, 1889-02-14

taken, the character of the minerals In
the different sections and all the trails.
He proposes having the map engraved and
placed on sale. He thinks branch from
the Spokane u Northern to the OkonaRan
country could be built very easily ~ there
is . choice OF routes up the valleys of the
many creeks and rivers which Aow from
that region.
A PROPOSED ROUTE.
A Colvilie Man Suggests . New Route
for the Rsilrosd.
A REVIEW reporter had . long inter
view yesterday with Ellie G. Thowason,
county treasurer Of Stevens county. Mr..
Thomason has been resident OF the Col
vile country since 1879 and knows every
foot of it. Be.ides owning four saw mills.
he is interested in several mines and
farms.
Ia speaking of the bright prospect for
the early construction OF the Spokane q
Northern, Mr.. Thomason said: Tho
prospect Of getting railroad through our
country is very cheerful one for US. and
We are all jubilant over the proposed con-
struction this season OF Q portion OF the
changes might be made In the route as
surveyed, which would be of great ad.
vantage to the company. II they were to
leave the old survey at Garrison and
follow along the left fork of
Mill creek to Deep creek. and thence down
to the Columbia they would secure nice
level route with few cuts and no fills. The
grade over the divide is very gradual and
the expense of construction would be very
small. That valley Is nearly Us large az
the Colville valley and abounds in mag
nifcent hay and farm lands, has abun-
dance of cedar. fir, white pine and tama-
rack timber. and being of low altitude,
will grow all kinds Of fruits. The road
would strike the Columbia eight miles
above the Little Dalles, from whence
good raute could be secured north along
the river. There is plenty Of maRni icent
land lying idle all over our county, and hit y
could CO.. 'A' be my cut We could supply
the whole of eastern Washington.
Large bodies Of hemitite iron, lead, gold,
silver and copper ores have been found In
that district and il only needs railroad
to make 1t one Of the most wonderful
mining districts In the country. North
Of Colville the hills are full OF valuable
minerals and when transportation 10 sc,
cured for the ore the whole district will
resound with the clapg Of the stamp mills.
The people of Spokane Falls do not
overestimate the Importance OF pushing q
railroad into that country, for this city is
certain to reap q rich reward Ia the large
increase of traffic the road will bring her.
ANOTHER VIEW.
A Glance at the CoIvills Country by .
Practical Miner.
From A. H. Kelly who is familiar with
the mineral and other resources of the up
per Colville country the REVIEW 10 in
debted for the following. Said he:
1.-The advantage of the Spokane &
Northern cannot well be over estimated.
The Colville valley is some fifty.fve miles
long and from two to five miles wide, has
q very rich alluvial soil and is very pro-
ductive in all kinds of grain and root
crops. Timothy hay is natural product
of the country and enough can be raised
In that valley to supply the Spokane mar.
ket until it is five times as large as it
now is. After leaving the Colville valley
towards the Little Dales over the pro-
posed line Of railroad the country is heavi-
ly timbered, and three years ago there
was not more than three or four settlers
in the entire distance of thirty miles,
whereas at present the land Is pretty
much all taken up by settlers.
For the first twenty miles, large pro-
portion of the land is under cultivation
and promises good returns to the enter.
prisin1 farmer. From Bruce Creek, sixteen
miles from Colville, to the British Colum-
bia line, distance Of about twenty-five
miles. there 10 good agricultural and graz
ing lands, but being some distance from
market is still unoccupied.
The route TO the new mines on the
Kooteuai by way of the Spokane Il North.
arm will be seventy.five miles shorter than
by way Of the Northesn Pacific. Kootenai
station and Bonners Ferry. and will pass
In the near neighborhcod of the following
mines, viz The famous Old Dominion
and 3 number Of other adjoining claims
that bid fair to be dividend paying mines
In the near future, the ClussOn Greek
mines, including the Tender Foot, Monte
Cristo and the Silver Lode. all showing
camp also shows sonle large leads Of iron
ore carrying some silver. The Bruce
Creek mines about three miles distant
from the 'Clusston Creek may be con-
sidered as part of the same
camp. The principal mines being the
Uncle Sam and Dead Medicine, both of
which are high grade ores, and during the
past season have made number of ship
ments to the ColviIle smelter.
China Bend OF the Columbia river, are
some mining prospects. About Ave miles
north of the Little Dalles aud near the
hanks of the Columbia, ia the we'll known
Silver Grown group of mines. which, with
railroad transportation will produce large
quantities OF pay ore Near this group il
the Excelsior and Little Bodie, both OF
which have had considerable development
work done and show considerable high
grade ore. With a certainty Of railroad
transpOT tation there is no doubt that new
life will be Qived 10 the mining. agricultu.
raj and numbering industries of this now
completely isolated country, and the rail.
road company will reap ricn dividends ON
Its investment"