The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-07

W. D. Pratt. editor of the Washington
Mining Journal. returned yesterday from
trip along the Skagit. When asked
about the mining prospects OF that dis
trict ne said:
I went no further than Hamilton, the
terminus of the Seattle 4 Northern rail-
road. Ii is remarkable town. Its first
contribution to the wealth of the world
was iron mines. for which as far back as
lssl large sum Of money was offered
When iron ceased to be In demand Har1il-
ton came 10 the front with coal mine.
and IL is a matter OF history that the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company offer
ed somewhere near three-fourths of a mill
ION dollars for this property For time
Hamilton fell into line with other towns
and produced lumber Such life, how
ever. was too tame for her and she began
TO shift for something more aliuring. she
noted that every report OF the rich mines
OF Trail Creek contained a reference 70
iron Gaping and she began TO wonder
whether her own iron mines might not be
only iron cappings covering more precious
metals. A little Investigation disclosed
the fact that the hedges which were sup
posed to contain only iron, also contained
copper and gold
These lodges are three In number and
cross the northeastern slope of Iron noun
tain in southeasterly direction; they are
from one-half mile 10 one mile from the
town OF Hamilton, and extend indefinitely,
having been traced for two miles. On the
upper ledge is the Mable claim, owned by
j. j. Conner. and the Northern Pacific.
owned by A. b. Taylor. The iron that has
been Quarried here is Kicked up like
stone wall. but though there are copper
stains the more precious metals are not In
evidence. Going down the hill about 600
feet came upon the middle ledge. On
this ledge are located the Everett. Great
Northern and Copper King The former
Is owned by members of the Penn Mining
Company The ledge is stripped for 200
feet. and though no shaft has been sunk
copper pyrites and specks of native copper
appear. and pay streak of twenty-four
inches is defined.
1.-THE third ledge is near the base of the
mountain and Ii is upon its contents that
the more recent and determined assaults
have been made The principal locations
upon this vein are the Inaugural and the
Hamilton. The former is owned by
Mount Vernon company headed by Judge
Mcbride. j. n. Harris. Frank Quinby and
c. 5. Moody. The members of this COM
pany believe in going down TO see what
they have; the shaft Is down thirty-five
feet. and II Is proposed to put in a steam
hoist and Rurleigh drill The first assay
taken from the groupings was s1.S7: at
fourteen feet two other assays were made.
one showing Sis. the other S75: at TWEEN
ty-four feet the value was s15.75 They are
now taking some fine quartz and from $50
to $50 is expected.
The Hamilton shaft Is less than 100
yards from the Inaugural shaft. When
the workmen were transferred from the
shaft to the tunnel they were in ST. rock.
The tunnel is GOO feet west OF the shaft and
is run along the footwaIl of the ledge. 1t
Is in twenty-three feet. showing up about
as well as in the shaft. At this point the
ledge is sixteen feet wide, while at the
shaft 1t Is fully thirty feet. Depth is all
that is required to establish the wealth
and permanency of the camp.
"A daily stage has been put on between
Hamilton and Marble mountain to accom-
modate the increasing travel up the Skagit
valley"