The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-10-10
IPRODUC|HC GOLD MINE
Alter Many Years Okanogan
County Has a Mine That
Is Making Good
LOCATED VERY NEAR OR0v|LLE
The Success of This Property Will
Revive Interest In Mining
In the North Country

In company with Chas. Kolb, of
popd du Lac, Wis, who takes a lively
interest In mining in this county,
where he has had some experience in
that elusive and delusive game not
altogether conducive to happiness, and
niloted by c. W. Smith, a member of
the company, reporter visited the
0wasco mine Saturday, and saw about
all there is to be seen above ground
and under ground. and there is good
deal to see at the Owasco, especially
ID the complicated excavations be-
ingly interesting visit, and what was
to be seen gave the impression to the
visitors that the Owasco is a mine if
there is such a thing as mine in and
among the hills of this north country.
The group of claims constituting
the Owasco holdings is located about
two miles and half west of Oroville,
almost within sight of the town. The
boundaries extend from the Similka-
meen river back we'll into the hills to
the north. There is a ten stamp mill
operated by electricity on the prop
erty, situated directly on the bank and
above the river, the tailings running
into the stream. In numerous places
on the claims there are outputs of
quartz, cutting through a lime forma-
ton. Besides the mill are an assay
Office boarding house, bunk house and
other necessary structures common to
an operating mine. The surface
where the mine is located is exceed
iDgly rough and broken, and the en-
tire ensemble is common place and
unattractive.
However, it is the underground
workings, and what is exposed in
those workings, that are more parti-
eularly interesting to the visitor, for
It Is what the visitor especially goes
there to see. In the case of the
0wasco in the underground workings
exist indisputable evidence of mine
among the ramification of tunnels,
drifts, cross-cuts, upraises and stops
that form an irregular network of
openings, and among which a stranger
to the system might easily become lost
and in cropping around to find an out
let be surprised by sliding down into
the bowels of the earth an uncertain
distance through one of the several
gaping shoots that form connection
with the different levels. All of this
extensive excavation, for there are
SooO feet of it, some of it seemingly
almost aimless, has been done by the
SLOW process of hard drilling, and
mat system is still in vogue. 1t is
true the formation is soft, and gives
freely to the rending power of powder,
yet 1t requires time, and much Of it,, to
bore holes of large dimensions in rock,
let the rock be ever so soft, that meas
nre several thousand feet in length in
the aggregate. But this work of pros
pecting has extended over great
many years. There have been long
periods during which the mine has
oeen idle, yet other long periods when
large force has blasted away be-
heath the hills. and in numerous di-
fectons after getting under the hills.
NO one tunnel is in any great distance,
out 1laring out from each tunnel are
urlfts and cross-cuts, with wines un-
uer loot and uprises over head. In
ohe place large opening extends to
'ne surface, where a long stretch of
'ne ledge has been removed, leaving
all ugly gap across the surface. These
.ohnectlng shafts leading down to the
'ower workings are of great advantage
:" the mine. They provide excellent
sehtiiation, and every part of the mine
" SO well provided with fresh air that
'y 10 tAptIieHCcu lIOIil ioui
"r or powder smoke. AS the Owasco
people found it when the property
came into their possession the mine
was In good shape in the main to
.oatnue development. Some timbers
.ad to be replaced but such caves as
aad occurred during long season
VI neglect were not extensive, and
we're easily remedied.
owing to the location of the work
'nss on the bank of the river no great
uepth has as yet been gained even on
.'e lower levels. The elevation OF
'ie land gradually raises from the
."er' and as the tunnels are driven
- uepth is steadily gained, so that at
'ne north limits of the claims a per-
,0nuicular depth of several hundred
''e' Will be gained. Under the guild