The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-14
MINES NEAR SEATTLE
Riches Held in the Tight Clutch
Of the Cascades.
SILVER. GOLD. LEAD AND COAL.
Minssg VAN surely Ne Ons - ne Chisl
Industries % sAe Greasese ~ ssasss-
Gesloxist BetAsse's Opsnssn.

Mining W31l Sufoly Ne Ono - Ne CHEZ
Industries % she Greassst ~ ssases-
Geeloxist BesAsse's Opinssn.
TAcoxE Nav fi-Genrge Bethune. the
state Reologist. says there il no section OF
the United States 50 rich in mineral wealth
as the new state of Washington. He pre-
diets that within the next tive years there
viii be from six to eight blast furnaces in
full operation on Puget sound reducing to
a marketable value the enormous amount
Of wealth that now lies hidden and un-
touched in the slopes of the Cascade noun
tains and along the course Of the principal
streams that rise in that range and flow
into the Pacific ocean.
To representative OF the Posr- IxrELLi-
GxxcER today Geoiogist Bethune stated
that in no locality in the state are the signs
|. OF rich deposits of minerals moro evident
and varying than in that section Of coun-
try lying to the east and northeast Of Se-
attic on the western slope Of the Cascade
mountains. From assays recently made
Of ores brought from that locality and the
reports Of mining men who have pros
pected 1t as well as his own personal OBJ
servation, he thinks that within one year
from now ct least 100 tons Of ore will be
shipped ont for reduction daily 1t Seattle.
The lack OF transportation facilities
there. Is in all other mining centers in the
state. has greatly retarded the work of de-
veloping, but with the completion OF the
Seattle. Lake Shore 4 Eastern railway.
with its branches. improvements viii be
much more extensively made and many
fousishing mining camps will be the re-
suit.
In the vicinity of the upper waters of the
Silver creek. Sultan. Snoqnalmie. Ski
komish and Snohomish rivers, and to the
east Of Black Diamond. gold, silver, lead
and copper havebeen recently discovered
in rich and extensive quantities.
Nest of these finds are within from
thirty to thirty-five miles OF Seattle, and
directly alongside the branch lines Of the
Lake shore system.
Assays Of gold from some Of these pros
poets show $40 to the ton OF pure gold, and
the ore is of such nature that il can be
successfully worked at the cost OF 81. SO
per ton.
On the Skikomish river. near the camps
OF Sultan City aud Silver City. are the Blue
bird. vandalia, Morning Star. National and
other prospects which yield heavy class
well as low grade Of ga
lena. Ore taken from the mines
in this locality has in some Instances
yielded $40 in silver and 20 per cent lead
to the ton. Already considerable work has
been done on these claims, and by next
fall. he thinks. extensive Developments win
have been made.
Along the banks Of the above named
rivers placer mining has been conducted
very SUCCESSFULLY, paykOfd 6slne sbeained
In many instances by the use Of the prim-
tive rocker" As much as $4,000 has
been expended on one placer claim.
Further northward, in Skagit county.
there are the same indications OF mineral
richness. At the new camp of Rouse City.
on the headwaters of the Skagit river, gold.
silver and lead has been discovered. The
veins here are extensive. From several
samples OF ore from this camp assays show
as high as 125 ounces Of silver and ~ per
cent. Of lead per ton.
All along the Skagit river large quaint
ties of iron. coking coal and lime, are
found and all accessible TO tide water.
The richness of the Denny. Black
Diamond, Newcastle. Gilman and other
mines directly east Of Seattle is too we'll
known to be commented upon.
Bethune says that in Whatcom county
coal. iron, gold and silver have been re-
Gently discovered in prolific quantities.
Samples Of ore have been assayed giving .
large percentage Of metal.
On the west side Of Puget sound. espec-
tally in jefferson county. on the slopes of
the Olympic mountains, there are iron and
silver mines that only need railroad CON-
munication with tidevater to produce IN
almost inexhaustible supply Of rich ores.
Much attention is now being paid TO this
section by prospectors, and samples of ore
are being daily received to be assayed.
East OF the Cascade mountains, along the
Binniping. Matches. Squsk. Icicile, Tenna-
way. Wenatchee and Peshastin rivers, the
Columbia river from Columbia rapids TO
Kettle falls, by the shores OF Lake Chelan,
and in the Cle-elum district, placer mines
are being operated at present with great
success. Rich quartz claims have recently
been taken upin the same districts.
Speaking of the Okanogan country.
Beshune said: what the Conconully
mines have so badly needed all along viii
soon be IN operation. and that is railroads.
The okanogan mines have proved to be
exceedingly rich IN precious metals When
transportation is once gained by the mine
holders in that section. from 800 10 800 tons
OF ore wAi be shipped daily TO Puget sound
for reduction. There win be more activity
in these mines this summer than ever be-
fore. think there viii be considerable ex-
element created between now and next
fall over the richness of this section in min
erals when some of the most promising
prospects are more developed
''0f the Colville district can say he
continued. ''ttnt from ten 70 fifteen tons of
ore are being shipped from there daily to
Helena and Butte, Mont. When the Col
settlement. which / think win be in the
very near future, wonderfully rich min.
ersl Geld viii be opened. have inspected
the reservation and tn one instance discov-
cred vein OF ore Q feet wide and sraceable
for . considerable distance. A piece OF
rock from this ledge asssyed slo0 OF free
gold per ton
in my opinion mining will be one Of
the chief, If moi the most important indus
tries o. tire state OF Washington, but in
crsier 10 arrive at suca an end more rail-
reads Will have 10 be huslt and lavish ex-
pendi;Gre OF money generally viii be neces-
sa-y."
SILVER GREER MINES.
Clutches Still Fgfs of saow-Turnsng the
Sultan River
snahas1ssh Ere.