The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-04
THE WILDLY NAILS.
Petition for a Better Service Is
Denied.
MINING COMMITTEE
REPORT.
Washfngton's Wonderful Mineral Re-
sources-Need OF Trsnsportation-To
Celebrate Completion OF Northern.

There was not quorum at the meeting fthe
Cnamoer of Commerce last evening ct which
siee-President Z. o. Graves presided The sec
Rotary read letter from Second Assistant
fossmasser-General stone. in answer to q com
munieasion from the body sent some time ago,
requesting better service for the towns In Island
county. in which he said that the department
thought il inadFissbla to establish stesmooa;
mail line. owing to the unreesonably heavy
expense attached, and the fact that the service
at present 10 considerably better than none AZ
all The letter held out the hope that the com
paetion OF the Great Northern would work a
revolution. and that O steamboat line might
Perhaps be established from the terminus of
that road TO points in Island county
Several members suggested that the matter
meant great deal more to Seattle merchants
than was apparent the face, since q boat
couldn't be run regularly without mail sub
ssdy, and merchants would be unable TO ship
freight with any degree of certainty to Coupe
vile and Utsaiady.
tee. Andrew Knox, chairman. was read and
placed on hIe:
Your committee on mines aud minerals beg
ieaFe 70 report that since the organization Of
the mineral committee twenty-four regular and
number of special meetings have been held
A large number of samples from prospects have
been examined and the locators given advice
as to what course 10 best for them to pursue
Samples from eighty-five different properties
nave been received, and placed in the cabinets
Tor inspection These samples are from prop
critics located in King, Snohomish, Skagit, Okan-
ogan, Kittttas, Jefferson aud Clalism counties
IN addition 10 the samples, your committee
mas received descriptions and reports concern
ing the situation and development OF work in
tne snoQualmie, Silver creek, Monte Cristo, Cas-
eade, Palmer mountain and Peshastfn districts
samples from twenty-nine properties have been
sssayeo At an expense to the cham Der OF $51-S5
Az the time this committee commenced its
work there were but few who had faith in the
mineral resources OF this part OF our state. We
take pleasure in assuring You that the develop
ment work OF the past year has concusiveIy
proved that In addition 70 the iron and coal we
have In the Cascade range and foothills fine de-
posts of galeus, silver and gold, and that many
properties will Immediately, upon the compile
lion OF transportation to the mines. become pro-
oucers OF wealth.
We desire to call your attention to the import
ance OF this branch OF industry TO this section OF
the state and Seattle in particular. II IL well
authenticated fact that no industry develops so
rapidly or 30 quickly produces returns as min.
lug, when properly conducted.
Since l549 the United States has produced
1880 10000 IN gold and silver The total legti-
mate investment in gold and silver mines dur
ing this time was $50 100000
Montana produced during 1889 s2S 900 in
gold and silver and 81 0oo 600 in copper and lead.
The total legitimate investment ia her mines
that year did not exceed 81 900 0Oo or an amount
equal only TO the value of the lead and copper
produced by the state in one year. During the
past Ten years Coiorado mas produces gOlu, Sill
yer, copper aud lead TO the value of
$780, 600. During that time the voting
averaged 5000: fully one-third of this number
have been engaged in prospecting, mining. mill
ing and smelling. The growth and progress OF
Denver and of Helena have been due almost ex-
cusively to the positions they have assumed as
the representatives. of the mining industry in
their respective states. The progress and stand
ing of these two cities Is too well known TO re-
quire any comment. What Denver is to Col
orado, Seattle may be TO Washington If we will
but take the opportunity now presented The
not be better explained than in the words of q
mining expert who has been engaged in exam
lining mining property for the past thirty years.
He SAYS: al have never before seen IN any sec
ton of this country such fine surface indica-
tions, nor have Eeen such good prospects con-
sidering the small amount OF work done"
In 0kanogan and kittItas counties several
properties have been developed sufficiently to
be termed producers. On this side OF the range
in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom couu-
ties. there are as yet no properties producing;
several, however, have reached that stage
where they would be shipping If transportation
facilities were afforded. To secure these facili-
ties Seattle should Use its best endeavors. To
this end we would recommend careful in
vestigation from q business standpoint of the
mines, that the situation may be definitely
known at the present time, and that we may be
able to know, what course 10 best to pursue,
wish a view to centraliZing the mining inter
ests of this part of the state at Seattle.
Judge J. R. Lewis made speech in favor OF
a big celebration of the completion of the Great
Northern system to Seattle, and moved that the
board of trustees be directed to ascertain the
time when the road would be done and make
the necessary arrangements for an excursion
and the entertainment of Seatties visitors. ''It
in the third great event in the history of Seat