The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-15
!. the Mountains Of British
Columbia and Washington.
ooto. SILVER. LEAD. COPPER.
IA Creek, SLOGAN, Boundary Creek
Americans Are Developing
the Territory.
New York Times.

/ ~ OF [aHa2d.
= The latitude Of Denver and San Fran
xra The cordilleras OF North America
..sra their widest expansion, breaI.h
| s,om east 70 west Of 1.o1o miles. From
| - region northward they RAPIDLY mar
,aw until At the British boundary the
rsuntzin belt is only 90 miles. Her
.als compressed mass OF ranges Is high
!. near IFS eastern edge, facing the ereat
slsiss and declines La a broken and rug
"a slope 70 the Pacific.
The section lying along both sides ~
IL International line. extending south
,.rd into the United States 100 miles and
rarthgard into British Columbia Ia
rlls<. possesses many points Of struct
rrzl and economic interest. So far the
.ase important mineral discoveries are
x4sh,n British territory. but geological
sssnfity renders IL almost certain ths.
- slower and more thorough prospect
ssr that always follows early discovery
.fil extend the valuable area well down
,.te the skate OF Washington.
re points where profitable mines ara
aresdy open lie within 100 miles OF the
csiuubla.
access to the region In gained bv TIA
rauadian Pacific railway, which forms
a. northern boundary Of the mining ter
ntery. and the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific systems. which skirt fss
southern margin. besides several hundred
niles Of nayigable waterways, Including
he Columbia river and its larger trEbu-
ssf.es and several important lakes. The
spokane Falls e. Northern railroad en-
tsrs the region from the south. In spite
u oil these avenues Of communication
and Of several years OF active mining de-
ssopment. the region remains in detail
kals-known wilderness. In the eastern
psyt Of the province both the Selkirks
snd Rocky mountain range proper ascend
10 loo feet, eliminating in peaks coy-
cred with perpetual snow. their gorges
checked with extensive glaciers and their
tanks covered with all but impenetraa,le
forest The whole aspect OF nature IA
sharacterized by profound soiemnity.
Lacking the brilliant warm lights and
superb richness of color of the California
sierras. and having little OF the extra
ordinary variety OF topograp hical inci-
dent which travellers in Colorado mount
aims are familiar with, the Columbian
landscape stretches on and on in a dark
bareal monotony. The coiors are few and
rarely vary, save for the coming and CO.
ING Of the winters snow Great, massive
ridges and peaks of rock, snow-capped
where they reach the requisite altitude.
and forests of black-green are the two
syer-Dresent elements in the picture.
Even In midsummer the sky never loses
a cold clearness. except when forest fires
c5scure IT, Under this unsympathetic.
szsheltering heaven. which seems only
the cold void OF space, amid stern rocks
and black, cherries woods the only sign
81 movement il given by the great CO.
iH1lbia and tts tribe OF branches. which
only accentuate the stern note In the
look Of the land. In vast volume the riv-
srs flow rapidly downward. as cold as ice
and as crystal clear and brilliant green
as beryl There Is an unfaiiing sense
Of northern grImness which banishes
every trace Of landscape charm. IT Is
sorrefui. but never beautiful
Geoogically, the region has been sub
teciad 20 powerful stress and has given
way IN long assures, which traverse the
crust for hundreds OF miles. creating the
structural drainage lines Of the country.
TIE focuy OF this assure system lies far
North Of the Canadian Pacific railway. IN
plexus of rugged snow mountains.
From there these remarkable earthcracks
radiate south. east and west. like the en-
GERS Of an outstretched hand. and are oc-
rapied each by Tong, straight waterway.
either the Fraser. Columbia or Kootenai
rivers. or by long. river-ltke lakes
me ocean side OF this area is rather
lew. no considerable or continuous mount
ain wall shutting out the sea winds. as
IN the case Of Washington. Oregon and
california; In consequence there Is no
arid belt under the lee OF the maritime
chain, as there Is throughout the United
states: but the moisture-laden Pacific
Wind pours I'm and precipitates an abun-
lance or summer rain and A great vol
une OF winter snow At the same time
me effect or this prevailing west wind Is
y frah inland the tempering influence OF
NE japanese current and prevent excess
siYe cod.
Il is land OF great rushing water
courses subject 10 enormous floods. The
sumner Is short, the winter correspond
iasV long. and agriculture. except on the
cast. Is confined 20 rare sheltered spots
ana few northern crops.
Over the British border and into this
grim difficult region American prospect
efs nave poured during the short working
ssason or the last FIVE or six years, with
~ their characteristics energy. In canoes
.as nave threaded every lake and river
Mith axes they have hewed their way
nsensh tall coniferous forests which
stow almost as dense as canebrake.
so' snow ridge Is so lofty or inaccessi-
ele ouf these hardy fellows have made
tatsf hsyouacs by the sides OF the glaciers
ana prospected literally above the clouds.
A'aoogn this Is British territory. IL Is
.asieus TO note that nearly all the explcT-
s1eh ana discovery is being done by
american prospectors. and about all the
aeFeiopment by American miners The
.eiineian profits In various ways. but
y stands dared before the audaci;y and
howiedge OF the mining adventures
'Fem the States.
one who has followed the older districts
,er Years constantly comes across famil-
laT faces in Columbia cabins and by the
sae OF mountain camp-fres The same
ageF Imaginative. da-ntiess fellow Yen
NN SILVER hunting n few years ago
sFaaNs the palms ~ he Mexican Slerras
ICES YOU now, toiliuE along on snow
ICES over the ley ridges 81 the north.
sssn Tor gold
Laas Tar only general prospecting re-
ts4iheisance IN fore has been accom-
rrasaea Tor he whole region south OF the
,4R&aaa Factee railway. resulting In the
A.n,oFery % many valuable aud some
.N.a8ht mines. But n is already certain
the whc4e ncll described Is one
esa m'neral'zei area. The chief points
demonstrated value are the district or
Sas N tne Fas; Kootenai division
,aefe excellent silver-,ead mines are he
= exploited and whore the two metals
80 IN unusually high percentages IN
-. Ntia sVt-V evidence Of strong eN-
-'sieh and permanency-and Tran creek.
"es' kcotenai six miles west or the
sssaois ard about ten norta or Inc
.Snaary A. both 81 these points towns
rapidly building and large. parma
!. - works - DEVELOPMENT are begun. ~
&c mines 60 TraN Creek near he new
80 af Eossis ri. which fer the moment
sttraetag re widest ps4Alic Interest,
- ne face that their veins carry an
.'eFne'y ricA ani unique type or gold
ARether va'9ah's Toi3 silver aud cop
NStrtNf 3 Boundary Creek. EiEthN
- wes' ~ r>sslar3 fust Within BRIT
- ne chit - "ruSh." Slate creek
aew COLL raate- IS IL the state or