THE OTHER MINERALS.
Limestone.I have already said so much as to the convenience and excellence of the limestone beds associated with the magnetic ores,Marble, granite, sandstones, slates. that I will only allude to them here as constituting the great resource for furnace-flux, for building-stone, for lime, and for monumental and ornamental marble. This will be an important item for transportation. The granite, also, will be wanted for building, and for paving blocks. There are, no doubt, quartzites, sandstones and slates which will be in request; some for the supply of silica needed for tempering fire-clay (which latter is reported to have been found on Cedar River in large quantity and of good quality); some for road metal; some for paving; some for building.
Precious and base metals.In this group, however, the great resource is in the ores of the precious and base metals, which have been fully described under a former head. Too little is known of the silver and lead and gold ores of the Snoqualmie Valley to lay much stress upon them. The indications do not justify us in ranking them with the ores of the Columbia Valley.
The gold placer mining of the Yakima country makes no large show so far. The silver, lead and copper ores, described by Mr. Burch, may develop largely, but as yet no calculations can be made as to their value in supplying tonnage. This field ranks with the Wenatchie, Chelan, and Methow regions, being undeveloped, and yet so full of promise as to deserve careful attention.
Okinagane, Colville and Kootenai.The mines of the Okinagane and Colville regions promise large results. All this mineral region, up to and including the Okinagane, lies fairly within the patronage ground of the Seattle Railway as it pursues its course to Spokane Falls. The Colville and Cœur d'Alene, to which may now be added the Kootenai, mining regions, constitute a large area lying north and east of Spokane Falls, and offer themselves as possible routes for the Manitoba Railway, but chiefly as tempting fields for railroad enterprises. The city of Spokane Falls is deeply interested in bringing in the trade of these growing mines, and the Seattle Railway corporation may wisely consider the prizes here offered.
Cœur d'Alene.Railroad building has begun in the Cœur d'Alene country. The Cœur d'Alene Railway and Navigation Company have constructed a narrow-gauge road from the Old Mission, near the junction of the north and south forks of the Cœur d'Alene River,Transportation lines to the mining regions. a distance of about thirty-five miles. The tonnage is said to be much greater than this narrow-gauge can handle at present.
From the Old Mission, which is now the terminus of the narrow-gauge road, the ores are taken by steamboat and barges down the Cœur d'Alene River, and up the lake to Fort Cœur d'Alene, where connection is made with the Spokane Falls and Idaho Railroad, running from Fort Cœur d'Alene to Hauser Junction, on the main line of the Northern Pacific Railway. This arrangement enables the mines to send out and bring in their freight, but it is not satisfactory. There seems to be an opening for a line from Spokane Falls directly into that country. It would cost $20,000 a mile, by Mr. Mohr's calculation, and would be seventy-five miles long. If, however, it be true, as reported, that the Northern Pacific Railroad will make a cut-off from Missoula across the Cœur d'Alene Mountains, this field will be occupied; which, however, is not probable.
The Chewelah, Colville, Summit, Metalline and Kootenai mining districts could all be reached by a line from Spokane Falls by way of Colville and Little Dalles. And by running a spur from Colville to a point below Kettle Falls on the Columbia River, control could be gained, first, of the navigation between Mahkin Rapids and Kettle Falls, and also the long stretch of navigable river from the Little Dalles to Death Rapids in Canada, crossing the Canadian Pacific Railroad at Farwell. It is calculated that 750 miles of navigation would thus be opened by the addition of a piece of track twenty-five miles long, connecting the Kootenai River with Arrowhead Lake.
A new discovery of silver-lead ores, made on the Kootenai Outlet River, is making a great stir just now. The body of ore is said to be the largest yet discovered. We shall expect the Manitoba people to be looking into this development. There is also some talk of the mining region on both sides of Kettle River, near the Canada line. The Pend d'Oreille district is also promising. All this is suggested as food for thought and investigation.