The Saint Paul globe., 1899-12-02
OFFICIAL REPORT.
Read Facts About the Town of Cur
lew, Drummer's Mine, Etc.

John Cryderman, stata engineer of the State
OF Washington. makes the following report
on the Drummers' mine at Curlew:
The trip to Curlew is made by train from
Spokane To Bossburg, and from there to Cur
lew. q distance of about fifty-five miles, by
stage. though I went in pushing nv bicycle
The road from Bossburg in for a portion of the
way Is over a rough mountain road, the worst
part being between Bossburg and Grand
Forks, 3 c, distance Of forty miles. From
Gtslna orks to Curlew, a distance of fifteen
miles, the road follows the valley of Kettle
river, much OF it being over an open, fairly
level country, and in all parts the road could
De made nrst-class at small expense. with no
grades exceeding per cent, as all of the
worst hills are over points where the road
could as easily be carried around on good
ground and with a small amount Of work
The Canadian Railway company has al
ready completed 10 Grand Forks a first-class
railroad, that is to be turned over to the
traffic department on Oct. IA. This will save
the long haul from BOssburg, aud will Ger
tainly greatly reduce freight charges for all
the freight hauled into that country. From
Grand Forks to Republic line of railroad
survey has been run with every prospect of
the road being soon constructed. There are
absolutely no engineering difficulties on the
hne, and the cost for a mountainous country
would be small. This line when built will
pass trough the town of Curlew This lit
Tie town now has a frst-class general store
Win a poStofhce, a very good hotel, a black
smith shop, livery stable, the ubiquitous sa-
loon, and last, but not least, will soon have
free wagon bridge over Kettle river as the
town is located on the south bank of the
river jest below or east of the mouth of Cur
lew creek
1.-The mines of the Drummers' DEVELOPMENT
company are located the summit of the
spur of the mountains lying to the north of
Deer creek, which emptes into Kettle river
about one mile below Curlew and being about
two miles in a nOrtheasterly direction from
the town of Curlew.
The property is an immense copper. silver
lead proposition, with strongly marked vein
q feet in Wild O1tor
all OF the vein is well mineralized, and with
low freight rates would pay for working even
the foot and hanging walls carrying some
mineral The vein has been uncovered at diff
Ierent points for distance of about p 200 feet
ana on these claims, of which there are four
heystone. Cuttsark, Tonado and Cyclone-by
deep crosscuts. in some places ten or twelve
Ieet deep, for seven or eight hundred feet
showing here continuous vein and In the
bottom Of each cut showing about the same
class of mineral.
The improvements on the claims consist of
the crosscuts mentioned and double compart-
ment shaft down sixty feet and timbered 5xS
feet in the clear. The necessity for timbering
IS caused by the lime in the mineral causmg
dry taking from the walls. The shaft is dry
having no water but the sweating that is
found in most shafts.
The shaft was started at a distance of
about six feet from the vein on the hanging
wall side, and cut it at a depth of thirty-two
1eet' showing slope or dip Of a little more
than 10 deg. from vertical At denth Of
fifty feet there was nearly FIVE feet of ore
in the shaft, all heavily mineralized and car
ryfng good values in copper, silver and lead
Beside the shaft is built the blacksmith
shop. which Is we'll equipped with tools. and
IN which is installed the hoist used. from
which a half-inch cable passes over the der
rick over the shaft, while a track ard small
car is used to carry the bucket VIII lhoisted
to the edge Of the dump. the most Of which
would pay for shipment to the smelter
Near the blacksmith shop built in the
hillside, is the powderhouse. where there is the
minimum danger from either explosions or
freezing.
Almost a quarter Of mile north is whare
the cabins are located where they are con-
venient to both wood and water there being
a fine spring near them. There are now two
cabins 12x20 with projecting roofs one eight
and the other six feet in the clear both sup
Piled with doors and windows, that is real
doors and windows.
Half mile southwest on Deer creek are
two waterfalls, both of which have been To-
Gated by the company under water rights
These fails. with their rapids, have a fall of
between $50 and 200 feet, and carry a volume