The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-10

According to j. b. Croker Of Everett.
who is John -. Rockefeller's personal
representative I'm the state OF Washing
ton. the Everett &, Monte Crlsto railroad
VIII be rebuilt 10 the Monte Cristo mines
by June ! ana Immediately thereafter the
Pride and Mystery mines, owned BIZ MI
Rockefeller Will be again put In opera
ton, employing about 500 men.
In November, 1897. a food coming down
the valley Of the Stillaguamish river, car
rled away several miles Of the roadbed
OF the Everett & Monte Cristo railroad.
Work at Monte Cristo in the Rockefeller
mines was abandoned and nearly 500 min
ers and employees in the concentration OPP
Grated by Mr.. Rockefeller, were thrown
out OF employment. At that time, Mr..
Rockefeller. through his agents In New
York announced that the mines owned
By him would not be operated again and
that the road would never be rebuilt.
This statement was received with In
credulity by mining men familiar with
the resources OF the Monte Cristo dis
trict The effect Of Mr.. Rockefeller's
statement. however was to discourage
prospectors and mining men from further
operations IN that particular section Of
the Cascade range.
II Is for this reason and for the fur
Their reason that a cloud was thrown on
the Monte Cristo district by Mr. Rookie
feler's action that the announcement Of
his intention TO work the Pride and Mys-
terry mines at this time Is important
Mining men have never been able to OBJ
tain any figures from Mr.. Rockefeller's
agents regarding the value OF the ore
obtained from these mines or the cost Of
mining It. The impression grew. after the
disastrous food of 1891. that Mr.. Rookie
felier had found mining In the Monte
Cristo Improbable.
Mr.. Croker declared last night at the
al haf t.saT fRffa
pieted to Monte Cristo about June /. 1t
now appears that the contract between
the Forty-Five Consolidated Mining Com
pany and the Everett smelter, owned by
Mr. Rockefeller. which was supposed to
be the main cause OF the rebuilding Of
the road. Is n mere incident in the propo-
Hition and that the reopening OF the
Rockefeller mines in the Monte Crlsto
district Is the main thing
According 10 Mr.. Crsoker, Mr.. Rookie
Teller does not propose to take any
chances with his construction work this
time. Through tunnel No. 6, where the
greatest damage occurred. the rails are to
be ifnbedded IN concrete rare thing in
Western railroad building Through this
tunnel In November 1897. the Siillagua-
msh river poured with the velocity and
power of a cioudburst.
The river had been swollen to enormous
sire by the rains II burst its banks and
GAfflHu everything pfiOfN u. IN Soma
places the steel rails of the road were
warped and twisted like fine wire In the
hands OF a strong man, The three fourths
of mile OF track through the tunnel was
utterly destroyed.
In the construction work now In prog
ress. according 10 Mr.. Crooker. the rails
win be laid In concrete on solid rock
foundation Then, no matter what hap
pens. IL will he impossible TO wash the
track away. In places along the canyon
of the river, where the line was formerly
close 10 the edge of the river. 1t win be
raised TO a safe elevation or else protected
by rock work and wing dams.
The cost OF the work now In progress
win not Il Is believed. be less than $50, eco,
while II may run much higher.
Mining men who have interests IN the
Monte Cristo and adjacent districts will
be interested In knowing that Mr. Rookie
Teller Intends soon TO resume operations
IN the Pride and Mystery mines These
mines have been DEVELOPED TO a depth OF
approximately boo0 feet Some OF Mr..
Hoekefeliers friends have claimed that
the mlnes ana not pay. In the opinion OF
mining men the fact that he has decided
10 operate them Is the surest proof that
they are rich and can be worked at a
profit.