The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-14

TIT does not seem to be appreciated by
the enterprising men Of the city that
the nascent mining camps of the West
Cascades offer exceptional induce
ments for small investments. Prof. KIM
ball. whose scientific knowledge and East
ern friendships counted so much in the
fight made by the state for title to the
Tacoma school section. located by con-
niving contestants as placer. was At the
time engaged on a geological survey OF the
Cascade mountains in Washington. wheth-
er true or not. the superstition was that
the Rothschilds had employed him for tho
purpose of secretly determining the gold
bearing possibilities OF q range of noun
tains. OF the formation Of which little was
then known. 1t is notable. as a coinci-
dence. that his survey began at a time
when the American government was pre-
pairing to throw the Sherman silver clause
overheard.
When Prof. Kimball had completed his
geographic and geological scouting he gave
1t as his opinion that the Cascade range
north OF what Is known as the Wenatchee
break would In course OF time develop
great gold. silver and copper mining
camps. He characterized the formation
north Of the break as essentially gold
bearing.
Since Prof Klmball finished his work
enough discoveries and developments have
been made to justify his prediction. The
Twisp. the Methow. SmiIknmeen. Blewett.
Slate Creek. Index. Monte Cristo. Mt. Baker
and dozen other as yet struggling camps
attest the correctness Of his conclusions.
and warrant the belief that the Cascades
in Washington will prove enc Of the great
est mineral ranges in the United States.
Perils Of the Corseades.
The backwardness Of development Is east
~ accounted for. as witness the ruinous
and discouragfng washout OF the Everett
and Monte Cristo railroad. Save. perhaps.
the Olympics, the West Cascades In places
are the least accessible mountains on the
continent Their asperities are not less
severe than the Alps. for they rise abrupt
~, almost from sea level to glacial crowns
and insurmountahie needle points. Their
approach Is through dense forests ana over
q soil that turns to muck with every driz-
xle OF rain. and that In a rainy country.
Only the most intrepid prospectcrs. have
dared to scout the higher attitudes. and
only few OF the most daring investors
have followed in their wake.
1t Is remarkable fact that with the
exception of the operators OF the Monte
Cristo syndicate most Of the satisfactory
development up TO date Is the result OF
individual confidence and individual en-
terprise. That is 10 say the modern min
tive in bringing British Columbia out Of
fits letharsic sleep and Is giving II fame
and standing even In Europe. has not as
yet taken advantage OF the opportunities
OF the West Cascades.
To the West Cascades, Seattle Is in To-
cality what Spokane is to Rossland. Slo-
can and Boundary. The drawback is that
Seattle has been deficient In that spirit
which has enriched Spokane and made OF
II the young Denver or Salt Lake OF the
Northwest. II Is all very well 20 dread
wildcat mining companies. and to extin-
Ruish them "a quickly as possible, bat the
organization of n mining company for the
purpose of uttering stock and thus secur-
ing working capital is one of the legiti-
mate means and. In fact, the readiest pro-
cess often In determining the value OF 3
prospect.
II Is Instructive to review some OF the
Spokane stocks. once Stunned as the veri-
est wildcat. The attorney who drew the
Incorporation papers Of the Cariboo had
TO be paid in stock. The company started
wholly on paper. Seven. eight ana ten
cents were considered good prices FOR
shares at the outset. and for quite a long
spell sfterward. Just the same. and out
of its treasury shares. the Cartboo was
developed into mine by Geo McAuiey
until II has paid dividends regularly for
four years. made him a millionaire and
several other persons well OF With the
Increase Of It's plant and the purchase of
adjoining claims. its capital stock has
been increased from $soo1a TO uEa do
Dividends are paid monthly. and shares
now sell from SIS 20 NN Moreover the
eontroi OF the property has passed from
Spokane To Toronto.
Spokane Spirit Needed.
Another case in point is that OF the lie
goi Ia develop which the company dis
posed Of It's treasury shares al and
cents When the company was organized
In spokane by Number Of daring men.
who had 10 experience In mining whatever
every expert and practical mining man Of
standing who had examined The prospect
or tested the erra,ic sulphi3e ores taken
out Of the cid water shaft condemned the
property The Republic and ether proper
ties In that camp. and many producing
mines I'm Rossland and tse Slocan4 row
controlled in Toronto, Montreal and Lon
don. oNs their development 20 the spo-
kane spirit which consists largely Of a
Belief that mining. though legitimate IN the
mature stage. is "a good deal Of lottery
primarily.
What Seattle needs Is an infusion Of this
spirit TIE city IS the natural mart for
the West Cascade mines Ii aas q govern
msui aasay office. II has facilities for
smelling
IL ~ sNStSff As&r t41AE dftA ~s22NAas WHITLEY
the desire 81 the most substantial citizens
20 lock into ths subject ~ mining In she
Cascades. with view 20 giving their tn
cerporated names ard credff 90 the devss-
op-aeEi Of this xrsa, region A thousand
ara ere dormant prospects tn the gid
crppa- belt a. Seastie's hack focr 70 h-e
had for considerations uaach more rea-
sarasle .han these obtaining ia Eastern
Washington or British Columbia, srsfts
their tnteres, ana investment anss a.
time when Eastern ard English CAPITAL IL
again seeking the mining Se'd Seattle