent
prospects in the Lime Belt near Conconully,
at Wannacut Lake and on Pierce river at
the head of Lake Chelan. A concentration
with fifty tons per day capacity is located
above Conconully, and hosting and drill.
ing machinery has recently been taken in
for the development of the Lone Star
mine.
'lt is unnecessary" said Mr.. Mac
dougall, ito particularize as to the value
of different company properties which are
being worked upon, but enough is known
to guarantee the statement that develop
ment will be prosecuted with increased
vieor during the coming season. and the
pay rolls in the different camps will run
into the thousands before the new year is
far advanced. Several important mining
Epfoper.ies have been purchased upon which
considerable development has been made,
while numerous claims have been bought
up on purely speculative principles and
are lying idle. Many of the prospectors
who have staked of good claims have con-
tented themselves with complying with
the law in regard to assessment work, and
are waiting for next years boom.
"Of the different camps in the Okano'
gan country. Conconully may be regard as
the central trading point and chief COM
mercial center of the district. The town
is beautifully located at the foot Of can.
yon, through which tumbles the turbulent
little Salmon river, on broad Hat, COM
prisinR some 1000 acres of excellent land,
most of 1t lightly timbered and bordering
ON a convenient lake OF about 400 acres
Surrounded by high hills the situation is
delightful and makes Conconully an ideal
mining camp with nothing in the way OF
natural advantages TO be desired for the
building of city. To this point rail-
way may easily be built up the valley of
the Salmon river from the Okonogan, and
it is we'll known, that the valley of the
Okonogan from the Columbia TO its head
offers no engineering difficulties whatever
70 railway construction.
MANY NEW SETTLERS.
"In the immediate neighborhood of
Conconully and Ruby City, seven miles
distant, the principal mines upon which
the greatest amount of development work
has been done are located, but nearly all
the mines may be considered tributary to
Conconully which is also the county seat.
1t is estimated by the ferryman at the
Columbia river that he crossed 5000 peo.
pie during the past season going and
coming. As near as can be learned some
seventy-fve new settlers took up land in
the OkanOgan valley and more than fifty
new settlers with their families haye
reached the Methow valley while the Lake
Chelan district has received share Of the
new corners and other portions of the
county have benefited by fresh arrivals.
fully occupied by new homesteads and has
been changed in few months from q
wooded wilderness to cluster of happy
homes and smiling felds Of grain and
grazing ground.
"Okanogau county has not yet been sur.
veyed by the government but 1t 10 esti-
mated there are over 100, 900 acres Of the
6nest agricultural and fruit growing
ground In the Northwest In this prolific
xalley. The soil IL warm sandy loam
and when it 10 stated peaches and sweet
potatoes may be successfully cultivated
there. there is little else 10 be said. With
an irrigation ditch which may be con-
structed ct small cost the whole Of this
magnificent stretch OF country may be re-
eleimed and Thousands OF homestesds e.
All Ntak