The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-14
A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.

It viii be good news not only to those
interested in mining affairs but to the pub
lie at large that strong company has been
organized, with a sufficient backing of cap
ital, to build and operate smelter at or
near this city. The plans of the company,
so far as they are made public, are given in
another column. The head of this impor-
tant project is Mr.. Frank Brooks, of Lead
vile, who has long been identified with
mining business on large scale and who
is among the most energetic, capable and
prominent mining men of Colorado. As
ISOLATED with him is Mr.. Edward Blewett
the well known and reliable man.
ofaffairs of this city, to whom Seattle
owes much and whose name gives charac-
ter, dignity and the assurance of intelli-
gent and able direction to any project with
which it is connected; also Mr.. John H.
McGraw, President of the First National
Bank, and other equally well known and
substantial men.
For several weeks past Mr.. Brooks has
been looking over the mineral situation.
He has personally visited and examined
the Cascade mountain district, and he de-
clares in positive terms that he knows of
no more promising district in the United
States. He expresses himself as aston
ished at the evidences of great mineral
wealth tributary to Seattle. ain no min
ing country" he says, "can more or ap-
parently stronger veins be found. These
veins so far as disclosed are rich in lead,
so necessary for economic smelling, and
carry high values in gold and silver" He
concludes that Gas soon as transportation
facilities are provided the Cascade mineral
belt will become field of great mining
activity. This discovery" Mr.. Brooks
says, grounds out and completes the most
remarkable aggregate of great natural re-
sources possessed by any country in
America"
As matter of fact the Cascade mineral
belt, if it shall prove to be what it promises,
Is an ideal mining field. Instead fthe ster-
ility of bare mountain peaks elevated be-
| yond the limit of vegetation, we have q
district where the cabin of the miner may
be built close to the mine, and where il
may be surrounded by orchard and garden.
There is. says Mr.. Brooks, no other such
favored district in the world; and he gives
| ii as his belief that within five years there
will be in the Cascade mountains 100000
people engaged in the mining industry.
The projected smelter will be located in
or near Seattle at point not yet fixed,
where the most desirable conditions may
be found combined with the most substan-
tial encouragement" The ores from a
| wide section can be drawn 20 this center
both by water and rail, where iron and
lime abound, and where transportation fa-
cilities will soon be as good as can be de-
/ sired.
The advantages to follow the establish.
ment of q smelter here and the develop
ment of the tributary mining region, are
almost too many and too vast for calcula.
ton. The figures given by Mr.. Brooks
| and detailed elsewhere are conservative and
clearly within the bounds of probability,
as illustrated by the development in Colo
RADIO, Montana, Utah and other mining
| regions already developed.