The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-05
Description of Method by Which
They Will Be Worked.
ve,ns TRAceAele FoH MILES.
Vast Quantity OF Ore Fully Justinss tho
Enormous Expenditure OF Money
That II Now Being Made.


begun with comparatively limited
amount of development work. But the
Monte Cristo mines are not being devel-
oped strictly after the orthodox fashion.
Their development is in reality but part
OF huge industrial scheme. It is on the
broadcast scale, backed by ample capital,
and taken as WHOLE is comparable rather
70 the development of the iron mines Of
the East than the typical gold and silver
mining country Of the West. It requires
only careful examination of the district
to see that the enterprise, begun on SO
elaborate scale, is amply justified as q
thoroughly business-like proposition.
Nature here has practically done its own
development work. Down through the
extended series of mineralized lodges of
the district she has cur two huge gorges,
loco and 1900 feet deep. The veins may
be traced down one gorge side, across the
chasm, through the great mountain tongue
which separates the two basins and on to
the opposite side of the second gorge. 1t
has not only exposed the ledge: it has put
immense quantities of ore in sight. One
of the lodges exposed may be traced, its
width varying from ten to forty feet, from
where it emerges at the bottom of the
gorge from the rock slides and debris of
centuries, up the mountain side 1000 feet
to where it is lost beneath unmelting
SHOWS.
The six principal companies now oper-
ating in the district are the Monte Cristo,
Rainy and Pride of the Mountains, con-
troIled by the COlby-Hoyt syndicate, and
the Wilmans, Pearsall and Pearsall- Blake,
in which the Wilmans Bros. have lead
ing interest. The first thing that strikes
the eye as one comes into the district is
huge mountain standing out against the
blue sky. The Typographical aspect of the
district of Monte Cristo is that of q huge
y, the TOWNSHIP at the crotch, the Sank
river the leg, and the two basins as the
prongs, with a long high ridge between.
At the end Of this long ridge and parting
the valley into the two basins is Wilmans
mountain. This peak is the most conspic-
uous object as one enters the district of
Monte Cristo, and from it the finest view
obtainable in the district is to be had.
Smoke from the Sound steamers and from
Seattle and the Jovian fronts of Mount
Rainier. Mount Baker and Glacier peak
loom up boldly. AT its base, resting on low
ridge which runs out from the mountain,
the mountains toe as it were, lies the
Monte Cristo camp. 1t was this mountain
which bore the now famous ledge, its
burnt-red face glowing warm and lumin-
Gus, almost, in the sunlight which drew
the gaze Of the man with the field glass
and led to the discovery of Monte Crsto.
The mountain is practically covered with
claims. The ledge spoken of may be
easily traced along the entire southerly
face of the mountain, over its cap
and down on the other side. No
finer ore has been laid bare in
the district than that found in these
claims, and the quality may be roughly
gagged by the fact that the main ore body
runs from two to twelve feet in width.
The bulk of the ores are concentrating,
but large proportion will be suitable for
shipping direct.
The preparations now being made to
reach and release the rock are direct,
thorough and exhaustive, characteristic
of practical mining men. 4. w. Wiimans,
when here few days ago, outlined the
plan of operations. you will note" he
said. as We stood from below looking
easierly at the mountains front, shat on
the north face, with its almost perpendicu-
lar cliffs, the ledge IS practically inacces-
sibe. We therefore propose to tunnel
straight through the mountain from the
south side and along the ledge, and work
the veins which lie on either side, follow
ing continuously the ore veins.
From the southeriy face" he con-
tinued, "the mines are Of easy access. We
are now at work on four tunnels. each of
which will be run clear through, being
parallel and ranging one above the other.
The lowest and larges. now opened cuts
the apex OF the vein over 1000 feet below
the top of the mountain. 1t will be about
1900 feet, or half a mile. in length, cutting
through the Monte Cristo and reaching
the Alicante on the other side. Four
hundred feet from this is the lower Monte
Cristo tunnel, known AS tunnel No. ?.
which runs about 800 feet along the ledge.
A hundred feet above this is the Monte
Cristo tunnel No. /. We have in the
Monte Cristo mine 4 vein tive and a half
feet across, carrying smelling ores tina.
average 500 TO $50 in gold and silver, lust
as il comes from the mire. It is rich in
gaiena and iron pyrites and carries arsenic
and antlmony in small quantities. As the
vein goes down it carries larger per cent
age of lead.
In the Ouda, one OF the Wilmans
Monte Cristo tunneI, we have \ very rich
showing. The vein shows three to four
feet OF sotId ore for direct shipping. The
entire ledge, eight - ten feet across. is
highly mineralizei. In character it IS very
much the same a. the Monte Cristo ore.
carrying both gold and silver
ITO take the ore from the dumps tn the
concentration and ore bins below we Will
pat IN an automatic or gravity train. Its
length Will lie about 5000 feet, and It will
Will 7un straight from the mines. The
train Will he IL just As soon rs We can Get
;he material on the ground and nut it IN.
"On the whole the outlook is katherine,
i'll nc extreme. As We 90 into the rock
Il l1Stji!es al! the expectations OF il. It's
accessible and easily workable, and as for
quantity. IL witt 1c sufficient for mining
for years 70 come. Monte Cristo has been
conslderel a low-g-adc district. the bulk
Of The ores requiring concentration. But
the development Of the mines shows that
large proportion OF the ore can he
shipped to the smclter direct, and We shall
begin shipping a. soon as the railroad is in.
1t Is too cary as yet" Mr.. Wilmans
added, m resp lnse - i question, so
yeatare en- predictions, and eomrarisons
generally 60 Wild. but ! am convinced
thai, from 81 long and close acquaintanca
With new camps. there never was a rlininp
caap N the United states started with an
iarg" quantity OF ore in sight as Monte
Cyista'
A. the urper end OF 20 basin and skirt.
ing the circular ridge which shuts the
basin in. are the mines OF the Poar~au
Mining Company. o. which J. 7. pea~saU