Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 74

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 74
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 74
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 74
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 74

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The Black Tail mine has developed a fine vein, with splendid croppings its entire length, three or four lateral veins, and about 400 feet of the Surprise vein. The croppings have been opened with cuts, pits and shafts, showing valuable ore in every direction. The Black Tail longitudinal and lateral veins have been opened by a main cross-cut tunnel, over 600 feet in length, penetrating the hill from the west, at about 30 feet above the bed of Eureka gulch. Over 200 tons of ore were shipped to the Republic Power and Cyaniding . Mill, the returns showing an average value of over $20 per ton. The part of the Surprise vein situated on this property has been opened by stripping and sinking shafts on it, one of the latter to a depth of 45 feet. The ore from the latter averaged $28 per ton. Single assays from the shafts and vein croppings ran from $200 to $300 per ton. The ore shoots in the mine are from three to ten feet wide and several deposits have yielded ore averag- ing from $40 to $70 per ton.

The Lone Pine-Surprise is a group of four claims, of which the Lone Pine has fine gold-bearing veins, apexing within its boundaries. The No. I tunnel inter- sects four of them, giving assay values of from $3 to $8 per ton. No. 2 is from four to 16 feet wide. The ore on No. 3 vein runs from $7 to $8 per ton. The No. 4 is from five to six feet wide, with assay values running from $10 to $250 per ton, and averaging $18 per ton, prin- cipally in gold. Development work on the Surprise consists of tunnels. shafts and open cuts, aggregating

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

about 1,100 linear feet. Some high values were obtained on the surface. A tunnel was run 160 feet, intersecting the vein at a vertical depth of 50 feet below outcrop. Drifts have been run in the vein north 160 feet and south 260 feet. The vein shows a width of from 8 to 15 feet. In the north drift values are low. In the south drift stringers and bunches of $20 to $30 ore were encount- ered. Near the south end of the claim a shaft is sunk 35 feet on the vein. The first 25 feet shows 31/2 feet in width of $25 ore, the remaining 10 feet and a drift 16 feet long from the bottom of the shaft being in low grade quartz. A tunnel was started at a point south of the shaft giving 110 feet depth below collar of shaft. At a point 80 feet from its portal a tunnel intersects the vein. A drift extended north in.the vein to a point be- neath the shaft is in low grade quartz, assaying from $2 to $6 per ton. The Quilp mine, belonging to the Quilp Mining Company is located on this vein, and adjoins the Surprise on the south.

On the Lone Pine property work is done in the na- ture of tunnels, shafts, raises, cross-cuts and drifts, aggregating approximately 2,500 linear feet, disclosing the Black Tail vein and four cross-veins, so-called, as the general trend of the veins in this district have a northerly and southerly course; whereas these cross- veins bear approximately at right angles to the north and south system. The No. I, or upper tunnel, is started near the center of the Lone Pine claim and about 320 feet north of the south end line.

The Sans Poil is remarkable for the cleanest fissure and truest walls of any mine in the district. Its crop- pings, distinct, well defined and observable, about 1,700 feet in length, have been prospected at intervals of 50 feet from end to end of the company's ground. A shaft was sunk on a fine pay shoot, 128 feet deep, and a tun- nel connects with it. A winze goes below the latter 70 feet to the intermediate level on which some of the ore developed assayed over $300 a ton. The highest assay of the ore runs $400 and the average $15 to $17 per ton.

The North Sans Poil mine occupies 260 feet on the vein between the Sans Poil and Ben Hur mines. The ore from top to bottom of the shaft averages $13.50 per ton. From 20 to 50 feet above the bottom of the shaft the ore runs from $30 to $40 per ton. At the bottom clear quartz six feet wide assays $16.50 per ton. About fifty feet below the surface an ore streak runs as high as $300, and shows native gold to the naked eye. This ore carries but little silver.

The Ben Hur, situated on the Sans Poil vein, be- tween the North Sans Poil and Trade Dollar mines, cov- ers a fine quartz cropping developed by several cuts from six to twenty feet wide, with values generally ranging from $6 to $15 per ton, and samples occasionally as high as $130. The Ben Hur has a vertical double compart- ment shaft second to none in the camp. About 500 tons of ore raised out of the shaft, from exploratory work, and the little stoping done, was shipped to the Republic Power and Cyaniding mill, the sampling of which

showed average commercial values of $22.50 and $20 per ton, over haulage and treatment. The Ben Hur can produce over 25 tons of ore daily.

The vein on the Trade Dollar mine was struck by a tunnel sixty feet in length at a depth of 34 feet, and short drifts on this level disclosed a body of ore ten feet wide that averages $20 per ton, and was further ex- plored by a winze, sunk to a depth of 40 feet. A double compartment shaft, eighty feet north of the old work- ings, was sunk two hundred and fifteen feet. Drifts were driven northerly 127 feet and southerly 117 feet on the vein, disclosing two pay shoots, the former 75 feet long, two and one-half to four feet wide, with 50 linear feet of ore 30 inches wide, assaying $107 and the balance about $14 per ton. A picked sample ran $3,120.92 This drift was started from a cross-cut 40 feet distant from the shaft. The south drift exposes the pay shoot from six to twelve feet wide, which, for 50 feet, has an average value of $15; the balance assays from $6 to $12 per ton. The Trade Dollar is on the Sans Poil vein and adjoins the Ben Hur on the North.

The Little Cove mine is situated north of the Lone Tree-Surprise group, on the Pearl-Surprise vein, and adjoins the Pearl claim on the north. It is opened by a shaft 200 feet deep, from the bottom of which a drift runs north to the vein 300 feet. The vein is from ten to twelve feet wide, and the drift has developed a long pay shoot of ore that averages about $11 or $12 per ton.

Knob Hill mine is opened by a shaft and two tunnels, one two hundred feet in length, and one four hundred feet long. Depth of lowest workings, 250 feet below the apex of the vein. Several hundred of tons of ore have been sent to smelters, the average value of which was a little over $18 per ton. The average width of the ledge is five feet. There is one large pay shoot in the mine which averages $30 per ton-car load lots.

The Mountain Lion has enjoyed the distinction of being one of the most valuable mines, and now for the quantity and value of ore blocked out and broken under- ground and on the dump, it stands as the leading one of the district. Upon the surface it shows the croppings of three distant parallel veins and underground a great tonnage of ore has been developed. The mine is opened by over 6,000 feet of tunneling, shafts and other auxil- iary workings. The main ore shoot has been determined more than six hundred feet in length and sixteen feet wide, and it evidently goes from the surface to below the lowest level. The average value of the ore is $11.25 per ton, or rather that was the value when treated at the company's mill. The main working shaft is equipped with a very substantial house, which covers a 75-horse- power motor, arranged to operate a fine Fraser & Chal- mer hoist and Blake rock breaker. A fine power plant, mill equipments, electrical machinery and machine shop are all enclosed in one building. The power plant, originally intended for both the mine and mill, consists of three steel tubular boilers, the first half of a Rand air compressor, an Ide high speed engine, for driving

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

an electric plant, and a Bates-Corliss engine. The com- pany has a fine assay office and laboratory elaborately equipped for any metallurgical work demanded of it in connection with the mine and mill.

Added to considerable prospecting on the croppings, the Tom Thumb, one of the leading mines of the camp, has been opened by three vertical shafts and exploited by drifts, cross-cuts, upraises, etc., amounting to more than 1,600 linear feet. From the surface down to the No. 3 level the ore shoot has an average width of nine feet; the depth following the main dip of the vein is 242 feet. The ore averages from $14 to $18 a ton if carefully broken and taken out of the mine clean. Four- teen tons of ore sent from the Tom Thumb mine to the Granby smelter at Grand Forks, assayed over $25 per ton, proportioned in one ounce of gold to six or eight ounces of silver. The equipments of the No. 3 shaft consist of a 100-horse-power boiler, an eight-drill Lyner air compressor, a 45-horse-power hoisting engine, a 600-candle power electric light plant, and well equipped blacksmith shop, all substantially housed. The No. 2 shaft is equipped with a horse whim and pump for drainage, which are also well housed.

The discovery of native gold at the surface on the Morning Glory mine created such excitement in 1898 that every foot of vacant ground near it was immediately snapped up by locaters. The Morning Glory was in- corporated as late as November, 1898, since when its vigorous management has spoken volumes for the com- pany. The company received $35,654 for 55 tons of ore shipped to the Granby smelter at Grand Forks, B. C. Ore on the dump will average $26.25 per ton. The im- provements and equipments consist of a blacksmith shop and ore assorting house, a 22-horse-power gasoline hoist, a two and one-half horse-power gasoline engine, a blower and Cornish pump good for a depth of 500 feet below the tunnel.

Of the Morning Glory, on August 15, 1903, The Mining World says :

The Morning Glory property having the elements of permanency, lying directly west of the Quilp, has been developed by tunnel and shaft to over 800 feet depth. A shaft is now being sunk from the tunnel level, and has reached a depth of 260 feet, to be continued to the 300 foot level before the ledge will be cross-cut Four thousand tons constitute the monthly amount the smelters can conveniently handle in the Republic mines, but their producing capacity in their present development stage is 500 tons daily, very easily advanced to 1,000 tons if necessity required it.

The first work done on the El Caliph mine, which adjoins the Morning Glory at end lines, consisted in stripping a six-inch vein, near where it passes through the northwest end of the latter mine. High grade ore showing freely in native gold was found. A shaft was

then sunk sixty feet on the vein, and a tunnel started the same time, was driven 340 feet, intersecting the vein in a barren spot, 178 feet below the cropping and pass- ing 30 feet beyond it. In April, 1901, lessees drove an upper tunnel thirty feet, struck and ran sixty feet on a pay shoot, and extracted the ore thirty-five feet to the surface. This ore, amounting to eighty-three tons, was shipped to the Granby smelter at Grand Forks, and gave average returns of $125 per ton, with a net profit to the company of over $1,400.

The Gold Ledge mine, three miles east of Republic Camp, has one of the finest ledges in the district. It crops out boldly and massive at the north end, in clean quartz forty feet wide; and south of the main shaft pits have been sunk that expose ore of $6 to $16 value per ton. Samples of ore from the underground workings ran from a dollar or two to $1,084 per ton, chiefly in gold, and one streak, eighteen inches wide, ran $204 per ton. The mine was opened by three shafts, the main one being 110 feet deep. At the end of the southwest drift, 156 feet from the shaft, is a cross-cut 20 feet long, from which a drift runs north 50 feet, all in milling ore of $II per ton value, but there is no sign of the hanging wall in either.

To a younger group of mines belongs the Califor- nia. It first attracted attention in the summer of 1900, being bonded at that time for $5,000. The bond was thrown up and shortly after the claim was purchased by E. J. Delbridge, for the Apollo Gold Mining Company of New Haven, Connecticut. Development work was pro- ceeded with in a most systematic manner from that day to this, resulting in opening up one of the most valuable mines in the camp. The ore averages much richer than the general run of mines around Republic, and is a hard, white, crystalline quartz, carrying gold, silver, copper and lead. The California is located about nine miles southeast of the city. In the matter of ore pro- duction the California has a truly remarkable record. There is only one small stope in the property, but the course of development there has taken large quantities of the richest ore, which was shipped by wagon, and the lower grades saved for railroads. The California has the distinction of being the first Republic property to ship ore over the Kettle Valley lines. Three carloads amounting to about 105 tons were sent to Curlew by wagon, and thence by rail to the Granby smelter. This shipment sampled about $10,000. Over $100,000 worth of ore has been shipped since. The Apollo company is a New Haven, Conn., concern, and is one of the strongest in Republic Camp. It owns 18 claims in the California district and three near the city of Republic, and close to promising properties.

Commenting on the California The Mining World of August 15, 1903, says :

Ten miles southeasterly from Republic is the Cali- fornia, a shipper for four years. After paying smelter

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

and transportation charges the yield from 1,300 tons of ore was $70.238. or $54 to the ton. Nine hundred and seventy-five tons second class ore yielded $4.586. The ore is galena and chalcopyrite, carrying zinc. The prin- cipal value is gold. There are sixteen promising veins in the Apollo group, of which the California is the only one that is developed.

In describing the preceding mines it has been the aim to present an account of the development of the district accurately and completely, so that the reader may judge for himself the possibilities of the camp as a producer of ore. Delevopment has preceeded here since 1896, and up to 1902 a grand total of $2,500,000 had been expended in developing the fine surface show- ings. In 1900 representatives of the Great Northern railway examined the camp thoroughly, and their re- ports in substance were that there was an abundance of ore, and since that time every possible route for a rail- road has been examined to discover the route offering the most favorable grade. The opinions of the railway experts, and the fact that the Great Northern and Kettle Valley railway lines are backing these opinions with over $2,00,000 necessary to build the roads now entering the district substantiate the statements in these pages of the . quality and quantity of the ores of the camp. ' It is well to bear in mind that other mines and perhaps greater ones are being developed while the big ones are shipping.

The preceding paragraph was written by Mr. Barker in 1902. Since the publication both the Great Northern and Kettle Valley railway lines have reached the camp, and the companies are running trains daily. The trans- portation facilities are ample at present. There are five smelters in the immediate vicinity of Republic Camp, which are in the market for Republic ore: the Granby smelter, Grand Forks, B. C .; Greenwood smelter, Green- wood, B. C .; the Le Roi smeiter, Northport, Washington; the Canadian Pacific smelting works, at Trail, B. C .; and the Hall mines smelter, at Nelson, B. C. These works have a total combined capacity of 3.000 tons per day, and are amply able to handle all the ore pro- duced in the district. They all lie within a 100-mile radius of Republic Camp, and are all competitors for ore.

There are a number of camps in the region of which Republic is the center that are de- stined to became valuable producers in the future. Some of these which are tributary to

Republic are the Sheridan, Bodie, Belcher, Wauconda and Wolf's camps, on the "North Half," and Park City and Davis camps on the "South Half." As a rule the managers of these camps make their residence in Republic, and here supplies and labor are contracted for.

Twelve miles west of Republic, is located Wauconda camp. Properties have, also, been developed in this camp by the Republic Gold Mines and Lime Works Company. Fourteen miles northwest of Republic, is Sheridan camp, and in this neighborhood considerable develop- ment work has been accomplished. One of the most prominent mines in the camp is the Zala M., very rich ore, having been encountered in the workings. A . fine showing has, also, been made by the American Flag.

On the Republic-Chesaw wagon road, twenty-four miles northwest of Republic, is Bodie camp, in Okanogan county, the principal property being the Bodie mine. Shipments made to the Granby smelter, Grand Forks, B. C., showed values of $500 per ton. The Golden Reward group of claims was operated by a company of Spokane men, the mine being under the management of R. E. Willoughby. An assay of $97 was obtained from an open cut.

A group of eleven patented claims, owned by Harry Baer, of Spokane, lies ten miles north of Republic Camp. They are in what is known as Wolf's Camp. Baer's properties, known as the Frankfurt group, were among the first to be worked on the reservation, in- volving the expenditure of many thousands of dollars. Values ranged upwards of $8 per ton.

The Belcher mine, on Lambert creek, is developed by three tunnels from 200 to 500 feet in length. The lowest cuts the ledge 250 feet below the apex. Where the vein is crossed in No. 2 tunnel the ledge is 80 feet wide-solid metal. The largest body of solid ore known to exist in the state of Washington. It carries high per centage of iron. The other values are in copper and gold. The mine will be shortly

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

equipped with an air drill compressor plant. The Belcher promises to become a great factor in the development of the mines of this region as its product is just what is needed to mix with the ores of Republic camp to make an ideal smelting ore. With a smelter near the foot of Curlew Lake the product of the two camps can be treated at a very moderate cost as it would be within the reach of the ores of bothi camps. It would be reached by the lines of two railroads which prac- tically reach every mine in Republic camp.

The Hawkeye mine, which lies near the Belcher, is developed by a shaft 240 feet in depth and with diamond drills to a depth of over 400 feet. The ledge is upwards of 100 feet in width and carries ores similar to those found in the Belcher mine. It is equipped with a fine gasoline hoist. It gives promise of be- coming one of the great mines of this region.

There are a number of camps on the "South Half" directly tributary to Republic, and in Republic the greater portion of the business connected with these mines is transacted. Twenty-six miles south of Republic is the Davis Camp, of which the Park & Central mine has a small ledge rich in native silver. Another silver-lead property is the Harvest, with an excellent showing. The Ramore property is situated wo miles from the Park & Central managed by a Montana company. The Moun- tain Boy claim, in Park City camp, was worked by A. S. Soule and Richard Purcell. They have opened a ledge that promises to become a producer of no mean proportions. From this new find an assay of $227 in gold, silver, cop- per and lead was obtained, and a general sample taken with a view of determining the value of the entire ledge returned over $30. Doubtless sorted ore could be obtained running over $100.

Hundreds of claims on Bridge Creek, Iron Creek, Keller and on the Nespelim are owned by Republic people. In time they are destined

to add much to the wealth and prosperity of Ferry county and Republic Camp.

The Republic Gold Mining & Milling Com- pany was the first to declare a dividend on Fer- ry county mines. A dividend of three cents a share, or $30,000 was declared payable October 10, 1898. A year and one-half previously stock in this company was selling at ten cents a share, but the development of the mine was very rapid since that date.

It would be a serious omission were we to close this chapter on the mining properties of the Eureka District without reference to George W. Runnels, of Camp Keller, Wash- ington, or "Tenas George," as he is generally recognized throughout Eastern Washington and British Columbia. He is a native of the state of Maine, and was a sailor in early life, and in following this vocation landed on the Pacific coast forty-three years ago. Drifting into the mining country he participated in all the famous stampedes, and invariably man- aged to secure some of the best properties. He has taken out $300 daily from placer claims, and if he now had only a part of the dust he has unearthed he would not be troubled con- cerning finances during the remainder of his days. "Tenas George" is a typical miner and frontiersman, and his generosity and kind- ness so predominates over his rugged and ad- venturous nature that he has spent his money with a lavish hand. Any case, of hard luck, or want, coming to his knowledge impelled him naturally to share his store with the less for- tunate of his fellow creatures. He is a man of indomitable energy and enterprise, and for many years operated pack trains and trading posts throughout the Indian country.

Revered and respected is "Tenas George" among the Indians and not without good rea- son. One of his earliest experiences with na- tives was a fierce duel with knives in which a lusty young buck of the Sans Poil tribe was the aggressor. This Indian still lives in the

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

Sans Poil valley, and carries long scars on his body in testimony of the prowess of the young "Boston man." The character of this sketch ap- pears to have borne a charmed life. On sev- eral occasions he has faced other . desperate. men in mortal combat with pistol or gun, and in every case his antagonist came out second best. It is said that two of his assailants fell in their tracks, being overtaken by the unerring aim of the redoubtable and fearless prospector. Mr. Runnels is intelligent and singularly well read in a variety of subjects, besides being an advanced thinker. He is a careful reader of the daily press and the author of several poems and ballads of considerable merit. For a life partner he chose the flower of the Sans Poil tribe, though he might have selected one of the beauties of his own race, had he so desired. His married life has always been happy and he has never found occasion to regret his choice.

Sufficient hidden treasure has been discov- ered by this man to build a city or a rail- road. Among the many noted quartz mines he staked are the "Triune," in Okanogan; the "Golden Eagle," at Fairview, in British Co- lumbia; the "Trailer," "Tenderfoot," "Moun- tain Lion," and "Last Chance," in Republic Camp; the "Iron Mask," in Kootenay and the famous "Ironoclast" on the Toloman Mountain, in the "South Half" of the Colville reservation. The combined value of these properties would furnish wealth enough to make this man the J. Pierpont Morgan of the Pacific coast. Mr. Runnell says:

"The 'Iconoclast' is, I believe, the greatest mine I have ever staked. I discovered this thirty-one years ago, and there, on that stunted pine treet, are the marks I made with a hatchet at the time I staked it. I took samples of the rock to Walla Walla and old Dr. Day assayed it and pronounced it good copper ore. I have held that ground ever since, and about the time the reservation was thrown open, at the peril of my life, for other men were there to seize

the claim, I secured it and put up my stakes. I was determined no one should get it without killing me first, and I told my wife that if, per- chance, I lost my life defending the Iconoclast against the intruders, to bury me on the claim."

For months preceding the opening of the "South Half" to mineral entry, "Tenas George" stood guard with his Winchester over the Iconoclast, and though the temptation was great, none ventured to dispossess the right- ful claimant.

Following is the list of mine owners in Ferry county and the total value of properties, includ- ing improvements, as appears on the assessor's tolls :

Apollo Consolidated Gold Mining Company. .. . $ 40,585

Belcher Mining Company 2,610

Ben Hur Gold Mining Company 25,150

Black Tail Gold Mining Company 30,775

Bodie Gold Mining Company .

1,000

Boundary Mining & Milling Company

900

Boyd, John G 200

Brimstone Gold Mining Company

800

Brooklyn Gold Mining Company

200

Brownlee, M. B.

3.725

Burns, Dr. Arthur 400

Butte & Boston Gold Mining Company 10,600

Bowerman, G. Y. 1,600

Bryne Mining & Milling Company 300

Chespa-Blue Jay Gold Mining Company 1,370

Chico Gold Mining & Milling Company 10,200

Congress Gold & Copper Mining Company 17,200

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 74

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992