The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-06

There are certain men in this country.
formerly associated under the name OF
the Pyritic Smelling Company. who may
be reasonably ina gined as dividing their
time between speculation on what might
have been and heavy backward kicks
against what is. These men had thres
years ago sn opportunity 10 acquire at a
nominal figure the best mines OF the Tran
creek district. They could have bought
half the towrlsite OF Rossiand for $50 They
had chances which. made the most Of
would have placed their wealth In the mill
lions.
The Pyritic Smelling Company was a
rich mans concern. It was incorporated
IN Saginaw, Mich, with the principal bus
mess Office in San Francisco. 1t was Of
fcered as fo-ows; President. Arthur
Hill; vice president, W. l.. Austin; treas
urer, Mr. fainter, a capitalist OF Saginaw;
secretary, 8. Chapman: superintendent
and general manager. A. Pugh. William
Rust. a big lumherman of Michigan. was
also interested. In the spring OF 1892, Capt.
8, L. Burbridge, a mining and metaEurgi-
cal engineer now making his headquarters
In this city. was commissioned 10 travei
over Washington. Idaho. oregon and Mon
tana seeking locations for pyritio smelters.
The story of his irst visit TO Trail creek.
and the subsequent developments is best
told in Capt. Burbridges words:
II struck Trail creek in July. 1882 he
said latter having been In the SLOGAN. l
formed a favorable impression Of the dis
trict which was strengthened by further
investigation. After careful study for
INFLATED a theory which has since been
demonstrated TO be correct. that the veins
there were eruptive or injected veins. and
that the metal was crystalized from
molten. rather than an aqueous. solution.
I made r thorough examination OF the
mines. and became satisfied OF their value.
I'm Spokane met !. y. Peyton, OF the
lie Roi mine. He was very much dis
couraged. and had Just discharged the
four men ne had al that time working the
mine He asked me what thought OF the
property, and I told him I thought IL n
good proposition. and on his request made
a written report. He went back East
later with the report. and sold in Dan
Vile Illinois. large amount OF lie Roi
treasury stock at 3 cents a share. IL
would not have brought 3 cents in Spo-
kane.
when returned to the head Office of
the Pyritic Smeating Company in San
Francisco I reported the favorable i'm
prnSsIon 7 had formed of the Trail creek
camp. ana was later sent back 20 the dis
trict recommended a smeiter at North
port. which could easily get 10000 tons
OF ore 10 srnelt. secured for the COM
PAW a rpnf on the W AE f-AHtNs atRb MESA
and Virginia mines for si7.soe and want
ed them 10 buy the Josie for A.oHo and the
Jumbo for $500. I also located for the
conpany the California mine. While
there the second time had an opportunity
to purchase a half interest In the town
site Of Rossland for $3.50. or this notified
the company but they did not take s6-
vantage of the proposition.
THE first payment was maize on the
War Eagle mine. and soma development
work was done but before the second pay
rnent came due six months later. the pan
&c OF 1895 swept over the country. At this
time the company sent mining expert
named Mcmillan 70 examine into their In
terests at Trail he reported unfavorabsy
condemned tire whole thing and on the
strength OF his report the Pyritic STnct-
ing Company drew out Clark. Finch and
Others got the property which IL now rated
80 high. met Chapman last winter. He
was 3 very sick man"
CAPT Rurbridge is inclined 20 look 'sv-
orab.y on ths mines this side % the noun
tains RI. is heavily interested on Grouse
mountain. being one OF q party OK four
which made the first locations there