The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-20
THE PASSING THR0NG

Dr. Charles T. Cummings. who formerly
lived IN Pittsburs. but who came TO scat
tie about 3 year ago. Is Just back from
prospecting trip 60 Mount Baker, as a re-
suit OF which he Is enthusiastic over the
outlook for that section. lie was accom-
panied by Alexander II. Watt OF Port
Angeles.
I'VE left here about the last OF Sepvern-
Der" said DR.. Cummings last night, go
ing By the Seattle e. International railroad
60 Deming. There We took the wagon road
TO Loops. Thence We took the trail 10 a
point between the ten and elevsn-Tiis
posts. from which we bore directly over
the mountain. We ksps along the TOP OF
the range Till we came within about four
miles OF Posts claim. Then We went down
10 Swamp creek, which we assembled We
packed our own stun, going IN. or course.
very light. with not more than forty or
fifty pounds apiece. We had nails In our
shoes, as matter OF course. They are IN
dispensabla. We did not ind any part OF
the trail very difficult. but you must bear
IN mind that both OF Us were in the very
best OF possible training and condition,
having been prospecting all the summer
u think the district in general can os
made fairly accessible. good wagon
road can be built at small expense from
the fourteen-Tnils post 10 JohnSon's camp,
at the foot Of the dry gulch. From that
point the various claims would have to be
reached by a pony trail
1T is naturally difficult TO speak with
certainty as 70 the outlook when you re-
member the fact that as yet no develop
n1snt work has been done The greater
part OF the country has not yet been
touched. Men have simply passed about
over il and sfaked claims wherever they
saw white quartz. But in my judgment
every indication points 10 rich returns
The district is easy 10 prospect. The in
dications lie on the surface and the gulches
are not hard 10 get up.
There has been some placer mining,
and the men who have panned in the
streams have found promising colors: but
the gulches are narrow. and we saw only
one or two places on Swamp creek that
could be utilized.
I'VE located ten claims or a continuation
OF the range on which Church mountain
lies. about mile south of Tomohoi mount
ain. l talked with an assayer who had
handled good many specimens from the
district. and while speaking very con-
servatively. he assured me that he believed
many OF the properties would be very
valuable"
The Pacific Lumber Trade Journal has
sent out. under date of October IS. the fol-
lowing circular:
ITO the Shinge Manufacturers Of the
Pacific Northwest: We have been request
ed by number OF leading single manu-
facturers to urge the closing OF the mills
during the winter months. The demand Is
falling off rapidly now. and already there
are signs Of a weakening in prices. The
demand from November l TO February l
Is always more or less speculative. There
is no building TO speak OF during that Pc
Rod, and the shingles purchased-as rule
at low prlces-will be held as a club to
force prices down in the spring.
The capacity is now larger than the
demand, and unless a concerted effort is
made to curtail production. red cedar
shingles viii be sold at 81 per LOCO before
the spring trade begins.
kindly advise US if you expect to shut
down the coming winter"
IN response TO the inquiry Mr.. Beck
man has received many letters. nearly all
OF which state that the mills will close
during the winter. Mr.. Beckman states
advantage Of the single cutters, as
Generalization in prices will not follow
upon a winters work during which East
ern buyers are getting the product of the
mills off season cut and keeping down
prices for the spring output.
General Agent Dudley has appointed
W. r. Forrest assistant general agent
OF the Alaska Transportation and De-
velopment Company, with headquarters
in the Halter building. The new COM
pany. backed by heavy Eastern capital
proposes TO enter into the Alaska trans
portation business on a large scale and
TO that end has selected Seattle as its
American terminus and actual head
quarters.
BY the selection of Mr.. Forrest TO rep
resent II in responsible capacity, the
concern has done much to identify itself
closely with the interests of this city
Mr.. Forrest is one Of the best and most
favorably known men in the state He
was city clerk of Seattle and auditor Of
King county for number of years. and
was afterwards state senator In the Sec
ond and Third legislatures Much of the
important legislation Of these sessions
Is his handiwork. Mr.. Forrest has been
prominently identified with the activities
OF Seattle for long time. and his selec-
ton altogether IL one Of the best the
Alaska company could have made
A distinguished party OF visitors reached
the city Monday by private car OF the
Southern Pacific. The visitors were: Henry
Scott, president OF the Union Iron works
OF San Francisco, and one of the executors
or the VIII OF the late Col. Croker: J. w
Green, another executor OF Col Crocker's
last testament; Alexander Morrison, their
attorney. Or. =. j. Depue. state prison d.
rector Of California and Mr. Zallee a well
known citizen OF San Francisco
The party was shown through the city
b. Austin Claiborne. manager OF the Arc
tic OH works. They expressed great admir-
alton for Seattle and were thoroughly
pleased with all they saw here. They left
yesterday for the Carbonate mines In
which the Croker estate has large hold
ings.
o. II Culver. OF Whatcom. has been
rendered by Collector % Customs Heus-
tbs. and has accepted. the appointment OF