The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-06
THE SLOGAN.
A District That Is Mineraiixed to
Degree That Surpnsses ANYTHING
Elsewhere I'm the World.


The following article on the SLOGAN min
ing district was written for the New Years
EDITION. but came too late for publication
Il is an excellent description Of the dis
;ric,:
Lying between the Canadian Pacific rail-
way and the international boundary and
between the Columbia and keotenay river
Is a region extremely Tich in silver. II IS
almost impossible 10 give a correct idea
OF the geography of this district without
a map, and even with a map considerable
explanation would be necessary. The Co
lum0ia and the kootenay in their winnings
through the mountains run tn every posi-
bic direction and almost encircle an area
Of nearly .e0a0 square miles, over all parts
OF whleh the precious metals are found
There is gold ia the north and south. but
the silver deposits seem 10 be scattered all
over Il. The richest deposits Of silver and
the greatest number in any one locality
are found IN the country between kooJe-
nay lake and the Siocan lake. 1t is from
this latter that the silver district has
come 70 be known as the Sl5can. al
though it would be an error to suppose
that ali the silver mines are there stu
ased.
The silver deposits of Kootenay were an
accidental discovery. In 1856 some pros
peCtors were looking for placers near the
k0otenay river and their horses wandered
the animals. and on ascending what is
know known as Toad mountain he STUN
oied upon an outcropping OF ore. HE
broke off a sample which was assayed on
their return 10 civilization, and was found
70 carry $500 of silver TO the ton with
large percentage Of copper and little gold.
This discovery led to the thorough pros
pectlng Of the country for silver. and the
outcome OF this has been that today the
SLOGAN is undoubtedly the most prOmis-
ing silver region III America The original
discovery on Toad mountain has become
famous under lis name. the Silver King,
bat is often known as the Hall mine. Ii Is
a great producer, ~ equipped with a
smeiter OF its own, aud IS very prOlita-
BILE NINE.
The sIocan. strictly speaking. is that
piece OF country lying between SLOGAN lake
on tae west and Kootenay lake on the
east, the distance between the two lakes
being about twenty miles. Measured
north and south the district would be ap-
proXimately twenty miles long. so that
THE SlOcau' has an area of about 900
square miles. The town Of New Denver
on SLOGAN lake is at the western extremity
OF the district, the town OF kaslo on koo-
tenay lake at the eastern extremity. The
belt between these towns is chiefly argen-
tiferous. the pred0minas.ng ore being sill
yer lead Northward copper takes the
more prominent. The country rock in the
central portion OF the SLOGAN IS mostly a
soft slate. This Is very easily worked the
veins OF ore are exceedingly Well defined.
the cost OF mining l. comparatively light
IL has been called a poor mans country,
FOR the reason that many Of the discover
ers OF mines are able TO develop them
themselves. Toward the south granite
takes the place Of slate. and here the pay
streaks OF ore are smaller. but they are
richer. In the slate belt the veins run
from two feet in width up: on the SLOGAN
star the vein is forty feet wide. Most OF
the mines pay from the grass roots"
There have been very many locations
made in the SLOGAN and the neighboring
country during the past two years. but a
great deal Of ground set remains TO be ex-
amined. not just In the vicinity OF the
working mines. but within a radius OF
twenty miles Of SandoH the chief town
Of the district. The principal properties
so far are III the valley Of the south fork
OF the Carpenter. but during the last sum
mer excellent locations have been made on
the north fork OF that stream. which runs
up Into a dry ore region. or where the
ore carries q large percentage Of copper.
There are many excellent properties along
the kasse river, and very lately some ex-
ceIent claims have been filed along the
south fork OF that stream
The towns of Slocan are:
SanGOu. situated in the valley OF the
south fork Of the Carpenter. The SLOGAN
Star lies less thsn a mile 20 the south Of
San1on, the Noble Five aud other we'll
known properties a Httle 70 the north.
Sandon has a population OF about J. so
people. and IS lively Gown. The townsi:e
Is uos good. being in the valley OF d
stream which Is pt 10 take charge OF
things IN its own way.
New Denver = = Ghriving place OF be-
tween 80 and l.lso people.
kstsIo has perhaps twice as many people
as New Denver AMI IS a very wl3e-awake
place.
For means OF transportation the district
IS pretty we'll provided. The lakes afford
eNceIleat means Of water communicate
enabling she mines - ship out their ore
either by way of the Canadian Pacific. the
Nelson q Fort Sheppard or the Great
Nortlgrn by way Of Bonner's Ferry. Two
lines of railway enter tire S,ocan. TIE
Canadian Pacific has a line from Nakusp
from wAl2a paint connection IS maintain
ii by boat wsth the RevelstoSe bsanch ~
Che main Tine. Tb.s road extends from
N8aasp % Sandon by way % New Den
yer Tae haslo-Siocan railway Is a narrow
~s@Es las. ~hica runs between kaslo and
t'cav. passing thTouga S3ntion. Another
lire WILL p0oaa e.y be oa!}t az an early day
trem r,a cen-er 81 thr district down the
s.ortn river go connect with TIRE Crows
Nesr E-ass RAJ. way az Nelson.
81 aa raa raining districts SO the North
0est none ls lu a more prospe nous Ccnal-
tlau or Has better outlook Cor the future
-a4a iae Sscc4u The opinion ~ ruea wno
have ha& experience IN au sections Of the
ca7t lDen- IS fhst the region Is one OF ex-
cea.+clsl promise.
II Wou-5 be imposes Pie in a Ayitf sketch
tse th.~ ea to more tafn give catalogue
o- t1e localities surrounding the Slocan
~fese promising deposits of mineral have
"ttr fol13 during tae East tao years GA
Naa.e2a Jake 81 tile Ilttla tewu ~ AIMS
Na~ t ana sn che mountains around Th.s
t9ss ara macy good locations. caiedy %
ns1 grade ure. 2Ca some shipping Is BE-
'ns Sore. rovaesls thc ucrtaera Extremity
% EMS Same aEe. thAs "a to the vicinity
ct l@frfs. t-rFs 14ye accu many praals-
IDS discoveries zud Tauch v-o-k is being
oe1e. i@1ee1. 81 is iupcss a.e to indicate
arr c-reetloa II wh8rh there are not evt-
de0rfs of Fase veaIth- As mining ax-
0te3 rs~eaty ssts Tire s1ote c7antrg, -
r't1efas.Ef- .p feE~se thAt Ssrgs= sss any
tl.us Is aeese .r -et k1owa aersa."
GSx yyeG~ meals az Fgafs4 Seexe-x eta