The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-23

trade or Alaska, Republic. Index and otner
mining districts within their reach. there
Is one district which seems 10 De little
neglected. This is the Mount Baker min
ing district. one OF the richest in this part
OF the country. From the statements OF
men who are familiar with conditions
there, the camp is likely to become within
a Short time source Of great wealth. both
on account of the sold produced and the
trade growing out Of the further develp-
nient of the country. The people of Brit
ish Columbia, ii is said, are getting their
government interested in building good
trails into the Mount Baker district, and
Offering every inducement TO the miners
and prospsctors there TO trade with the
British Columbia cities. Although the
miners are for the most part Americans, as
things are now II is much easier for them
to get their outfits from British Columbia
than over the trails from the American
side. and as matter of business they
naturally trade where they can do the best
for themselves.
(. +. Owens. state mtno inspector re-
turned Saturday from the Mount Baker
district, where he has been looking after
some properties. Incidentally the trade
conditions fell under his observation. In
an interview he said
sound Merchants should Wake Up.
Il cannot imagine what the merchants
OF Seattle, Tacoma and other Sound cities
are thinking of. AS far as 1 observed up
there, most of the supplies for the differ
ent camps are purchased in British CO.
lumbia. because the trails from the British
side are in better condition. and they have
been made so by British Columbia mer-
chants, who are endeavoring. and success
fully. too, to capture the trade. The Mount
Baker trade may not be very important
just at the present time but within a year
v~,;ys H.
vii, be growing more ard more important
all the time
1.-THE British Columbia merchants have
the best trail so far. 1t seems to me that
there Is no reason why the trails on this
side of the line should not be fixed up lust
as we'll. The altitude is favorable and
the trails already made could easily be ex-
tended so that the miners would come
down this way for their supplies. The
merchants of British Columbia have petit
toned their government 10 extend the
wagon road ten miles farther to the boun-
dairy line. also understand that the gov
eminent looks upon the plan with favor,
and that within a few days an inspector
OF roads will be UP through the district
looking over the ground for an extension Of
the read.
Trade Is of Great Value.
If this road is built and the British Co.
~
trade. 1t will be more difficult matter
for Sound people to get II a year or two
hence, when Ii Is firmly established than
II would be now IL some concerted action
were taken. l believe there Is half
hearted petition going the rounds In What
com county. asking the commissioners TO
complete good road from the bridge on
the north fork of the Nooksack river 10
the trail. But the petitioners are not Wig
orous enough In their demands. and are
content 10 watch the business go from
their very doors to merchants on the other
side of the line. l earnestly advise Seattle
merchants to get together before IL Is too
late.
Mount Baker will he on. OF the richest
camps In this state, and the trade facili-
ties between that poino and Seattle should
be put In as good shape as possible and as
soon as possible.
Work is active In the district Just now
In spite Of the Iateness Of the season I
passed several outfits going in over the
Chilliwhack trail. The Post and Lambert
properties, which were recently bought ny
English e. Co, will be worked all winter
The new owners are sending In supplies
and are building cabins at an altitude OF
500 feet There was not much snow there
when left. II showed one day and rained
the next. There will not be more than a
foot or 50 of snow by this time.
The owners or the Lone Jack and IaIIu
the discovery claims. have abandoned their
attempt to drive a tunnel i'm 10 tap the
vein Of the Lulu, and are now working on
the Jack ledge. ! knew they were pursuing
a wrong course several months ago but
they are on the right track now Their
tunnel Is in % feet. They will have enough
ore out by spring 10 give them an idea "a
TO what kind Of mining machinery to use
The Gold Rasin mines on Red mountain
ere being managed by ]. O. Carlisle who IL
rapidly pushing the work on them The
Mount Baker Free Gold Mining & Milling
Company has l2foot ledge on fits prop
critics II Is well defined and even. and
the walls are smooth. An average Of six
assays taken from the pay streak gives sg35
10 the tor. BY next year II would not
surprise me htt to find that other dis
coverfes fully az rich as these had been
made in the district. Even ny spring. the
ore taken out Will astonlsh people
on my way back I visited the SuuaS
coal fields They are being worked There
is n good property there and The coat IL
~ good quality. far as I have examined
it