The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-01
mon And PRECIOUS METALS.


ExhanstIess Resources Yet Barely
Tonched-Csranite and Marble
The untouched resources OF Washington
are mineral There are in Western Wash
ington deposits Of iron ore sufficient 20
feed the largest smelling furnaces in the
world. Deposits of magnetic iron are found
&C snoqualmie. in King comfy, at Cle-
eInm. in Kittitas county, and ~ McAiiis-
ter's lake. in TAurston county, while vast
finds OF bog iron have been made IN various
parts of Western Washington. small
start has been made toward the develop
ment OF these deposits. Furnaces have
been operated in Jefferson county for sew
eral years. and during the past year large
rolling mills were started at Salmon Bay.
King county. A more promising field for
the investment OF capital is not 10 be found
In the West. The iron is Of excellent qaai-
iiy. accessible. and the deposits are ex-
haustless, and the refining OF the ore is GER
tain 10 make Washington truly the Penn
sylyania OF the West.
6alena, copper, silver and gold are very
abundant The mines OF Okanogan Tor
salmon river) are known to be as rich as
the famed Ceeur Alene, and many hun
dred CLAIMS have been staked out and
mines are being worked The drawback Is
the present lack OF transportation and the
absence OF immediate means of reducing
the ore, and the consequence Is that the
product OF the mines is deposited in great
dumps = awaiting the advent OF railroad
60 bear Il 20 q smelter, or the establish
ment of reduction works At the mines.
A railroad is confidently expected by next
summer. smelter, now being erected in
Okaaogan at heavy expense, viii also be
finished by shat time, and returns for the
great outlay OF money during the past
several years viii then be realized. The
mines Of Colyilie are very rich and have
been worked fer some time. The output
OF the Old Dominion alone, during the
year. was at least $4,000. The Colyille
resery alton, forbidden TO the treapass OF
the white man. lying between the 0kan-
ogan and colvilse countries, is known TO
be very rich in gold and silver. Credible
stories are told of the richness OF the
almost totally unexploTed Olympic
mountains, on the west, and within
the ynar discoveries Of precious metals
have laeeH made on the skykomlsh river in
snohomish county and claims are now
being worked. Mining for precious metals
has IN reality been carried on in the Cas-
ea6es aud on the snake. Columbia and
other rivers for years, and about $e9o 900
tser annum has been produced. The future
of Washington in is production OF gold
and silver Is all before IL, and there Is no
manner OF doubt that rich harvest viii be
sarnered by those who have bided their
time during these years. Mining viii rank
with coal. iron ard lumber a. one OF the
chief industries OF the state.
Deposits Of granite and marble have been
fourd in both Eastern and Western Wash
ingtosl, and q number ofquarries have been
established. Near Spokane Falls tour or
i've are now in fall operation aud furnish
an immense amount OF granite 10 the huiid-
ing enterprises OF the Northwest Many
rock quzfFseS have heen running fer wears
ia the vest and east. and their product
IN tons during the past exceptionally bSs.
building year has been simply tremendous.