The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-20
English and American Capital
Invested in Bonanza
Claims.
BOON FOR UNEMPLOYED MEN,
Can Find Situations in the New
e. Dorado = Exodus From
Northern Cities.

PORTLAND, Or, May 19-G. B.
Wright, brother-in-law of the late ]. C.
Ainsworth, a well-known Oakland Zeal. }
capitalist. this evening gave CALL CORE.
spondent the most reliable information
vet furnished the press relative to the
West Kootenai mines in British Colum bia
now attracting so much attention in this
country, as well as in England. He has
just come from the new goldfields.
There are three camps included in the
West Kootenai district" said Mr.. Wright
1.-THE first is in the Trail Greek district
which is easily reached in a days travel
from Spokane. Rossland is the principal
town, with 1000 population. 1t is situated
in the very midst of the mines. Mineral
claims have been staked in every direction,
and tunnels are run under the streets of
the town.
at is only year since the first ship
ment of ore was made from the War Eagle
mine, which originally was sold for less
than SIS, 900, and has up to date paid over
$4,000 in dividends. There are several
other good mines now also paying good
dividends. The popularity of this camp
is that ore lodes increase in value the
greater the depth attained in them. Last
years shipments from the Trail Creek
mines were almost 81, 100000 and this
year they will be over s., DOC, 900.
THE SLOGAN camp is in the Selkirk
Mountains, about 100 miles farther north
and east of the Columbia River The
average amount of silver contained in the
ore is greater than in any known silver
lead camp now being worked. The Slo-
can Star mine, for instance, has con-
tracted to deliver 5000 tons of ore tn is
per cent lead per ton.
"Few mines are now shipping ore much
below this average, and the yield of many
is far greater. Fifty mines will be ship
ping this summer. The gross yield in
value will equal that of the Trail Creek
District.
"The third section of the West Kootenai
District EN- braces several camps along the
Kootenai Lake valley, with some of the
richest mines ever discovered. Nelson.
the most southerly camp has among
its group of rich mines the Silver
King, which some time ago was sold to a
British company for S1,500,00 The ore
runs from 200 to 400 ounces per ton.
a narrow-gauge railroad is nearly fin
ished, connecting Trail with Rossland and
tapping the principal mines. An extern
sion of the Spokane and Northern Rail-
road will be made during the present sum-
mer, so that Trail Creek will also ha We the
advantage of the two competing lines"
II. w. B. McFarell, who last week came
in from Cariboo, said to CALL correspond
ent to-day:
1.-THE newly discovered gold fields in
various sections of the north will prove an
almost inestimable boom to many unem-
ployed men here having little more than
sufficient money to carry them there.
Within this week 300 men will leave
here for Carihoo, and when they arrive
no time will be lost in finding work, pro-
viding they have no inclination to pros
pect on their own account.
"For the past thirty years 1 followed
nearly every new mining excitement this
side of the Rocky Mountains, but outside
of the Comstock lode, in Virginia City,
New, l struck none that promised a repe-
tition of old California times with so great
degree of certainty as the mines of
Cariboo and other locates in the north.
Nothing one hears regarding these dis
coveries has been exaggerated, but on the
CohHaIY uoH thlHh Iul justice has
been done them so far. You may say I
feel certain that my published report upon
what l saw with my own eyes will most
assuredly create a stampede from the over
crowded cities, before the summer is half
done. 1t will not be a wild goose exodus
either, for more than a months living
awaits every able-bod man, with a ham
kering after work, who goes to the new
mines"