The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-15

The Weekly Blade. published at New
whstcon. has valuable supplement with
the issue OF January L. entitled What
com County, the RionGika Of Washing
ton" II IS published under the auspices
aud with the supervision Of the eaty eoaa-
ell and the Board OF Trade of New What
com and the Commercial Club Of Fair
haven Every statement has been revised
from threa TO four times. and the pamphlet
as a waole, is absolutely free from over
estimates or VIVA, Is commonly csiiea
boom literature The authors Of the
various articles are men OF uncouo'eo
probity. The merchants Of the busy CITY
have lent their aid to the project. as near
ly all OF them have their ads. between
TIE covers. The maps and the different
cuts are accurate presentations
Under the head OF THE Bonanza Mines
Of Whascona" J. J. Donovan says that.
while the kiondixe gold is attracting
thousands to the sound as the starting
point FOR that Eldoraco. gold seekers may
well turn their eyes 20 the splendid opsn-
iags nearer heme. Late in August, 1877
three prospec1ors in the mountains OF the
north fork OF the Nooksack found
quartz lead carrying coarse gold, samples
assaytng SO, oae to the ton. Three months
later this claim was bonded for ssouo
There is plenty Of room in whatcorn coun-
~ FOR further explorations. At least LOU
square miles OF the eastern part OF the
county Is . wilderness Of mountains. cut
by wild streams, known 60 but few. ana
as promising q field as exists on the con-
tinent for intelligent examination. The
field is now almost untouched. yet the
past season has proven the existence or
geld in four well-detined districts Free
geId is found in the quartz. and some
placer prospecting has been undertaken.
The heart of this district can be reached
In two days from Bellingham bay without
any hardships There are more $4,000
lodges, and some OF them will be found IN
'as. a few prospectors were on-the south
fork OF the Nookssck last season, ana
walls OF pin-hesd gold were brought ou'.
most virgin field.
The oldest gold district in the county Is
on Ruby creek and tributaries, which
were discovered almost fifteen years ago.
Thousands of dollars were taken out, but
difficulties and danger Of access led to its
abandonment, but a few hardy men still
worked on. They finally awakened inter-
est. until now. in the same district. many
men have claims, much work has been
done and new developments will be made
this year Nuggets weighing s23 were
brought out last fall. The center OF this
district is about twenty-five miles east Ok
the rich finds OF August. in the Mount
Baker district. A savage mountain range.
glaciers. wild canyons and the Skagt river
lie between o country that ii will take
many years to prospect thoroughly.
Iron underlies a tract of several miles
between Lynden and Custer, but 1t Is not
worked as yet. Coal underiies all the
western part of the county. only one vein
being worked at present, the Blue Canyon.
The coal has been used very successfully
fer commercial and domestic purposes.
In concluding his article, Mr.. Donovan
says:
Wealth is hidden In the earth Of Alas
ka, TO be won at great cost OF health and
even life. So 1t is hidden here at home.
where nature in her widest moods may
be found In TWO days march"
Edward Fischer. in the article "Details.
Facts and Figures" enters .ato the de-
tails with mathematical reasoning. I'm the
early part OF last June Messrs. Post, Lam
bert and Van Valkenhurg traced a prom
Using lead in a somewhat perilous Journey
and were rewarded by the discovery or
large ledge of quartz staring them IN the
face Of the side of a large mountain. Az
ter they located some Of the promising
claims, they returned to Sumas and made
their discoveries known and then came
the rush. Most OF the prospectors made
locations In the vicinity OF the big find.
AS fact, most of the mines Whereabouts
consist Of copper ore containing both gold
and silver in good quantities The most
valuable placer grounds Will be on the
other side OF Ruth creek on SILICA creek.
where the free gold is found. 1t is claimed
that placer ground Is also found on Baker
river. In the lower foothills near Sumas
there has for some years laid dormant
large quartz ledge. Early last year II
was located and small prospect OF cop
Per gave an assay Of $3.50 In gold and 20
per cent. in copper. 4 tunnel was driven
in twenty feet and the paystreak was
twenty-five inches. A cross-cut tunnel
lower down passes through this streak
and another small body of ore has been
encountered. There is no doubt that
great mine exists. but 1t will take time
and money to find this out
The little pamphlet ends up with some
practical reasons why prospectors for the
Mount Baker district should OUTFIT In the
Bellingham bay cities and gives a short
description Of the two cities on the bav
the centers Of the Mount Baker poid