The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-14

The future of mining in Washington
PROMISES to be clearly foreshad-
owed this year, according TO c /. hus-
sell. one of the Oldest miners in the state,
whose home is In Spokane. Mr.. Russell
Is at the Northern, and within ten days
expects TO start for the Ketchikan district,
where he owns an interest in nineteen
prospects that he expects to develop TINS
year
In his twenty-six years experience In
r-ining in several Western states he says
he has never found a district outside OF
Alaska that promises better results than
the state OF Washington and the country
tributary to II across the international
boundary. This year. he says, there Will
be more modern machinery introduced 10
develop properties than ever before. and
the output will therefore be largely In
creased
my home is in Spokane" began the
colonel as he looked UP from some mining
papers he was looking over at the North
ern. ut is twenty-siz years since I first
undertook mining. and lately | have been
interested in many properties north OF
Spokane. in the Colville Indian reserva-
ton, the Boundary creek country and the
SLOGAN district. While l have not had
much to do with mining in this state west
of the mountains from mining men with
whom l have talked / understand thar
greater energy and capital are to be ex-
pended this year than ever before. and
that the output for this season will be the
greatest in the history Of the state. Min
ing men are beginning to take an in
terest in Washington properties. and al
though not much Is being said as about
other districts, the results will tell
81 know more about Eastern Washing
ton camps than any others. probably. At
Republic there Is much work being done:
Many new mills are being put up and
in the development of properties much
money IL being expended. There has been
a larger amount of mining machinery put
in motion there within the past few
months than ever before in similar
period. All the companies are looking for
ward to good returns for the season. and
I think they viii be fully realized.
"ln the Boundary creek district they are
going ahead very rapidly. The ore there
is largely copper, In large bodies and low
grade. They are working the properties
as best they can. but owing to the eight
hour labor law passed in British Column
bia the output will be greatly lessened.
Many Of the mines have been forced to
close down. In other places where. prior
to the passage OF that bill, they were
working 200 men, only seventy are now
on duty. The passage OF that law has
not only been a detriment 20 British Co
lumbla, but also to Spokane. Puget sound
and Colorado. II was the custom to send
these ores over the Spokane & Northern
railway to Colorado. Tacoma. Everett and
other local smelters. Now Il cannot be
done. and consequently the product has
had to be curtailed and treated at home.
Spokane feels the loss, as all these ores
passed through that city.
1.-The S.ocan district is also doing well.
under the circumstances, but the repeal Of
the eight-hour law will have the effect OF
causing a boom in British Columbia min
ing properties that will he largely felt in
this section OF Washington.
ION the whole, I may say that mining
on the Coast Is looking very bright. There
is a large increase In paying properties.
and this condition Will continue to i'm
prove from year TO year.
Two years ago. with others. became
interested In nineteen quarts properties in
Southeastern Alaska. They are in the
Ketchikan district, and VIC have every
hope that they will turn out well. AS yet
we have only surface showing but this
year we will open them up. I am firmly
convinced that there Is wonderful quartz
mining couptry in Southeastern Alaska.
Should this prove to be true, we have the
advantage of transportation at our door.
which Is a valuable and almost indispensa-
Bile acquisition TO any mining camp"