, 1888-03-08
THE MErALINE REGION.
How to Reach it-Looation, Charac-
ter and Value or the Ore-Ob.
stacies to Transportation.

ing tho Metaline mining country, but
SO many appear to know little about
even its location that have deter
mined to give the Record II few facts
xelaung to tho section.
Taking Spokane Falls as a otarting
point there are two routes by which
the trip may DO made. The first by
wagon to Calispel valley, about forty
miles, and thence BY boat some sixty
miles. The second trip is by rail t.
Ratidrum: thence by wagon road to
Malder's landing, thrty.two miles,
where the bank Of the Pend d'Oreille
river il reached. From this point by
boat tine distance to Metaline is about
eighty miles. have made the jour
ney by this latter rou'e, and in sum
mer it is IL very pleaiant one.
AS the prospector can do little in
Metaline and the country adjacant be-
slider the condition Of the river at that
time. The season O! low water is from
September to February. During June
md July the highest water prevails,
and, as the ference between low and
high water is sometimes more than
forty feet, it is evident that one must
know the river aud it's peculiarities in
order 10 make the trip safely and in
comfort.
The first part OF the trip from Mel.
der's landing until the Calispel valley
hns been passed, is easy. The current
lis about three miles per hour and the
scenery in the summer is most beauti-
ful. The Calispel valley is II grand
sight. The grass is luxuriant, bands
OF horses and cattle nre scattered
about, and it is evident that the pio.
neer is driving the Indians before him.
But we are not discussing agriculture.
"A trip from the lower end Of the val
ley becomes more exciting. The river
runs more rapidly land the more near.
ly you approach Box Canyon, the
more carefully must you guard against
yon the "Bg Muddy" is reached and
thence to below the canyon the river
is succession of shoals, whirlpools
and rapids. To effect landing above
Box Canyon requires nerve, skill and
strength. To make mistake here is
TO enter the canyon, which, in the
month Of May or June, means about
what it would to run Niagara Falls.
But we will suppose the landing ef-
fecteG; grub and blankets deposited
upon the bank, camp fires are lighted
and rest is taken before scaling the
steep hills which have u be climed in
order to pass around Box Canyon
This j. n hard walk of two miles, some
thing like climbing up one side OF n
house and sliding down the other
The distance from this point to M eta
line is seven miles, which may be
overcome either by taking boat,
building u raft or by walking the
trail.
Arrived at Metaline, the prospector
will find fronting him, about one
half mile below the town, u fall which
is never less than 75 feet, which is fol-
lowed by Il succession Of rapids which
rer ders the river uunavigable at all
seasons. The principal mines are be-
low these falls, an item not to be over
looked especially when it is remem-
bered that il is from this point to the
mouth of the river, where it reaches
the Columbia II succession of impassa-
BILE rapids is encountered, thereby
preventing shipment of ores by water
in that direction.
We now come to the mines. Galena
ore may be found in all directions
There is no trouble whatever in find
ing it, but what does it assay? From
80 per cent lead and "a in silver to Ga
per cent lead and $12 in silver, which
latter is the best assay ever heard of
from the ores in the vicinity of Metn--
limo.
The cost of transportation of these
ores may be figured by the expert
We will tell him the difficulties TO be
overcome. First the portage around
the lower falls, then reshipUuent to
the foot Of Box Canyon, next the por-
tsge OF two miles around the canyon,
followed by long trip up the river,
say some Is miles to the falls above
Melder's landing, then the portage
around the falls, after which Priest
rapids have to be encountered before
Sand Point, the shipping destination
is reached, and trip of Ito miles has
been completed.
Now what is there in all this to en-
courage the prospector? Surely
enough ore is found. What possible
good can the pruspector ustuin by OPP
ening up new mines OF this character?
ii capital finds inducements to grasp
and work these mines, then and not
till then will the laborer have chance
to do more than waste his time.
There is one fact connected with a
description of Metalins which always
seems to me important About one
mile below Metaline, on the
east side of the river, one reaches
Sullivan creek. From this
creek placer mining takes an.
nually gold in paying quantities an d