, 1888-01-05
ROCK CREEK.
The British Columbia District now
Attracting SO much Attention.

Attracting SO much Attention.
From Mr.. Thomas Elliott, who is
Just in from the Rock creek district
where no is conducting general
business, it is learned
that work will be continued on some
Of the claims in that locality through
cut the winter. The district is an
isolated one, but its importance is
such that means Of easy communica-
ton will be supplied next year. The
chief mine in the country, that is the
one having the greatest amount Of
work done on it, IL that owned and
operated by the Alice and Emma
Consolidated Mining Co., made up Of
prominent Victoria business men,
and which is = very promising claim.
Two shafts are being sunk on the
vein. They are 9x5, and are being
put down at the rate OF two and one
half feet per day. One shaft is down
thirty-six feet. The ore is white
granite full Of sulphurates and free
gold. For short distance this ore
was free milling but is becoming
more refractory at . greater depth.
Assays run all the way from SIS to
$2OOO 70 the ton, and in some in
stances still richer The vein upon
which work has been progressing has
been followed for mile and quarter
and is all taken up. 1t is the
same vein upon which Mr.. Burnham
has located, and has been traced be-
yond the mountains There is
enough ore in sight to run up into
tho millions, calculating on the con
servative basis of $50 per ton. There
are upwards of seventy miners in the
camp who will winter there, and
grand rush is expected in the early
spring. The placers as we'll "a the
quartz leads, are very rich and the
output of the district will DO very
heavy in future years. The existence
OF the precious metals in the district
referred to is by no means q recent
discovery. Placer claims have been
worked in that part Of British Col
umbia for twenty years or more. Gold
excitemsnts have been common, and
prospectors in that direction for
years. The greatest excitement over
that region was known AZ the Carrabo
or Frazer river rush, but that camp
was several hundred miles further
north. As an illustration Of the age
of mining operations in the north it
here mentioned that camp Of China
men has been located at the mouth
Of Rock creek for upwards of twenty
years. These Cinnamon worked the
bars of the Columbia river and tribu-
tary streams, but with what success
is unknown. However it pays for
the camp is still there. In cOnnec-
ton with mining the Chinese have
fine garden and sell vegetables to the
white miners in the vicinity, and 'in
the vicinity" in mining countries
means anywhere in a radius of 100
miles. In past years the mining has
been confined to placers, which have
in many places been founk exceed
ingly rich, but last slmmer the pros
pector, led ON by hopes Of striking
quartz. ransaked the country result
ing in the discovery OF tho mines
now worked at what is known
as Rock creek. People have heard
much of Rock creek but have only an
indefinite idea Of its location, knowing
that il is somewhere off toward the
north, over the line, but further than
that have paid but little attention to
the n, after. One would suppose from
hearing miners who have visited the
camp frequently speak of i,that it was
a short journey from Colyille aud
easy of access. This is not altogether
the case. Miners are not awed by 4,
few miles more or less, but to the town
bred man. who learns that Rock creek
is about ITO miles beyond Marcus, to
the north that the road thereto dwindles
down to n narrow, tortuous, dangerous
trail that crosses Kettle river eleven
times, which is forded in the fall with
difficulty, and which is
such ~ swift, deep. roaring torrent in
the spring as to be almost, il not |
quite, impossible, the mines began to !
ook fur, far away, SO far indeed, !
hedged in by 80 many obstacles, Us to |
30 out of reach The hardy miner
ooks at it differently. He is used to /
aciug hardships. The finding OF gold !
md silver is not child's play. 1t is
,nly accomplished by patient search
md all manner Of difficulties. Once
ound asd the privations and suf.
erings are forgotten. II the lind
proves to be worth holding the miners
know that means will be found to get
to market. Almost any obstacle can
10 overcome when gold is at hand to
mooth the way. Rock creek may
eem almost inaccessible now, but IL is
that before the close of the
lew year means will be provided max
ng communication with the camp
lardly more than pleasure excursion.
1t present the only way to get to
rock creek is on foot or horseback.