, 1889-05-30
r. H. KEMP.
"The Revinw" Rambler in Brit.
ish Columbia.
He Visits the Mines in the vi
cinity Of Nelson.
Development Retarded by nrtti.h 10th
argy' Tho Arrival OF James Ward
nor Creates = Sensation.

NELSON, British Columbia, NAV 10.
Correspondence. At 5 o'clock A. M. of
the 10th inst, | again embarked on the
steamer Galena at Warm Springs. We
steamed along the lake southeriy dis.
tance OF ten miles, then turned west into
the outlet OF the lake, or the continuatio
OF the river to the Columbia, twenty miles
down the river, and after passing through
the narrows. or what the old-timers in
these mountains. or more appropriately
these waters. called the Jaws OF Death.
AT 8 o'clock ia the morning we dropped
anchor in front Of the town OF Nelson,
which 10 really the seat of goverme Mt for
the West Kootenai mining district.
not much of the town can be seen from the
deck of a steamboat, and after walk Ia
taken over the townsite not much is to be
seen, but the expression is often heard,
only In the Uaited States there would
have been y city here OF 5000 people by
this time" | am OF the opinion that
there is some truth in this. at least every-
thing would have livelier and more
thrifty appearance and lCok more like u
western mining center ii Ii was beyond
the 49th parallel. visited the office of
THE MINERAL RECORDER,
and met Mr.. Thomas Griffin, the ;ncum.
beut of that office. He was seated in q
shake shack which wealthy and enter
prisin9 I y government furnishes him in
which to do his writing and attend to the
Important duties OF his office. Mr.. q. w.
Sproat, the gold commissioner for this
district, has been on the outside during the
winter but is on his way in over the trail
leading from the Columbia river to this
point. Nelson is situated on
M aauk hos xe
about the mouth of Cottonwood
creek. Navigation ends about two miles
below the townsite, as feom that point to
the Columbia the river is succession of
rapids and falls, Never until last year
was trail made along the bank of the
river. but now survey for wagon road
is being made and by the usual haste with
which these Britishers move, probably IN
the course of couple of centuries the road
will be completed. unless half dozen or
so American prospectors take the matter
in hand and finish it in two or three weeks.
Outside of the government business tran.
sacted here, Fred Hume has we'll stocked
general store, and j. 4. Ward, well.known
to thousands of mining men, has a restau-
rant and lodging accommodations.
THE MINES OF TOAD MOUNTAIN
are situated six miles back in the interior
and are reached by trail The Cottonwood
mine, owned by an English company who
are bringing in two small Huntington
mills, is located on Gold hill. five miles up
Cottonwood creek, while the Poorman
gold mine, the property of Ike Nail. and
MIR. McDougall, is on Eagle creek, seven
miles down the river. On the llth inst.
| took the trail and went down to Mr..
Nails place. where ! was royalty enter
tanned. remaining until the morning Of
the l4th, when we came up to Nelson to
meet the Ualena, which was due that
morning. Among the 6rst to step
on shore was James +. Wardner.
The arrival of this prominent mining
man in camp was taken as good omen
pectors in the vicinity. Mr.. Wardner
was accompanied by John c.. Davenport
and sons, Horace aud Line, and Gus
Reitb. These gentlemen visited the Nail
property 10 the afternoon, Messrs Ward
ner and Davenport. Sr.. returning to
town in the evening. After nightfall,
when the pale moon had risen and the
camp fires were brilliantly burning, there
was much speculation among the groups
around the fres "a to what the visit of
the gentlemen named portended. One
party said, 81 am not rich. but | can
rustic, and / would willingly give
$l0OOif
JIM wARDNER
would take hold in this camp" Another
spoke up and said, 81 am only laborinR
man; have no means. but ] would will
ingly work thirty days and ten hours each
day, il Jim Wardner would decide to stay
here" Such were the expressed opinions
of number. They appeared to look upon
Mr.. Wardner az leader where life and
energy was required, and the writer
thought as he wended his way to the
cabin on tue river bank where he slept
jim Wardner may be prince among his
fellow men, but he is king among the
miners.
Yesterday, the 18th, started at six
o'clock A. M. and after four hours hard
climbing reached the Hall brothers camp,
at the Silver King, Kootenai Bonanza and
American Flag mines, Messrs. Wardner
and Davenport arrived soon after and we
had a Jolly time exploring the surface
through about three feet of snow. The
other gentlemen returned to Nelson
In the evening and l remained all
night coming down this morning.
Tomorrow the Galena is again due. but
it is probable that shall not leave this
point until Saturday or Sunday. when
will take passage on the Idaho for Warm
Springs, and there remain some time, and
it is not at all improbable that shall see
much more Of British Columbia than |
have already before l again set foot on
United States soil.
In my letters thus far have confined
myself 10 notes OF travel and reserved de-
scription Of the many mines until an
other time. X. II. KEMP.