The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-19
OKANOGAN COUNTY MINES.
Survey Of the ResoaFces Of . Country
Tributary TO Seattle.

OKANOGAN COUNTY MINES.
4 Survey Of the Resoarces Of Country
Tributary TO Seattle.
Oksnogan county includes large area
Of mountainous land in the northern psrs
OF this state. mid way between the Cascade
mountains and the Okanogan river. II
was an Indian reservation until about
seven years ago, when i was opened to
settlement. and then 1t vas partly occu-
pied BY stockmen. who found among the
open mountains and we'll watered valleys
an abundan: range. Many Of them took
up ranches in the valleys and now have
comfortable homes, surrounded by fields
OF hay and grain, fruits and vegetables.
The Agricultural opportunities OF the
county. no wever. are limited. II is in the
eemi-arid belt, and without irrigation only
small aud scattering areas are susceptible
of cultivation. Large portions Of it may
be reclaimed at some future time, but at
present il is valuable chiefly for its mines
and stock ranges, with agricultural open
ings sufficient to supply country thus
occupied with such staple products Is hay.
vegetables, fruit and milk. The climate is
comparatively mild; except on the
mountains the snowfall is light and the
winters short. The low elevation of the
valleys protects them from frost, while
exposing them TO a burning summer heat,
the effect upon vegetation being we'll Illus
trated at the ranch of Hiram +. Smith, on
Osooyos lake, where the writer saw grow
ing corn more than foot high and picked
ripe cherries on the 7th DAY Of June. 1891,
and there, as we'll as on the ranches at
Loomiston ut the same time, the first OF
that seasons crop Of alfalfa was gathered
into the barns.
The remarkable feature of this region is
that 1t is bisected in such different direc-
tons by streams and couiees that it has
the best natural system Of roadways that
can be found in any mountainous part of
the United States. 1t is an open country
with but little timber, except in the Cas-
cades on the west, and not only along the
streams, but through the mountains,
crossing from ono to another. there arc
natural courses for highways or railroads
with easy grades to reach every part of the
county.
The mineral character Of this religion
was recognized by the geologist appointed
by the British government to accompany
the North American boundary commits
sion in 1s59-6O. He reported indications
Of mineral along the 49th parallel from
the Cascades to the Rocky mountains.
On that part of the line which is within
the limits Of Okanogan county he found
the rock formations which experience
agrees with science in characterizing as
mineral. bearing. The maps he made
show dykes of trachitic porphyry. black
pyritic states, with blue limestone wildly
contorted, and large districts OF quartz
porphyries breaking through granite and
states. coarse granite and conglomerate,
showing copper pyIites and feldspathlc
porphyry with intrusive granite veins-a
true description of . mineral country.
About this time gold was discovered on
the Frazer river and the large influx Of
miners to the new placer field overspread
the surrounding country and many found
profitable 'diggings" on the Similkameen
and its tributaries. A large amount Of
gold was taken out Of these streams. par
ticularly at the north end of Palmer noun
tain, and some quartz veins were marked
down." but until the Indians were re-
moved there was no chance to possess or
operate its mines.
The first quartz locations were those of
Hiram F. Smith on Chapaca mountain,
near Osooyos lake. He has Just sold his
half interest in these three claims for 800
600, and the entire interest is to be taken
by an Eastern syndicate for $3.50, 900.
These mines were discovered many years
ago, and as soon as the reservation was
opened Mr.. Smith obtained possession
and has held them as his principal stake
in the country where he has lived thirty
years. When the Indians were removed
10 the Colville reservation. east Of the
okauogan river large number of pros
pectors entered the country and made val!
liable discoveries in the silver belt along
the Salmon river and in the gold district
near the international boundary. These
discoveries have attracted wide attention
from the first. but distance from steam
transportation has retard ed DEVELOPMENT.
The first quartz III ines 10 be opened for
the production of gold were the Bl-ck Bear
and War Eagle, on Palmer mountain, \
short distance from Loomiston, the princi-
pal town in the county, situated sixty-five
miles north OF the Columbia river, where
steamboats, from We natcha, or stages from
Coulle City. connect with the stage line
over good road TO the mines. Here a
five-stamp mill was erected in july 1891,
ana has been runnin < almost continuously
with satisfactory results. Since that time
the Advancement OF the county has been
quite rapid.
These mines are in the Wanicut lake min
ing districts which includes Palmer and
hapaea mountains. extending from
loomiston and the coulee leading from
Johnston 70 the okanogan river north
ward about ten miles 10 The S..nilkameen
river and eastward from Loom.ston and
Palmer lake from four 10 elgh, miles,
y briei reference To TIE mos. prominent
Of these mines Will give some idea of the
extent ana character Of the district. The
Black Bear and iTaahoe have an es.sb-
sished reputation as producing mines.
he Black Bear produces ore OF an Averages
grade, better IN quality aai quantity az n
depth OF -I6 feet than il did IN the uprer
levels. The lvanhce has shipped car loads
% ore to The Tacoma Srleiter wh!ra aver
aged $50 per ;oa. Il has been also mill
ing the ora a. the mine and shipping
bullion, the orc carrying aboa. loo ounces
81 sHSer 10 tile ton. The Spokane. free.
milling gold mine near Wauicut lake
ha7 bsen Running y ten-s.amp snlfi SINCE
August. i>,te, and will soon haye ten more
stamps "a operation. The Truiae. at
Golden, ssoNs immense bodies of f-aa
milling ore, promising Ia riyai the famous
I I Tcas; wel mine in A.s.ka I.is eaatnr~.t
wan 4 sen-sisnp mill, and the thicar,
capitalists Ao own IL Niil increase ,he
/ capacity Of the mill early this wear. Tae
Rainbow group, aaou: mile cas-; Of the
ivsahoe, Is another producing ledge. car
rysag high grade gad and silver ore. Ths
buaAer Hia o. F.naac.c group includes
:oar lodges averaging 1--WE feet wide