The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-30
NEWS AND GOSSIP Of THE MINING WORLD.

close Of this year and on the edge OF the
new century
Successful operations. profits and divs-
dends. rather than volumes filed with IN
corporation briefs render mining attrac-
tive 10 men who know how 20 make mines
and who have neither the time nor inciina-
ton TO try to sell by invisible fractions
something they know nothing about.
Since the days when the wandering
Argonauts pased up the Columbia to lis
headwater diggings, mining Of some char
acter has been carried on Within the
boundaries Of the state. After the period
Of quartz mining began In Idaho, WASH
ington became the scene Of prospecting
activities. In a few Instances snriging
mining communities grew up. Fer quite
a while Okanogan county was Mecca for
gold quartz seekers Stevens county was
expected 20 become great silver producer
Twenty years ago high grade minerals
were discovered Tn the Cascades.
Yet how few the dividend payers In all
that time. Stevens county developed one
the Old Dominion, which Is now exhausted.
At least it's ore shoots are lost, ana the
many Thousands Of dollars expended By
Chicago capitalists on report upon which
Clarence King almost staked his reputa-
tion. have not sufficed To ind new ore
bodies or the extension OF old ones. The
Black Bear and War Eagle property in
OkanogaH paid. and then tie up In the
courts ensued. Under careful management
the Culver-Bewett mines OF Pashastin
paid. and then collapsed for want Of pru-
dent handling The Monte cristo Is said
TO have paid few dividends before Il
closed In consequence OF the railroad
washout AS present dividend payers
there are the Republic on the Colsii O
Indian reservation; in a small way the
Crystal Butte. on Meyers creek. and the
modest little Bonanza lead-siiyer mine in
Stevens county.
No one liz more familiar with this record
than the practical mining men OF the coun-
try, and the large investors whose assist
anee In dese2oping the mining resources
of the state Ii especially desired. The sue
cess Of the Republic. and the showing in
the other mines Of that camp. which are
about TO become producers. have contribut-
ed more TO the present confidence IN the
outcome Of the mining industry In Wash
ington than all the other causes combin-
ed. One dividend stimulates minin~ enter
prise and investment more than ten thou
sand prospectuses.
Now wher mining is about 10 assume the
proportions OF legitimate business and
when the old corporars guard OF practical
operators has been reinforced by many Of
the cleyeresr and most experienced men
In the country, II Is time 10 establish
skfrmish lines against the cheap and
srindilng concerns that are organized TO
make money out Of stocks and not out OF
mines Next year the state should possess
strong list OF dividend payers. Republic
camp. Meyers creek and the south half
OF the reservation will have several: as
viii Palmer mountain. and the Methow In
Okanogan county. Peshastin district ts
recrudescent: Slate creek Is an established
telluride district. and Camp creek I'm Gle
Etum district is a certain gold producer.
The Baker district god hodges will be
fairly tested with stamps. and unless cop
per goes 70 smash. which Is unlikely the
Goat creek. Siiverton. Index and Miller
river districts. all should reach milling re-
suits a. this stage Of the development,
OF the mineral resources Of the state II
may be- well 10 initiate the example o.
Gov Murphy, Of Arizona. and warn In
vestors to be extremely cautious and to in
vestigate with -miscroscopIcal eye before
buying mining stocks