________________________
195 (continued)
The mining industries of Lincoln county, while not approaching in importance those of the northern tier of counties in the state, are not unworthy of serious consideration. Within its limits there are no large deposits of mineral bearing ore or numerous "flattering prospects." Still, Cedar Canyon, in the southern portion of Stevens county is, practically, contributary to Davenport, and this city transacts considerable business with that district in the way of mining and other supplies. According to the report of the Washington Geological Survey, "Lincoln County lies, practically, altogether within the domain of the Columbia basalt, a formation in
which metalliferous veins do not occur." Along the northern boundary of the county, however, especially near the confluence of the Columbia and Spokane rivers, metamorphic rocks appear which were never covered by the lava, and in these veins of ore occur. For several years mining has been carried on in this section and many ledges prospected, some of which promise to become valuable producers in the future. The contemplated erection of a smelter at the new town of Crystal City has renewed activity in mining circles. The formation of the Crystal City district is granite, traversed by feldsite and blue porphyry dikes and innumerable quartz veins. Rhyolite, andisite, and phonolite dikes are also in evidence. Pitney Butte, one of the heaviest mineralized buttes in this section, has been the scene of considerably activity.
In 1889 a large body of high grade ore was exposed on the Pennsylvania. A shaft was sunk to the 100-foot level and two drifts run on the vein. Two cars of ore were shipped during development. In the fall of 1901 the shaft house and other buildings were swept away by fire since which time nothing but assessment has been done. L. N. Miner and associates are driving a tunnel on the Nettie M., and are now in 150 feet with ore in the face showing brittle silver carrying gold. These people also run the Silver Cup No. 1 and 11, Big Bend and Great Western. Several hundred feet of tunnels and drifts have been run on the Silver Cup No. 11, several shoots being encountered carrying values of from $4 to $40. A picked sample from the surface of this property assayed 230 ounces of gold, and 278 ounces in silver. The Big Bend has a 30-foot ledge averaging $14. This property has been developed by a 40-foot shaft and a 30- foot drift. The Great Western is a promising property showing free gold. James Young is working on a feldsite dike carrying free gold.
C. Grutt and sons are pioneers in this camp and have done considerable development work on their several properties among which are the Cupid. Independence and Storm King on Pitney
________________________
196
Butte and White Faun, Blushing Morn and Lone Cabin on Grutt's Butte. The Cupid is on the Pennsylvania lead and carries the same grade of ore. This property is equipped with a large shaft house, bunk house and blacksmith shop. The Lone Cabin was the first location in the camp, then known as the Egypt. It is developed by several tunnels and shafts. The ore averages about $35 in gold, copper, silver and lead. Clarence McCullough and associates are doing assessment work at Carp Lake and are taking out some high grade gray copper ore running as high as $85 to the ton. Mr. McCullough is one of the pioneers of this district and has unbounded faith in its ore bodies.
Drs. Turney and Kelley have a finely equipped property in the old LeMarch. A 100-foot shaft on the ledge has opened showing a shaft of fine ore. The latest strike is on the Thompson property, situated on the river road. High grade chloride ore has been encountered in the 150 foot tunnel. Perhaps this is destined to become one of the big mines of the northwest. A crew of men have been at work to determine the extent of the ore body. The Drum Lommond, a recently incorporated company, has a fine ledge showing and has a force of men at work developing the property.
The Crystal mine is located about a quarter of a mile east of the old Fort Spokane buildings, on a slight ridge, somewhat above the flat stretch of bench land upon which the government buildings are located. A ridge that is one of a succession of raises that piled up together make the bluffs that mark the course of the brawling Spokane river, that, through centuries of erosion, has eaten an erratic pathway far down below the level of the plateau. The Crystal mine is not a recently discovered property. Away back in 1881, when Fort Spokane was first selected as a site for an army post, J. W. Nicholls and another party located the claim and did upon it a vast amount of work. Two shafts were sunk on the lead to a considerable depth, but the owners did not have the means to push the work. At one time Frank R. Moore, who conducted a store near the post, contributed means towards opening the ledge. An expert was imported who declared there was nothing in it, and consequently the sinews of war were not forthcoming. The property has seen many changes of ownership and there has been considerable litigation over it. In the spring of 1896 the Crystal Mining Company of Spokane, began work upon two ledges one and one-half miles to the eastward of the mouth of the Spokane river. One of these ledges is nine, and the other eight feet in width. Each has a northeast and southwest strike. In the development of this property three shafts have been sunk an aggregate depth of 425 feet; drifts have also been driven to the extent of 540 feet. The average assay value of the ore is about $40 per ton, in silver and lead. The company has a 32-horse-power hoisting engine and a 50-horse-power boiler. The total cost of all development work in 1902 was estimated at $28,000. The manager was John Gray, of Spokane.
In addition to the Crystal, in the same vicinity, are the Gray Eagle and Spokane mines, upon which a great deal of development has been done. A short distance north of there, on the Pitney Butte mountain, are the Pennsylvania, Pitney Butte. Silver King and Egypt properties, which show ore, and upon which some development was done a few years ago. The work on the latter properties has been nearly all done by Davenport parties.
Egypt, lying twenty miles north of Davenport, is one of the most familiar localities in the county. Very fertile are the lands of this section, timber; is abundant, and Egypt was one of the first places to attract the attention of prospective settlers. The district to which the name of Egypt is applied is about ten miles long and from two to four miles in width. Along the east side a range of low timbered hills skirt the body of farming land. Nearly 1.000 feet below Hows the Spokane river, from three to
________________________
197
six miles east, and from this range of hills the country falls off suddenly into a series of benches, or rough, timbered hills, with an occasional valley threading down between them. To the west is Hawk Creek canyon and tributaries. This huge canyon which debouches into the Columbia river has its source just below Davenport, perhaps two miles distant, and its depth ranges from a few, to over 1,000 feet, increasing in depth as it approaches the Columbia. Egypt lies between this mammoth canyon on one side, and the basin of the Spokane river on the other. This makes the approach from either way quite steep, and through which vehicles can proceed in a few places only. It forms one of the most picturesque sections in Lincoln county. There is an abundance of timber on either side. To the east and north lie the great Spokane and Columbia river basins; beyond are the timbered mountains and fertile valleys of the Colville Indian Reservation.
The first settlers of Lincoln county were attracted to this district because of its dark, rich soil and the generous abundance of timber, supplying them not only with ample quantities of fuel, but enabling them to build log houses and fences at a period when lumber was not to be had at any price. In Egypt all the tillable land is now under cultivation; its grain fields have added wealth and comfort to the thrifty, prosperous population. Nearly every quarter section of land is supplied with commodious barns and comfortable residences. Still, a productive soil is not the only resource of Egypt. The pine forests that mantle the hill slope down to the river banks have provided employment for many sawmills during the past ten or fifteen years; its mines are an added resource, the importance of which cannot be even approximately estimated at the present time.
Allusion has been made previously to Orchard Valley. The visitor to this spot is reminded of a village in the midst of beautiful surroundings. This locality, sometimes called Orchard, and sometimes Peach Valley, is at the month of Hawk Creek canyon, just above its confluence with the Columbia river. This land is devoted to the cultivation of fruit, but as yet only about 320 acres are irrigated and planted to orchards. It is a neighborhood of neat, handsome residences and well-to-do citizens. This community has a postoffice, store, church building, a large, two-story school house, a public hall and a fruit dryer. These Orchard Valley fruit lands are worth from $150 to S500 per acre. There is very little on the market at these prices. There are about 800 acres of unirrigated fruit lands adjoining, and on a higher elevation. Doubtless these will be equally valuable in the future after the construction of an irrigating ditch. Orchard Valley lies more than 1,000 feet below the prairie farming lands, and is so completely sheltered that the temperature is mild and it is free from late and early frosts.
One of the noted scenes of Lincoln county's many natural attractions is Hell Gate. Of this locality George W. Curtis writes as follows:
Hell Gate is where the waters of the Columbia river dash down through a rocky gorge, whose perpendicular walls rise hundreds of feet above the water's level. Here in the center of the stream are two giant pillars of rock, grim and foreboding; they stand like evil sentinels over this angry flood that sweeps irresistibly through the narrow gate at their feet. With a ceaseless roar the river forces its way through these gaps, tearing its waters into froth and foam and bearing the flakes like silent sails on toward the sea. Ere the confines of these spectral rocks are reached, the water, like a troubled spirit, recoils, leaps, bounds, circles and eddies — then, like a maddened beast, springs against the immovable walls of rock and loses itself in the seething maelstrom below.
The appended interesting statistics concerning the growth and development of Lincoln county are from the Wilbur Register of October. 1901:
________________________
198
The earlier records of the county are imperfect, and the first year's reports in which we could find a record of the number of acres of land under cultivation is for 1886, when the total was given as 42,665. From our own knowledge of the rapid strides in improvement during those early years, we are positive that the first assessment in 1884 did not show over 20,000 acres under cultivation. Indeed, we believe it was much under that figure. In 1892 the assessors' returns showed 125,626 acres. For the year 1901 the figures have jumped up to 397,258, and the probability is that the amount broken this year will bring the aggregate fully up to a half million acres. In assessed valuation for each year the records are more perfect, though the total is given for the original assessment in some years and in others the total of the equalization by the state board. Following is the valuation for each year:
This, as equalized by the state board, was $9,539,352.
The total assessment for 1902 was $7,940,158; for 1903, it was $7,089,357.
These figures show a rapid and uniform increase with two exceptions. The first was in 1900 when the lieu lands were assessed for the first time, which made an unusual and fictional increase in the total valuation. The other break was due to shrinkage of values caused by the financial panic of 1893. The recovery was slow, the figures of 1893 not being reached until 1899. In 1897 when the tide had fully turned, the figures are almost identical with those of 1892. Since that time the increase has made the same steady growth of former years, with the exception of 1901, when the "bumper" wheat crop incited the state board of equalization to make quite a heavy raise in the assessment.
Crab creek is an erratic stream which flows through the southern portion of Lincoln and Douglas counties, in a torturous course 150 miles before reaching the Columbia river. The source of the main stream is near the town of Reardan in the extreme eastern portion of Lincoln county. In certain localities Crab creek is a large, deep stream and again it sinks from sight to reappear miles beyond, until far westward, and south, the thirsty sands of the desert drink it up, and it finds its way to the Columbia underground. A few miles east of the source of Crab creek is the source of Deep creek, which flows eastward and northward, and becomes a stream of respectable size before contributing its contents to the turbulent Spokane river.
________________________
________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment