The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-25
CAMP BOOMING.
Much Surprise II Expressed That
Cftisens 81 Seattle Do Net Take
mere Interest In the Camp, ~ IL
IL Nearer Than Spokane II.

Special Dispatch to the Post-In.EiIFencer.
SPOKANE. Dec al. Is mater OF
much comment In Spokane mining circles
that Seattle and Tacoma ere taking so
little interest IN Republic and other min
ing camps that are now being developed
en- the north haix cf the Co,v1ile reserva-
ton. Il IL q country more tributary to
the cities Of the Sound than ii is to Spo-
kane. or, at le2st. equally as much 50. ard
by reason OF better freight rates the Mer-
chants OF Seattle, as well as Tacoma. have
a decided advantage over Spokane raer-
chants IN laying down GOODS TO these mid
ing camps. The advantage 10 especially
great during the season OF the year when
boats run up the Okanogan river TO with
Ia forty-eight miles OF Republic.
which point il then reached by good
wagon road, with easy grades. over which
the largest kind OF loads can be hauled.
Even when the low-water stage prevents
steamboat traffic up the Okanosan. the
steamers ply from Wenatchee 10 Brew
ster on the Columbia river. at the mouth
OF the Okanogar. which Ia distant from
Republic, BY good wagon road, eighty
eight miles On the other hand. the short-
est route by which Spokane shippers can
reach Republic Is from Bossburg or Mar
GUS on the Enc Of the Spokane Falls &
Northern railroad. by stage road to Gran
Ito Falls. B. c.. and then down to Repub-
road that at . large portion OF the year
Is well nigh impossible
The present congress viii he asked to
make an appropriation TO open UP the
Okanogan river to navigation q long dis
lance up the year around, barring when IL
- frozen over, and In view OF the fact
that the government engineer. Mr.. Tay-
lor. has recommended II. II Is practically
assured that such appropriation Will be
made. as the cost viii be trshing compared
with the advantages to be gained by such
IA;
pllshed Spokane merchants viii be prac-
tieaily shut out from the trade Of that
mining section. at least until such time
as railroad is built into 1t. and even at
that Sound merchants will always be in
active competition with Spokane for this
trade.
These facts are set forth to show that
the Sound cites are as vitality Interested
ia the development of the mines UP north.
and even more so. than IS Spokane, and
yet Seattle and Tacoma are doing nothing
in this respect. True. several Seattle peo-
pie have lately become interested in Re-
public and other reservation mining
camps. but they are comparatively few
Up 10 date, Spokane capital has done more
to develop Republic camp and bring 1t to
It's present prominence in the mining
world than any other CITY. although now
Eossiand. Butte and Eastern Canada cap
ital is rapidly picking UP many promising
claims in Republic. Because OF Spokane's
interest In the camp. the merchants there
prefer 10 trade with the merchants of this
city, all things being equal, and for this
reason trade that would go to Seattle now
comes 10 Spokane. simply because Seattle
Ia taking but a selfish interest IN the de-
velopment OF the camp, and by so doing it
Ia nos alone losing trade. but it's citizens
are overlooking abundant opportunities TO
make some Of the fortunes that are now
coming 20 Spokane as the result OF fortu-
nate investments in Republic mines. The
writer can easily rame two dozen men In
Spokane alone who in the short time since
Republic camp was discovered have made
fortunes OF fran So, 900 up 10 $500 900. some
Of whom before had scarcely a dollar of
their own. Besides these there Is many
a Spokane citizen who could, IL he desired
sell out his holdings OF Republic stocks
and realize a big thing on his investment
Wonderful Growth of Republic.
X is doubtful IL a parallel exists to Re
public camp, both as 10 the rapidity OF Its
development and the rich discoveries made
In the past eighteen months has been
evolved one dividend paying mine-the Re-
publics!x sure-thing mines. shortly TO b.
equipped with eompressors and mills
M smelly: The Black Tail, Jim Blaine. Mon
tain Lion Lore Pine san Poll and Tom
Thumb. while she Princess Maud Butte &
Boston. Republic No. ? Q,liip. Eureka
Queen, Morning Glory. Ben Hur, Trade
Dollar and Rebate, are in advanced stages
Of development, with assured great flu