The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-23

THE kO0TENA| COUNTRY.
A Description OF the Famous Min
ing District in British
Columbia
Tho First Shipment Was Ten
Tons Which Melted the
Owner $4,000.
Most OF tho Capital Invested At SLOGAN
BelonEs to AmericAns-High
Grade Orc.

- ~ ~
Grade Orc.
David P. Kane. who. with his brother,
George r. Kane owns the townsits OF
Kaslo City. B. c., n also some of the
richest mines in the Kootenai district, ia
n prepossessing young man, apparently
under 80 years Of age. and of a quiet de-
meanor. That he il endowed with a vast
amount of foresight And energy is evil
denced by tho numerous enterprises in
which he is interested. some of which have
already realized far beyond his expects-
tions. When questioned in regard to the
already famous Kootenai mining district,
Mr. a said:
"The Kaslo, SLOGAN or Kootenai district
10 situated on Kootenai lake, about loo
miles north of Spokane, and contains the
richest and most extensivs bodies OF silver
ore ever discovered on the continent. The
ore. lone of which averages less than 100
ounces to the ton, and contains from 60 to
80 per cent of lead, 10 all high grade and
embraces almost every combination OF Sill
yer ores known. OF these the ores known
40 gray copper and 'antimony of silver
are the richest. 1t il not for
specimens to assay as high as 5000 to
5000 ounces, and l have in my possession a
specimen that assays 10000 ounces. Two
years ago there were not fifty people in the
entire district, and now there are moro than
30, 600. The richest lodges we're discovered
about a year age, and it is since that time
that the greater part of the people have
come in. KasIo City is the natural center
Of the district. Two years ago my brother
and l p~re-empted the townsite, paying $3.50
An acre for the land. and we did not com
menoe selling town lots until about a year
ago. At that time heavy timber covered
the spot where to-day stands a thriving
town of 1900 inhabitants, with business
houses and residences that would do credit
to Portland. On the principal streets prop
erty sells at the rate of $50 per front foot.
All of the finest mines are within 3 radius
of tsn miles of this little town, and even
the most remote finds are within q radius
of twenty miles. A wagon road thirty miles
in length. and costing S37, 600, has just been
completed from Kaslo into the very heart
of the district. All of the ore is brought in
on this road and dumped on the docks;
from that point it is shipped on steamers
down Kootenai lake and river to the Great
Northern railroad. whete it is loaded on
cars and carried to the smelters, either at
Tacoma, Helena or Great Falls. The cost
of the wagon road was betrayed by sub
scriptions, and the entire amount Was raised
in Kaslo in two days.
The first shipment of ore, which was
made not long ago. consisted of ten tons, or
half a carload. The ore was reduced at
the Tacoma smelter and netted the owners
5000. The ore was taken from the Oar
danelles mine, and Mr.. Nolan the owner,
in order to convince the people Of the dis
trict that the ore had netted him that
amount, secured payment for the ore in
fresh, crisp bills and placed them on e1hi-
bition in a prominent place in kaslo. In
the entire district the o are now about 1000
locations, of which 600 are paying mines. |
There are about $50 men employed in the
mines themselves and the daily pay roll ia
more than $500. Over 600 horses are at
present employed in hauling ore on the
great road, and the ore is being dumped
on the docks at the rate of fifty tons
Der day. Just now the greater part of it
goes to Tacoma, but an eighty-ton smelter
il being built on the lake. about ten miles
below Kaslo, which will be completed next
summer, and it is probable that Others will
be built before long. so that in the future
the ore will be reduced at home. A sam
ping works will be built at Kaslo this
spring, SO the buyers can purchase ore on
the spot. A peculiar feature of the district
is the fact that the bodies of ore crop out
on the surface and require very little devel-
opment. The pure galena is found in solid
bodies and does not require concentration
the mines already has a tramway, and an
other one has just put in q fine diamond
drill. In other mines these things have
only come after the mines have been in OPP
Grafton for years and thousands of dollars
have been spent in Development.
"a sinyulerly interesting feature of the |
population is the fact that the district is
altogether American. Whenever the Eng
lish flag is aeen the stars and stripes are
close beside it, and the Fourth of July is
celebrated as it would be in the most pa
triotic Anne lean city. With one exception,
the capital invested is all American
Mr.. Kane furnishes the following synop-
sis of some Of the leading mines in the dis
trict:
The Washington-Vein of galena ore, 80
feet wide; can be traced full length OF
claim. 1,500 feet; assays $50 to $50 ounces
of silver and averages IS per cent. lead;
developed sufficiently to ship ore; owned by
Tom Jefferson.
SLOGAN Boy-Galena ledge, two feet wide;
assays 200 ounces; shipping ore.
~Rico-Ledge found under six inches of
rock on hillside, six feet wide; solid galena;
ASSAYS $50 to 800 ounces; bonded to Patsy
Clark for $4,000; shipping ore.
Observation-Disclosures vein of solid
fine steel galena, assayinQ from 800 to 1000
ounces; bonded to McLain d Co, and John
Davenport for $3.50, 600; shipping ore.
Freddy Lee-Ledge of galena three feet
wide. with streak of gray copper; assays
from 40 to 1900 ounces: has a tramway and
ore is being taken out rapidly; e1psct to
take out 10, 600 tons this winter; was one of
the first mines OF ened, and bonded to a
COMPANY beaded by j. L. Wardner for $50
600. Jim Hill is int ested i'll this mine.
ldaho-Extension of the formor; same
grade of ore; shipping ore.
Mountain Chief-Vein twelve inches of
Ralena; just developing; S. :. Baily owner.
Grady's Claims-Group assays 100 to 800
ounces; vein, four feet: ealenA; developing.
Alamo-Nein fifteen inches in width; ga
lena; assays from 100 to TOO ounces; bonded
to John M. Burke 70 $780, 600.
Blueblrd-Vein of gnlena three feet wide
assays $50 to 200 ounces; shipping ore
bonded to o. ID. Garrison, j. M. Burke, ID
q. Co bin and A. j. Taylor for 1926, 600.
Wellington-Velu three feet wide; ealena
assays average 400 ounces; has a diamond
drill and is shipping ore; owned by A. J.
Watts and a Montreal company.
Lucky Jlm-Lowest grade mine in tn,
cam, vein three feet wide: gxlenR; assay.
100 to $50 ounces; owned by DR.. Hilbourn
OF SEATTLE; Is developing.
Northern Belle-has a two-foot vein, av.
eraging $500 per ton; bonded to DR.. Hill
bourn for $45, 900.