The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-22
GOLD IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Latest Reports From the ROss1and
fri ict

RossLAND, B. c., Oct. 21-(special Corre-
spondence Chicago Tribune)-While the klon-
are carried away with the fabulous reports
regarding the great wealth of the frozen
north, and while life and limb have been
and are now being risked in quest of those
reported riches, it has remained for several
Chicago citizens to become interested in the
Rossland. B. c., gold fields, which, while
slower of production, are none the less val
liable.
Where four years ago there stood lone
log cabin, there now stands the THRIVING WI
town of Rossland, wi 1000 souls: rms us
a result of the gold mining in and about
Rossland. Six hundred men are now EN-.
ployed in the mines. The early development
of Rossland was slow, because OF It's mac
cessibility. 1t was eleven miles to Trall on
the Columbia river and eighteen miles to
Nor,hport, the nearest town or the united
States There were railroads, and every
thing essential to- mining must OF necessity
be taken in upon pack horses. Ihe nrst as
well as the most valuable mine because OF
it's advanced developmenD is the LIE Roi. 1t
is situated upon bench of Red moun:ain
and is within the corporate limits OF Ross
land They have reached depth of 600
feet and are still ego TX tner on smart and 9 in
vein that is reputed to be thTty-tve feet
wide From this mine has been taken ore
in sufficient amounts to 1ustlly 1ne OP Paymeni
July /, 1897 with few exceptions, of $25 COO
each. Since July 1 the dividends have been
increased to $50,0CO per mon,h, H. with wit grand
turn of $4.60 in dividends alone for each
dollar invested, and still the stockho DER
has his stock, which is quoted at 50 per
on the market. The sock sold only few
years since at 25 cents per share
Clustered around the LIE Roi are several
mines of note. The War Eagle. with a divi-
dend record of $1S7,OOO, recently sold for
$500 600. The Josie, Center Star, Iron Mask,
Nickel Plate, City of Spokane, Black Bear,
etc., are mines of known richness ana ciose-
" grouped together in what is known as the
north belt AS the growth of the camp pro-
gressed values increased ard were still 1ur-
ther Increased by the building of two rail
roads. The first railroad was a narrow
gauge from Trail, upon the Columbian river.
where is located the large smelter which
now reduces the Rossland ores: This road
winds among the mountains on Its way from
Trail to Rossland, and in distance Of eleven
miles ascends 2400 feet. Within the last
eighteen months a standard gauge line has
Rossland, which aids materially in the pro-
duction of the camp. adding much needed
transportation facilities. Within the last
month the Canadian Pacific railroad has 10
Gated its terminal station in the southern
part of Ross.and, which means the building
Of a third road into the camp, and IS es-
pecially encouraging to Chicago citizens VINO
are stockholders in the Abe Lincoln mine;
located in the South belt. This new road
will afford unequaIed shipping faci tiles; the
distance being only 5000 feet from the Abe
down the mountain side making direct CON
nection with the railroad, thus enabling
cheap handling of ore after mining
The Abe Lincoln property is largely rail-
road mans investment as officials of the
Northern Pacific Great Northern. Illinois
Central. Wisconsin Central, Big Four and
Chicago & Northwestern railroad are stock
holders 1t is estimated that from Is, $50 to
100 OcO shares of the stock are held in Chicago.
One of the stockholders, resident of Chicago,
recently returned from Rossland, and reports
favorably what he has seen. The property is
being rapidly pushed in its development, ana
has. at a depth of sixty-five feet in shaft
five by seven feet Especially constructed for
double compartment ore that assays as nigh
as s62 90 per ton and has a three-foot vein
that runs an average of $50 TO $40 per ton.
Adjoining the Abe Lincoln is the Sunset
No 2 on the south; mine that at ninety
feet is working in a fve-foot vein of gold
and copper ore Upon all sides OF Rossiand
are mines in various stages If development,
which have brilliant prospects 1t is SAID mat
the Rotscnilds have several experts IN he
Northwest who are watching closely the DC
veIonments of British Columbia. The fore
most experts of the world have visited Ross
land and have expressed the opinion that the
Rossland camp bids fair to be the richest
field of the world not excepting the Trans
vaal. While the output is now enormous, it
will he more than trebled when the smelter,
which is now building at Northport, is cont
pleted and the concentrating works at Ross
land begin operations.