The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-21

most part the farming lands are already
settled upon by Indians land sqgawmen.
and have been for many years. The soil is
exceedingly productive. and with The open
ing OF that territory 10 mineral locations.
with the consequent development, il would
act as an incentive 20 the Indian farmers
20 False large crops. as The mining camps
would furnish A ready marke; Tor all the
products that they could raise.
Sufficient exploration has been made 70
demonstrate beyond a doubt that the three
main mineral belts-Torodo creek, Repub-
lie and Pierre's lake-found on the north
half of the reservation. extend through
the entire south half The mineral char
acser Of the two first named is free mill
ing gold. while in the latter belt the ore
is base, carrying a greater percentage OF
copper than of gold or silver. Along the
Columbia river. in the southeastern por-
ton OF the reserve, are known 10 exist
some rich bodies OF galena. specimens OF
which have been assayed here, giving re-
turns as nigh as $50 in silver and lead,
AL this from the surface.
A-ic ~ caAN a. k.tA0 $tkS SaNtsf tAd4As
and the entire reservation for that matter
is by Sans Poll river from Wilbur on the
Central Washington railway. wagon
road has already been constructed from
the ferry. crossing the Columbia river near
Wilbur which extends thirty miles up the
Sans Poll valley. the terminus OF which.
when completed. will be the Republic
camp. 1t is by this route that the rush
will be made for the interior whenever the
announcement comes that the south half
has been opened. Some. however. are pre-
pairing to go in from Marcus. Kettle Falls
and Northporf. but this will necessitate
crossing through the nerth half of the res
ervstion 10 reach ii. 1t is also known that
great many prospec.ors now at Repuh-
lie only six miles north of the northern
boundary of the south half. are making
preparations 10 rush into the new Edo
rado in the hopes of securing another Re-
public mine.
over two weeks ago, when the press dis
patches and private messages indica ted
the near opening of the entire reservation,
hasty preparations were made by many
Spokanites. who quietly left for the bor-
ders of the reserve, first making arrange
ment to be notified by wire and messen-
ger of the opening. Every day since par
ties of from two TO five have left here to
camp on the border, ready TO receive the
word that means a rush across the river.
Parties in from the scene state that sew
eral hundred prospectors are camped all
along the river. and their numbers are
added to every day. Many are waiting in
Spokane and the little towns nearest the
border, preferring TO await more definite
information as TO the probable action OF
congress on the bill before undertaking the
experience of roughing it.
As far as can he ascertained. no soon
ers' have yet crossed the forbidden line.
bat the report is generally credited that
Indians have been employed 10 guard
claims already spotted. and will keep all
intrudes's on s1ntif their employer can fiie
his locations.
The greatest scramble when the stam-
pede comes viii be at Rodgers Bar on
the big bend of the Columbia, near Fort
Spokane. Rich placer digeings are known
10 exist there, and many man is now
campei on the opposite side of the river.
casting envious eyes TO the big bar SO
rear and yet so far away. Two years ago.
vnen IL was thought the reservation was
about 10 be opened, several hundred
.sooners" rushed across onto the bar, and
for a time serious trouble was looked for
in the clash and strife for claims, but,
happily. il was ayerted by Indian Agent
Newman and his Indian police arriving
on the scene and driving all the iniruders
off the reservation. Good placer grounds
also exist at other points on the Columbia
and along the Sans Poll and other streams
I'm the interior of the reservation.