The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-08-30
4 VISIT TO REPUBLIC.

We had occasion recently to spend
several days in Republic. The visit
was under circumstances far from
being conducive to chcerfulness, and
prevented us from getting around as
freely as we would like to have done
Hence we failed to meet some of our
old acquaintance. and were unable
to investigate the mining situation to
any extent Still at odd moments we
did look over the two cyanide mills
in operation, and run across a few old
friends and make number Of new
acquaintance.
Republic the shire town, and it can
be added the only town of any size
of Ferry county is typical mining
camp. and has passed through its days
of boom and depression common to
towns the responsibility of their life
or listlessness resting upon the sue
cess or failure of mining operations
The site, il such a word can be APP
piled to the awkward location OF the
town, is on hill sides, fills and cuts be-
ing necessary to prolOng the main, and
about the only, street in general use,
giving ragged appearance to the
place. but the striking beauty of the
surroundings makes amends for the
absence of any extensive level ground.
However location cuts no figure in
the building of a town backed by pro-
ducing mines, for there is no indus
try so stimulating to the growth of a
place as mines that support a pay roll
and are making money for the operat-
ors. The territory upon which ii is
built may be roughened by the hand of
nature, yet some day Republic is go
N n no hpiX aitV m mi N
eral is present in the surrounding
hills, and indications are that at last II
process has been introduced that viii
treat the lower grade ores at COM
Portable margin of profit.
Since the days when the first dis
covery OF mineral in the old Republic
mine created the rush that led to the
building up of the town we have oc-
casiOnally passed through Republic.
at irregular intervals. seeing ii when
on the crest of prosperity and in the
trough of adversely For a long time
the general route of travel in order to
get out of the northern part OF this
county was staging to Republic. there
to take train for Spokane. In its ear
lier days Republic WAS hot number
The same feverish rush. hustle. spec
ulative craze that has marked the be-
ginning of almost every new town in
the west where indications held ont
dazzling prospects OF rich marginal
profits on lot investments. But in Il
few years came darker days for Re
public. The system of treating ores,
or no system at all, queered mining
operations. the wild cater put cloud
on the camp, properties doomed as
coming ComStocks shut down. suckers
commenced fighting shy OF sto ks
many of which We're put on the mark
ct by INSCRIPTIONS individuals who
we're working the public instead OF the
claims, those who could get away
sought other fields, and Il blight was
over the land Many Of the old timers
hung on Some of them could not let
go, others doggedly remained, sus-
1ained by an abiding faith in the min
pral richness of the country, feeling
satisfied that eventually means would
be found to save the values, and when
that period arrived Republic would
take on new lease of life. and grow
substantially and permanently.
1t can hardly be said that the time
has arrived when the camp has Who'll
~ rejuvinated. but through the push
and enterprise of one of its citizens.
J. l.. Harper. a very favorable change
has been wrought which should lead
up to new and better order of things
in that burg. 1t is not necessary to go
infinitely into the history of Mr.. Ilar-
per's manipulations, sufficient it is to
say that as a result of his activities q
large cyanide treatment plant has
been constructed. is in steady opera
ton. and making a profit treating ore
averaging close on 81 per ton, and that
is something that has never been done
since the first discovery of ore in the
district. For what he has accom-