, 1889-03-07
Judge Hagan Talks About the
Ceur dAlenes.
Prospective Developments of
Valuable Properties.
The Dif,cuitiss OF Transportation and
Other Matters Inteiiigontiy Dis
cussed.

on nlS way 10 Wardner, ana tne OreR0nlan
says: A pleasant conversation was had
with the gentleman, in which he enumer-
ated the many advantages of his section
of the country, speaking at length of its
prospects and future possibilities. Upon
being interrogated in reference to the
mining interests of Idaho, he replied.
"The towns in Idaho depend upon the
mines for their support. and none more
than where come from. Wardner Is my
home. II is situated far up. in the Pan
Handle, shoshone county; Murray is the
abandoned for some reason or other.
The largest mines are at Wardner,
and are mostly owned by cap
italists in Portland. Sim Reed is largely
interested in the Bunker Hill and Sulli.
van mines, which are worth 81 100000,
making the calculation very low. These
mines are being constantly developed, but
are practically suspended in a business
way. They could be made to turn out ten
lied il tue facilities for transportation
were made easier. Mr.. Reed could clear
$1,000 per diem il rates we're cheaper, and
this OF course would mean corresponding
increase in all the miues. These two
mines are working 200 men, including the
over seers and all those in charge Of the
management.
Next ad joining the Bunker Hill mine
is the Stem Winder. owned by a Portland
syndicate, of which Van d. DeLashmutt
is president, and G.. b. McCauley Is man
ager. They are excellent business men,
and Mr.. McCauley is besides, u thorough
miner. 1t was principally through the ef-
forts of this latter gentleman that Port
land capital was invested in the mine. In
fact, this city first bought it. This mine
is in the same body of ore as the mines in
which Mr.. Reed Is interested, and the
vein is distinctly defined for over a mile,
running from Bunker Hill northerly and
averaging $50 feet wide. Thus far miners
have gained a depth of only 600 feet, and
the deeper one goes the more valuable APP
pears the ore. Indeed there seems to be
no bottom to the vein. The Stem Winder
is worth at least S250,000 and this is an
exceedingly modest estimate.
Next on the north of this mine Is the
Last Chance and Emma, owned by a cor
poration of the same name. Frank A.
Moore, of Spokane Falls, and B. Gold.
smith, of this city, have considerable
Last Chance and Emma have five concen-
traitors in operation. This is great ad-
vantage, as the ore, after being concen-
trated, is up to within thirty per cent. OF
lead bullion, and gives fifty per cent. sil-
yer to the ton.
"W. b. Honeyman owns the Tyler mine,
which lies adjacent to the Last Chance
and now remains idle. with the execution
of undergoing Developments preparatory
to more extensive work. This mine Is also
situated in the same belt and has char.
acter of ore similar to the others ] have
mentioned. The next mine is the Sierra
Nevada, which Is pronounced the finest,
and one that will pay best in the entire
Pan Handle of Idaho. 1t is also owned by
Portland people and is working ifty.five
men. 1t has small concentration.
SIS Mayor Van B. DeLashmutt inter-
ested in this mine alsoP'
Yes. He is president OF the corpora.
tion that is working it, and no doubt
considers it, as do, one of the best
properties in the CGur d'Alene region.
Professor Clapton, the welt known geol-
ogist, after thorough investigation, pro-
nounced it by far the weathiest one in
that part of the country. and ! heartily
concur with him. There seems to be more
silver as one goes in northwestern d.
recti0n.
There is lull in the working of the
mines and the shipments at present.
The reasons are too obvious. Only one
railroad and that a narrow Ruage, now
extends into the northern section of Idaho,
as Won know. Most of the ore must be
taken away by two boats, and in the win.
ter no craft can run upon the route ex-
cent the ice boat, which can only carry
forty or fifty tons per day. Now Just no.
tice the restriction this necessarily puts
upon the operations of these mines. Why,
that is many tons less the capacity OF any
one clcim in the district, and the Bunker
Hin mine can easily turn out 200 tons a
day. Although the ore during this sea-
.on /. limited. vet more is taken out than
san be carried down in the boats. Of
course there Is not much satisfaction In
working the mines in this manner when
the supply is continually and unavoidably
checked. Under these circumstances the
loss amounts to great deal. One COM
paratively small item is the waste OF sacks
into which the ore is placed. These SACKS
coat 10 TO l2 cents each, and the thousands
unon thousands ruined every month ag-
0re0ate considerable amount. Besides
the Door facilities have mentioned. one
other important disadvantage is that the
rate OF transportation il too heavy. for the
owners Of low grade ores to stand. This
one statement would like to impress on
the people here it Is, what relief We ge'
must come from Portland: IL the c'tizsnt
of this city sit still and let Tacoma and tne
Wickes smelter OF Montana DO al the pua
viii have TO suffer. Portland should worl
evsry angle ounce of ore in Idaho, and
she can and will do 1t II a smelter 10 estao
lishsd here.
"A line OF railroad constructed frou
Portland to the C9ur d'A!ene could y
operated on q very economical plan, as u
ts down grade the entire distance to tn.
c;tv. Portland has all the lime, iron and
dry ores required TO mix with the ieae
ore. and, In addition, the bullion would D.
brought TO tide water. A road. which
will BENEFIT Portland materially, Is nov
49,, nj into the C0ur d'Aene country