The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-09-08
Mineral in the Olympics.

A correspondent of the Montesano
Vidette takes issue with the alleged
prospectors who recently reached Port
Townsend after seasons prospecting
i'll the Olympic range, and claimed
they could discover nothing worth
working. He says:
ri beg leave to make few asser-
tions, which desire published in your
columns, in answer to an article pur-
porting to have originated at Port
Townsend, and which you clipped
from that excellent journal, the Post
Intelligencer. The article in question
mentions the names of couple of
gentlemen, and goes on to say that
they are (supposedly) expert miners
and went into the Olymplcs by way of
Grays Harbor for the express purpose
OF making an exhaustive investigation
OF the mineral resources of that region !;
giving the summary OF their trip as
very discouraging, except in one or
two instances; that of the existence OF
coal and LOW GRADE ORE. The report
states that they spent two months in
their search, and will return again
soon.
"The very fact that they will return
Is sufficient evidence to challenge my
respect and would venture to say
that if any man can harmonic the
future movements of these gentlemen
with their opinions, it will be my be-
lief that he is the wrong specimen OF
humanity--elther ignorant or too lazy
to satisfy himself by a personal study
OF prevalent conditions. Ii it was not
for the lateness of the season | would
take the greatest pleasure in having
shown 10 them the gold and copper
lode discovered by Mr.. j. w. Campbell
of Aberdeen, in the very heart of the
greatest mineral belt on the coast.
"While the exact location of the dis
covery will not be known until the
surveys are made, it will be open to
the inspection of all who mean busi-
ness and desire to become interested.
"On the above lode more than fifteen
claims have been staked and there is
ample room for many more. The
only reason can offer for slow devel-
epment is the great distance and diff
Guilty of travelling over the mountains.
But in due time we may all expect a
genuine mining boom surprising that
OF Republic or Rossland. Assays have
been made that indicate both gold
and copper quartz in paying quantities
land even placer gold-from mere
surface groupings.
Il did not make trip into the
Olympics a year ago last July for mere
pleasure, though / experienced no
hardships in doing SO, and being
"tenderfoot" it is peculiar that so
many "practical" miners will stand by
and sneer, when in fact couple of
them express an opinion averse to the
truth and then sneak back into the
woods, believing that their wits,have
made an impression. OF course, it is
reasonable for newspaper to publish
all sorts Of stories, but how: do you sup
pose those two men who came out of
the Olympics at Port Townsend would
feel if they were tracked on their way
back? That's squarely the reason for
their yarn. I and my party we're
tracked for half the distance up there.
"Now, let me tell you,,if a man de-
sires to spend a year making a fool of
himself in the Klondike, Cape Nome,
or any other useless place, when he
can in reality alter his condition by
investigating in a practical way and
reporting the resources of the rich
Olympic rangesin it's truthful light, he
will become the greatest benefactor to
his race, and besides will save his neck
and himself from disgrace"