The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-10-21
MINING LETTER
From the Rich Mineral Region Ly-
ing About Mount Baker.
description Of Baker Lake-Following
the Trail Over the Glacier to the
Famous Mines.

appeared in your columns few weeks
ago, have been on tour of inspection
through the vast and unexplored min
eral section surrounding Mount Baker,
and as few descriptions Of the romantic
and lovely scenery Of that portion Of our
coast have ever been written perhaps a
brief account Of our trip may be interest
ing 10 some Of your readers although |
feel myself inadiquate TO the task Of
describing the grand and awe inspiring
scenes it was my fortune to behold.
Accounts Of rich and extensive min.
eral lodes discovered in that locality
induced me 10 make flying visit 10 the
head of Sulphdes creek "a tributary Of
Baker river about ~ miles above the
lake. There / secured two mining
locations and at once returned TO this
place for the purpose of recording taem
and found Mr.. Chas. Thrasher well
known mining expert awaiting me and
anxious TO visit the district and in his
company started ON a second trip. After
procuring first class outfit at the store
Of Mr. r. W. u. Thomson an enterpris-
ing merchant in Hamilton who is
extensively interested in mining him
self, we started up the river in a heavy
rain. Night found us at deserted
ranch on Baker river about u miles
above the mouth. Wet, cold, weary
and hungry we were glad Of the oppor.
tunity Of cooking hot supper under an
old shed that offorded slight protection
from the rain aud afterwards spread our
blankets on some hay in the barn, where
in spite OF the cold and wet condition of
our bedding we enjoyed TO its fulleat
extent that calm and restfu repose that
is the reward Of severe toll. Early the
next morning we were again on the
road, the rain still falling in torrents,
and about noon we reached the ranch Of
Mr. Ruth at the foot OF the lake.
The owner and his family being alb
sent, we quietly appropriated some pota-
toes and onions from the garden, made
a good fire in his woodshed and cooked
dinner, after which we put our horses
in his pasture and wrote note, lie
failing the particulars Of our depreda.
tions, which we fastened To the door Of
his house and then embarked in Il canoe
on the lake. Baker Lake is lovely aud
placid sheet Of water aSout two miles in
length and Of an average width OF one
and half miles. Its attitude IL | 800
feet above sea level and lying rs il does
at the base OF mountains rising almost
perpendicular 10 heigth of 5000 or TO-.
900 feet above the water, It is ~ COM
pletely protected from violent winds ~
II enclosed within walls. There are one
or two small islands in the lake and
considerable shallow water at It's upper
end but the average depth near the
center II l28 feet. Millions Of trout,
salmon and white fish disport in it's
waters, while not few ducks are seen
lazily floating on its surface. A more
delightful summer resort for fishing and
hunting parties have never seen, and
when il becomes better known have no
doubt hut what IL will be extensively
patroniled. On the south side of the
lake and about mile from Ruth's
ranch, the government fish hatchery is
situated and aifores an extremely pleas.
ing, rs well as instructive, lesson in
fiscal matters 10 all who visit. Mr.. II.
III, Buck, the superintendent, isa well
informed aud courteous gentleman, re-
ceiyed MS with great cordiality and spent
several hours in showing us over the es-
tablishment and explaining the manner
of propogating the iinny delicacies'
They have now over twelve millions of
salmon eggs, principally OF the sockeye
species, undergoing the process of incu-
baton, and expect To add considerably
To that number before the season
is closed, About 50 per cent Of
the eggs are usually successfully |
Matched and the young fish returned to
the lake 10 days after emerging from the
egg, when they are presumed 10 be old |
enough 10 take care of themselves. That |
voracious mountain trout known as the
Dolly Warden is abundant in those
waters aud and the worst enemy of the
young fish. As to whether any protec-
tion should be afforded those piratical
reprobates or not is matter of opinion,
Their destructive qualities may be esti
mated from the fact that from rs To 70
young salmon have frequently been
found in the stomach OF one of those
gluttons, but they are de-
Iicious table fish and very game. There
are IA men employed az the hatchery
during the fishing season and five during
the winter, including the watchmen who
're constantly ON hand night and day,
's the slightest mishap in the arrange ,
nent of the water How might result in ,
he loss OF millions Of eggs. After spend
ng an hour or so at the hatchery We
'ade farewell Ia the genial supermtend.
mt and refusing his hospitahle invita-
ion TO remain for supper embarked in /
ur canoe and padded to the upper end e
{ the lake. One good mile walk over
good trail took us irom the landingsto
he hospitable home of MIR. Robert +
hannon, a hunter and trapper who has K
sided in that section Tor many years a
nd here wish could .
nj language 20 adequately eN- n