, 1890-05-22
GEOLOGIST BETHUNE
He Is Very F'avorably Impressed
with Spokane and Her
Resources.
Both Eastern and Western WASH
ington Rich in the Pre-
cious Minerals.

state Geologist Bcthune, who Is
over from Puget sound and now
stopping at the Hotel Spokane, was
seen Friday evening by n REVIEW re-
porter, and In the course Of the con-
versatlon said:
az have located mt Tacoma be-
cause I can meet all the miners OF
Western Washington. Tacoma, for
the reason that smeter is now In
process of erection, commands
prominence as the mining center of
Puget sound.
"Durlng an excursion, or pros
pectlng expedition, In the olympic
range / found n variety OF lesh,
silver and gold ores, which,
if worked, would prove a
valuable acquisition to the owners
Of the various claims. ! also tound
iron and coal In abundant guanti-
ties. I'm which respect western
Washington has no equal on the
"At the present Eastern WASH
ington presents a great and uneS-
plored field, which Is now open 10
the energetic prospector. 80,
"In reference to Spokane, l VIII
saw that I am most favorably I'M
pressed with the city, and think
that its future Is assured, and that
in a short time II will stand
in the same light to East
crn Washington ns Dem
yer, Colo, at the present stands
to that state, Its central market or
hub, aud Judging from Its present
rapid growth, II bids fair to stlrpass
even Denver us mining town.
In reference TO Spokane Falls, L
will say that am very favorably
Impressed, and am certain that
when the proposed smelter Is In
operation, she will assuredly I've one
OF the richest cities In the West.
She has AN abundance OF coking
coal and other varieties. In refer
cnce TO coking coal, will say that
IL can lie obtained in lnexhaustible
quantities In the vicinity OF the
NIethow river, the veins In that
locality belug from seven to twelve
feet In thickness.
"NVithin thirty miles of Spokane
Falls YOU have several properties
that With but small expense and
with development could be made
large producers in gold, silver and
iron, and which at the present are
undcveloped for the want of capital.
"The Okanogan country In Itself
X great tributary to Spokane
Falls, possessing the largest bodies
of ores | have ever seen on the
American continent, and which
according to the present and future
railroad facilities, will empty It's vast
load of mineral wealth into Spokane
Falls, as, by the time the work In
the mines will be in full progress,
Spokane's smelter will also, and the
shipments of ore to various pol nts
south and west will be but small.
During my entire mining ex.
pcriencc, In which / have traversed
South America, the United States
and Canada, have never yet found
finer Indications of pay quartz
than that | found during my visit
to the Okanogan district. In this
country II IL a common occurrence
to see well-defined veins oi
ore on the surface OF the
ground, and many OF these
veins have been prOspected TO u
depth of over 400 feet, and have
been found richer, according TO the
depth, and have proved rich re-
ward 90 parties Interested.
SIN reference to the smelter hay
Ing sufficient supply Of ore TO be
able TO continue business. will say
TINT II IL not necessary to go out oil
this spot, as an ample supply OF dry
ores can be- had from the Okanogan
country, which, In connection with
the wet ore from the Colville coun-
try, will give to the smelter a suifi-
cheney Without neccssitating I'M
portation from other states. These
two mining districts in themselves
will, in short time, I'm my opinion,
render Spokane Falls second u
none as n mining center.p