, 1889-05-30
KOOTENAI MINES.
How to Reach Them From
Spokane Falls.
A Delightful Ride by Rail,
Wagon and Steamer.
The ChAraetsr OF tho Country and the
Progrsss of Development An
tho Various Camps.

WARh SPRINGS. b. c., May l8. Cores
pondenoe.--I will endeavor to give such
general information In regard to condi-
tions here in the way Of laws, climate. min
ing and country and also the way of get
ting into this camp, as will probably be
interesting to some.
The route IL generally known to the
Washington public. but the means and
conditions OF transportation etc. may not
be. In leaving Spokane Falls for this
camp the N. Z. $3.50 A. M. freight, al.
though somewhat cumbersome, furnishes
the most pleasant ride made by rail, the
discomfort experienced from which. il
along the way, and the nights rest en-.
joyed in a comfortable bed at Kootenai
station, Idaho.
At Sand Point the placid waters OF the
Pend d'Orielle lake and river, lying at the
foot OF q beautiful range of snow capped
mounta ins to the south and southeast and
lined on either side OF the shore with
forest OF pine and ir, the small points of
land projecting into the water at frequent
distances. that rise into miniature buttes.
thickiy covered with their evergreen for
eat, makes one think Of the thousand ls-
lands OF the st. Lawrence, and is q view
that fully compensates for the tedious
freight train ride.
From the Kootenai station. Idaho, to
Bonner's Ferry, the distance OF thirty.two
miles. IL made In spring wagon or IL the
number OF passengers is equal to the party
OF seventeen that came over u few days
ago which | was among any heavy wagon
must be substituted, NJ the light wagon
now run ~ the stage will accommodate
but eight passengers, and crowdinR three
m w Hri vi
over An exceedingly rough road, makes il
almost as uncomfortable ss walking. The
road Is through dense forest of cedar,
pine, tr, and tammarac, almost the entire
distance. The first FIVE miles is very rough
from the ruts cut into the ground made
very soft by the spring rains, which are
allowed a slow escape through the thick
tall forest. Many small creeks cross our
path but all are bridged with Substantial
bridges. The road has been constructed
at cost of $l5, 900 some Ave years ago,
and has been bought recently by the
county, saving the toll that has heretofore
been charged.
There Is store at Bonner's Ferry
where supplies can be obtained, also two
places furnish meals. The stage fare is So.
The good little steamer Gaena makes
twelve miles an hour down the kootenai
river. u beautiful stream 800 or 400 yards
wide and claimed to be deep enough to
float an ocean steamer any where below
the ferry. Mammoth cottonwood trees
clothed with luxuriant growth of deep
green verdure fringe the banks and hide
trom view the bottom land which Is said
to reach back four or five miles In level
meadow and we're II not for the low river
banks would make excellent farm land.
Unfortunately the high water during June
and July causes an annual inundation OF
the entire bottom, that Is in no hurry
to withdraw its destructive influence
and will be constant menace TO
cultivation, no matter how costly. The
weather when we came down was exceed.
ingly fine. and the ride delightful. The
river is constantly waverinR in its COURSE
The smooth water hugs the fine range Of
Cabinet mountains in u continuous chail
of monarch buttes separated from each
other by deep ravines that penetrate the
main range, whose higher peaks are still
clad in the remnants of winter garments.
Our boat gliding over the smooth. quiet
water is frequently heading directly
toward one Of the massive mountains;
seemingly we will crash against its
mighty base, but sharp turn in the river
leads US away through the bottom be.
tween lovely groves of cottonwood filled
with q luxurisnt growth of vine and un.
derbrush that obscures our view of the
mountains which are soon unveiled again
by IN abrupt turn in this meandering
aquatic avenue.
Near the mouth Of the river a Catholic
priest hailed our boat and on nearing
the shore We discovered perh sps 200 Koo-
tenai Indians. A number of the young
females were quite good looking for In
diana. IL was generally observed among
the passengers that they are very good
looking class Of Indians. The priest said
they are now cared for. but the govern.
ment doesn't do anything for them.
The custom house on the boundary line
is ofiicered by Canadian gentleman that
eIacts tie duties required. and travellers
or prespectors coming here should leave
any unnecessary articles tnat they do not
want TO pay duty on. Some time ago one
prospector paid &3 Guty on dressing
case. Kootenai lake is narrow sheet of
water lying between two high ranges of
mountains, the tops Of which are covered
with thin sheet of snow. Heavy for
rests Of fir, hemlock, cedar and birch grow
on the sides.
Warm Springs is located on a bench of
the mountains hard by the lake. The
ing. The water Ia strongly impreRnated
with lime, and is therefore very hard
The temperature is trifle above that Of
the mills-warm and the fiow only moder.
ate. 1t Ia simply warm water spring.
The mines that have been discovered
wary in qaiity and quantity, according to
ascent or altitude Of the mOuntains-the
nearer the lake the lower the grade Of ore.
The mountains rise in benches, and each
seens to produce ledge Of mineral. The
croppings come out Ia bold points and In
vast quantities The Spokane mine has q
cropping Of solid galena that comes entire.
ly out Of the ground and 10 perhaps foot
wide. pen knife would penetrate the
mineral enough to show where Il was and