The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-14
Washington Minerals at the Fair.

TACOMA, Oct. 12-It takes an old miner to
thoroughly revel in the collection of ores that
will ba shown in Chicago, but George E. Plum
der, who has charge of this department. is more
than willing to instruct all who are ignorant of
the mysteries of iron and gold pyrites, quartz,
ores and wet ores, and all the values OF the
masses of rock that need practiced eye to de-
tect their worth The room devoted to the min
ing exhibit has been thronged, and to many +.
appears the exhibit that will speak most loudly
OF Washington's resources. Truly the vastness
OF this as yet undeveloped wealth is enough to
starte the most learned in these matters In a
case were some gold nuggets, the larges. worth
$500, the whole amount being something ike
1880 pure gold. Polished onyx, richly veined,
from Clark county, green marble from Stevens
county, and many other decorative stones were
to be seen. The exhibit from Stevens was more
nearly complete than from any other section
and showed silver ores from the Old DoInin ion,
Iridescent, Enterprise and other mines that
are OF great value, ranging rs high as 5000 per
ton. Skagit county exhibited fine quality of
marble and beautiful ores from the Eldorado
mine. From Thurston were sent white clay tab
lets, and there could also be seen the famous
Chuckanut, Tenino and Pittsburg stone for
building, among the best articles for the
purpose to be had in Washington. Kit
titas county's contributions include one ton
OF splendid copper ore, many fne iron
magnetic power. and very valuable gold ores
from the Culver mine, which is one Of tew
mines i'll Washington already producing gold
bullion in large quantities. Spokane county
has great blocks Of granite, one twenty-five feet
In length weighing five tons. Iron and copper
also form great part of Spoksne's exhibit
King and Lincoln counties are represented and
Okau0gan county viii carry off the palm for
richness and variety In her exhibit, only a small
fraction Of which was shown at the exposition
Mr.. Piunder has large number of glass jars
filed with the different minerals OF the state
pulverized and most tasteiuiIy arranged, so that
the different colurs show. Washington will have
every reason to glory in her mineral resources
in spite OF the fact that the speci-
men ores in most Gases had TO to Car.
ried on horseback from one to forty
miles to reach wagon roads. II these roads
only reached into the mines we could secure
blocks OF valuable ores weighing from three to
ten tons each. When the ores reach the wagon
roads they must in many cases be freighred as
far as l61 miles to reach the railroads. Taking
into account the great difficulty in transp porting
these heavy specimens over the rough mountain
trai s and wagon roads, the exhibit st the Ia
coma exposition was sufficient TO surprise the
most enthusiastic mining expert Few people
are aware OF the fact that our mines in Wash.
ing.on are being rapidly developed. One year
ago we had but one stamp mill III this state and
now there are thirteen, all getting out gold and
silver bullion and concentrates TO feed the
sruelter already doing good work in this sts.e.