The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-31

had already pioneered their way from
California through Oregon, . stretch OF
wilderness as great as that lying between
Skagway and the Klondike, without the
advantages Of travel offered by the con-
tinuously navigable Yukon. They sought
and mined gold In country from which
they had to retreat every autumn over
hundreds Of miles Of rough trails. for
winter provender and refuge. The mo-
mont placer gulch betrayed signs Of ex-
haustion It was deserted. When the
pixies Peak or Bust!" tide Of immigra-
ton was flowing into Colorado the Cali
fornia overflow was following the toll
some course Of the upper Columbia
When Gregory. California. Tarryan. deor-
gia. Fairplay an1sNthar gulches OF tho
Centennial state were the scenes OF placer
activities which eventuated IN the up
building OF cities created from quarts
mining. the gold gulches Of the far North
west were mined by men who had no
other thought theA tpat Of making . sea-
sons cleanup and returning to the luxu-
ries of civilization. When Alder guich.
Montana, was at its best. two thousand
men were sluicing the pay streak OF RUBY
creek, Washington. The upper reaches OF
the Similkameen, Kettle river. Wenat-
chez. Yakima and Sheep creek we're
simultaneous producers with Silver Bow.
ON whose flank now rests the famous city
of Rutte. Washiugton and the Boundary
country enjoyed e3klt exploration. but the
successfui quarts mining had set In.
one Of the Notable FAILURES.
One Of them. okanogan Smith; nearly
thirty ,rs iE Or nnon m'n ns haS Ss
come widespread, discovered gold 9uartx
in the present Palmer mountain district
and made several locations. Wnen tne ~
claimed heavy compensation from the
government. and the goyernmeress. n ~ i e
abstract goodness offered him ESoV N
amount The government in its stolid
way thereupon exempted from the reser-
walton q fifteen-mile strip abutting on the
claims lay. It did not become known that
this area remained open to mineral loca-
ticn, and no additional locations we're
until the Moses reservation was thrown
open many years later.
ah .n SSsn- ' tSe cs yss Z o
fered no allurements to capital. because
Of the enormous investments required to
build roads and install mill plants OF
S Miliionairs HeaPst, Of = Homestakc and
Anaconda fame, was pilcted TO- the high
grade lead silver exposures In the SLOGAN
the overland trip between Koofenay lake
and Portland, he decided that # was im-
practicable to open these mines. now
proving TO be among the richest OF their
The first permanent. mining community
or winter rendezvous founded north of
Coiville, on the west bank Of Mil creek
and two miles north of the present seat
OF Stevens county. Here the hustle and
excitements Of the typical mining camp;
punctuated with tragedy prevailed until
sluice mining was no longer profitable on
the Upper Columbia Scarcely vestige
Of the village remains. On the opposite
since dismantled, was maintained for
many years.
Men I'm Front Of the Gums.
BY that romantic coincidence which 10
AZ the law Of gravity to mining, Stevens
county has been the scene or bordeEland "a
the boundary country. It Is the home to-
day of a number Of the Cariboo pioneers,
who discovered in its scenery, climate and
soil treasures of health and tranquil en-
toyments no alchemist could sublimats
from the gold they sought. As hospitable
ranchers, their tales and experiences slim
seekers and fostered a spirit OF adventure
and research that became a psychological
factor in the Developments OF recent
years. The biographical record Of discov-
cry Of every mineral district at the north
and on the reservation includes the name
of one or more Stevens county men.
On the huge mountain overloSkins COL
ever worked In the state, the Old Domin-
ion, which has yielded more than 81, 000. 000
Near the town was erected the first
smelter in the state a premature, extra
VACANT and ill-starred enterprise. of suf-
ficient endurance to inspire diversified
prospecting. This incident was 50 far.
the Bonanza, now a paying lead-silver
mine; the Young America and a hundred
other properties which did not realize
summer expeditions undertaken through
the wilder north. The Deep Creek and
Pend d'Oreille lead mines, the sulphides
# the the eop ssd "a
rich lodges Of wild Horse. Nelson, the
SLOGAN. the Lardeau and East Kootenay.
and, lastly. Of the reservation. were all
pioneered by Stevens county prospectors.
Introduction of the Golden Age.
Republic, which is among the youngest
camps in the state, is at present the larg-
est in population and the richest in ore
reserves. The end of the year finds many
leading mines make excellent showings
Every month the Republic has paid a
dividend, with an aggregate. net income
which is approaching the half million
= titles of pay ore. What 1t needs is rail-
road transportation and a milling process
that will save the gold values OF the
lie mill was a disappointment, although
the ore It treated was rich enough to en-
able the paying of regular dividends. de-
1t will be replaced by process especially
adapted by cyanide expert. Other mills
are on the way to the camp, and the ex-
pectation is that before another year the
camp will have custom and company mills
of total capacity of four or five hundred
tons>a day. With the successful operation
of a custom plant. where Individual pros
pectors and struggling companies may
sell ore and receive cash for their product.
from day to day the Republic camp will
take high, rank as gold producer. On
the other hand. assurances are made that
Republic will be tapped by a railroad be-
fore next fall
The activities and developments through
out the Colville reservation are such that
Mr. Hill is almost certain to construct a
i,r Inc hat trtiIl far hnfb