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EEPOET

ON TBS

SLOGAN. NELSON AND AINSWORTH MINING DISTRICTS

WEST KOOTENAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA,

WILLIAM A. CARLYLE,

;, Provincial Mineralogist

BULLETIN No. 3.

By Authority.

JAMES BAKER,

Minister of Mines.

For Reports and Information address
The Bureau of Mines,

, Vi(rroRiA, B. C.

January, 1897.

' H, t

REPORT.

To tfie Hon. Col. James Baker,

Minister of Mines, British Columbia.

Sir : — I beg leave to present, in Bulletin No. 3 of the Bureau of Mines, a description of
the mines and mining industry in the Slocan, Nelson, and Ainsworth Mining Divisions of
West Kooteney, from the examination of which I have lately returned. I wish to acknowl-
edge again ray indebtedness to the mining men for their continued assistance, by which I have
been enabled to make this report of much more value, by reason of the fact that not only
have I been able to examine many of the mining properties, but to have before me a copy of
the smelter returns of nearly all the ore shipped from these districts, so that the values of the
ore from the different mines herein given are known to be correct.

Every endeavour was made to visit as many as possible of the leading properties within
the time available, but even then some important mines were not seen. In every direction
new claims were l)eing opened up, but, as seldom satisfactory information can be given
concerning mere prospects, examination was mostly confined to these claims on which more or
less work had hecn done, and on which underground conditions could be studied.

The fame of the large and unique gold-bearing deposits of Rossland has now spread far
afield, with the result that during the past year the attention of mining men and capitalists
from all parts of the world has been drawn to British Columbia, and many have been here
and bought mining property, or will return next year to seek investment, for which this
Province without peradventure now offers most favourable and advantageous opportunities.

The mining industry of British Columbia, it must be remembered, apart from the placer,
gold and coal mining, is of very recent inception. Until eight or nine years ago the great extont
of the mountainous country south of the Canadian Pacific Railway to the Boundary Line,
was a wilderness known to few save the Indians and hunters, or the prospectors for gold
diggings, but the finding of silver-copper ore on Toad Mountain, and the beginning of work
on the silver-lead ore deposits on the east of Kootenay Lake, discovered many years ago by
men in the Hudson Bay Company's employ, with the subsequent discovery among the moun-
tains near by of other silver ledges, signalized the commencement of mining in Kootenay.
But it was not until 1890-91 that these silver veins were beginning to attract mining men to
this Province from abroad, and active operations were getting well under way despite the
difficulties and great cost of bringing in supplies or transporting ore to the smelters, when all
progress was for a time stopped and hope crushed by the sudden collapse in silver values,
occasioned by the closing of the Indian mints to the free coinage of this metal.

Work, nevertheless, on some of the veins was persevered in, and in 1894 nearly $650,000
worth of silver ore was sent out of Kootenay. Then better means of communication were pro-
vided, and in 1895 the production of the different kinds of silver ore increased to over
$1,000,000, which production has been doubled in 1896.

Meanwhile the gold-bearing pyrrhotite deposits on Trail Creek were being exploited
under many vicissitudes, until *,he shipments of pay ore, in 1894, to the value of $75,000, and
of nearly ten times this amount, in 1895, from the large ore bodies of the Le Hoi and War
Eagle, commanded wide-spread interest by reason of its being gold ore and very profitable,
and in 1896 has been seen a great influx of capital's representatives and mining men, who are
not only securing gold properties, but are investing in silver as well.

The production of the Kootenay mines, when compared with that of many of the mining
centres in other countries, will not appear so very large to a casual reader, but when all the
conditions are understood, that an entirely new country of large territorial extent is being
rapidly opened up under difficulties, that the supply of needed capital, until recently, has been
meagre, and that in reality not a single mine has had time to do sufficient development to put
it on a really proper basis for extraction of ore and further exploratory work, this production
will then be seen to indicate a most flourishing and hopeful condition of affairs.

■f

As to the future there is now no doubt but that tlie number of paying mines autl the
mine out-put vill steadily increase in the districts to be described, but not with that extrava-
gant rate of increase predicted by some — at least not until those conditions exist that will
permit the extraction of a much greater tonnage of ore. Such conditions are being supplied,
and judging from the shipments already made in the new year, which exceed those of any
previous year for the corresponding time, the out-put from Kootenay for 1897 will show a very
substantial increase.

For some time back there has existed a strong antipathy to silver properties, and foreign
investors especially have refused to entertain any proposition that was not on a gold basis, but
now the fact is being realised that with silver even at its greatly reduced value, if there is a
sufficient number of ounces of this white metal in the ore, a silver or silver-lead mine is quite
as profitable and as desirable as a gold mine, and the handsome returns from the very high grade
silver ores being mined in the districts to be described, are attracting increasing attention, as is
testified by the numbers now seeking silver properties and the transactions recorded, as many
mines or claims have been bought or bonded by English, American, and Canadian investors
during the past season, not only within these districts but other parts of British Columbia.

The out-look for the coming year is especially bright, as many properties are beginning
the new year with ore in sight, new mines have been added to the list, very promising pros-
pects are being opened up, and during 1897 nearly every claim from which ore has been
shipped in the past, will be on the list of shippers. There promises to be a steady increase in
the amount of the ore extracted and sold, and in the amount of development done, but it is both
unwise and hurtful to predict very large and sudden advances in the mineral out-put, as it
must be remembered that a greatly increased out-put requires also a greatly increased amount of
under-ground work, unless large bodies of very high grade ore are uncovered. Extravagant
prophesies may travel far, and if the actual results do not approach the amount thus foretold,
harm unjustly a mine or district, in which the progress has been most favourable and satis-
factory, quite equal to the expectations of those best qualified to know.

These districts described in this bulletin, being essentially silver-bearing regions, suflFered
a severe set-back at the time of this disastrous fall in the price of silver in 1893. Nearly all
-vork was suspended and it was only towards the end of 1894 that, taking new courage, work
was recommenced with the result that a great increase in the production was evident in 1895,
and progress ha^ since been rapid and continuous.

The following is a short resum^ concerning the three districts examined, further details
and descriptions of the mines, &c., being appended.

The Slogan.

The Slocan, according to the number of its shipping mines and the amount and value of
the ore sold, now ranks as the most productive mining district in the Province, and in point
of importance is not surpassed by any other.

In an area of fifteen by twenty-five miles, there have been discovefred many veins of high
grade silver-lead ore, which are being developed with great vigour and success, and among the
mining men is every feeling of confidence and hopefulness. This winter nearly fifty of these
properties are shipping high grade ore that yields very profitable returns, and a large number
of other claims are being opened up.

So far but comparatively little imported capital has been expended here, as in the case of
nearly every mine now esti<Ijiished, sufficient money has been realised from ore extracted dur-
ing d'^velopment to pay for more extensive workings, new buildings, mills, trails, roads, and
also dividends, but more or less capital will be required to properly open up many other claims
on which the veins exist, but are not so easily accessable as those first discovered. But as
most of these veins are found along the steep mountain sides and can be worked by tunnels,
and the cost of mining is low, requiring little or no machinery, capital will be necessary mostly
when tramways and concentrators are to be built, or in some cases for hoisting plants and
pumps when tunnel sites may not be available.

Many of these mines are located near the summits of the high precipitous mountains at
an elevation of 5,500 to 6,500 feet above sea level where erosion lias cleared away nearly all
debris from the veins, but lower down also on the mountain sides and in the valleys, are being
found other veins or those discovered first much higher up, to the highest of which now run
good trails or waggon roads or else wire rope tramways. The snow that lies deep on these
summits during the winter is in nowise detrimental to mining operations, as most work is

it
11

dono after its fall, when the ore can be dragged down the smooth snow trails in rawhides in
larger loads and at lower prices than are possible in the summer time, but the tracks of snow-
slides must be carefully avoided.

During 1896, 18,215 tons of ore yielded 2,141,088 ounces of silver and 19,210,666 pounds
of lead, or an average of 117.4 ounces of silver per ton and 52.7% lead which would have a
net profit of about $75 per ton, while many ntvrloads were shipped that yielded from 300 to 400
ounces of silver per ton.

The "Slocan Star" ha.'" of course the largest shute of high grade ore yet found in this
district, and we are kindly permitted to state that from 11,629 tons of ore and concentrates
sold during tho livst thrt > years, 912,600 ounces of silver and 13,482,000 ll)s. of lend havelicen
paid for by the smelters, and of these amounts 7,000 tons yielded 600,000 ounces of silver and
9,000,000 lbs. of lead during the past season of 1896.

Many of the veins are small, varying from 2 or 3 inches in width to 20 to 30 inches of
solid ore, but the high value of silver at present makes this ore very profitable together with
the low cost of breaking ground. The small Reco-Goodenough vein, the width of which is
measured in inches, is probably the richest vein yet mined, ivs from the smelter returns of
about 600 tt)ns, the average was 407 ounces of silver per ton and 42 % lead. The high per-
centage of lead makes this ore a very desirable one for the smelters, and the lead contents are
usually sufficient to pay the freight and treatment charges, and the duty charged on the letid.

At no time in the history of this district have so many mines had high grade ore exposed,
and of such mines can be named among others the Slocan St<ir, Ruth, Wonderful, Monitor,
Idaho, Alamo, Cumberland, Ivanhoe, Queen Bess, Wild Goose, Payne Group, Slocan Boy,
Washington, R. E. Lee, Last Chance, Noble Five Group, Reco, Goodenough, Blue Bird,
Antoine, Surprise, Rambler, Best, Dardanelles, Northern Belle, Whitewater, Wellington,
Charleston, Lucky Jim, London Hill, Reed and Tenderfoot, Fisher Maiden, Thompson Group,
Galena Farm, Enterprise, Neepawa, Bondholder, Two Friends, Howard Fraction.

Nelson.

The Silver King silver-copper mine of the Hall Mines Co., Ltd., the Poorman gold (quartz)
mine, and some small placer workings, have yielded all the production credited to this district,
but other mines will be added ere long to this list. Since the completion of the smelter at
Nelson there has been greatly increased activity at the mine of this Company.

The Silver King mine has now shipped 31,000 tons of ore that yielded 800,000 ounces of
silver and 2,500,000 Bis. of copper, and the development of the property is rapidly being
pushed, so as to permit of a greatly increased out-put, while the smelter is being increased so
as to undertake the treatment of all classes of ore as may be bought in the market.

The Poorman gold mine has given up about $100,000 from its quartz ledge, and other
properties in this locality that have similar veins are now under bond and will be worked.

The new district, known as the Salmon River Country, lying south of Nelson to the Boun-
dary, and traversed by the Nelson and Fort Shepherd R. R. was not visited, but during the past
year many claims were staked oflF on gold and silver leads on the ridges, between which run
the tributaries of this river. This winter considerable work is being done here, and during the
coming season much greater interest will be shown in these veins, in which it is stated, ore
similar to that of Rossland, and also gold-silver quartz with galena and other sulphides have
been discovered, assays of which have given high values, ^ee short description below by Mr.
McConnell. ♦

AiNSWOUTH.

The out-put from Ainsworth for 1896 was much lowered by the cessation early in the
year of mining on the Blue Bell, in which, it is reported, the ore has Ijecome rather low grade
for present conditions, but in several of the other mines west of the town of Ainsworth, con-
siderable progress was made.

The Skyline, Number One, Blue Bell, Highlander, Little Phil, Mile Point, Neosho, Sun-
light and Tariff, shipped ore, much of which was the silvery " dry ore," and the remainder
galena, which does not carry as much silver as the Slocan veins, but averages 30 to 40 ounces
in the solid ore.

This district suffered especially in the decline of silver prices, but now vigorous prospect-
ing is being done once more on both sides of the lake, and new mining enterprises are being
inaugurated. The town of Kaslo, the eastern entrance to the Slocan, is growing rapidly, and
steamers run daily to Nelson to connect with the railroads, while the only public sampling mill
in Kootenay is here located.

Production.

In the following tables the tonnage is the net weight, t. e., with the moisture in the ore,
amounting from 1 to 6 % deducted.

(6.) The Rilver and gold are given in fine ounces, and represent the amount of each paid
for by the smelter, or 95 % of the jvssay value.

(c.) The price of gold is estimated at $20 per ounce; of silver for 1895, 65.3 cents, and for
1 896, 67 cents per ounce.

(d.) The lead is the total amount paid for by the smelters, or 90 % of the assay value,
and the price the average of the New York quotations for the year, i. e., for 1895, $3.23 per
100 lbs., and for 1896, $2.98 per 100 lbs.

(e.) The price of copper is estimated at 5 cents per 0)., as paid by the aineiters, but the
price received for the matte from the Hall Mines Co. is not known.

(/.) This table represents the amount and value of the ore actually paid for, ns per smelter
returns received during the year. ,

(g.) The ton is 2,000 lbs.

Slogan.

1895.

1896.

Amount.

Value.

Amount.

Value.

Qold, ozs

6
1,137,040
9,751,464

4 120

742,487
315,070

152

2,141,088

19,210,666

$ 3,040

Silver, »

1 ,4,34,529

Lead, lbs

572,479

Total value

«1 ,057,677

$2,010,048

!■ i

Total tonnage, ore and concentrates, 1895, 9,649; 1896, 18,215.

do number of mines that shipped in 1895, 30; 1896, 42. <i

do M miners at work in 1896, 1,000.

The number of mines shipping may be increased by adding some that have sent out very
small lots of ore.

Nelson.

1895.

1896.

Amount.

Value.

Amount.

Value.

Gold, ozB

1,275

49,750

112,420

$25,500

.32,487

5,621

511

631,960

2,237,921

$ 10,220

Silver, w ...

423,413

Copper, lbs

111,896

Total value ... . ...

$63,608

$545,529

Total tonnage— 1895, 1,148 tons; 1896, 30,160 tons.
do number of mines producing — 1895, 5 ; 1896, 4.
do II miners at work in 1896, about 350.

AiNBWORTH.

re,

fiid

for

ue,
per

the

Iter

1896.

Amount.

Value.

Amount.

Value.

Silver, ou

263,030
6,724,000

tl71,759
217,185

187,279
2,151,000

1126,489

Lead, lbs

64,100

Total value

$388,944

1189,589

Total number of mines shipping — 1895, 8 ; 1896, 9.

Tonnage cannot be 8tat«d, as the number of tons mined at the Blue Bell Mine was not
ascertained, but from the other mines in the district there were shipped : —

1895, 2,208 tons; 1896, 1,664 tons.

Total number of miners at work, about 200.

The decrease in the amount and value of the ore shipped during 1896 is mostly due to the
suspension of work on the Blue Bell.

Amount of Orb Shipped as per Customs Returns.

Upon the shipment of ore to the United States a declaration is made in the outward
entry of the contents and value of the ore, but the duties are not collected upon this state-
ment, the ore being shipped in bond to the smelters, and the duty charges determined from the
smelter returns. There will be, necessarily, differences between these returns and those given
above, in that in the declarations the exact values are not given, only the approximate ; and
again, the above tables give the smelter returns received during the year, the customs returns give
the amount of ore shipped during the year; hence, for most of the ore shipped in December the
smelter returns coming back in January, the returns are credited to the year in which the
smelter returns are received. The gross values ..ere determined by calculating the value of
each metal at its average price for the year. The tonnage includes the shipments of ore, con-
centrates, base bullion and matte.

ery

Slogan.

Year.

Tons.

Silver. — ozs.

Lead. — ttw.

Gross Value,

1894

4,417

8,828

17,975

613,926
1,122,705
2,316,561

5,623,621

9,554,079

17,778,384

$ 672,350

1895

942,004

1896

2,086,445

Totals

31,220

4,063,192

32,966,084

$3,699,889

Nelson.

Year.

Tons.

Silver. — ozs.

Lead.— Ibe.

Gross Value.

1894

810

348

2,248

05,083

49,769

686,143

218,451

112,420

2,010,294

$ 68,823 v^nu

1895

38,120' <a

1896

493,22611' A

Totals

3,406

730,986

2,341,166

$600,168

AiNSWORTH.

Year.

Tons.

Silver.— ozs.

Lead. — lt)s.

GrosH Value.

1894

131
13,938

5,408

23,621
201,904
203,897

38,902
6,612,025
2,476,972

$ 16,165

1895

384,677

1896

Totals

210,918

19,477

489,422

9,127,899

««1 1,760

Transportation.

Since the jommencement of mining in this region the construction of new means of
ingress and of transportation has quickly followed the discovery of ore-liearing districts, and
the great material advantages of the fine wateways have been utilised in gaining access to the
many points where mining is now begun. West Kootenay is singularly favoured by reason of
the (rt) the Columbia River and Arrow Lakes, (6) the Slocan Lake, and (c) Kootenay Lake
and its arms, and of the comparatively easy passes for railways from one to another. Oth(;r-
wise this very rugged and mountainous country would have presented great difficulties that
would have retarded for a much longer time prospecting and mining, but now, however, none
of the mines are any great distance from these highways, and readier access is being gained by
the building of trails and waggon roads.

Government Aid for Trails, etc.

The Provincial Government has followed a plan of assisting, as far as possible, the build-
ing of roads and trails to the various new camps, and though it has been impossible to accede
to all of the many requests for aid where so many new parts are being opened up by fresh
discoveries in many different directions, still the assistance given has been valuable, and has
aided materially in the opening up of the country. As the Government Agents, to whose judg-
ment the determination and carrying on of this work is entrusted, are already fully employed
by their other necessary duties, it would be a good policy in the matter of economy and more
general satisfaction if men could be engaged to carefully examine the diiTerent claims for
roads and trails and applications for water rights, and then to choose and lay out such as
would be of service to the greatest numhter, and op«>- the most country ; such men to be
familiar with this work and able to locate such lines of trails as would benefit the greatest
number of mining claims, bo suitable for tlie transport dotvn of ore, and be extended as further
claims are proved up. The present agents have done good work, but they are unable, with so
much other work demanding constant attention, to give that personal oversight necessary.
It may happen that by special representation a trail may be built to a single group of claims,
while another district that would be much more benefited by the opening of a wider field,
would be denied, or the trail or road would not be built to serve as a main outlet, but be
deflected to favour some particular property, instead of being located so that many more claims
could easily connect v;ith it by other trails.

Well directed assistance in this line is money well spent, as the more accessable this
country is made the more rapid will be its certain development, as not only are the prospectors
and miners better able to reach their finds and to spend the slight capital many can command
in actual work on their claims, adding so materially to their value if such work shows up
favourably, but investors and men with capital able to more quickly and thoroughly develop
these locations can reach and examine properties more expeditiously and with less difficulty.
Now that special interest is aroused and capital is here seeking investment, the more the
country is opened up the more rapid and substantial will be the advance.

Cost of Roads and Trails.

The cost of trail-building in most parts is not high, as only in some of the deeper valleys
and gulches is there much heavy timber, and if carefully supervised should average from #80
to $125 a mile for a good ordinary mountain trail, and if possible there should always be a
down-grade to facilitate the transport of ore by "rawhiding." In building roads an instru-
ment should always be used, or otherwise, if trusting to the eye only, the results will not be

of the best. Some of the very best roads travelled over this summer were thus properly laid
out, such as the road up into the Washington and Best Basins, to the "Kuth" mine at Sandon
and the Enterprise road up Ten Mile Creek. The cost of the mountain waggon road varies
from $800 to $1,200 a mile, with a safe average of 1 1,000 per mile, complete.

In the winter time temporary trails and roads are often easily made when the snow has
fallen to some considerable depth.

Means of Access and Transport.

West Kootenay is now easily entered from two directions, and almost any part important
can now be reached with dispatch and comfort, an agreeable surprise to all entering the
country for the first time. First — From the north, at Revelstoke, on the main transcontinental
line of the Canadian Pacific Itailway between Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver, on the
Pacific Coast, a branch line runs down the Columbia River 32 miles to Arrowhead, at the
north end of Upper Arrow Lake, whence («) a small steamer runs up the north-east arm of
Evansport, the port of entrance, to the Lardeau and Trout Lake Districts ; (b) the large stern-
wheel steamers of the Columbia and Kootenay Navigation Company, for which Company a large
boat is being built at Nakusp, to be ready to go into commission next spring, as the traffic
has grown quite beyond the capacity of the present equipment, runs as far south as Trail,
connecting at Nakusp with a branch line of the C.P.R. into the Slocan, and at Robson with
another branch of the same Company into Nelson, along the Kootenay River, and at Trail
with the Columbia and Western to Rossland. Second — From the south, from Spokane,
Wash., where direct connections are made from the main trunk lines of the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific Railways to all parts of the United States, the Spokane Fulls and
Northern Railway runs north to Northport, a few miles south of the boundary line, whence
(a) this road, known as the Nelson and Fort Sheppard Rood, follows up the east bank to
Waneta and Sayward, in Canadian territory, and thence across to Nelson, connecting directly
with the Kootenay Lake steamers at a point 5 miles east of Nelson, whence the road switch-
backs into the town; (b) from Northport another branch, or the Red Mountain Railway,
crossing the Columbia by large ferries, runs to Rossland; (c) while daily steamers run up the
river to Trail, from which point again Rossland is reached, or the steamers taken for Robson,
Nakusp and Arrowhead, as detailed above.

C.P.R., Nakusp to Sandon.

This branch has a daily train each way. From Nakusp it is 28 miles to Roseberry, on
Slocan Lake; 32 miles to New Denver; 37 miles to Three Forks; and 41 miles to Sandon.

O.P.R., Robson to Nelson.

A train will run both ways daily to connect with the steamboats on both Arrow and
Kootenay Lakes.

Kaslo and Slogan Railway.

This road runs daily trains between Sandon and Cody, east to Kaslo, on Kootenay Lakes,
stopping at points whence roods or trails lead directly to many of the Slocan mines.

Slogan Lake.

A large steamer will soon be running on this lake, as well as the small one now running
daily between Roseberry, New Denver, Silverton, Brandon, Slocan City and any olher point
on the lake desired.

Kootenay Lake.

valleys
•m $80
rs be a
instru-
not be

Three commodious and rapid steamers, the Kokanee, Alberta and International, run daily
each way between Kaslo and Nelson, stopping at Ainsworth, Pilot Bay smelter, Balfour or
other points along this route when called for. Other smaller boats traverse the lake from the
upper end down as far south as Bonner's Ferry, stopping, among other places, at the terminals
of the trails into East Kootenay. Generally, if required, a small steamer can be engaged to
go to any point on these waters.

Assistance of Steamboat Lines.

On all these steamboat lines every endeavour is made to assist the prospectors, miners,
etc., by willingly stopping at any point where signalled or requested to land or take on board
men, pack animals, supplies, ore, etc., and this accommodation is simply invaluable. On the
swift waters of the Columbia River, the very clever navigation exhibited there is admired by
all travellers, as great skill and steady nerve are called for at several points along this river,
especially in the season of low water when these boats have to contend, in going up stream,
with a powerful current which, in the late autumn and winter seasons, compels the use of
steel hawsers fastened to the bank or rocks and the steam capstan.

Large scows are used on the Columbia River line, being fastened directly in front of the
steamers, and capable of cariying eight loaded railway cars, are used between Arrowhead
and Robson, on which loads of 370 tons of coke for the Nelson smelter, loaded from the cars
at Arrowhead, have been brought down this fall, but if necessary loaded cars can be thus
transported from the main line of the C.P.R. on to these branch lines running in at Nakusp
and Robson.

Rise and Fall op Water.

The difference on these water-ways between the high and low water marks is great, or
12 to 15 feet, and the season of high water is during the months of July and August, when
the hot weather causes the rapid melting of the snow on the ranges. As so much of the
country is being cleared by forest fires, permitting the more rapid melting of the snow, the
floods may be expected to be even higher, and every precaution must now be taken in any
work or building along the water front to be well up beyond any possible height the waters
may reach.

New Railroad Lines, '■

The demand for more railroad facilities is now great. The ultimate benefit to our country
and Province of some new lines now pi-ojected, and their own financial success, are, in the
judgment of many acquainted with conditions, assured. These new lines, while having
engineering difficulties to overcome, sliould open up a large part of the southern part of British
Columbia now lying practically dormant, and make not only possible the development of
resourses now almost inaccessable and valueless, but known to exist, and the easy assembling
at large smelting centres of the different classes of ores and fuels, but also the fostering of a
large demand for agricultural produce, for which no better market can be found than in these
mining centres.

Of the new lines projected there are : — (a) the Crow's-Nest Pass Railway, connecting with
eastern lines, thence passing close by the deposits of coal in the Grow's-Nest Pass of large
extent and fine coking qualities, through East Kootenay, with branch lines to the Kootenay
River and along the west shore of Kootenay Lake to Nelson ;

(6) A branch of tho C.P.R from Slocan City to a point on the Robson and Nelson line:

(d.) The extension of the Columbia and Western R.R. from Trail, up the west bank of
Columbia to a point opposite Robson, and thence west int<i the mining districts of the south-
ern part of Yale :

(e.) A railroad from the Columbia River we.st, through the southern part of the Prov-
ince, to a point on the Pacific Coast.

The Importance to the Coast Cities op the Mining Centhes.

This last proposed railroad should be of very great value to the coiust cities of British
Columbia, by making possible the speedy, prompt and direct dispatch of merchandise and mine
supplies to the interior ndning centres, which, it must be remembered, are extending westward
and nearer to the proper-base for a large part of the supplies. These cities can reap great com-
mercial benefits from this growing mining industry, but they must seek conditions that will
put them upon an equal or better footing than their very aggressive competitors, for the busi-
ness men of Eastern ' anada and the North-West are now striving eagerly with the Ameri-
cans for this large and growing traffic, and British Culumbiuns should at once exert them-
selves to the utmost to secure the lion's share of the business within their own borders.

miners,
n board

On the
lired by
lis river,

stream,
le use of

it of the

•rowhead

the cars

be thus

Nakusp

great, or
ist, when
ch of the
mow, the
n iu any
le waters

ir country
re, in the
le having
of British
pnient of
.sseinbling
■ring of a
in these

[cting with
of hirge
Kootenay

Ion line :
districts

bank of
the south-

the Prov-

ai British

1 and mine

westward

|reat com-

tliat will

the busi-

Ihe Ameri-

lert them-

prs.

For the agriculturist or rancher there can be no better market than will be found in these
mining centres, where there is a large consumption of all they can produce, uid where the best
is demanded and readily paid for.

Again, with good railroiwi facilities, the Coast will be a very favourable point for large smelt-
ing works, where can be assembled the difl'erent elasst-s of inter-fluxing ores, iron and lime fluxes,
nnd the coke, now being made at the Union Collerics at Comox, on Vancouver Island, which
large and prosperous smelting woiks demand ; and moreover the retined products, base, bullion
and matte, by reason of the very low ocean fi eights, will be able to enter the other markets of
the world, without paying the excessive duties now imposed when shipped across the line to
the south.

England is the largest buyer of foreign lead, and much of this metal is imported into
China, Japan, and other Asiatic ports, and Australia is exporting her desilverised lead to all
of these buyers.

The Location op and Title to Mineral Claims.

The mineral lands are open to location by any person having a free miner's licence — cost
$5 per year — but only one claim, 1500 feet square, can be staked ott" on a vein or ore deposit by
one person, who must conform to the regulations of the Mineral Act. No vein or ore can be
mined beyond the boundaries of such claim, i. «., these locations have no extralateral rights
except those claims located prior to 1892, on which the vein or deposit can be followed down
on its dip beyond the side line.

Possessary rights are secured by doing f 100 woith of work per year on the claim, or by
paying this amount annually into the Treasury of the Province. When |500 worth of work
has been done, the owner of the claim can then secure full title by asking for and securing a
crown grant of this land, after which no annual assessment is required.

General Geology.

In regard to the geological formations and structure of the districts under discussion,
only an outline will be now attempted, and for .such details we are indebted for information
to the "Report on West Kootenay, of 1889," by Dr. (Jeo. M. Dawson, and the "Summary
Reports " of 1894-u, by Mr. R. G. iMcConnell, of the Dominion Geological Survey. During
the present year, Mr. McConnell and Mr. J. McEvoy hope to publish a provisional map, show-
ing the general disposition of the difl'erent main rock series from Kaslo soutii to the Boundary
Line, including parts of the Nelson, Ainsworth, Slocan and Trail Creek Districts, and this map,
with its accompanying report, will be a very useful and important source of information con-
cerning this mining region, of which the boundaries of the known mineral-bearing areas are
being so rapidly widened by the discovery of more ore bodies in both old and ne« localities.

It is of great interest, that in all of the geological series represented here, are veins or
mineral deposits, especially of silver and silver-lead ores, and no longer are the prospectors
limiting their researches to special formations or parts of these districts, but energetic pros-
pecting is being done with successful results all over this part of West Kootenay. For a long
time these men refused to enter the granite areas, until Anally the discovery by some less
skeptical of the silver-lead, and the gold-and-silver or " dry ore " veins on the water-sheds of
Springer and Lemon Creeks, east of Slocan Lake, and the success of the Poorman gold mine
near Nelson, led to a rush of men into the granite regions with gratifying results.

The success of the rich Rossland mines is causing the wide-spread prospecting of all the
country in which occur the same geological formations, and following these up as far as Nel-
son, many locations have been made in the country drained by the tributary creeks of the
Salmon Rivor, and elsewhere in the area between Nelson and Rossland. In the Ainsworth
District, on both sides of the lake, can be found men in search of mineral, and in fact, there is
now very little of West Kootenay that is not being over-run by them, and the wave of pros-
pecting is extending throughout the' Province, so thoroughly has interest and faith in her
latent mineral re.stmroes been aroused.

Tliere is no reason why inineia) should not be found in all of these formations here present
or in any part of this region, unle.ss it has so happened that the conditions have prevailed by
which the mineral-bearing solutions have not had openings or fractures along which to ascend
and tleposit their burden of precious ores, either by tilling up pre-existing cavities or by leaching
into or impregnating the country rock with valuable minerals on one or both sides of the
cliannel or crevice. The tinding of rich veins of ore in either of the series, such as of silver-
galena ore, points strongly to tjio fact that as depth is obtained iu uiining, the continuity of

A A.

the pay-shutes is assured, the ' "na may be "in and out" as the miners term it, or have
perfectly barren parts along the lissurc, but more or loss work will disclose other ore-shutes if
this work is pushed ahead along this fracture in the rock which has permitterl the passage of
ore-bearing solutions and the formation of ore-bodies along it elsewhere.

Formations.

There is a very large area of granite which has been pushed up through the highly
metamorphosed stratified rocks, altering them still more near the line of contact, but the
boundaries and relations between these different series cannot well be given before the publi-
cation of the geological map. However, by means of extracts from the above mentioned
reports, some idea may be given of the geology of each of the districts visited.

(A.) The (Juanites. -Dr. Geo. M. Dawson's "Ilepoi-t in portion of West Kootenay,
1889," says:—

" A large part of the West Kootenay district is occupied by granites and granitoid rocks,
the main area of which (so far as observed) includes the whole basin of the Lower Arrow Lake,
and extends thence eastward nearly to Queen's Bay on Kootenay Lake. Besides this great
granite area, there are several otluirs of smaller dimensions, as indicated on the map, as well
as numerous dykes and eruptioi.J too small to be .separately shown. It is, in fact, probable
that about one-half of the entire region here reported upon is occupied by granite and granitoid
rocks, the granites differ considerably in appearance and composition, and appear to be refer-
able to at least two and probably to three distinct periods, though it is as yet impossible to
define the respective areas of these. The granites which are supposed to be of the greatest
age, were found in some places underlying the lowest beds of the gneisses and mica-schists or
Shuswap series. They appear to be closely attached to this stratified series, if not connected
with it in origin, and in texture and composition as seen in hand specimens, can often scarcely
be distinguished from some of its homogeneous gneisses. They are generally rather fine-
grained, and are believed to consist for the most part of muscovite-biotite granite, though
much further investigation would be required before it can be asserted that this is their
characteristic composition,

"The granites which, however, occupy by far the largest area, are of coarse texture,
generally grey, passing to black in colour, and are characterised by black mica, with frequently
much black hornblende. They may be described as a whole as hornblende granites, but
occasionally pass into mica-syenite. In some localities they are not infrequently coarsely
porphyritic with large twinned orthoclose feldspar crystals, while sphene is often present as
an accessory mineral.

" These granites are evidently intrusive and of later date than the stratified rocks, which
are altered at contacts."

Mr. McConnell in the Summary Report of 1894, further writes about the eruptive rocks
and granites: —

"The eruptive rocks of the district occupy wide areas and belong to several periods. The
oldest, as far as ascertained, conwists of a series of basic dykes cutting the Shuswap group, but
now in many instances so altered and foliated by pressure and other causes that they have the
appearance of constituent beds. They occupy, in some localii.es, a considerable portion of the
area assigned to the Shuswap series. They are olde" than the overlying formations.

" Eruptive granite rocks, much younger than those referred to above, occupy the western
part of the region, from about the north end of the Lower Arrow Lake south to Trail Creek
and east to within a few miles of Kootenay Lake. They cover a continuous area of fully
2,000 square miles. Numerous bosses and dykes of granite and pegmatite also occur further
to the cast, along the borders of Kootenay Lake.

" The granites where examined, are usually grayish in colour, and coarse grained as a rule,
and are often porphyritic. The principal constituents are feldspar, quartz, biotite and horn-
blende. The granites cut all the formations from the Shuswap series up to the Slocan slates,
and are consequently younger than any of the stratified rocks of the district. A series of
eruptive rocks still younger than the granites, is represented by diorites and diabase and
uralite porphyrites. These rocks occupy a considerable area in the Trail Creek country, and are
important, as they hold the principal lodes of that district. It is possible that some of the
porphyritic rocks, so abundant in the Toad Mountain region, may belong to the same group.

Dykes. — " la addition to the main areas of eruptive rocks, numerous dykes, some of them
connected with the main areas, others much younger, as they cut through everything, are met
with in every part of the district.

Mil
sepj
nor(

or have
-.shutes if
nssage of

e highly

but the

;he publi-

leiitioned

J^ootenay,

oid rbcks,
row Lake,
this great
ip, as woU
probable
[ granitoid
be refer-
x)ssible to
le greatest
rschists or
connected
;u scarcely
ither fine-
te, though
s is their

e texture,
frequently
[nites, but
coarsely
present as

cs, which

tive rocks

ads. The

roup, but

lave the

ion of the

western
•ail Creek
a of fully
r further

as a rule,
nd horn-
n slates,
series of
base and
, and are
e of the
group.
1 of them
are met

(B.) "The Stuatifibd Bocks bordering this granite area, are irregular tilted at high
angles, broken by numerous faults, and frequently overturned."

Dr. Dawson determined their thickness to be, taking a section at Ainsworth to be
23,200 feet, and he believes the Shuswap series to be Archaean, while those series above this
area, are evidently Palaeozic in age, and mr yet be refer.-ed to various systems, including the
Carboniferous, and extending downward to :he Lower Cambrian. He also states that " the
grey and greenish schistose rocks are essentially composed of aLsred volcanic materials, and
their present schistose character may probaliy bo regarded as in the main, due to the enor-
mous pressure to which they have been subjtscted during the movements of tht earth's crust,
which resulted in the uplift of the mountains of the region, and th6 extrusion of the great
masses of granite here everywhere found. In these different stratified series no strong evi-
dence of unconforniability have been reported."

The series of stratified rocks may be quickly described in ascending order, i. e., by begin-
ning at the lowest series, the Shuswap.

(a.) The Shuswap, or lowest series, probably of Archaean age, consists of gneisses, mica-
schists, calcareous gneisses or calc-shcists, hornblendic schists, bedded diorites, crystalline lime-
stones or marble, and nearly pure quartzites.

(6.) The Nisconlith series of dark calc-schist holding occasional bands of limestone and
green schists.

(c.) The Kaslo Schists comprising a series of greenish, probably mostly diabase schists,
interbedded with some slates or dark argillites, and limestones.

(d.) The Slocan Slates or a series of dark shales and slates with limestones and calcare-
ous quartzites.

It is to be remembered that only parts of these districts have been geologically examined
as yet.

The Slocan Division.

In the "Summary Report " of 1894-95, Mr. McConnell says :

" The region between Slocan Lake and River and Kootenay Lake, particularly examined
during the season (1895), is covered mainly by granite fringed on the north and east by a
border of slates and schists, and is everywhere of a mountainous character. The granite mass,
originally dome-shaped, has been carved by the drainage system of the region into bold, craggy
mountains and mountain ranges, which culminate in a rugged mass of snow-clad peaks, situ-
ated between the south end of Slocan Lake and Ainsworth, the highest summits of which
approximate 9,000 feet in height above the sea. The principal streams of the district, includ-
ing Lemon Creek, Ten-Mile Creek (Slocan Lake), the south fork of Kaslo Creek, Woodbury
Creek, and Coffee Creek, radiate from this group and descend rapidly through deep, steep-
sided valleys to the main waterways. A second range of prominent peaks, scarcely inferior
in height to the central group, occurs north of the Kaslo-Slocan Railroad. The Whitewater,
Lyell Creek, and other tributaries of Kaslo Creek, head in glaciers which descend from this
range.

" The principal geological boundary in the district between Slocan Lake and River and
Kootenay Lake is the sinuous line separating the granite area from the liordering slates.
Starting from Four-Mile Creek, on Slocan Lake (at Silverton), this line follows that stream in
an easterly direction for ten miles, then bends to the north across the range separating Four-
Mile Creek from Cody Creek, and following the latter stream in a northerly direction for a
coujile of miles. From Co<ly Creek the granite border runs almost directly east of Twelve-
Mile Creek ; after crossing this creek the line becomes more irregular, as several spurs leave
the granite area and penetrate for varying distances the group of mountains lying between
Ten-Mile Creek and the south fork of Kaslo Creek. At the latter stream the granite recedes
a couple of miles, then bends around a deep embayment of slates, and continues on in an
easterly direction towards Kootenay Lake. Four miles from the Lake (now in the Ains-
worth Division) the line of junction turns abruptly southward, and contiimes in this direction
until near Balfour, where it bends more to the west and crosses the outlet of Kootenay Lake,
about four miles below its head. Inliers of slate in the granite occur at the head of Eight-
Mile Creek (Slocan Lake), on Four-Mile Creek, and .->*, other places, while bosses of granite,
separated from the main area, break through the slates at Paddy's Peak, Reco Mountain, and
north-east of New Denver.

" The upper series of stratified rocks, consisting mostly of dark, evenly bedded slates,
with some limestones, is largely developed in the Slocan Country, and is well shown along the
Kaslo waggcui road from Fifteen-Mile House westward, to a point a couple of miles west of

i I

s 1

H \

y I !

Three Forks, where this series is cut off by iin area of eruptive rocks. Soutliwiird the slates
of this series strike into the great granite mass which occupies the central part of the district,
and are all cut off, with the exception of a narrow strip which skirts the granite on the
east, as far south as the west area of Kootenay Lake."

* AiNswoRTit Division.

" The Shuswap series occupies the basin of the Kootenay Lake, from Kaslo south for at
least 40 miles. It borders both shores of the lake in bands varying in width from one to two
miles or more. The strike north of Balfour is nearly north and south, but south of the west
arm of Kootenay Lake it trends more to the west. The dip is almost invariably to the west,
except where overturns have taken place.

" The aeries of green schists, dark argillites and lime.stones which overlies the Shuswap
rocks, is well exposed along the waggon road from Kaslo to Three Forks. The green schist
and associated rocks extend southward with a gradually diminishing width to a point on the
west area of Kootenay Lake, two miles west of Balfour, where they are nearly, or altogether,
cut off by the granite. Southward from this point, about four miles east of the Ymir
Mountains two bauds of argillites interbeddod with crystalline limestones occur, which prob-
ably belong to the same formation."

East of the lake the Shuswap series, extending to the summit of the i-ar.ge, is developed
on a grand scale, while from the Town of Ainsworth westward each of the series is repre-
sented, the " Number One " and " Skyline " mines being in the narrow border of Slocan
Slates Series along the eastern limits of the granite border, as <lescril)ed above.

Nelson Division. ,

The granite area is much developed here, but a band of the green schists (Summary
Report, 1894), beginning near Ward's Ferry on the Kootenay River, strikes eastward across
Toad Mountain to the head of the Salmon River, then down the valley of this stream. The
distribution of this band iissumes the form of a bay of stratified rocks opening to the south, and
extending down through th(* Trail Creek District, with areas of uralite porphyrite and other
eruptive rocks, and penetrating towards the noitli, the central granitic area of the district.

On Toad Mountain, the green and grey very schistose rocks (Kaslo Schists .series ?), in
which is the Silver King lode, are believed by Dr. Daw.son " to he stratified volcanic material
of Palaeozoic age," and to consist in the most part of diabases and diabase porphyrites, and on
the east are underlain by the gneiss of the Shuswap series, and overlain on the west ne<ir Red
Mountain by reddish weathering slates.

Corrections.

In bulletin No. 2, the Report on Trail Creek Mining Division, the following errors were
made: — ,

(ffl.) The capital st()ck of the Commander Mining and Smelting Co., Spokane, Pres. W. J.
Harris, was stated to be .f!l,000,00 in $1 shares, instead of .1500,000.

(6.) The Palo Alto Mining Company is registered at Victoria, B. C, and not at Spokane.
Pres., L. F. Solly ; Sec, C. Dubois Maison, Victoria; Managing Director, W. G. Estep, are the
new officers elected last August 3rd.

The Slocan Mining Division.

The Ohe and Ore Deposits,

There are four distinct kinds of veins in the Slocan : —

1. The anjentiferons gah.nn, with zinc blend, and some grey-copper in a gangue or matrix
of quartz and spathic iron. These veins cut across the stratified ro.ks, and through the dykes
of eruptive rock, where, in many cases, there is a good body of ore, and they also occur in the
granite area, and with even the limited amount of prospecting, some have been traced from 3
to 4,000 feet along the strike, and one for nearly 2 iniles. In the Slocan slates, it has not yet
been proven, that as the vein cuts through shale.s, slates, limestones or quartzites, that any one
of the series has been more favourable to the formation of ore-bmlies than another, as in the
different veins it will be seen that good ore shutes may have the wall of any of these rocks
mentioned. The ore has been deposited along fissures, both in the open fissure cavities, and

the slates
e district,
ite on the

tuth for at
jne to two
if the west
) the west,

» Shuswap
reen schist
lint on the
alttigether,
tlie Yniir
hich prob-

i developed
(8 is repro-
of Slocan

; (Summary
vard across
ream. The
e south, and
s and other

district.

aeries 1), in
lie material

ites, and on

it near Red

[errors were

>res. W. J.

iit Spokane,
pp, are the

I or matrix
li the dykes
Iccur in the
bed from 3
Ihas not yet
^at any one
as in the
Ihese rocks
Lvities, and

by impregnation of the country rock, and in the cavity-filled veins can be seen the banded
structure described elsewhere, or the solid, usually big-cubed galena, shows lines of foliation
parallel with the walls, but it is evident that further motion has occurred along some of these
vein fissures, after ore has been deposited.

Most of the veins are narrow, varying from 2 and 3 inches, to 15 and 20 inches in width,
with occasional widenings to 3 or 4 feet of solid ore, and even much more, as seen in the Slo-
can Star and the Alamo-Idaho veins. The ore shutes are not persistent horizontally, as is
characteristic of nearly all veins, but ore is often continuous for several hundred feet, and
where it then pinches, a thin streak of oxides is the index usually followed in the search for
more ore, which seldom fails to re-appear with more or less work. The mistake is made some-
times of following along a slip-wall or crevice that may cross the vein crevice at a flat angle,
and thus lead the miner astray, fiesides the solid ore, some veins have associated with them
2, 3 or more feet of mixed ore, gangue and country rock, or a brecciated mass, which may be
of such grade as to pay well for concentration ; and already there are three concentrators, the
Alamo, Slocan Star and Washington, doing very satisfactory work, and the Noble Five mill
almost completed, with the erection of two, at least, contemplated this year. The product or
concentrates is silver-bearing galena, but any value contained in the decomposed material that
may enter the mill, will in all probability not be saved, likewise, that in much of the grey
copper, which apparently slimes btuily and escapes.

The ore is shipped as "crude," or the solid or unaltered sulphides, or as " carbonates," i.e.,
the decomposed ore, consisting of oxides and carbonates of iron, lead and silver, the mass hav-
ing a reddish-brown colour, with more or less yellow material ; those carbonates with a soft,
velvety feel, assaying highest in silver. All material about these veins should be carefully
assayed before being relegated to the waste-dump, where good ore, unsuspected, has already
been thrown, especially soft, iron-stained decomposed rock or vein matter.

Gold. — It might be well to be on the lookout for gold, remembering the good gold values
found in the galena ores of the Monitor mine, which yield from ?2 to $14 in gold per ton;
one lot of 20 tons of crude ore assaying $'20 per ton in gold, while the " carbonates " average
$13, the smelter paying for all gold above $2, or one-tenth of an ounce. The "carbonates "
seldom are as high grade in silver as the unaltered, or crude ore in the vein, but in some mines
this class of ore is very valuable.

While most of the veins are not wide, the richness of their ores greatly compensates, as
may be seen from the lead and silver values as per smelter returnn from a few of the mines
as: —

Slocan Star 80 to 95 ozs. silver per ton, 70 to 75 % lead.

Recb 83 to 730 i. .i 19 to 67 % n

Good-enough 167 to 507 i. » 15 to 67 % i.

Noble Five 62 to 543 .. .. 30 to 75 % ..

Last Chance 135 to 238 .. m 35 to 78 % .-

Wonderful 113 to 133 ., ., 70 to 76 % ..

Ruth 40 to 125 M M 15 to 73 % -.

Monitor 142 to 367 m .. 32 to 57 % ..

Wellington 125 to 328 .. .. 10 to 55 % ..

Whitewater 72 to 326 i. « 10 to 65 % ,i

Dai-danelles 149 to 470 m m 15 to 55 % m

Enterprise 155 to 180 n n 18 to 30 % t.

Two Friends 248 to 380 n n 38 to 52 % n

etc., etc., etc., etc.

The other Slocan mines have ore of the same character and high grade, as may be seen in
detailed accounts below. The lowest values in the al)ove indicate the lowest smelter returns
on ore that is classed as "carbonates." The average value of all the ore sold has been given
above.

Zinc. — In most of these veins the zinc blende carries a small silver value and is sorted or
concentrated out of the ore, so that vary little ore sent to the smelters has over 10% zinc
limit. But in the " Enterprise " mine, on Ten-Mile Creek, the best silver assays are said to be
got from the zinc blende, which is much more valuable than the galena. As is to be expected,
small lots of very rich ore are mined, lots that will yield from one to two thousand ounces per
ton, but the average figues already given will indicate the importance of these veins that are
now being mined in both the granite and stratified rocks of this district.

: 1

1 ='

i i

2. The veins of argentiferous tetrahedrite or grey copper and jainesonite and silver com-
pounds in a quartz gangue.

These veins can be seen in the granite exposure on the " Best " and " Rambler " mines,
and in the stratified rocks on the "London JHill" property, from which very high grade ore
b^ hoen shipped.

3. The " dry ore " mina on Springer and Lemon Creeks, in the granite, with a quarts
gangue containing argentite, native silver, and gold.

These veins are now attracting much attention, as high assay returns have been secured
as per smelter returns; sorted ore of this character from the Howard fraction yielding 163 to
to 206 ounces of silver per ton, and $16 to $26 per ton in gold.

The " Chapleau " recently received the smelter returns on four tons of sorted ore, from
which 3.6 ounces of gold and 94.7 ounces of silver per ton were returned, netting to the own-
ers $102 per ton after 'deducting freight and treatment charges.

4. The gold-quartz veins in the southern part of the granite, such as those reported' to be
on the Alpine group.

The values and characteristics of the last three mentioned classes of vein will be better
known later on, as the work now begun yields results and information.

Costs.

Mining. — (a.) The cost of driving tunnels and drifts varies from $3 to $9 per foot in
stratified rocks, and from $7 to $10 in the granite:

(6.) The cost of sinking shafts from $12 to $20, but so far little work of this kind has
l)een done:

(c.) The cost of stoping cannot be ascertained, but the following table, compiled by
Edmund B. Kirby, M. E., and given in a paper to the Colorado Scientific Society, December
Si-d, 1894, from experience gained in Colorado, where nearly similar conditions and cost of
labour, supplies, etc., obtain, may be of value: —

Approximate Yield and Cost of Stoping per ton of ore broken.

Thickness of Pay-streak.
Calculated for ore vi'heii 13 cubic feet = 1 ton.

A streak 4 inches wide yields

M O M II

M O II II

II 10 II II

II 1a II II

II 14 II II

Tons

per square fathom
of ore sheet.

0.92
1.38
1.85
2.31

2.77
3.23

Cost

of stoping per
ton.

$17.33
11.55
8.67
6.03
5.78
4.95

(d.) For labour the average paid miners is $3 50 for 10 hours, or $3 for 8 hours ; timber
men, $3.50 for 10 hours ; shift bosses, $4 to $5 a day ; blacksmiths, $3.50 to $4 per 10 hours ;
trammers and topmen, $2.50 to $3 for 10 hours:

(e.) For supplie.s, No. 1 s?iant powder costs about 18 to 22 cents a lb.; No. 2, $9 per
50 lb. box ; drill steel, IG cents a lb.; candies, $7 a 40 lb. box ; cordwood, $1.50 to $2.50 at
the mine ; rough timber, $11.50 to $12.50 per M. The cost of food and other supplies is now
very reasonable.

Transport ATT JN. — (a.) The cost of packing down ore on horses in the summer time
varies from $5 Lo $8.50 per ton to raih'oad. In the winter time, by rawhiding, $2.60 to $3.60
per ton :

{(>.) By waggons or sleighs, $1 to $2.50 per ton :

(c.) Cost of transportation from shipping centres to the smelters in the United States,
from Sandon, $7.50; from Slocan City, $11.00.

Treatment. — The treatment charges depend upon whether the ore is crude or "carbon-
ates," aiid on the latter according to the percentage of lead. On the crude ore, or nearly pure
galena, the smelter charges vary from $15.50 to $18 per ton; on the carbonates from $9 to
$15 per ton ; the $9 rate being given in one case where the leail did not exceed 20%.

l±

silver com-

)r" mines,
1 grade ore

)h a quartz

)en secured
ling 163 to

i ore, from
X) the own-

orted'to be

1 be better

per foot in

is kind has

DUipiled by
, December
md cost of

Cost

sloping per
ton.

«17.33
11.55
8.07
6.93
5.78
4.95

rs ; timber
10 hours ;

2, $9 per
o $2.50 ut
ilies is now

nraer time
to $3.60

;ed States,

r "carbon-
early pure
jom $9 to

The smelters pay for 95% of the silver and 90% of lead, assay values, at the New York
quotations at time of settlement.

For zinc, 50 cents is charged per unit— about 10%. The diHy on lead in the ore entering
the United States is J of a cent per ff).

Db8C!RIption of Claims.

In describing the mining properties the following grouping has been followed. Beginning
at Sandon, on the south fork of Carpenter Creek, now the distributing and main shipping
centre in the Slocan, where recently the Bank of British Columbia and the Bank of British
North America have opened offices : —

(n.) The mines and claims on the mountain range south of the creek are the Slocan Star,
Ruth, Wonderful, Canadian, and Adam's groups, Ivanhoe, Yakima, Alamo, Idaho, Cumbtr-
land. Queen Bess, Monitor, and adjacent claims :

(6.) The mines and claims on the south slope of the mountain range running east and
west, north of the creek, as Lucky Jim, Payne, Slocan Boy, R. E. Lee, Last Chance, Noble
Five, American Boy, Reco, Ooodenough, Blue Bird, ifec, with the claims in the basins on the
north slope as Northern Belle, Dardanelles, Rambler, Best, Surprise, Antoine, Washington, Ac:

(c.) The mines and claims north of the K. &». R. R., as the Whitewater, Wellington,
London Hill, (fee:

(d.) The mines and claims on the creeks tributary to Slocan Lake :

(e.) Claims on Cariboo Creek and its tributaries.

• Slogan Star.

This property has not only paid a larger amount of dividends, or $300,000, than any
other mine in British Columbia, apart from the coal and placer mines, but has proved itself to
be the largest silver-lead mine so far developed in the Province. It was discovered October
17th, 1891, by one of the present owners, Mr. Bruce White, and others, who, following up
Sandon Creek, discovered in the bed of this stream, a mile above its junction with the south
fork of Carpenter Creek, the site of the Town of Sandon, a vein 13 feet wide, of quartz and
spathic iron interspersed with galena, zinc blende, and angular pieces of the slate country rock.
Prospecting to the west in a dense forest of heavy timber along the strike of the vein, at
about 800 feet, a large exposure of the surface croppings of the large ore-shute was found, and
here the Slocan Star claim has developed the ore-body to be described below.

This group of claims, all Crown Granted or Crown Grants applied for, comprises the
Slocan Star, Slocan King, Silversmith, La Plunta_ Windsor, Shogo, Emma, and Jennie, of
which the Slocan Star, Slocan King, and Silversmith, arex claims, are located along the trend
of the vein for about 4,000 feet. It is owned by the Byron N. White Co., Pres., Angus
Smith, Milwaukee, Wis.; Gen. Manager, Byron N. White; Superintendent, Bruce White,
Sandon. Capital stock of the company 1,000,000 shares at 50 cents each.

Ore-Body. — This vein cuts across the steep, heavily timbered mountain side and nearly
at right angles to the well stratified slates, quartzites and silicious limestones of the Slocan
slate series, with an east and west strike and a dip of 54° to the south. While this vein has
been traced through and beyond this property into other claims, it has not yet been traced
continuously, nor has it any constant width, varying from a width of a few feet to 20 or 30
feet, with in other places no signs of mineralization at all along the lissure along which the
country rock has been more or less shattered and the ascending mineral-bearing solutions have
formed large deposits or shutes of fine ore. A large porphyry dyke runs nearly parallel with
the vein and in places in the mine is found in it, but evidently afl'ected by this fissure.

Along this fissure is seen much brecciated slate cemented together by the gangue
materials, galena and blende, and in many other parts of the mine was noticed more or less
parallelism in the deposition of the different minerals; but one interesting peculiarity noticed
was the fact that many samples of ore clearly showed by the separation by the quartz of
corresponding parts that the sulphides, as galena or blende, after deposition, had been shattered,
perhaps, by further movement along this line of break, and then cemented into the present
mass by quartz.

It is doubtful if two well-defined walls can be traced in this mine, for while the hanging
or fissure wall is very distinct, the ore merges into the country rock towards the supposed
foot-wall, but more time could not be spent in very careful observation. In the mining of this
one large ore shute as has been opened up and exploited upon the Slocan Star, the ore body

T
1

III

1 1

I III

has been found to vary from a few feet to 25 feet in wichh of mixed but pay ore, and n large
amount of ore has been mined from bodies 2 to 8 and 10 feet wide of solid galena.

Ore. — (a) The first-class ore consists of the nearly pure galena, both fine and coarse-grained,
carrying some grey copper and some blende, but not enough to pass the excess line, or 10% of
zinc. Average value, 95 ozs. silver per Ion, 72 to 75% lead.

This ore is sacked and shipped direct to the smelters.

(6) The concentrating ore consists of the mixed ore or the spathic iron quartz ganguo
with galena, with a little grey copper, and in all the oie there are evidently some of the silver
sulphides. The large amount of mixed ore taken from the upper workings and kept separate
became available on the construction of the concentrator, and was being sent down the hill.
In concentrating most of the blende is removed so that the concentrates carry not more than
6% zinc. Average value of concentrates, 80 ozs, silver per ton, 70% lead.

The Mine. — This main ore shute has been developed for a distance of 430 feet along the
vein and to a depth of nearly 350 feet from the surface down on the dip, and from it several
small bodies of ore have formed along divergent crevices.

Tunnel No. 1 was first run into the large surface exposure for 50 feet and then stopes
were run to the surface or 30 feet. ,

Tunnel No. 2 is a cross-cut for 100 feet, and then a drift for 100 feet, with a stope up to
No. 1 80 feet long and 4 to 10 feet wide.

Tunnel No. 3 is 70 feet below No. 2, and in cross-cutting at 70 feet, intersecting a leader
of ore drifted upon for 25 feet, and then passing through the slates, more or less mineralized,
cut the main lead at 150 feet. A drift 150 feet to the west, through low-grade ore, entered
a splendid body of high-grade ore which, on being stoped back 110 feet to the east, had led
back to within a few feet of connecting with the short drift run at a 70-foot mark in the
tunnel, thus leaving a pillar nearly 40 feet wide of what promises to be low grade, but paying,
concentrating ore. This stope is now 180 feet long and 4 to 7 feet wide, and is worked up
for most of the distance to the upper level, while the drift has a total length of 430 feet along
most of which is much concentrating ore. But this shute has developed its largest and most
productive ore body between the level and No. 4, below which no work will be done until
Tunnel No. 5 reaches the ledge.

Tunnel No. 4 was the main working entry at the time of visit, and here were erected
the ore-bins at the upper terminal of the gravity tramway to the concentrator. At a distance
of 575 feet this tunnel entered the vein, where it was 10 to 12 feet wide, and to the west
a drift of 75 feet long had encountered a fault which had not been explored, but up along
which a stope had been extended a short distance in, 8 to 10 feet of mixed ore. Easterly from
the tunnel, at 100 feet, an up-raise had been made 210 feet to the next level, and all the way
in good but mixed ore, with 14 to 16 feet of concentrating ore at the foot or tunnel level. At
150 feet in this east level a cross-cut showed up a width of over 25 feet of mixed ore with
several feet of solid galena, but at the face, or 225 feet, the shi^te was then narrowed to 3 feet.
A large amount of sloping has been done for 70 or 80 feet below level No. 3, where the body
of clean ore had been 8 to 10 feet thick, but a large amount of ore was still showing in all the
limits af these stopes.

Tunnel No. 5 was in 200 feet in the slates, with 600 feet remaining to reach the vein
210 feet on the dip below level No. 4. The ground was all ready for the building and air-
compressor plant, i. e., 4-drill Rand and an 80-horse-power boiler, and rapid progress would be
made with the machine drills in the extended exploration of this claim, along this level.

On the "Silver King" to the east, near the vein exposure in the creek, a tunnel had been
driven in 80 feet, but although there was considerable ore for some of the distance, the ground
was much broken up. To the west, on the "Silversmith," ore was exposed in some .shallow
cuts, but this claim has in realitj oeen but very little prospected.

Timber and Water are abundant for mining purposes — the timber being of large size, and
immediately at the mine, where the stopes are timbered up with heavy stulls and lagging.

Transportation. — A steep waggon road from Sandon climbs up past the mill to tunnel
Nos. 3, 4 and 5, but all ore is sent down to the mill by the 3-rail gravity tramway, about
1,600 feet long, covered where necessary by snow-sheds, the concentrating ore being automati-
cally dumped into the mill bins, the sacked first-class ore being loaded into ore waggons or
sleighs, and drawn, also the concentrates, \ mile to the railroad at Sandon, at a cost of 80
cents per ton. Number of men employed 83, of which 55 were in the mine, and 10 at the mill.

■\

ad ft large

se-g rained,
or 10% of

rtz ganguo
E the silver
pt separate
vn the hill,
more than

t along the
n it several

then stopes

stope up to

ting a leader
mineralized,
[ire, entered
ast, had led
mark in the
, but paying,
1 worked up
\0 feet along
ist and most
3 done until

were erected
Lt a distance

to the west
ut up along
lasterly from

all the way
b1 level. At
:ed ore with

ed to 3 feet,
ire the body
|ng in all the

ich the vein
ling and air-

iss would be

level.
|nel had been

!, the ground
lome shallow

Lrge size, and

[lagging.

Ill to tunnel

mway, about

ag automati-

waggons or

cost of 80

> at the mill.

TllK CONCRNTRATOR.

This n ill, designed and constructed by Mr. T. L. Mitchell, Sandon, who built the Wash-
ington Mine Concentrator, and is now completing the mill for the Noble Five Mining Co., is
situated at the foot of the tramway, and is 46 by 102 feet, with four floors.

Bins. — There are two liiO tons capacity each, one for the coarse ore from the mine, the
other for crushed ore below the crusher for supply.

Power. — (a.) A Pelton wheel, a 3-foot steel disk, with a 1^-in. nozzle, supplies, when the
water is sufficient, ample power, and is situated on the upper floor, so that the water from it,
after going through a 12-niesh screen, may be used for waahing in the operation of the mill.

(6.) When water is scarce, an auxiliary steam engine will be used, or a 40 h. p. engine,
with a 50 h. p. boiler.

Water. — (a.) A flume 3,000 feet long in two brandies, brings from Sandon and another
small stream, water that flows down through 1,200 feet of spiral rivetted steel pipe, the lower
250 feet 7 in. in diameter, with a total head of 471 feet at the wheel. (6.) Another flume
from Cody Creek, 9,650 teet long, 2x2 feet, on a 0.2% grade, costing $7,400, now supplies
water for washing purposes in the mine, but has no head for power.

Machinery was made by E. P. Allis & Co,, Milwaukee, much after Mr. Mitchell's
designs, and comprises : —

(a.) A Blake crusher. Reliance pattern, 9 by 15 inches :

(6.) Four sets of rolls. Reliance pattern, 14 by 26 inches:

(c.) Six Hartz jigs, i. e., 2 double 2-compartment, and 1 double 3-compartment jigs :

{d.) Six 2-compartment CoUum jigs:

(e.) Elevutors, trommels, classifiers and settling tanks, etc.:

(/) Two double-decked round slime tables, 18 feet diameter.

Method op Concentration. — The ore from the crusher is automatically fed by a cam-
feeder to 2 sets of coarse rolls, whence the material is elevated by elevator No. 1, into one
revolving screen with 3 sizes of screens, from which («) the refusal of the screens passes to 2
coarse Hartz jigs ; (6) the material from the 16 m.m. (.64 in.) screen, to 2 coarse Hartz jigs ;
(c) the material from the 7 m.m. (.28 in ) screen, to 2 coarse Hartz jigs ; (rf) the material from
the 3 m.m. (.12 in.) screen, passes to 2 three-compartment hydraulic classifiers, which give 3
separations, each of which goes to two of the double-compartment Collum jigs, while the over-
flow passes on to the V-shaped settling tanks, or species of spitz-kasten, from which each of the
four sizes of fine stuff goes to its own slime table.

The pitch of each slime table is different, so as to conform to the size of the fine sand fed
to it, and by using two water sprays, 3 separations are here made, the heads, middlings and
tails, of which the middlings pass back by elevator No. 2, to the hydraulic classifiers.

The middlings from four coarse jigs pass to the coarse set of middlings rolls, and thence
back to elevator No. 1, the 7 m.m. middlings to middlings rolls, and thence to elevator No. 2,
while the fine middlings from six Collum jigs, go to fine middlings rolls, which discharge into
elevator No. 2. The automatic discharge material from six coarse jigs, and the sieve work
from the six Collum jigs, and the heads from the tables, pass by the concentrate sluices to the
concentrator bins below, whence they are shoveled into sacks of 155 tts. to 160 each, while the
over-flow, carrying much fine material, goes into the settling Uxnka in the slime house.

Capacity of Mill is up to 150 tons of ore per 24 hours, the ratio of the concentration
varying, of course, with the grade of the ore sent down from the mine.

The mill has worked excellently from the start and is giving groat satisfaction The
protluct is very clean galena, with seldom over 6 %, and never up to 10 %, of zinc, but there
is a considerable loss of silver, some of which is carried away in the blende, while the greatest
source of loss is believed to be in the grey copper, much of which escapes in the finest slimes.

Cost was, for buildings, $12,700; for machinery, not including engine and boiler, $17,000.

Other claims. — To the east considerable work by tunneling has been done on the
Eureka claim, which lies up on the steep mountain side along which this vein, by the angle of
its dip, would be expected to run. Between 60 and 70 tons of ore have been shipped during
1894-5-6.

The Babbit Paw, lying to the south and west, is bein/;
searching for its extension westward of the vein.

prospected by a company who are

Hutu.

This group of claims, the Rath, Ifojte, Wyomint/, and the linfh Frnctioii, all surveyed for
Crown grants, are located on the same mountain side, one-half mile from the SSlocan Star and
one and one-quarter miles by road from Sandon, and was owned by the locators, F. P. O'Neil,
D. C. Clark, J. Y. Kesler, F. E. Starkey, D. E. McVcy, and W. H. McVey until last Octol)er,
when two-thirds interest in this property was sold for $166,000 to Mr. H. M. Foster, England,
Messrs. D. E. and VV. H. McVey retaining their one-third interest.

After many hardships and disappointments, hut persistent prospecting, the Ruth vein
was accidentally disclosed by a small piece or two of irun-stained rock sticking in the roots of
a wind-fallen tree that had stood nearly on the top of the ledge, and even then considerable
work had to be done before the ore shute was struck from which has since come the mine's
pnMluction. Under the direction of the foreman, D. S. McDougal, this property has been
prospectetl in a systematic manner, and all the work has been done with care arul thorough-
ness, which has greatly enhanced its market value, ivs is evidenced by the recent transfer at
such good terms.

The vein dipping N. W. 60^-90° strikes aci-oss the slates N. E. by S, W., and carries in
the gangue of spathic iron and some quartz very cojvrsely crysbiUine galena, that runs from
100 to 120 ounces in silver per ton and 54 to 76 % lead, while within surface influences the
sulphides have been changed to the " carbonates," that run from 30 to 65 ounces of silver per
ton, of both of which clivsses of ore 1,500 tons have been sent to the smelters. The width
varies, but in one drift the shute was seen to be at one part 9 feet wide, but as far as the
vein was opened up, or 800 feet, it was very persistent and regular in its course, the fault
dislocations being small. The ore is always banded parallel, of course, with the walls, and in
the upper workings bands of galena have bands of the oxidized ore on either side, or there
were in the other parts alternate bands of spathic iron, galena, and blende.

The Mine. — Tunnel No. 1 follows the vein or vein crevice ftir 350 feet, but the ore
shute is not reached by it, it not being far enough into the mountain to be under the ore
mined in the tunnels above.

Tunnel No. 2 was 740 feet long (Aug 16th), but for 90 feet but little ore was found, or
11 tons, but beyond this the vein, tliough small, is more defined, until 1.50 feet in, where a
stope 160 feet long begins, and runs up 40 feet, with an average width of 3-3^ feet, with ore
still in the roof. An upraise of 85 feet connects with tunnel No. 3. Farther in was another
stope 55 feet long and up 30 feet, showing at the top 4^ feet of banded ore or galena, spathic
iron, and "carbonates." Still another stopo 160 feet long, 3^-4 feet wide, was up about 40
feet with ore in the roof, while beyond this in the tunnel level there was a width of 8 feet of
first-class ore for a length of 25 feet, and at 630 feet an 80 foot upraise, also in ore. In the
breast of the tunnel the vein was passing through a porphyry dyke, but only as a narrow seam
of ore.

Tunnel No. 3 was 330 feet long with orr^ all this distance, but not so wide as below,
although at the face were 3 feet of galena and decomposed ore or "carbonates." As the
ground was soft all the tunnels were timbered up in an excellent manner and every part of
the mine was in the best of order, and there is much good timber on the property. A waggon
road 6,600 feet long had just been completed at a cost of $1,575, thus giving easy facilities for
the shipment of ore to the railways. Number of men employed 25.

WONUEKFUL.

The Wonderful, 34.50 acres. Crown Grant, and the Lookout, and Cohimbun mineral loca-
tions, situated on the mountain slope about one mile west of the Ruth and Slocan Star, and
south of the bianch of Carpenter Creek, is owned by the Wonderful (Jroup Mining Co., of
Spokane, Pres., W. W. D. Turner; Sec, H. G. Bell, Spokane. Capital stock $1,000,000 in
$1 shares. Superintendent, E. J. Field, Sandon.

The mining operations conducted during the last season on the Wonderful, were rather
unique. The property had been under bond to Jno. A. Finch, who had done over 2,000 feet
of underground work, mostly along the supposed course of a vein, but with not very successful
results, only two carloads of ore being shipped from these workings in 1895. Ore was found
Bcatteretl through the wash and the much shattered slates near the surface, so the company
decided to prospect the claim by bringing water from one of the small streams in a small
flume and then letting it cut its way down through the wash to bed-rock as it rushed down
the mountain side to Miller Creek. Water was turned on June 18th, and it was found that

*Av

Rurv(«yed for
can Htar and
F. P. O'Neil,
last Octolier,
ter, England,

le Ruth vein
the roots of
consulerahlo
^ the mine's
rty hiv8 l)een
nd thorough-
it transfer at

d carries in
at runs from
iHuences the
of silver per
The width
as far a.s the
rsp, the fault
walls, and in
iide, or there

, but the ore
inder the ore

as found, or
t in, where a
eet, with ore
was another
l(;na, spathic
p about 40
8 feet of
In the

)re.

narrow seam

e as below,
As the
very part of
A waggon
facilities for

linoral loca-
■n Star, and
ning Co., of
,000,000 in

wi're rather
2,000 feet
successful
was found

le company
in a small

ishe<] down

found that

pieci's of galena ore were Iwing left in the liottom of the cut, and this prospecting then
developed into hydraulic mining, the water being allowed to run for several hours, when there
would be a " clean up " of tons of high grade ore, with the result that over $25,000 were thus
won.

As the work proceeded it was seen that the mineral-bearing wash or debris was not more
than 100 to 120 feet wide, while the real " pay dirt " had a much less width than this, and as
seen in the cut that as the channel cut down it left on either side country rock apparently in
place. In vhe pay dirt there was not only the solid ore but much decomposed mineral, all of
which of course was swept away, only the boulders of galena, with all the surface decomposed,
remaining; one of solid galena weighing over 13 cwt. While some believed that the ore had
lieen brought down from a vein higher up on the mountain side, the fact ihat this ore was
found only in a narrow channel, and that immediately above the slope of the mountain ran
back with a gentle rise, led to the belief that the washing was b<>ing done vory close to the
vein, if not immediately above it, and this conclusion then arrived at has apparently lieen con-
firmed in that this washing is now reported by the manager to have disclosed the solid vein in
place, with a strike S. W. and N. E., and regular underground mining has been begun.

A good wide track or trail, 7,500 feet long, was built from th(i mine to Sandon, and the
ove is packed out to the railroad, the ore assaying from 113 to 133 ounces of silver per ton,
and 70-76 % load, and Mr. Field has succeeded not only, as he claims, in uncovering the vein
by this method of prospecting, but has recovered 400 tons of first class ore from the debris.

■' ' ' ARgO.

North of the townsite of Sandon are three claims, the Argo, Belt, and St. Charles, owned
by \Vm. Snowdon, Jno. A. Whittier, and Alex. McDonald, and inmiediately above the K. <b
S. 11. 11. and a few hundred feet from the town, hence near the bottom of the deep valley of
this branch of Carpenter Creek, ore was found during the past summer, and on the surface in
one place the vein was cleaned off for 10 to 12 feet, sliowing a maximum width of three to tour
feet of solid ore. A tunnel, then 45 feet long, was being run to explore this new ledge.

Monitor.

This claim, 1,500 by 1,500 feet. Crown Grant to be applied for, and the Hustler Fraction,
are located at Three Forks, on the south slope of the south fork of Carpenter Creek, and are
t)wneil by the locator, George A. Petty, who, finding the white-coated galena float on the
hillside after considerable search, found the vein which runs north-east and south-west and
dips south-east 60^ to 90°, crossing the slates at right angles, in close proximity to a porphyry
dyke. This vein varies in width from a few inches to 3^ feet of galena and carbonate, or oxide
ore, and by surface cuts has been found to be faulted in two places to the north-west — at one
point 50 feet and the other 30 feet.

The lowest tunnel. No. 1, 161 feet long, is a cross-cut, but has not yet disclosed the vein,
but in No. 2, 15 feet higher up the hill and 275 feet long, the ore is continuous for 195 feet,
and from 3 inches to 2 J feet wide, and at the face the 50-foot fault is struck and a cross-
cut to the west is being driven to pick up the continuation of the lead. Tunnel No. 3, 100
feet above, after cross-cutting 50 feet had just struck the vein, where it was much broken up.
Tunnel No. 4, 110 feet above No. 3 and 480 feet from the north end-line of the claim, or 300
feet south-west of the mouth of No. 1, is a crosscut for 73 feet, and then a drift both ways
along the vein, with a stope 75 feet long and 38 feet to the surface in which was a fine shute
of ore, 1 2 to 16 inches wide, that at either end has changed to zinc blende, but in all probability
will again be found to improve on extending the drift. The foot-wall of the vein is very
smooth and regular, and apart from the solid ore there is much shattered slate cemented with
quartz and galena. The 30-foot fault is south-west of this working. All the mine buildings,
ore-sheds and mine timbering, where such was necessary, were in first-class order, and there is
much good timber on the claim.

The ore is similar to that found in the other veins in the Slocan, only it carries an
appreciable value in gold, the smelter returns showing that the galena, or crude ore, as shipped
in car-load lots, ivssays from $2 to 14 per ton in gold, 142 to 304 ounces of silver, and 37 to
55% lead, netting, after deducting freight and smelter charges, from $91 to $203 per ton, one
shipment of 19 tons returning $20 in gold per ton, 367.6 ounces of silver and 32% lead, or
$249 »et per ton. In the carbonate ores the gold values averaged for 88 tons over $13 in gold

'I ;

per ton, the silver values ranging from 128.4 to 323.8 ounces per ton, iind the lead from 19 to
33%, or !>M3 to 1212.40 net per ton. No tests have been nmde, as known, to dftermiiio
whether this gold occurs in the sulphides or dessiniinated in a free stale iit the ({uartz. Nuni-
bHr of men engaged 12.

Other Claims. — On the mountain slope west of Carpenter Creek, the Idler is being worked
by the Idler Mining Company, who have a vein of silver galena ore.

Alamo.

The Alamo Mining Company, capital stock $500,000, General Manager J. D, Farrel,
Spokane, Superintendent P. J. Hickey, own the Alamo, Ivy Leaf, 7'win Lakua, 76.6 acres.
Crown-granted, and the Clarence, Hampton, Victory, Morning and the Continental claims
situated in the Alamo Basin, 3^ miles up Howson Creek, which enters Carpenter Creek near
where the concentrator is erected, along the track of the C.P.R., one mile bfelow Three Forks.

The Mike. — In this vein has been found one of the largest and most productive ore
shutps ynt mined in the Slocan, an ore shute that extends into and is being worked on the
Idaho claim. This vein strike, east and west (mag.) dip south 70° to 80°, crosses a deep spur
from the main ridge, and thus offers the beat of facilities for the driving of tunnels along it at
different levels. Along this line of fiasuring in the slates is much brecciated country rock,
quartz, lime spar, spathic iron and ore, of which 8 to 9 feet of solid galena, interspersed with
grey copper, have been stoped out, also carbonate ores, wliile nmch mixed or mill ore has been
senk down to the concentrator. In some of the levels there has Iwen encountered a cross-fault
of considerable throw beyond which the ore shute has since been pick(!d up. Tunnel No. 4,
the lowest, extends west for 300 feet along the vein which here carries little ore, and the fault
being met, the drift was run north-west 130 feet, then south-east 34 feet, striking again, appar-
ently, the ledge. In tunnel No. 3, in 340 feet, and No. 2, a large amount of ore has been stoped
out up to the Idaho side-line, the ore shute being 4 to 6 feet wide, the ore breaking to two
smooth walls between which is both solid ore and ore mixed with shattered slates and quartz.
Tunnel No. 1, 240 feet below the summit of the spur, was in several hundred feet, and the
stopes from the lower levels continue on up for 30 to 40 feet above this level, when it pinches
above where has been found the greatest width of ore in the mine. There is ample room for
other tunnels below No. 4, and such will yet be driven in to exploit a large area of the vein.
Ore is being found on other claims on this group, and men were at work prospecting and
developing these other leads.

Transportation. — (a) From Tunnel No. 3 a 3-rail tramway, 340 feet long, ends in the
ore-bins at (6) a very good waggon road, 3 miles long, dropping down 1,700 feet to the ore-
bins at the head of (e) the exceptionally long 3-rail gravity tramway, 7,100 feet long,
which is in two sections, 3,400 feet and 3,700 feet long respectively, and dropping 1,675 feet,
delivers the ore into the bins at the mill at the C. P. 11. track. The waggon road also runs
down to the mill.

The Concentrator. — From the supply bins of 1,500 tons capacity, the ore is trammed into
the mill, which is built large enough to permit, if needed, the doubling of the present plant of
machinery. On the upper floor, after passing over a grizzly, the ore is fed to a Comet breaker,
whence it passes to 16 by 30 inch rolls, and thence by elevator to 3 5-foot trommels, deliver-
ing 4 sizes to the jigs on the next floor, of which there are (1)1 coarse two-compartment Hartz
jigs, (2) 2 three-compartment Hartz jigs, and (3) 2 four-compartment Hartz jigs. The mid-
dlings pass to a 5-foot Huntingdon mill, and for classifying the fine stuff, Lake Superior classi-
fiers are in use, the tailings going into V-shaped settlers, that feed to 4 double-decked 18-foot
round tables. The power is got from a Pelton wheel generating 80 h. p., with water under a
224 foot head in a 12 inch penstock, from a flume that runs about 2 miles to the heatl gates on
the south fork of Carpenter Creek, the water of Howson Creek being also utilised. The sacked
concentrates are then loaded directly upon the railroad cars.

This mill was built by Frascr and Chalmers, Chioago, and its daily capacity i- 50 tons.
It is owned by the Slocan Milling Company, and is under the managemonc of Mr. Farrel.

Idaho-Cumberland.

The Cumberland Mining Co., capital stock $500,000 in JjlO shares, also under the man-
agement of Mr. Farrel and Superintendent Hickey, owns the Cnmhcrlnnil, Crown Grant, 32.74
acres, High Ore, Daisy, Eastern, Thistle, and the Idaho Mining Co., the Idaho and St. John,
Crown-granted, 101.53 acres.

v.._ V.

he lead from 1 9 to
)wn, to dftormiiH)
the (|uartz. Nuiii-

(er is being worked

iger J. D. Parrel,
Lakes, 76.6 acres,
Continental claims
periter Creek near
lelow Three Forks.
ost productive ore
ing worked on the
rosses a deep spur
tunnels along it at
sited country rock,

interspersed with
r mill ore has been
ntered a cross-fault
p. Tunnel No. 4,
e ore, and the fault
•iking again, appar-
ore has been stoped
e breaking to two

slates and quartz,
dred feet, and the
b1, when it pinches
is ample room for
3 area of the vein,
k prospecting and

long, ends in the

)0 feet to the ore-

7,100 feet long,

opping 1,675 feet,

^on road also runs

are is trammed into

e present plant of

o a Comet breaker,

trommels, deliver-

mpartment Hartz

z jiijs. The mid-

,ke Superior olassi-

)le-decked 18-foot

th water under a

the head gates on

lised. The sacked

pacity i ■ 50 tons.
)f Mr. f arrel.

under the man-
rown Grant, 32.74
.ho and St. John,

On the Idaho ground, the extension of the Alamo > <in is being worked through that
mine — tunnels 1, 2 and 3 having been extended across the line. In tunnel No. 1, a stope 26
to 30 feetalwve the level, had 10 to 30 inches of very good ore, and up a 60 foot raise, 12-16
inches of solid ore continued to the top, while in the face of the level were 2 feet of solid
galena, and 4 to 5 feet of mill ore. These claims lie north and west of the Alamo group, in
the Idaho basin.

In the Idaho basin, reached by a branch rotvd one-half mile long from the main road,
another vein on the Idaho, striking N. E. and S. W., and dipping S. E. 60°-70°, yielded a
large amount of good ore from the upper cuts and tunnels, but in the main tunnel 660 feet
long, there was found little ore, but 10 to 12 feet of brecciated slate, quartz, calcite and iron
pyrites.

On the Cumberland, four tunnels had been driven iti on a vein that runs parallel with the
one just mentioned on the Idaho, but being only 150 to 200 feet west, it had not yet been
shown whether this is another vein, or the Idaho vein faulted. The upper tunnels Nos. 1
and 2 were caved in, but in No. 3, a narrow vein of nearly solid galena and blende had been
followed and stoped out for a distance of 350 feet, and in an under-hand stope a streak of 4 to
10 inches of galena was being mined. Tunnel No. 4 was not being worked. Several hundred
feet lower down, a cross-cut tunnel had been driven 500 feet, to cut two small veins showing
on the surface. \ll ore is shipped by the Alamo road and tramway, and treated, if concentrat-
ing ore, at the i nil, and this property la proving very productive. On the Idaho and Alamo
35 men were, eugaged.

Otheu Claims. — The Hustler and Silver Belt, lying south-west, and west of the Idaho
claim, owned by a Victoria syndicate, are said to lt)e traversed by both the Alamo-Idaho
vein and the Idaho-Cumberland vein, on the latter of which work has been done, and much
more will be done this summer.

Yakima.

The Yakima, Sunshine, Monday and Oregon in the next basin east of the Alamo, owned
by the Sunshine Mining Co., Manager J, D. Farrel, was not visited, as work had been
suspended, but several carloads of galena ore had been shipped from this property during 1894
and 1895.

Other Cl.mms. — Many other claims on these slopes are now being prospected, and
with successful lesults On the Wild Goose and CorintU, owned by J. Gilhooley, A. J.
Murphy, and A. Behue, Three Forks, a vein of solid galena, 6 inches to 2 feet in width, has
been stripped for 200 feet on the surface, and ore is now being mined in a tunnel driven in
on this ledge. These claims are about three-quarters of a mile by trail up the creek beyond
the Queen Bess.

Queen Bess.

On the east slope of Howson Creek, opposite to the Idaho Basin, are the Qveen Bess,
Yoking Dominion, Crown-granted, 78.2 acres, and the May Be, Concord, American Girl, Huh,
and First Extension, the property of Jas. Moran, Jno. A. Finch, P. Larson, et al.. Superin-
tendent, Jas. Moran, Three Forks. A ridge separates these claims and the Monitor, and on
the Queen Bess claim has been done most of the work, resulting in the discovery of four
veins within 500 feet. On the east vein a tunnel had been driven 200 feet, in which the
ground was much broken up and the small vein decompo.sed, the ore from which produced in
shipments by leasers in 1893, of 40 tons, 96 ounces of silver per ton and 74% lead. Work
was being pushed ahead on the west vein, 300 feet distant, and in a 65-foot tunnel, after 15
feet of surface material, a vein, strike N. E. and S. W., dip S. E. 80 to 85, was followed for 45
feet and stoped up 20-30 feet, producing high grade ore assaying 141 ounces of silvei- per ton
and 75% lead of a very coarse cuV,ed galena, of which 25 or 30 tons piled on the dump were
being sacked for shipment to the Omaha and Grant smelter. At the face a winze was being
sunk on two leaders of galena separated by four feet of slate. The third vein lying between
the east and west leads had only been stripped and thus traced for 200 feet, but there was a
wide zone heavily iron-stained, slightly impregnated with galena, and reported to give assays
in gold of $4 to $6 per ton. The fourth vein is 100 feet west of the west lead, and at the.
surface 6 inches wide of carbonate ore assaying 50 to 60 ounces of silver and up to 40% lead.
The ore will be packed down over a short trail to the road and thence one-half mile to the
Alamo tramway, and then delivered at cne C.P.R. track. It had been decided to thoroughly
explore this property, and this winter 14 men are employed.

: I

I I I

!|ll

56
Canadian Group.

On the summit of the ridge, at an altitude of about 7,200 feet, between the south fork of
Carpenter Creek and Four-Mile Creek, or two miles S. W. of Sandon, whence a trail via the
Ruth mine runs to these properties, are the Adams and Brnudon, Crown-granted 86.1 acres,
and the Kntie 2)., Sarah B., and Hill I'op, owned by M. Adams, Sandon, and W. H. Brandon,
Slocan City. Several small galena veins are to be seen on these claim i, but as yet not much
work has been done to explore them. On the Hill Top a small vein of galena a few inches
wide can be traced for some distance, strike N. and S., dip west 60°. On the south slope of
the Brandon a vein is traceable down the hill for several hundred feet, sticking up as a rib of
galena, culcite, and quartz, 4 to 12 inches thick, in which are driven two short tunnels, in the
upper one of which the ore is cut off, while in the lower there are 3 to 5 feet of mixed milling
ore. About 1,200 to 1,500 feet east of this is another vein, strike north and south,
dip 60° west, which, although small, can be traced up the slope for several hundred feet and
then down through the bottom of a narrow gully in the cliff, forming the north slope of the
ridge at this point. A tunnel was in 35 feet under a smooth hanging wall, t v the vein
consisted mostly of coarse calcite, with some galena, but on the surface the ore was sticking
out in places in ribs of solid big-cubed galena. There is very little or no timber on this ridge,
and only small springs of water. Trails lead over to the Alamo and Idaho mines to the west
along the ridge, or down the mountain to the south to Four-Mile Creek, and thence to Silver-
ton, on Slocan Lake. No work was being done at time of visit — Aug. 21st.

The Tvanhoe.

Lying next to the Canadian group, on the east, are the Ivanhoe and Elgin, Crown-granted
81 acres, owned by the Minnesota Silvei ' 'o., Ltd., Pres., W. H. Yawkt^y, and under the
same management as the Idaho and Alamo.

Mr. INIcConnel, in his report of 1895, says, •' Tiie Ivanhoe, situated high up on the slope
of the mountain, shows several nearly paral'ei veins. Two cross-cut tunnels the upper 50 feet
and the lower 90 feet in length, connected by an upraise of 70 feet, have been driven, and drifts
have been extended along the lead from the ends of both tunnels for varying distances. The
workings have exposed an ore shute 60 to 70 feet in length, with a maxiuuim width of five
feet of pure and concentrating ore. A contract for a third cross-cut tunnel, 150 feet below
No. 2, had been let at time of visit."

During the past year about 15 carloads of ore were shipped to the smelters, and develop-
ment work is being continually carried on.

Adam's Gkoup.

On the same high ridge, and on the west of the Canadian group, lie the /irifoiiiarte, Chamb-
h't, Crown Grants, 86.3 acres. Midnight, Mammoth and Slatnr Fraction, owned by Capt. 11. C.
Adams, Montreal, et al. '

In the slates and limestones run many dykes and spurs of porphyry, and on the south
slope on the Britoniarte, close to the Canadian group, an open cut exposes a vein of mixed ore,
i. i:, cube galena, calcite, and (juartz, 15 to 30 inches wide, running north and south with a dip
of 80' west, this \'ein crossing over the ridge where it stands up as a narrow rib of solid galena
ore 4 to 14 inches wide and intersecting on the north slope another galena-bearing vein. On
th(! south slope, running down the hill, are three or four narrow veins of galena clo.se together,
that nearly merge into one another at a point where a 12-foot tunnel has been driven in on a
vein of 4 to 12 inches wide of nearly pure galena. On the north .slope is a v(>ry stet^p, rocky
face, scored yearly by snow-slides, and running nearly parallel with the dykes, are several small
veins of the same kind of ore as found in the others. On one of the.se veins, traceable to the
summit, a tunnel was being driven, and for its length, or 20 feet, there were four feet of mixed
ore, calcite, coarse galena, blende, and grey cojjpcr, of which six or seven tons were on the
dump. Above the tunnel on the surface this vein siiowed 8 feet of mixed ore, with small,
nearly parallel, veins, evidently stringers fron> the main lead. About one hundred feet S. W.
of this vein is another that showed in one placid four feet of mixed ore, and was running 60°
E. by S. 60" W. On the south slope two tunnels have been run in to tap these veins, one for
50 f(!et, 150 feet below tln^ summit, wher(^ in a cut were 6-7 tavi of concentrating ore, ond the
other 400 feet below the summit, for 245 feet, in which for the last 40 feet some ore had been
followed.

the soutli fork »»f
ce a trail via the
nted 86.1 acres,
I W. H. Brandon,
as yet not much
lena a few inches
the south slope of
ing up as a rib of
rt tunnels, in the
of mixed milling
orth apd south,
liundred feet and
orth slope of the
jvall, £ I' the vein
ore was sticking
iber on this ridge,
nines to the west
1 thence to Silver-

in, Crown-granted
:<y, and under the

1 up on the slope
i the upper 50 feet
1 driven, and drifts
ig distances. The
lum width of five
el, 150 feet below

Iters, and develop-

tvifoiiinrti', C/iamb-
led by Capt. R. C.

and on the south
vein of mixed ore,
1 Houth with a dip
rib of solid galena
ng vein. Ou
|sna close together,
I'on driven in on a
vi-ry stet^p, rocky
are several small
traceable to the
[four feet of mixed
Itons wi're on the
Id ore, with small,
Imdred feet S. W.
was running 60°
licse veins, one for
litiiig ore, and the
lomo ore had been

This property can be developed by running a cross-cut tunnel from a place free from any
likelihood of snowslides, as is done on other properties in this district, and from this same
point an aerial tramway, on a steep grade, could be built down to a point convenient to a
waggon road to be built to Sandon. Good cabins are being erected about 1,000 feet below the
workings, and a trail, four miles long, as mentioned in connection with the Canadian group,
leads down to Sandon.

Noble J^'ive Mines.

The original Noble Five group, located for 5,000 feet along the course of one vein, com-
prised the Noble Five, Bonanza King, World's Fair, Knoxville, and Maud S, 66.6 acres, but
the two adjoining claims on another vein, the Deadman and Wild Goose, have been added since
the consolidation of these properties as now owned by the Noble Five Consolidated Mining and
Milling Co., Spokane, Wash. ; Pres., Jno. D. Porter; Spc, J. F. Cutler; Gen. Manager, J. G.
McGuigan, Sandon, B. C. Capitalization, 1,200,000 shares at $1 each.

This property is located about 3;^ miles by trail N. E. of Sandon, and 2,500 to 3,000 feet
above that town, on the steep southern slope of the mountain, on which have been discovered
the series of veins now mined from the Payne group on the west to the Blue Bird on the east.
Tliere are two veins, and perhaps three, now known, striking N. E. by S. W., dip 60" S. E.,
through slates and limestones, intersecting at an angle of 30° to 45° the "porphyry" or granitic
dykes through which the veins continue, and in places carry their best ore-shutes. The ore
occurs both as solid galena and as carbonates and oxides in a spathic iron and quartz gangue,
and from the limited workings tliese claims have yielded from ^125,000 to $150,000.

Noble Five vein. On the surface in a rocky gulch scoured by snow-slides, are large
croppings of iron-rock, which on being broken into is found to consist of galena, blende, and
spathic iron, while in the mine the ore is arranged along a smooth, slickensided wall that is
sometimes on the hanging and then on the footwall side, in bands arranged in one drift with
four bands, i. e., spathic iron, blende, spathic iron, and then galena, with fragments of slate
scattered through the ore-shute and spurs (tf ore running otl" into the country rock. In the
early history of this mine, when the costs and difficulties of shipping were excessive and
ciianges of nmnngement often, small drifts were run in on the ledge and the ore extracted in
mi unsystematic manner, but under the new management the property is being developed in a
thorough manner, ar.d the mine placed in a proper condition for its best development and most
economical working.

On the most southerly claim, the Noble Five, a tunnel 65 feet long and short cross-cuts
'..ere driven resulting in the finding of some good ore, but as this was a dangerous place for
snow-slides this work has n(»t yet been extended to prospect this part of the vein. On the
Knoxville and Bonanza King has been done most of the mining, consisting at the time of
kisit (August 18th) of tunnels aggregating 1,380 feet in length and opening up the vein
erticiiUy to a depth of 600 feet. In these workings but little high grade ore was left in sight,
Ithough much ground remained to be prospected, but there were stope.'i 6 to 8 feet wide,
vliilo the amount of concentrating ore exposed, consisting mostly of galena in decomposed
naterial, was considerable, and in some of the drifts, 7 to 9 feet wide. The mine was not :n a
judition at that time to show up or do justice to this large and strong ledge, but the three
naiii tunnels to be run and connected l)y winzes will put tiiis property on a proper working
)iisis.

About 200 feet below these workiiij^s the main tunnel has been started in a place perfectly
fe from slides and cross-cutted to tlio vein which on the surface at this point had a strong
ut-crop of ^iilciia. This tunnel will be extonded well into the mountain along the vein and
•nnected with 'he upptM- tunnels, thus enabling all ore to be brought down to the mouth of
his main level, where will be tlu> ore-bins at the head of an aerial rope-tramway, 6,100 feet
)ng, vertical di'op 2,100 feet, now being built to tln' concentrator at Cody.

On the Deadman and Wild (loose claims are several large dykes ami tongues of
porphyry," and the Deadman vein is about 400 feet east of the Noble Five vein and
iirallel to it. No work is being done in any of the three tunnels; in two of whicii that were
iitered but little ore had hwn left in sight, but several faults were in evidence. Ore has been
lipped for three years from this vein, or 26 car-loads in all, of ore that assayed 63 ounces in
Iver per ton and 15/ lead for the "carbonates," and up to 255 ozs. of silver per ton and 69%
lad for the solid galena ore.

There is little or no timber on the property of this Company, and in fact upon any of
lest! properties high up on the mountain, fire l\aving destroyed the most of it, but lower down
a the slopes the supply is good.

i I

,1 !

Concentrator. — Following up his success with the Slocan Star mill, Mr. T. L Mitchell
has just completed a uiill on Cody Creek, at the Town of Cody, which is arranged practically
after the same scheme as that followed out in the Slocan Star. A flume brings water from
Cody Creek and in the conveyance of ore from the mine automatical devices have been
introduced throughout. At the main working tunnel of the mine bins of 600 tons capacity
automatically discharge into the buckets of the Finlayson double rope tramway, and at the
lower terminal the ore drops into the bins of 260 tons capacity and thonce automatically to the
9 by 15 inch rock-crusher and thence into the mill. The capacity of the tramway will be 20
tons an hour. The machinery for the mill has been purchased from the E. P. Allis Company,
of Milwaukee, Wis., and the tirst-class ore and concentrates will be loaded into the cars of the
K. and S. R. R. which has a branch line running to Cody.

Last Chance. ^

This property, the Last Chance, 600 by 1,050 feet, Crown-granted, the Starlight,
Starlight Fraction, Blizzard and Little Widoiv, Crown Grants applied for, lying iunnediately
west of the Noble Five group, is owned by the Last Chance Mining and Milling Co., Spokane.
Capital stock, 500,000 shares at $1 each.

There are two small parallel veins 'unning N.E. by S.W., one standing vertical, the other
dipping S.E. 50°, and two tunnels 100 feet apait in elevation. The upper tunnel is 240 feet
long with cross-cuts and drifts on smaller veins that lead off from the main one, while the
lower, a cross-cut tunnel, intercepts the inclined vein at 180 feet, along which drifting has been
done for 140 feet, with an upraise to the upper workings. This tunnel was being continued to
strike the other vein but had not done so at 100 feet, but it was in the works between these
two tunnel levels that the character of the ore and the vein was best seen, as from an incline
started down on the vein near the mouth of the upper tunnel, and when about midway between
the levels extended as a drift, very high-grade ore had been mined where the vein, varying in
siz'3 from a few inches to 3 feet of solid, rich silver-bearing galena was found to have, where
ga].?na was not solid, a quartz gangue with galena, forming good concentrating ore. Within
surface influences the veins have; suffered the usual alteration, and rich "carbonate" ore has
also been stoped out.

While so far most of the work has been directed toward the development of this mine
a quantity of excellent ore has been sent down by rawhiding to Sandon and thence shipped to
the smelters, as in 1895 about 9 car-loads of ore assaying 166 to 191 ozs. in silver per ton and
71 to 78% lead, and in 1896 IT car loads averaging 182 ozs. in silver per ton and 62% lead,
were sold. This property is another example of many which have paid for themselves from
the beginning, and during this 1 ist yefir a dividend of $'20,000 has been declared, after providing
for the new mine buildiiigs, more exi'iusivo underground work and the purchase of other
claims. There is but little timber on 4iese claims. Foreman J. Regan. Number of men
engaged 10.

Other Claims. — Below this claim is the American Ho^, now being worked by Thomas
McGuigan, with a yield to date of 5 or 6 cars of good silver-lead ore, and the Ajnx, under the
control of Matthews and iJiaden, who also have the Riibj/ Silver at the northern end of the
Noble Five string of claims, botli of wiiicli mines have shipped high grade ore. Upon the
summit, at an elevation of 76-7,800 feet. Dr. Hendryx, of Nelson, was driving a cross-cut
tunnel on the d'atena, to cut a vein of silver-lead ore that shows up well on the precipitous
bluflF to the north, and is tliought to be the northern extension of the R. E. Lee vein. It has
a strike N. E. by S. W. across the slates and limestones, and also across a prophyry dyke, and
a dip of 60° to the S. E.

Reoo Group.

Immediately to the east of the Noljle Five claims on the same south slope of the mountain,
lie the lioucau, Ti;xtis, CH/ton and Xcw Don-cr, 150.65 acres, Crown Grants applied for, and the
mineral location, the Ephraim, the projierty of tlie Reco Mining and Milling Co., Ltd., Sandon,
B. C. Capital stock, $1,000,000 in $1 shares; treasury stock 100,000 shares. Pres. and Gen.
Manager, Jno. M. Harris,; Sec. F. T. Kelly, Sandon, B.C.

Two distinct silver-lead veins strike N. P]. by S. W,, dip 60° to 75° S. E., are being worked
on this ground, i.i'., (1) Big vein and (2) the Small or Goodenough vein, and in all probability
veins lying in contiguous claims will be discijvered, on prospecting, to extend into this territory.
This mine affords another cxamiile of the opening up and development, and the purchase of
other claims, without any capital save that got in mining, from the beginning of work, of rich

T. L Mitchell
iged practically
ngs water from
■ices have been
)0 tons capacity
vay, and at the
matically to the
uway will be 20

AlHs Company,
) the cars of the

, the Starlight,
ing immediately
ng Co., Spokane.

jrtical, the other
nnel is 240 feet
1 one, while the
drifting has been
eing continued to
[s between these
from an incline
, midway between
vein, varying in
1 to have, where
ing ore. Within
trbonate" ore has

[lent of this mine
thence shipped to
ilver per ton and
,n and 62% lead,

themselves from
d, after providing
mrchase of other

Number of men

arked by Thomas
Ajnx, under the
them end of the
ore. Upon the
iving a cross-cut
!i tlie precipitous
Lee vein. It has
■ophyry dyke, and

B of the mountain,

plied for, and the

Co., Lttl., Samlon,

Pres. and Gen.

are being worked
in all probability

into this territory,
the purchase of

g of work, of rich

ore. On the Big vein have been run three tunnels, from which has been taken most of the
ore extracted from this lead, save that from one small stope that yielded over $16,000 ; and in
tunnels Nos. 1 and 3, the former 650 feet long, and the other 900 feet long, connected by a
raise 1 25 feet long in the vein j the veins consist mostly of decomposed vein matter, in places
!i few inches wide, in others several feet. Work on this vein so far has been confined to purely
development during the past year, but in 1895, 4 carloads of galena, the ore yielded on an
average 179.8 ozs. silver per ton, and 71% lead (smelter returns). While the carbonate ore or
9 carloads yielded from 89.3 to 161.6 ozs. silver per ton, and 23.2 to*37.1% lead.

From the Small or Goodenough vein, lying several hundred feet to the east, has come the
richest silver-bearing galena yet found in Kootenay, the silver evidently occurring as argentite,
although much ruby silver is found in some of the solid galena. The mining operations are
being carried on in co-operation with the Goodenough mine, and three tunnels, Nos. 2, 4 and
0, have been driven to and then extended both ways along the vein in each of these properties ;
the vein being from 2 or 3 inches wide up to 20 inches of solid ore, with in places only a
narrow streak of iron-stained matter. The ore so lies that generally the ground can be mined
out along it, leaving the ore to be afterwards broken down clean. The ground is faulted in
one place with a lateral throw of the vein for 10 feet, and where the vein passes through the
j)rophyry dykes the ore shute is found, generally, to be about the most productive part of the
vein. From these tunnels several hundred feet of drifting have been driven, the vein being
lint always productive, but in the miners' term " in and out," and these levels will be continued
much farther before reaching thn limits of the clr.ini. (^See Goodenough mine below).

This ore, while mined from a small vein, is very profitable, and at the time of visit, in
August, several tons of rich ore were piled at each tunnel mouth, and the following data from
smelter returns will give some idea of the value : — The galena ore has run from 225 to 730
ounces of silver per ton, and 67% lead ; one lot of 21 tons assaying 730 ounces of silver per
ton, and 67% lead ; and two shipments in 1896, or 45 tons, yielded net (or 95% of assay)
24,820 ounces of silver, and 27 tons of lead, or $340 per ton, after deducting all charges.

The carbonate ore from this vt in, for 20 carloads, has yielded from 230 to 337.8 ounces of
silver per ton, and 19 to 28% lead.

This company now propose to build an aerial tramway down to Cody Creek, and there
erect a concentrator. Foreman, Alex. McPhee. Number of men, 15 (in Aug.)

GOODEVOUGII.

The Goodenoiu/h, title. Crown grant, 8.3 acres, and the location the Grey Copfwr, 600 by
1,284 feet, lying south of the Ruecau, are owned by J no. A. Whittier, Jno Thompson, and
■I no. Martin, Sandon, and six men were at work on the "small vein," as descrilied in the
Hoco above. In the workings, tunnel No. G, or the lowest, was a cross-cut for 275 feet, and
near the point of intersection with the vein an upraise had been made ;:or 169 feet to tunnel
level No. 4 along the Ruecau-Goodenough line, following for neai'ly all that distance several
inches of the very high grade ore. In the N.E. the drift ran off into the Reco ground, while
to the S.W. the Goodenough di'ift, in 170 feet, with 500 feet of the vein on this level available
before leaving the side line, had good ore, for 110 feet both above and below the level, with a
narrow streak of carbonates to the face, an improvement in the ore shute being expected when
the vein passed through the dyke 30 feet ahead. In the tunnel levels Nos. 2 and 4, the
relation of tlio vein to the surface was such that but a comparative short distance along
the vein could be worked on this ground, and all was stoped out, but in the Reco these two
levels were being extended to the X.E.

There is a fair amount of good timber. As in the other mines, greatest activity is during
the winter season, when the cost of shipping ore to Sandon, by rawhiding, is $3 per ton,
insteiul of i^7 by packing on mules in the summer. The grade of the ore, of course, is similar
to tliat sent from the Reco, the smelter returns for carload lots giving from 277 to 507 ounces
of silver per ton, and 48 to 67 lead for galena ore, and 168.5 to 322 ^ nces of silver per
ton, and 2 to 34% lead for carbonate ores, while one lot of 6i tons as; . ,1 f)8 ounces silve
per ton and 64.1% lead.

Other claims.— To the east of these claims lies the lifue Bird, on wmch some work was
being done on a tunnel. Three, if not four, veins have been discovered, and 10 to 12 carloads
of ore, averaging 134 ounces of silver per ton, and 75 % lead, have been sent to the smelters.
South of the Goodonougl property lies the Chambers group, /. e., the ChnmbevK, Eu. ... ?, Jai/
lliiiild, and ]Vf'llini/foti, 60O by 1,500 feet claims; one of the oldest locations in the camp on
which exploratory >/ork has been done, but the depth of wash here, at the base of the moun-

• 1

l!i;

ain, makes such operations more difficult than higlier up, where the surface is pretty well
scoured off the leads, and any float can generally be snon traced to its source. One carltxtd of
ore was shipped during 1896.

Much good country in this vicinity yet remains to be explored, an<l while but little or no
ground is now left open for location, there is every probability that thorough prospecting will
be followed by good results.

The Onm/a, south of the Reco group, has a vein of galena ore, but all work is at a stand-
still pending legal decisiolis as to the ownership of this giound.

R. E. Lee.

Title, Crown Grant, 600 by 1,500 feet. Ijocatcd on the ridge of the mountain, one-quartei-
of a mile west of the Last Chance, and Ave miles by trail and road from McGuigan's Siding,
on the K. & S. R. 11. Owned by Lorenzo Alexander, of Kaslo. At the time of visit, in
August, ten men were employed Ijy leasers, who were working on a narrow galena vein, striking
N.E. by S.W, and dipping S.E. 4.5°, near a very large exposure of "porphyry" or eruptive
granite. Two tunnels, one 500 feet long, had been run in and connected by a 95-foot upraise,
and from the lower tunnel, down an incline, some ore was being extracted. In places in the
mine the ore has been found 18 inches wide. During the last year about three carloads of ore
have been shipped that averaged 130 ounces in silver per ton and 75% lead, the cost of trans-
port to the railway line being $5.50 to $7.50 per ton. Mr. Alexander has now 8 or 9 men at
work, is building more substantial living houses, ore sheds, etc., and from the mine is taking
some good ore.

Slogan Boy.

This claim, 600 by 1,500 feet, title Crown Grant, lies on the ridge immediately east of
the Payne group and south of the Washington, and is leased by S. K. Green el a/, to T. M.
Gibson and Lang Keith.

Two leads were being worked, one on the south end of the claim, a very small but rich
silver-lead vein, being worked tliroi;;'h three tunnels, one 140 feet, another 160 feet long. The
other, the southern extension of the W ashington vein, is also argentiferous galena that follows
along two to tiiree feet from an eight foot porphyry dyke, on Iwth sides of which the shales and
slates are very much contorted and to a very considerable extent converted into gangue matter.
Beginning at the north end-line a tunnel is run in 170 feet along a small streak of ore, and
connects with level No. 1, 235 feet long, which runs from the shaft, 200 feet deep, where at a
depth of 100 feet the vein, here (lipping at a high angle, is passed through. Eight to ten car-
loads of ore, both galena and carbonates, had been shipped, of which 30 tons of the ore from
the small vein gave 332.4 ounces of silver per ton, and 75.4% lead, while the ore from the
other vein averaged over 100 ounces of silver per ton and 68% lead.

Paynk Group.

At time of visit, part of this property was in litigation, recently terminated by all interests
being bought up from -Mi-. S. S. Bailey by Mr. A. W. McCune et. nf, and this group will com
prise the Payne, Monntaiii Chief, Maul of Erin, and the Two Jacks, 38.4 acres, title, Crown
Grants, with 2,500 feet along this vein, located on the ridge forming the western end of the
range on which are the mines that have been described, three miles east of Three Forks, and three
or four miles N. \V. from Siindon, to which place is being built a new waggon road.

The Payne was tiie tii-st location made in the Slocan District and the locators believing
the trend of the vein would follow the strike of the country rocks as at Ainsworth, put in tbeii'
stakes accordingly, and in reality made their location across the vein. Until lately this ground
had been opened up by Mr. Bailey, and on the Payne a tunnel has been run in for over 300 feet,
witli ore continuous for nearly all tiiat distance, the vein strike, N. E. by S. W., having a quartz
gangue, but with a maximum width in parts of solid high grade galena of three feet. Substantial
mine buildings were being erected at this tunnel mouth, to supplement those already built, and
on the Maid of Erin, to tiie south, a tunnel lower down had been begun and extended into the
Payne claim. To the north of tiiis claim, on the Mountain Chief, tunnels had also been run in on
the vein, and ore stoju-d out to tlie gi'ass roots, but tiie main mining operations will be conducted
from the southern side of the mountain, on which slope is a fair amount of timber suitable for
mining purposes ; fires liaving destroyed most of the wood supply. It is reported that over
(Sept, 1896) $100,000 worth of ore has already been sold from this vein, the carbonates

is pretty well
One carlortd of

1 but little or no
prospecting will

rk is at a stand-

tain, one-quarter
Guigan's Siding,
time of visit, in
ma vein, striking
ry " or eruptive
I Oo-foot upraise.
In places in the
ge carloads of ore
he cost of trans-
jw 8 or 9 men at
je mine is taking

mediately east of
«n et at, to T. M.

My small but rich
10 feet long. The
ilena that follows
lich the shales and
^o gangue matter,
treak of ore, and
eep, where at a
Eight to ten car-
of the ore from
le ort) from the

>d by all interests
group will com
cres, title. Crown
estern end of the
Forks, and throe
roail.
ocators believing
•orth, put in their
ately this ground
fi.r over aOO feet,
., having a quartz
'eet. Substantial
ilready built, and
ext(;n(led into the
Iso been run in on
will be conducteil
imber suitable for
sported that over
the earboiuites

assaying 80 to 100 oza. silver per ton, and 3.5 to 40 % lead, and the galena ore 175 ounces of
silver ami 70 % lead, or an average net value on all ore sold of over $100 per ton. Mr. Scott
McDonald, formerly in charge of the Skyline, is superintendent of the work now being vigor-
ously carried on. At time of visit 28 men were engaged on the different claims.

Washinoton.

On the northern slope of this mountain the Wanhinyton was located on the vein that
sliowed in the face of the cliil", and over 1,400 tons of ore were shipped in the early years of
1892-3-4, but work ceased until the end of 1895, when the concentrator was built, permitting
tiie shipment of much mill ore on hand in the mine and on the dump. This claim. Crown-
granted, 14.70 acres, together with four mineral locations, is the property of J. L. Montgomery,
of New York ; J. L. lletallack et a!, Kaslo.

The porphyry dyke in places lies next to the ore, but so far has not been found to cut
across the vein, which, with a strike N. E. by S. W., and a dip to the S. E. from 60° to 85", is
:\ to 12 feet wide, with an average witltli of 5 to G feet of galena in the gangue of spathic iron
and quartz with xinc blende, much of which is .sorted out. Bodies of clean, .solid galena are
also mined, but there is very little carlwnates or decomposed ore. In the upper tunnel. No. 1,
77 feet long, there was considerable mill ore, but most of the ore came irom tunnel No. 2,
200 feet below and 275 feet long, over which was a large slope 150 feet long and 30 feet high,
with a good quantity of concentrating ore in sight, which on being broken was sent down to
tunnel No. 3, 300 feet long, in which the ore-shute is much smaller and completely cut oti'at
the face by a fault not yet exploi-ed. From the mouth of this tunnel-level the ore passes
down through a shute 180 feet long, to a 3-rail gravity tramway, 1,450 feet long, which leads
to the shute down to the strong log ore-bins of the concentrator, where an excellent waggon road
— one of the best seen in West Kootenay — three miles long, runs to McGuigan's siding on the
K. & S. R. R.

CoNCKNTUATOK. — This mill was the tirst built in the Slocan, by Mr. T. L. Mitchell, who
used machinery mostly nuule in Canada. It has a daily capacity, when water is sufficient, of
fiO tons of ore, and the ore, after passing through a 4 by 10 inch lilake crusher into the supply
bin, is automatically fed to the coarse rolls, and thence elevated t() the revolving screen which
makes tiiree sizes. («) The smallest screened material is further sized to 3 sizes by an hydraulic
flassifier, each of which passes to one of the 3 fine Hartz jigs, while the overflow of the cla.ssi-
fier runs into a V-shaped settling tank, and the settlings of which are drawn off into a double
round slime-table, the middlings from which pass to elevator No. 1, into the trommel, and then
to classifier again ; (/>) Of the 2nd and 3rd sizes of the revolving screen, and the refu,sal or the
prwluct passing out at the lower end of the screen, each passes to one of the 3 coarse Hartz
jigs, the middlings fi-om which go to coarse middlings rolls, and then back by elevator No. 1.
The middlings from the fine jigs pass to fine set of rolls, and also to elevator No. 1. The clean
concentrates pass into concentrator bins, which drain into settling tanks to save the slimes,
and all shipping material is sent down the hill in sacks.

Ore. — The crude ore or unconcentrated galena assays from 108 to 13C ozs. of silver per
ton, and 66% lead, and during the past year, the concentrates, of which 50 to 60 carloads have
been shipped, yielded 95 ozs. silver per ton, and 60% lead. As the water supply for the mill
is for some months precarious, or only available for half of the year, and for tiie last sea.son
oven less than that, it has not been feasible to pursue mining operations to that extent other-
wise possible, hut the development work will be done in the meantime, as there is a good site
for another tunnel on the lead below the present No. 3.

Bkst.

The lit'st, 600 by 1,500 feet, title Crown Orai , and the Ctnc/iei; alt. 5,800 feet, lie in the
I'cst basin on the north slope of the mountain range, on which are the Reco, Noble Five and
other mines already described, and are owi.ed by A. VV. McCune, Geo. W. Hughes, P. Larsen
;md Scott McDonald. The Washington Mine Road has been extended to the mine, which is
thus 4 miles from Mc(iuigan's Siding.

The ridge separating this basin from the Dardanelles basin is formed by a fine grained
granitic Imss, on which are the alxive claims and part of the Rand)ler group, and on the Best
claim this mass is seamed with a .series of (juartz veins from a few inches to 6 feet wide, running
N. W. and S. E. (mag.) and dipping north-easterly 30"-45°. The ore consists of (juartz and
rich silver-bearing tetrahedrite and jamesonite, with, in isolattnl places, galena and a little
blende and iron and copper-pyrites. These veins are irregular in size, inasmuch as they will

have a width of 2 or 3 feet, then pinch out or break into several small stringers. An incline
shaft had lieen sunk 75 feet on one of the voins, and in this and a 25-foot drift, ore was continuous
with a maximum width of 3 feet, and 120 feet down the hill in a tunnel 312 feot long ; at 100
feet a vein of 6-8 inches of good ore was being followed to the S. E. for 65 feet (Sept. 6th), and
at 215 feet a raise to connect with the incline was up 55 feet, at the foot of which was a vein 18
inches wide, of galena, grey copper and blende. The value of the ore shipped was not learned,
but other shipments this winter are expected, when the mine will have been put in the best
shape for good work. Foreman, F. Banaman, with 9 men.

Rambler CtKoup.

Higher up in the Best biusin and south of the Best claim, lie the Rambler group, i. e., the
Rambler, Curibon, Antelope, Tiyar aw\ Jient /''mc^iow. Crown Grants applied for, the property of
tlie Rand)lei and Caribou Consolidated (5. and S. Mining Co. Capital stock |l,000,000.
Pres. J. B. McArtiiur, Rossland ; See. A. L. McClaine, Kaslo ; Superintendent, Richard Shea.

Although the ground embraced within the limits of this property has hardly yet begun to
be prospected, two different series of veins have been discovered and are being worked. The
veins first found »vfere two quartz veins in the same granite as the Best, with the same character
of ore, but when building a trail a narrow streak, a ringer-width of red and brown iron oxides,
betrayed the existence of a typical silver-galena vein, running through the Slocan slates series
and porphyry, close to the contact with the granitic area, and since following this streak, three
feet of solid high grade ore have been found in one of the tvnnels. Galena ore in good quantity
has been found in other veins on which a little work had jv st been done, and every indication
pointed to the high value of this property.

(A.) Veins in the Gkanite. — About half way up the slope of the ridge of the granite,
two strong quartz veins 200 feet apart, traceable to the summit 4 to 500 feet above, had been
entered by two tunnels, and the strike of each was about N. "10" E., by S. 20° W., nearly at
right angle.s to Best veins, a short distance away. In one tunnel 20 feet long the vein,
dipping easterly 70°, consisted of a very white crystalline (juartz, with druses, 3 to 20 inches
wide, with parts of the vein strongly impregnated with grey copper and jaraesonite, and in
the other tunnel, 75 feet long, the vein, dipping easterly 40° to 50°, was continuous, with a
width of 2 to 20 inches of very tine looking tetrahedrite or grey copper ore from a small slope
in which, it was stated, 18 tons shipped to the Pilf)t Bay smelter had assayed 499 ounces of
silver per ton, $7.50 in gold, and 2% copper. No work was being done on these veins at time
of visit, but large and commodious cabins, ore-houses, etc., were being (srected, there being
a good supply of large timber in the basin. Mining was being carried on in the

L).) Silver Lead veins.- —The vein material mentioned above had been traced on the
surfaje for over 400 feet by cuts, and tunnel No. 1, after being run as a cross-cut for 78 feet
through porphyry and slate, had been drifted for 30 feet (Sept. 6th) along a vein of solid
galena ore, in places a few inches wide, ir (>thers 12 to 24 inchj3s, and at one point in the drift
there were two bands of galena along wb ^ made the walls of the drift, with crushed country
rock between. Along the planes of bedding and fracture in the rock, there were iron
pyrites and galena, and the country rock was impregnated with pyrites. In tunnel No. 2, 170
feet long and 50 feet above and 115 feet beyond the face of No. 1 drift, the vein varies from
3 and 4 inches to 2 and 3 feet in witlth, but at the face the ore was scatttu-ed through the
country rock. On the ridge a small tunnel exposed 2 feet of solid ore, of which 15 tons had
been piled outside, and this vein appeared to be traceable for several hundred feet to some
stopes made by leiusers in 1893 on the AnteKipe ground on the slope of the ridge overlooking
the Dardanelles basin. Although these stopes were badly caved in, the vein was seen to be
lying very flat, with 2 to 3 feet of mixed ore, and in one place 2 feet of solid gtilena ore, and
during the present winter this vein will be properly prospected and put in shape for mining.

The galena ore shipped, as per smelter returns, has yielded from 79.6 to 273.3 ounces of
silver per ton, and 31 to 64% lead, one lot of 27 tons netting $185. 12 per ton, while the
carbonate ores, running 22 J'/ lead, assayed 166 to 178.5 ounces per ton of silver. Ore ship-
ments will be sustained, and it was proposed to extend the Washington waggon road via the
Best up to the mine, to greatly facilitate the export of the mine output, and it is now reported
that this has been done.

Other clai.ms. On the Citi/ of Spokane Foss and McDonald were exploring for the
extension to the south-west of the main lead vein.

8. An incline
was continuous
nt long ; at. 100
(Sept. 6th), and
ih was ft vein 18
vaa not learned,
lUt in the best

group, i. e., the
, tlio property of
.ck #1,000,000.
t, Richard Shea,
lly yet begun to
g worked. The
B same character
own iron oxides,
can slates series
.his streak, three
in good quantity
every indication

e of the granite,
above, had been
0° W., nearly at
let long the vein,
(9, 3 to 20 inches
imesonite, and in
ntinuous, with a
om a small slope
499 ounces of
ese veins at time
ted, there being
le

n traced on the
ss-cut for 78 feet
a vein of solid
joint in the drift
crushed country
there were iron
unnel No. 2, 170
vein varies from
red through the
iiich 15 tons had
?.d feet to some
idge overlooking
II was seen to be
galena ore, and
;hape for mining.
) 273.3 ounces of
er ton, while the
lilver. Ore ship-
2on road via the
is now reported

xploring for the

Surprise anu Antoine. w

In the next basin, or the Surprise basin, mining operations are active, but lack of time
forbade a visit to the well known mines, tlus Surprise and the Antoine, that lie to the north
of the Noble Five group, but down on the north slope of the ridge. The Swprise, title,
Crown grant, 15.7 acres, manager, Alex. Smith, Kaslo, has made regular shipments of high
grade ore during the years of 1894-5-6, and is now being actively worked. The Antoine,
Manager, J. C. Ryan, Kaslo, is also shipping, ten car-loads of ore being sent to the smelters
during the past year.

Ruby Silvkr.

The Jiuhy Silver, owned by Matthews and Braden, Kaslo, is being developed, and during
the last season the mine shipped two car-loads of higii grade silver ore, one lot of IH tons
assaying 198.2 ounces of silver per ton, and 46% lead, and another, 13J, tons, 256.4 ounces per
ton of silver, and 66% lead. This claim, lying just north of the Noble Five claims, is Crown-
granted, and contains 17.34 acres.

Dardanelles.

This important group of claims lies in the Dardanelles basin, between the Best and Jackson
basins, but as all work was suspended in September, this mine was not visited. Recently the
newly organised Dardantlles Mining and Milling Co., Ltd., of Kaslo, B. C, Sec. A. L. McClaine,
Kaslo, capital stock $1,000,000 in jjl shares, has acquired the following claims, embracing 175
acres, the Dardanelles, Dardanelles No. 2, Diamond Cross, and Okunayan ; and mining opera-
tions on a sufficient and systematic scale are to be now inaugurated.

On the vein on the Dardanelles, cutting across the Slocan slates and the porphyry dykes,
a shaft has been sunk 220 feet and 1,300 feet of drifts and raises run, and from these workings
over 250 tons of high grade ore were shipped that averaged 265 ounces of silver per ton and
26% lead, while several hundred tons of second class ore, said to assay over 75 ounces of silver
and 16% lead, were piled on the dump, 76 tons of whicii were shipped to the Pilot Bay
smelter, giving the above returns. From a copy of the smelter returns the ore is seen to have
run from 145.8 to 470.2 ounces of silver per ton, and from 15 to 56% lead ; one shipment of
10 tons giving this highest return, while 115 tons yielded 300 ounces of silver per ton. The
ore carries a few units excess of zinc above the 10% smelter limit.

Other veins have been slightly prospected upon the Okanagan and Diamond Cross, but
these will now be properly opened up. In the 220 foot shaft the small plant of a 7 H.P.
boiler and a No 6 Knowles pump, was quite inadeijuate to handle the water, and a plant of
rncjuisite capacity will be now put in, and this vein will be extensively exploited. There is a
good supply of timber for mine purposes ; and for transportation at present a trail 1 J miles
leads out to the Washington waggon road and thence to McGuigan's Siding.

Wm. S. Tretheway, M. E., will be superintendent for the company, and the above
information has been taken from his report to the company and from a copy of the smelter
returns.

Northern Belle.

The Northern lielle., Ihihlin Qiiee)i, h'ootenaij Star and Ophir, surveyed for Crown Grant,
ocated in Jackson Basin 5 miles south of Whitewater station on the Kaslo and Slocan R.R.
iind 4 or 5 miles by trail via Reco Mine trail, north-east of Sandon, have been bonded by R.
Jackson to (Jeo. Alexander et nl. Nine men were at work upon this property under R. J.
McPhee, and a waggon road about 5 miles long, with all grades under 10%, was to be constructed
from the railroad to the mine. There are many features of interest in this vein which,
iioeompanied by a greenish coloured eruptive rock and cutting across the very carboniferous
siuiles and slates and limestones, is much disturbed by faults of a small aiih.unt of dislocation.
( )iie peculiarity is that throughout all the workings where the vein has been explored, along
the very smooth foot-wall lies a band of a few inches to 3 feet of solid zinc blende and above
tlii.s, in a quartz and spathic iron gangue, is the galena varying in texture from the tine steel
j,'alena to the very coarsely crystalline. Up to 18 inches of solid ore have been mined, while
in places in the mine there is a width of several feet of mixed milling ore. Prior to the giving
of the present bond all the ore in sight had been extracted to cover the heavy legal expenses
forced upon the owner by a former leaser, and ore was being found during the present develop-

\ •

(I ! I

ii:

Ii i

ment, but at time of visit tho niino was just being put in proper shape for exploration. In the
uppermost tunnel, No. 1, 50 feet King, worl< had begun on a big out-crop of dec'0Ui})O8e<l vein-
matter and blende, and 60 feet below, tunnel No. 2, driven in 2')0 feet, had been the source
of most of the ore shipped. In the upinn- and underhand stopes the underlying band of blende
always proved persisttMit, but as the ground was soft and much water was coming in, but little
work was being done on this level, although 400 sucks of first-class ore lay at the tunnel
mouth. The new cross-cut tunnel. No. 3, (50 feet lower down, was in (Aug. 2.'{rd) 35 feet and
apparently approaching the vein. Tunnel No 4, 13") feet vertically below No. 2, hiul been
driven 340 feet along undei- a smooth wall, or along a line of tissuring, along which had been
irregularly deposited a small amount of ore. Tunnel No. f) had been begun u!uler present manage-
ment on the strong out-crop of the vein near Jackson Creek, in which a good aniount of water for
power and milling purpos(!s is said to be available all the year round, and at the surface on the
smooth wall lay about two feet of blaik-jack, then 3 to 4 feet of the greenish eruptive rock,
and then a band 1 to 2 feet wide of steel galena, which continu(\s, with a varying thickness, for
most of the distance to the face, wluM-e lying next a very smooth hanging wall were (! to
18 inches of this Hne-grained ore. On tlxMlump were 10 to 12 tons of gtHxl ore and a con-
siderable amount of milling rock, and if further work justifies, a concentrator may be erected
on this creek. There is a plentiful supply of good timlier right at the mine, and the present
management purpose a thorough exploiation of the, property, and with a new road ore can
easily be hauled to a railroad at a cost of ^2 per ton. i)uring the month of Decendier 5 or 6 car-
loads were shipped to the smelter.s, the returns on which had not been received.

Othku Claims. — Time did not permit the exannnation of other claims in this basin, but
work was being done on several with very encouraging results, otlnu* veins of high grade silver-
lead ore being uncovered. On the Bell and Sunset, at the upper end of the basin, L. Peterson
was engaged by the owners, J. L. Retallack fit ah Kaslo, in opening up a vein of this ore found
running through these claims, and ore has also been found on the Silver King owned by J.
Moore and P. A. McPhee, of Kaslo. About J, of a mile north of the Northern Belle very rich
ore was found on a small vein on the /ion Ton, title Crown (Jrant, owned by Capt. II. C
Adams, Montreal, but no work has been done for some time on this claim. On the Croivn
Point, formerly the San Franciscan, lying up on the mountain slope east of the Basin and of
the Northern Belle group, it is reported that a silver-lead vein can be traced by ditterent
croppings through the claim, but nothinir but assessment work has so far been done.

WlIITEWATEH.

This property has also paid for itself since its discovery, high grade silver ore having been
mined from the grass roots without ever a demand for money being made upon the owners ;
and this year a dividend will be paid of .$2.'5,000.

The two claims, the Whitewater and the Irene, Crown CJi-ants applied for, are located
about one mile north of Whitewater station on the K. Ar S. 11. 11., 18 miles west of Kaslo,
and are owned by J. C. Eaton, J. I. Hetalliic^k. J. L. Montgomery, and W. C. Pierce, Kaslo;
Superintendent, J. C. Eaton.

Crossing the shales and slates on the Whitewater claim the vein runs east and west (mag.)
and dips S. 40 to 45. A good waggon road 8,300 feet long, has been built, at a cost of .*2,800,
from the mine to the railroad, and there is a.n abundant supply of good mine timber, and also
in Whitewater Creek ample water for power and other purposes.

In mining all the underground workings are kept timbered up in an excellent manner, as
is imperative, as this vein is evidently located in a shear zone along which the country rock
has been shattered and ground up for a distance of 10 to 25 feet from the fissure, so that very
little blasting is required in this soft material, oidy pick and shovel work, while the timbers
must be kept right up to the face, spiling even often being necessary. Alt>ng the well-defined
smooth foot-wail or fissuie plane, there is usually a band of spathic iron, sometimes five feet
thick, and upon this will be found a varying thickness of galena and then carbonates or
oxidised ore, the ore being i)ften .s<^i>t,tered irregularly through the broken mass of shale for a
width of 20 feet.

On the surface the vein has now been disclosed for 800 feet, and from strippings several
carloads of good ore have been shipped from the crushed mass of shale and iron oxides and
yellow carbonates, copper stained by the decomposed tetrahedrite. In the mine the uppermost
tunnel, No. 00, had been driven in 30 feet along the much decomposed vein, and ore was being
piled up at the mouth. Tunnel No. 1, 2(50 feet below No. 00, had been driven west along the
vein for 130 feet, but with little ore. In tunnel No. 2, 400 feet long, 75 feet below No. 1,

'-,V

►ration. In the
icoui{)ose(l vein-
leen the source
; blind of blende
ing in, but little
! at the tunnel
Ird) ;ir) feet and
^o. 2, hiul been
vhicli had been
present niana};e-
iint of water for
e surface on the
li eruptive rock,
ng thickness, for
wall were 6 to
ore and a con-
may be erei^ted
md the present
iw i-t)ad ore can
ember 5 or 6 car-
d.

I this basin, but
ugh grade silver-
isin, L. Peterson
of this ore found
ng owned by J.
n Belle very rich
by Capt. R.
On the Crown
he Basin and of
,ced by different
I done.

ore having been
)on thf! owners ;

for, are located

>s west of Kaslo,

. Pierce, Kaslo;

and west (mag.)
a cost of 82,800,
timber, and also

llent manner, as
the country rock
ure, so that very
liile the timbers
the well-defined
netinies tive feet
carbonates or
ass of shale for a

trippings several
iron oxides and
le the uppermost
nd ore was being
n west along the
set below No. 1,

with 45° dip, 3 or 4 carloads of ore were extracted from a small stope near the entry and
beyond this the vein was almost barren for 340 feet, when the ore shute widened from 6
inches to 6 feet of solid ore, and in the face, Iwside the carlH)nate ore, were 6 to 12 inches of
solid steel galena. Tunnel No. 3, 96 feet on the dip Ijelow No. 2, had been extended 425 feet,
with 4 to 10 inches of continuous ore for 200 feet, when in a cross-cut, running both ways,
was a mass of barren crushed shale about 20 feet wide, with a band of steel galena along either
boundary of this zone. At the face of the ore shute wus small, but the solid mass of spathic
ii-on was 3 to 5 feet wide. Near the mouth of this tunnel .?1 ,000 worth of ore was taken from
a narrow streak of carbonate ore in driving 40 feet, and a winze had been sunk 15 feet to a
short tunnel following good ore, and then 70 feet farther, with 2 to 4 feet of very high grade
ore for 40 feet, of galena, varying from very fine to the coarsely crystivlline and carbonate ores.
In tunnel No. 4, 104 feet on the dip below No. 3, the heading was in 175 feet, and in the face
was a solid band of spathic iron 2 feet wide on the regular dip of the vein, with a finely crushed
mass of black slate and shale on either side. In a stope 40 feet long, and up one set above the
drift, there were 6 to 12 inches of the steel galena, and then coarse broken galena, as if
shattered by movement since deposition.

From this description it will l)e seen that work has been confined almost entirely to devel-
opment, and that but little stoping hsis been done between levels. (Jood and commodious ore
sheds were being built at the lower tunnel, and other mine buildings, cabin, etc., were close by.

Ork.-— Six lots of ore sent from this vein was the first sent out of the Slocan, via Kaslo,
and in the early days it cost $100 per ton before any returns were received. Much of the ore
shipped is of the " carbonate " class, and the silver value ranging from 72 to 298.5 ozs. per ton,
the lead from 1 1 to 30%, while the galena ore yielding 35 to 65% lead, assays in silver from
75 to 362.6 ounces per ton, or an average on the whole out-put of the mine for 1896 of 114 ozs.
per ton, and 30% lead. This ore carries from 16 to 17% zinc, and the smelter charges vary
from $9 to ?13 per ton — $9 if the lead is l)elow 20% ; the cost of the freight lieing $1 per ton
to the railroad, and $11 to the smelter. No. of men, 28.

Other Claims. — Work was being done on the Elkhorn, the eastern extension of the
Whitewater, and on the Chnrhaton further up the mountain, Mr. J. Mitchell was driving a
tunnel to reach a vein from which he had 'already taken some ore. Seven men are now work-
ing on the Corenn, the western extension of the Charleston; seven men are opening up this vein
and getting some ore, and seven men are working on the Loup, Star, the property of the
Hansard Mining Co. These three claims were staked out by Mr. Wm. Mathewson, the locator
of the Wellington. To the enst of the Wellington seven men are employed on the Sunset, on
what is believed to be the extension of the Wellington ledge, which is thought to extend into
the claim east of the Sunset, the Colorado, where again seven men are mining. On the Eldon
and Acton claims, 3,000 feet west of the Lone Star, the Eldon Gold and Silver Mining Co., of
Spokane, Wash., have at work ten men.

WEI,LIN(iTON.

On the same mountain slope, one and a half miles west of the Whitewater, lie the We/Hiigton,
Crown Grant, 50.5 acres, Ivanfioe, Ottawa, Afelis, BJencher, GootUuck and Rolderwood, the
jiroperty of the Kootenay and Columbia Prospecting and Mining Company, of Ottawa, Ont.
Capital stock, $40,000. Superintendent, John McConnell, Kaslo.

On the Wellington are two veins in the Slocan slates, one f ' "ng N. 50° E. and dipping
60° southerly, and the other dipping north, described by Mr. J ;Jonnell, of the Geological
Survey, as a " wide crushed zone, traversing the slates in an east and west direction. The
crushed slates hold stringers and pockets of cjuartz, spathic iron and calcspar." A cross-cut
tunnel 170 feet long taps the vein at 40 feet in depth, and an 800-foot cross-cut tunnel inter-
sects the south-dipping vein at 550 feet at the 200-foot level, along which so far the vein
(lipping north has not been found, although it is now being followed down towards this level.
The works are all connected on the south vein from the 200-foot level, up in the 140-ft. drift
the north vein is intersected. At present ore is Innng mined from both veins, but the highest
grade ore comes from the vein dipping north. The mine is about 2 miles from the siding on
the K. k S. R. R., and ore is packe<l down half way by the trail, and half way by waggon
road. The ground is very soft, requiring little or no powder, but the timbering, as in the
Whitewater, must be constantly kept up to face of work.

Ore. — From a copy of the smelter returns, the ore whici) occurs both as the carbonate and
galena, with grey copper and zinc blende, in which is found good silver value, has assayed from
125 to 328 ounces of silver per ton in carload lots, and 10 to 55% lead, the average for 400

I! i

tons shipped, being 173 ounces silver, and 30% lead. Number of men employed, 24. During
the year 1896, 25 lots of ore have been shipped, and the mine has been put in excellent
condition for mining and further development.

The Lucky Jim.

The Lucky Jim group is located at Bear Lake, 20 miles west of Kaslo, 1,300 feet south of
the K. & S. R. R., and 670 feet alxtve it, and belongs to Wm. Bradeii and E. J. Matthews, of
Kaslo. Mr. McConnell reports in the Summary Report of 1H95, that this claim is situateti on
what " appears to be a faulted line of contact between the slates and a brecciated band of lime-
stone. The ore occurs in large pockets and sid(^ fissures, penetrating the limestone." In
developing this mineralized limestone baml, in which the oie is galena, zinc blende, iron pyrites
and some "carbonates," a 3-drill Rand Compressor is being used for the machine drills, but as
most of this ore is concentrating material, it is proposed to erect a mill during the coming
spring.

The Ore.— Of 110 tons shipped, the silver value was 59.2 to 75 ounces of silver per ton,
and 50 to 56% lead, and by tests in concentrating, the probable value of the concentrates will
be 60-75 ounces of silver per ton, and 55 to 56% lead. Number of men employed, 15. Super-
intendent, E. J. Matthews.

London Hill Guoup.

The London, the Third of July, the Pompeii claims, 1,500 by 1,500 feet, and the fractional
claim the Kound-Up, situated on the ridge of the mountains, west of Carpenter Creek, about
three miles from Bear Lake and the K. & S. R. R., are being acquired by the London Hill Devel-
opment and Mining yjo., Ltd., Kaslo, B. C. O. T. Stone, President, T. G. Proctor, General
Manager. Capital stock $150,000in 600,000 shares of 25 cents each.

This mine was not seen, but Mr. D. R. Irving reports that near the summit of a ridge two
tunnels had been driven, in one of which, over 40 feet long, was a 4-f()ot quartz vein, carrying
grey copper ore and silver sulphides. On the other side of the lidge, 254 feet below the summit,
a tunnel 320 feet long was being driven to tap the vein in depth, in which several small quartz
veins, traversing the slates and quartzites were cut. Three lots of high grade ore, or about 40
tons, have been shipped, on which the smelter returns were I'JO ozs., 267 ozs. and 150 ozs. of
silver per ton respectively ; and t^iis winter Mr. Proctor has a force of men engaged opening up
this property. As in other veins of this character of ore, there is much 2nd class ore that will
have to be milled near the mine, but the nietliod to be adopted will be decided upon after more
underground work has been done.

Slocan Lake.

This beautiful lake, lying in a deep valley between the valleys of the Arrow and Kootenay
Lakes, is 23 miles long and about one mile wide, and in tln^ valleys and on the ridges that
trend away from it to the east, mines of very great promise are being rapidly opened up, and
new finds of value are being made as prospecting is more thoroughly and widely carried on.
As yet the great granite mountains to tlu; west have not been i'ound to be mineral-bearing,
but more diligent seai-ch may reveal as good veins of rich mineral as have been found in the
granite ai-ea east of the lake, which, until lately, was shunned by the prospectors, who had
an unwarranted lack of faith in the likelihood of veins being in this formation.

However, all doubt has been dispelled, the granite area is fast gaining in importance, and
this part of the Slocan now otters many good inducemcnits for further search and investment.
It is true that most of the leads so far disco ered are small, Init the high value of the ore to a
great extent compensates for this, and as to their persistence, there is no reason why these pay-
shutes should not continue to carry their size and value as depth is attained.

At Roseberry the lake steamers connect with the C.P.R.R., and then stop at New Denver,
which has one of the best townsites in Kootenay, and is the official centre for the
Slocan; at Silverton at the mouth of Four-Mile Creek ; at landings at Ten-Mile and Twelve-
Mile Creeks, or any other point desired ; and at Slocan City and Brandon, two rival towns at
the south end of the lake, whence the trails lead off to Springer, Lemon, Twelve and Ten-Mile
Creeks, and a branch of the C. P. R. will be built during the coming season to connect with the
line running from Robson to Nelson.

On the south slope of the range dividing the south fork of Carpenter Creek from Four-
Mile Creek, on the north slope of which are the series of mines, from the Slocan Star to the
Idaho and Alamo, are the Mountain Chief, California, Alpha Group, Reed and Robertson,

, 24. During
It in excellent

3 feet south of
Matthews, of
is situated on
] band of linie-
ineatone." In
le, iron pyrites
e drills, l)ut as
ig the coining

silver per ton,
icentrates will
sd, 15. Super-

1 the fractional
p Croek, about
Ion Hill Devel-
octoi", General

t of a ridge two
vein, carrying
ow the summit,
III small ((uartz
re, or about 40
nd loO oza. of
[|ed opening up
ss ore that will
pon after more

and Kootenay
the ridges that
pened up, and
oly carried on.
lineral-bearing,
found in the

tors, who had

iiportance, and
nd investment,
of the ore to a
why these pay-

t New Denver,
centre for the
and Twelve-
rival towns at
and Ten-Mile
nnect with the

k from Four-

an Star to the

md Robertson,

Jenny Lind, Ottawa Group and Fisher Maiden, all of which were visited, except the first
two, and south of the Four- .Mile Creek are the Thompson Group, Vancouver Group, and the
Hewitt claim.

Four-Mile Creek, for ten miles of its course, forms a dividing line between the Slocan
slates and the granite, although small areas of each cross the river in places.

The Mountain Chief.

This property lies at the western extremity of this ridge and is owned by Mr. Geo. W
Hughes, who was one of tlu; earliest shippers from this district via Nakusp, having purchased
the claim in 1892 and then siiipped a large amount of ore in 1893-4 and 5, of galena averaging
130 ounces of silver and 70% lead. After this the lead was lost, and much work has been
done prospecting for its continuation. Tiiis fall several car-loads of zincy galena ore have been
shipped, and work is being pushed ahead.

The Alpha.

The Alpha, Crown-grant(^d, .'il.G? acres, and other claims are locally known as the Grady
group, and are owned by Jus. McNaught, Alex. McKenzie, and Jas. McKenzie. Manager, F.
McNaught, Silverton. A good road 2i miles long from Silverton, leads to the foot of a 3-rail
gravity tramway, about 1,200 feet long, up to tunnel No. 1. No work had been done for some
time, as there was some litigation in progress, in fact, none since the fall of 1894, but over
1,000 tons of ore had been sold that averaged 115 ounces in silver per ton and 70% lead.

This vein runs true N.E. and 8.VV., and dips S.E. 30° to 40°, through the black lime-
stones, shales, and slates, but no ore was in sight. The ground is nmcli disturbed and faults
were in evidence. There are five tunnels, of which No. 1 was in about 300 feet to the face,
with three upraises, cross-cuts, and an incline, and another tunnel starting near the mouth of
this one ran 50 feet N. 70° E., while immediately below was a third, connected by stopes with
the upper ones. No. 4, 80 feet down the hill, is a cross-cut for 100 feet through the much
contorted country rock, and then a drift 110 feet along a smooth fault wall lying next to which
is much black gouge, but no ore. Tunnel No. 5, bt>low No. 4, appears to be following another
lead altogether, from the position and strike, or north and south, dip E. 45°-50°, and for 110
feet along a smooth wall with several inches of decomposed matter or iron oxides; but there
were no signs of any ore having been taken from this working.

Other Claims. - North-west about one mile is the California, owned by J. MacDonald,
J. Marino, B. C. VanHouten el al, to which mine a road had been built from New Denver, as
a car-load of galena ore was ready on the dump for shipment.

The Reed and Robertson Group.

High up on this range, 6 miles by road and trail from Silverton, is a very strong vein that
runs up the south slope, crosses the ridge and then passes down the north slope as far, it is
believed, as the Carnation cliiim, and along its strike eight or ten claims have been staked.

Heed and Tenderfoot. — These two claims, surveyed for Crown Grants, extend up the slope
and across the ridge, and had been secured by Mr. C. W. Callahan, M.E., for his clients, who
was prospecting the vein by surface cuts. The vein runs about north and south (mag.) and
dips from 45° E. to nearly horizontal. At the southern bf)undary of the Reed a tunnel had
been driven in 110 feet, disclosing considerable milling galena ore, and on the surface the
ledge was very wide with also a goofl deal of mill ore occurring in wide bands of very coarsely
crystallized calcite, 10 to 12 feet wide, while next to the calcite bands are several inches of solid
galena. Higher up the slope the calcite bands continue, forming a prominent land mark from
their whiteness, and in several outs narrow bands of solid very large cubed galena lie next to
these bands that at a point 300 feet above the tunmsl come together in a solid mass of lime 10
to 14 feet wide, with several feet of concentrating ore, and few inches of solid lead ore. At
the small cuts, about 30 tons of splendid ore were piled up, but more work is required to
demonstrate the value and conditions of this very striking lead. There is no timber on these
claims to amount to anything, and to get this ore in quantity down to Four-Mile Creek, a long
aerial rope tramway, on a very steep pitch, will have to be built down a ridge safe from snow-
slides.

The Jenny Lind, lying south of the Reed, has about 800 feet of the vein crossing one
corner, and is owned by Paul and Chas. Anderson, Silverton. The vein presents very much
the same characteristics of a large amount of calcite and brecciated slate and lime with

irreguliir miuwps of concentrating ore and HtringerH of Holid givlima. A tunnel had lieen driven
150 feet in a direction diagonally across the le<lKe, hut in it iw yet no oru in <|uantity lias In-en
found. In 1895, 30 tons of galena was shipped, and on the dump was piled mixed uro or
caloite, galena and blende.

The Bobertaon, lying south of the Reed and Jenny Lind, is owned by "Wra. Robertson et (U,
Silverton. The vein is here covered mostly by wash, but a 40-fo()t tunnel had been run in
where the ledge showed 8 to 10 feet of calcite, with little galena. No work was being done.

The Wakefield, Ottawa and Cazabazhua, owned by Geo. Fairburn and Win. Smith, Silver-
ton, and located on the southern extension of the vein, had on the Wakefield a tunnel running
N. E. 125 feet, in which, at 80 feet, were 16 to 20 inches of solid fine-grained galena, beyond
which was the coarse calcite lying on a dip of only 1 2° to 20° from the horizontal, and on the
Ottawa further down the slope, the ledge is said to be lying even flatter. No work but assess-
ment has been done during this year.

Fisher Maidbn Group.

At the time of visit to those claims no work was l)eing done, but they belong to Jno.
Poppen and Albert Webb, Silverton, and lie along a small creek flowing into Four-Mile Greek,
seven miles east by trail from Silverton.

This vein was discovered in a narrow gulch in syenitic granite, with a strike S. E. by S.
W., and a dip 75° N. W. It shows on both sides of the gulch, where in two tunnels were
stopes 1-3 feet wide up to the surface. Below these workings have been run two other tunnels,
one on the south of the gulch being in 100 feet with cross-cuts, but showing no ore. On the
north side over 400 feet of work had been done, in which four drifts had been run along smooth
fissure planes that proved to carry no ore. At one part where two drifts branched off at an
angle of 45°, was a winze full of water, close by which were lying several large blocks of galena
ore in a quartz gangue. On the dump were pieces of ore, consisting of zinc blende in a quartz
and spathic iron (?) gangue, also some galena ore, but the percentage of lead was very low.
Native silver was found along the seams, and of about 50 tons shipped in the fall of 1894, the
silver value is reported to have been 180 ounces per ton, while one lot of 9J tons carried about
40% lead, the remainder 10%.

Other Claims. — South of Four-Mile Creek are many locations on silver-lead veins, and
work is being done on a number of important groups. The Thompson group, about six miles
oast of Silverton, on the Fennel Creek, has been bonded to Dr. H. Bell-Irving, of Vancouver, for
$40,000, who is engaged developing a galena vein from which a considerable amount of ore has
already been taken, and has contracted for the shipment of 100 tons of ore on the dump, while
300-500 tons are believed to be in sight that will yield about $100 to the ton on the average.

Farther west of this group, on Granite Creek, is the Vancouver group, embracing the
Vancouver, Mountain Boomer, Le Roi, Iowa, and Doone, owned by the Moynahan Bros.
The Hewitt, owned by Capt. R. G. Tatlow, C. F. Yates, et al, Vancouver, was being opened by
Major Reed, with ten men, who was running a tunnel on a vein believed by him to be the extension
of the vein on the Galena Farm, to be described, and the breast of the tunnel was reported to
be all mixed ore or zinc blende and spathic iron, with 5 feet of mixed ore in a 75-foot shaft.

Galena Farm.

This property, otherwise known as the " Currie Group," obtained its name by the finding
of ore scattered over a plateau east of the Slocan Lake, and the subsequent discovery of the large
ledge that now bids well to rank among the largest produccirs in this district. Great import-
ance may be attached to this vein in that, while resembling in many details the large Slocan Star
lead that runs through the slates and limestones, this is evidently in the granite, although pieces of
slate occur in the quartz gangue, a small, but very probably shallow, area of slates occurring close
by, but bosses of granite protrude from the wash all over these claims, from which the slate
formation has been eroded, and this lead not only demonstrates the importance of the granite
area, but also points to the persistence of the veins in the different geological horizons.

The first to work this property were discouraged rather by the presence of much zinc
blende and the small amount of galena scattered through the ledge matter, but in the prospect-
ing done during the last season by the present owners, fine solid galena ore with high silver
values had been uncovered. The group of claims comprising the Currie, Graver, Stephenson,
Katie and Peerless, Crown Grants applied for, one and a half miles south of Silverton, and one

leen driven
,y Una iM-en
xeil ore or

srtson et eU,
mn run in
leing done,
ith, Silver-
lel running
na, beyond
ind on the
but asBess-

ig to Jno.
Vlile Creek,

^. E. by S.
innels were
ler tunnels,
e. On the
ong smooth
[ off at an
<s of galena
in a quartz
IS very low.
E 1894, the
irried about

veins, and
t six miles
icouver, for
t of ore has
unip, while
he average,
tracing the
lahan Bros.

opened by
le extension
reported to
}t shaft.

the finding
of the large
eat iiiiport-
Slocan Star
gh pieces of
arring close
;h the slate
the granite
ns.

much zinc
le prospect-
high silver
Stephenson,
m, and one

mile east of the 1 ike, was secured by Mr. C. W. Callahan, M. E., for English investors who
have recently fun ted the Ualuna Mines Company, Ltd., Tjondon, England, with a capital of
£560,000, in 530,000 £1 shares.

On the Gurrie claim this vein was seen to have a strike east and west (mag.) and a north
dip of 50° to 65°, and on the surface, and an outcrop now traced for 1,600 feet, with, in places
12 to 14 feet wide, of milk-white quartz, spathic iron, fragments of slate and granite, and some
zinc blende and galena. In an old shaft, at a depth of 50 feet, a short cross-cut entered the
vein at 12 feet, and there a drift was run 60 feet east and 70 feet west, exposing a large body
of concentrating ore for all this distance, and along the smooth hanging wall a good body of
solid high grade galena. In the west drift, 35 feet from the cross-cut, a winze was being
started, since sunk 45 feet, in four feet of solid, fine-grained galena. In an open working 500
feet west of the shaft, were 16 inches of solid galena along a smooth foot wall with considerable
concentrating material.

Since th(! time of visit a 2-compartment working shaft, now down 65 feet, has been sunk
west of the old shaft and 140 feet north of the outcrop, with the expectation of striking the
lead at 130 feet, but at 41 feet what is believed to be a cross-ledge running north and south
was entered, dip 60° west, and down to 51 feet the shaft was in concentrating ore, that by
tests made by Mr. Callahan, concentrating 5 to 1, yielded 123 ounces of silver per ton and
62% lead. This cross-lead is now thought to be traceable for 800 feet. The shaft, equipped
with requisite steam hoisting plant and pumps, will Im now sunk 500 feet, with cross-cuts to
the vein at every 100-foot station, and when sufficient development justifies it, a 150-ton
concentrating plant will be built, for which the water from Eight-Mile and Gold Creeks is
expected to supply 600 inches under a 500-foot head. The ore is essentially a milling ore,
but a test shipment of assorted assayed 1)8 ounces of silver per ton and 67% lead. A good
waggon road, 1 J miles long, has been constructed from the mine to Silverton, whence the con-
centrated ore will be shipped to the smelters, and suitable bunk-houses, ecc, have been
erected. D. J. McDonald, a Cailfornian, a mining man of long experience, iu in charge of the
work as superintendent, and was employing 20 men in the proper exploitation of this valuable
property.

Othbh Claims. — Many claims have since been located about the Currie group and many
are being prospected. To the east the Noonday is thought to have the extension of the
Currie vein, but here the formation is the small area of highly altered slates. The Baby
Ruth, Los Vegas, Mountain View, Granite Mountain, and Daisy, on Eight-Mile Creek,
occurring, according to Mr. McConnell, in an inlier of hard, rusty slate several miles in extent
and enclosed, the granite, reached by trail from Hilverton via the Galena Farm, were not
visited, but assessment work was being done. The L. II., also one of this group, is situated
high up on a very steep ridge, and Mr. McConnell (Summary Report, 1896, p. 26) says:
" The slates are fissured along an east and west line, and the schistose rock adjoining the line
of fracture on the south, has been altered, silicified, and impregnated in places with ore, along
a zone varying in width from 20 to 40 feet. The ore appears to consist mostly of native
arsenic, mispickle, pyrite, and pyrrhotite, distributed through the vein in an irregular manner."
Four hundred feet up the steep face of the bluff a tunnel had been driven in 22 feet into this
zone, but very little mineralization was apparent there. Mr. J. M. M. Benedum, one of the
owners, has obtained several assays high in silver and gold from samples taken from this vein,
on which only assessment work has been done.

Ten-Mile Creek.

An excellent waggon road has been built from the landing eight miles up this creek,
through a valley of fine timber, to the Enterprise mine, and thence trails pass over to Springer
and Lemon Creeks and back to Slocan City, and also farther east to the head 'aters of
Kokanee or Yuill Creek and the south fork of Kaslo Creek, where a groat deal of prospecting
has been done during the past season, with good results.

The Enterpkise.

The success attending the development of this vein, has, to a great degree, demonstrated the
possibilities and the value of this granite area. The Enterjrrise and Slocan Queen, situated on
the slope .south of the creek, were located in 1894 by R. Kirk wood and Jno. McKinnon, then
bonded to Jno. A. Finch, who recently sold these to David M. Hyman, et al., Colorado, for
$300,000, on th(! advice of D. W. Brunton, of Aspen, Colo., one of most eminent Mining
Engineers in the West.

This vein on the surface, while smaH, can be easily traced for two claims, and runs N. 55°
E. and S. 55° W., and dips S. E. 70°-80°. The gan>,'ue is quartz, the enclosing walla are a
dark coloured micaceous granite, that shades into the typical syenitic granite of this area, and
the ore is fine and coarse grained galena, with a large amount of zinc blende, which, it was
stated by the management, carried the best and very high silver values, and is found generally
along the foot wall, with bands of galena and quartz. In July last, a shipment to the smelter
of 40 tons of ore yielded 172.7 ounces of silver per ton, and lf<% lead, and during December in
three shipments, oi- 120J tons, the silver values ran frun; 153.7 to 179.5 ounces per ton, and
the lead from 17.5 t<} 30%, and now 2 or 3 carloads of ore are being shipped every week.

Three tunnels were being driven in on the vein, with the fourtli just being started, and in
the lowest or No. 1, 120 feet long, the vein of solid blende and galena varied from 2 and 3
inches, to 8 and 10 inches in width, and as in the ot'icr workings, the tunnel was being driven
along the ore, leaving it standing to bo broken down clean. Tunnel No. 2, 170 feet vertically
above No. 1, was in 400 feet, with continuous ore for 300 feet, where an upraise 100 feet to
surface, followed ore over 8 inches thick for 80 feet, Ijut at 330 feet a fault had been
encountered, beyond which the vein had not been pickeil up, but cros^-cuts were being driven
with the probability of finding it in the south-west. In this tunnel the ore was 8 to 18 inches
wide, with very little ganguo matter, and overhand stop(?s were being started. lu tunnel No.
3, 25 feet above No. 2 and 310 long, for 260 feet the vein carrii^d continuously 6 to 12 inches
of ore, with more or less quartz, with one small fault to the S. E., but for the last 20 feet the
vein was pinched. In the opening cut for tunnel No. 4, 90 feet above No. 3, were 6 to 14
inches of solid ore, and thus, by these workings, for about 1,000 feet along the strike, had been
exposed an almost continuous shute of ore for tliis distance. Bunk-houses, cabins and ore-sheds
had been built, and the ore will be .shipped by the load to the lake, and thenco by steamer to
the C. P. R. R. Number of men employed, 20.

Other Claims. — The Iron Horse and United Empire are located on the N. E. extension
of the vein, and still further N. E., but on the north slope of the creek, this vein is said to
have been found on the Alexandria. On another claim on the north slope, the Ore(/on City,
owned by Jno. Thompson, L. Parkin.son i< nl, in a 50-foot tunnel, it was reported that 7 to 8
inches of galena ore had been struck, and tliat ore was found on the Westmowtt, owned by F.
Griffiths, N. West, et al, who were running a cross-cut tunnel.

Nekpawa.

About one-half mile west of the Enterprise, and on the same slope, lie the Neepawa,
Argenta, Bossimain and Baker Fraction, owned by E. Shannon and A. McOillvary, and since
bonded to H. Bell-Irving, of Vancouver, of the Alliance Prospecting Syndicate, for $30,000.
The vein running N. 20° E. by S. 20° W., and dipping easterly 60°, bad been prospected by
open cuts and a tunnel, and in one cut thcne were 10-16 inches of solid fine-grained galena and
zinc blende, with 3 to 4 feet of concentrating ore, and since then ore has been found in a lower
tunnel, and a trial shipment has been made to Tacoina.

A cabin was being built, and only a few hundred yards of road will be necessary to
connect with the Enterprise waggon road.

Dalhousie Group.

These claims, still further west, were not seen, but the Silver-Joe, Dalhousie, Glad Tidingst
Sayf/er and laccamock, are owned liy Jno. Angrignon, Jos. Pilon, M. McLean, et al, who had
driven a tunnel 1 10 feet on the vein, with 2^ feet of concentrating galena ore reported, and with
4 men were driving a cross-cut tunnel to the ledge, which runs N. E. by S. W., and stands nearly
vertical.

The Bondholder Group.

The Bondholder, Pine Loij, Lone Star and I^ose Bud are located on a vein supposed to be
the same as the Enterprise, high up in the basin near the ridge south of Ten-Mile Creek and
are bonded to the Bondholder Mining Co. of Vancoiver. Capital stock ^1,000,000; Gen.
Manager, R. C. Campbell-Jolinson, M.E.

This vein, running N.E. by S.W. (mag.) and with a dip of 50° to 60° S.E. in the granite,
had been traced by cuts and out-croppings for 4,000 feet through nearly the entire length of
the claims, and at the time of visit, in September, comnioilious cabins for the men, stables, Ac,
were being erected, and development had just begun, but little could l>e then seen of the vein,
as the work had hardly progressed far enough to expose other than the surface inilueuced part,

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where it was in places 12 to 16 inches wide of blended quartz, iron oxides and galena, ancl in
others more solid galena with some blende. On the Pine Log a short cross-cut tunnel, then in
25 feet, was nearing the vein, down which an incline was to be sunk, and to the S.W. over a
thousand feet distant, and near the ridge, an open cut showed an 8-inch vein, while to the N.E.
on the Bondholder, where the vein can be easily seen for several hundred feet cutting across
the face of the steep bluff, tunnel No. 2 was in Just 12 feet and showing mixed ore in the face.
Excellent facilities are here for the extensive development of this vein, and when the extraction
of the ore begins a trail for rawhiding will have been built down to the road along Ten-Mile
Creek, 2,600 feet below the mine, and a waggon road may be built. This property can be also
reached by trail from Slocan City, via Springer Creek. Foreman B. C. Bradshaw was in
charge of 15 men.

Kalispell.

The Kalispell, Crown-granted, 37.1 acres, is located on Ten Mile-Creek one mile from the
lake, in a small area of stratified roi-ks, i.e., altered slate quartzites &c., and is owned by Wm.
Lardner, Deadwood, South Dakota. In a 75-foot tunnel on the south bank of the Creek is
een evidence of a shear zone and later faulting, and along this is quartz, crushed country rocks,
galena and silver minerals, such as ruby silver. Some stoping has been done along this lead
that has a strike of N. <fe S. (mag ) and a dip easterly of 70°, and seieral tons of high grade
silver ore have been shipped, of which 8 tons assayed 289 ozs. of silver per ton and 3 tons 212
ounces. There is ample water in the creek, and a large amount of fine timber on the property,
and a short trail connects with the waggon road. No work was being done at time of visit in
September.

Springer and Lemon Greeks.

From the rival towns of Slocan City and Brandon at the foot of the lake, trails lead off to
the country drained by Twelve-Mile, Springer and Lemon Creeks, and in this part of the
district many locations have been made, some on galena veins, but many others on the "dry ore"
veins and the gold-bearing (juartz leads, all in the granite. Much prospecting was being done
and considerable development work ; but as many investors have recently been securing bonds
and options on many locations, the coming season promises much greater activity, and certainly
the careful attention of mining men is warranted by the very favourable results already
attained by the as yet very small amount of work. The Howard Fraction, Two Friends Group
and the Arlington were visited, besides these properties on Ten-Mile Creek already described,
and the writer is much indebted to Messrs. Gwillim and Johnson, Mining Engineers, Slocan
City, for information concerning other claims it was impossible to visit this season.

The Two Friends.

This claim, 1,500 by 1,500 feet, is 7 or 8 miles east of Slocan City, on the divide between
Springer and Lemon Creeks, and is bonded to the Two Friends Mine Co. Ltd.; Pres. F. C.
Innis, Sec. C. C. Bennett, Vancouver. Capital stock $240,000 in 800,000 shares at 30 cents each.

By the discovery near a small spring, of a little honey-combed quartz sprinkled with zinc
blende, another vein in the granite of very high grade galena had been located, and was being
opened up in an excellent manner by Capt. J. A. Wood when visited in Sept. With a good
supply of timber close at hand, good mine buildings were being completed and all'the under-
ground workings carefully timbered up where necessary. This vein strikes N.E. by S.W. (mag.)
and dips S.E. 80°, and Tunnel No. 1 , after cross-cutting 25 feet, ran 50 feet along the vein which
was stoped up 10 or 12 feet to the surface, and about 100 feet below. Tunnel No. 2 was driven
206 feet in 60 days to the ledge where the solid galena in large crystals lies next the smooth
well defined foot-wall, or with a narrow seam of iron oxides between, while next to the hanging
wall of dark, fine-grained altered granite was segregated more or less of zinc blende. To the
S.W. a narrow dyke crosses the vein, beyond which no work had been done, and in the drift,
then about 40 feet long, the vein varied from a narrow streak to 12 to 14 inches of solid blende
and galena ore, which in a raise up 20 feet and 8 feet wide there were 12 to 16 inches of this
solid, clean, very rich ore.

OuK was then being shipped by pack-horses to Slocan City, ac a cost of $1 5 per ton, which
rate will be matle less when the rawhiding season has begun after the fall of the snow. Up to
the end of the year shipments of over 40 tons of silicious high grade ore had been made that
yielded, as per smelter returns, from 250 to 380 ounces of silver per ton and 38% to 52% lead,
and ore, after deducting all charges, showed net to the owners the high value of $150 to $160
per ton. Number of men 20.

The Arlington.

The vein found on the Arlington and the BurUiujton, owned by R. Cooper and C. Fielding,
of Slocan City, and located 6 miles from that place, on the north slope of Springer Creek, on the
trail leading over the divide to the Enterprise mine, has attracted much attention by reason
of the rich specimens of native silver found along the cracks and crevices in a zone of shattered
granite, in which also are small stringers of fine-grained galena and zinc blende, the native
silver evidently being deposited in this state within the region of surface influences. This
zone of crushed, and more or less altered, mineralised granite, 4 to 6 feet wide, has a strike
N.E. by S.W. (mag.) and dip to the N.W 55°, and has been traced, it is claimed, through
several claims. About 30 feet of tunnelling had been made on either side of a shaft, then
down 55 feet on the vein, with drifts at a depth of 35 feet, of 45 feet showing this broken
country rock with stringers of ore and quartz, and on the dump were piled 70 to 80 tons of
ore, the value of which could not be learned as none had been shipped to the smelters. This
winter the owners are continuing the development work.

The Howard Fraction.

This was the only " dry ore " property examined, and on the south slope of the divide, or
Gold Hill, between Springer and Lemon Creeks, 8 miles from Slocan City, lie, besides many
other claims, the Howard Fraction, Tiger Fraction, AHgeld, Deadwood, Bland, and Free Gold,
owned by A. E. Teeter, Wm. Price. V. T. Ratclifle, et at., Slocan City.

The granite is traversed by many porphyry dykes, some of considerable width, and also
by quartz veins carrying argentite, or silver sulphide, and varying values in gold.

This vein, running about east and west, was dipping northerly into the mountain at
a very low angle, or at a dip of 10° to 15°, and an incline had been sunk about 115 feet, but
not all along the vein, as this was found to be faulted up 3 feet, and 15 feet further again
faulted 8 fee.t along the same direction of throw, while a third fault had been struck.
The vein was 12 to 20 inches wide, of honeycombed quartz, with argentite disseminated
through it in crystalline form, and considerable ore had been stoped, hand-sorted, and
shipped to the smelters, which returned high values in silver and good gold values, as 7 tons
shipped to Pilot Bay in 1895 gave 163 ounces silver and $16 in gold per ton, and 12 tons
more recently, 206 ounces of silver and $26 in gold per ton. This winter work is being
CB'.ried on, but little has been done to develop the veins found on the other claims.

Other Claims.

The Meteor, \ mile north-east of the Howard Fraction, and bonded to Jno. A. Finch and
Sheran, has also a good vein of this " dry ore," which was being opened up and prospected
during the last fall.

77te Silver King, 1 mile south-east of the Howard Fraction, owned by C. Faaa and M.
Heckmann, has a 120-foot cross-cut tunnel heading for a vein.

The Crusader Group, owned by C. Faas, R. N. Clay, et al., Slocan City, comprises the
Crusader, Boulder, and Hidden Treasure, up the first north fork of Lemon Creek. Float
having been found, trenching was resorted to, resulting in the discovery, within the walls of
decomposed granite, of a vein 2 J feet wide of cellular, coarsely-grained crystalline quartz, with
coarse particles of silver glance and iron pyrites, some native silver and gold. A shaft has
been sunk 33 feet along this vein, and this autumn one-half interest was sold to W. H.
Hellyar and W. H. Smith for $12,500, and supplies were to be packed up to keep 4 or 5 men
at work all winter.

77w Alpine Group, embracing the Swiss, Highland Chief, Burn, and Kootenay Pass, is
located high up on the mountain side above Summit Creek, the south fork of Lemon Creek,
and has a strong gold-bearing quartz vein 2 to 3 feet wide, lying very flat, and traceable
through three basins. But little work other tiiau assessment ha.s been done, and the owners,
0. Faas, H. Cleaver, et al., have lately bonded these properties to A. B. McKenzie and A. Dick,
of Rossland.

The Monument Group of claims is located near these properties.

The Ocean Group is located 3J miles north-east of the Crusader group, and west of the
glaciers on the summit from which flow Kokanee Creek, south fork of Kaslo Creek, east fork
of Ten-Mile Creek, up which runs the trail from the Enterprise mine road, and the main branch
of Lemon Creak. This group of three claims lies at an altitude of over 8,000 feet, and of
course above timber line, and the ledge is said to bo a dyke mineralized with silver glance and

galena. The owners, W. R. Young, W. R. Richmond, et ah, New Denver, have bonded
^ of the claim to Alex. Dick, of Rossland. Many other claims are located in this vicinity,
such as the Magnet, Big Four, Heather Bell, Three Guardsmen, Clipper, Boomerang, and
U and I, upon the latter of which is reported to be a vein 3 to 4 feet wide of concentrating
ore carrying argentite, grey copper, and galena.

The Ottawa Group, north of Springer Creek, is being developed by F. C. Reilly for a
Win, ■ »g Company.

^ .^sning Star No. 8, owned by Geo. A. Petty, of the " Monitor " mine. Three Forks,
situated on Dayton Creek, a south branch of Springer Creek, sent out five tons of ore this
Autumn, and 2 or 3 men are at work.

The Victoria Group, also near Dayton Creek, and 2^ miles from Slocan City, is under bond
to D. Bremner for $26,000, and has a vein of "dry ore."

Republic Group, embracing the Republic, Bell No. 2, and American Eagle, located 1|
miles N. E. of Slocan City, is under bond to W. L. Parrish and W. J Lindsay for $25,000,
and a shaft is being sunk on the vein, Ij^ to 2^ feet wide, of quartz, carrying silver galena and
iron pyrites, and also gold.

The Slocan Bob, ^ mile east of the Republic, has sent out a ton of ore for trial test, and is
being worked by the owners, who live in Vancouver.

The C/uipleau, near Dayton Creek, has shipped out 4 tons of sorted dry ore to the smelter,
that returned 3.6 ozs. of gold, and 94.7 ozs. of silver per ton.

The Skylark and Banger adjoining it, are bonded for $40,000 to Alex. Dick et al., of
Rossland.

Other claims are under bond, and considerable work is being done this winter to prospect
them.

On the Divide, ■. he head of Yuill Creek, reached by a trail 12^ miles long, up that creek
from Kootenay Ri'. 3tween Nelson and Balfour, a large number of claims were located

during the past season, and prospectors are awaiting the coming summer to resume the search
for veins of both galena and " dry ore," now being found there in the granite.

The Florence, Molly Gibson, Asjjen and Achilles 200, have been bonded to the Hon. Rufus
H. Pope, Cookshire, Que., and this winter 12 men are engaged prospecting these new finds.

Maps.

An excellent sketch map of this part of the Slocan District has been prepared by Mr.
Wm. Thomliuson, of New Denver.

Oariboo Oreek.

Twenty miles south of Nakusp, Cariboo Creek, on the east side of the river, flows into the
Columbia at a small settlement, Burton City. A trail leads thence through an area of granite
6 miles to the junction of Mineral Creek, at point known as Mineral City, and thence trails
lead farther on up Cariboo Creek, crossing over to Snow Creek, and also up both sides of
Mineral Creek, one crossing over the divide to Blue Grouse Creek. Most of the area is the
regular Slocan granite, but isolated areas of stratified rocks as slates, etc., can be seen, especi-
ally up Mineral City. A number of properties are reported to have been sold duiing the past
season, and much more work will bo clone this year, to prospect many of the claims now lo<*Ated.

The Promistoria, owned by B. C. Rod et al., Nakusp, is located high up on the west bank
of Mineral Creek, 2^ miles from Madden's Hotel at the junction, and it is in slates, silicious
limestones, etc., is a quartz vein, strike east and west, dip 80° S., carrying pyrrhotite, iron and
copper-pyyrites and gold, of which high assays have been obtained ; the returns from a nine-ton
lot sent to the Trail Smelter, being authoritatively stated to have yielded $60 per ton in gold.
This vein can be traced for between one and two thousand feet, and in a 75-foot tunnel it
occurs as a small vein, with stringers running into the country rock, but in an open cut a short
distance above, appear to be two quartz veins, one 4i feet, the other 3 feet wide, coming
together just at the surface, or else to be a horse of the country rock with this amount of
mineralized quartz on either side. Considerable of the ore was piled up, some sacked for ship-
ment, and near by these workings was a cabin.

The Gopher is the western extension of the vein, and the Oro Grande the eastern, but
little work had been done on either claim.

Located along the trail on the east of Mineral Creek are : —

The B. C, owned by Louis Sherrier, Hugh Madden, et al., on which a narrow quartz vein
is found in a line of break in the slates, along which break the country rock has been ground

and crushed into a black mass, in which are small stringers of quartz. A shaft had been sunk
25 feet in this material, and then drifted in for 12 feet, showing some sulphide-bearing quartz,
the value of which was not learned.

Several claims along this ridge were being prospected, and on the top of the ridge,
6,500-6,800 feet altitude, in the granite were several quartz veins carrying but a small amount
of sulphides, and whose value had never really been determined.

The Ileatlier Hell, owned by H. McLennan, et al., had a small vein of white quartz, 3 to
12 inches wide, and on the —

Bonanza, owned by A. McPherson, F. Gr. Farquier, et al, in an 8-foot hole, were two small
quartz veins, carrying coarse crystalline pyrrhotite, but no values were ascertained.

The Flora Mac has two parallel quartz veins carrying very little mineral, with a strike
north and south, and on the —

Noble Four a little work had been done in a mass of decomposed material, in the granite,
but little idea could be then formed as to what this indicated. Both of these claims lie on the
slope above Blue Grouse Creek, and are owned by H. McLennan and Alex. McDonald.

The Hardy, alias (Jolden Eagle, one-half mile east of Mineral City, has a quartz vein 8 to
10 feet wide, strike N. W. and S. E., with a mineralized streak 10 by 18 inches wide, along
the hanging wall. An opening, about 20 feet deep, had been made, but the material extracted
was said to assay very low in gold.

The country further east was not seen, but a large number of claims have been staked, on
some of which the discovery of galena was reported, such as —

The Independance, four miles up Cariboo Creek beyond Mineral City, owned by A. Moore,
Burton City, on which is said to be a large body of quartz, interspersed with pyrrhotite, iron
pyrites and galena. No work was being done.

The Eureka, 2J miles farther up the creek, owned by Jas. Durham and \Vm. Swan, who
were preparing to run a 100-foot tunnel on a ledge showing 6 feet of quartz and sulphides, on
the northern extension of which vein are the Shamrock and Black Ihvarf.

Many locations have been made on Snow Creek, but all of this part of the district is
awaiting the results of further work and prospec^tiiig, and at present not much more can be
reported.

76
Nelson Mining Division.

The Town of Nelson is not only the oldest in this part of West Kootenay, but one of the
most important by reason of its situation on the Wt-st Arm of Kootenay Lake, and its railroad
facilities, by which, coupled with those afl'orded by the steamboat lines, any point in these
regions can now be quickly reached. Besides the Government offices. Court house, and Customs
house, there are two banks, the Bank of British Columbia, and the Bank of Montreal, post-
office, express office, two newspaper offices — the " Miner " and " Tribune," — hotels, schools,
churches, &c., and during the past year many new buildings, for business purposes and resid-
ence, have been erecte<l. The smelter of the Hall Mines Co., Ltd., is also located here.

The North Fork of the Salmon River.

Being desirous of giving some information in this Bulletin concerning this recently pros-
pected country, Mr. McConnell, of the Dominion Geological Survey, was requested by the
writer to give a sketch of the geological formations and the character of the ore deposits, and
the following is his kind response : —

" The ore-bearing rocks on the North Fork of the Salmon, consists of porphyrites, gabbro
diabases, and slates, cut by numerous dykes, the whole forming a complex series somewhat
similar to that of llossland. The ores resemble the Rossland ores, but no large l)ody had been
opened up at time of my visit. A small opening on the ' Mersey,' showed several inches of
nearly pure pyrrhotite with some chalcopyrite next the hanging wall, Iwrdered by 3-4 feet of
mixed ore an«l country rock. At the ' Ben Hassen,' tiie development work consists of a shaft
li") feet deep, and a drift of 8-10 feet to the east ; the ore here is principally pyriteand galena,
with some chalcopyrite, and occurs dissemiiuited in grains, small pockets and stringers, through
slates and pcjrphyrites, along a zone TJ-lf) feet in width. At the 'Arnold,' a shaft 25 feet
deep, has been sunk through altered and siiicified porphyrites, carrying galena, pyrite, blende,
and chalcopyrite ; the lead is not well defined. A large number of claims have been staked
out in this district, but with the exception of those given above, but little work has so far
lieen done on them.

" On Wild Horse Creek, east of the Nelson and Fort Sheppard R. R., the conditions are
somewhat different, the volcanic rocks being largely replaced by argillites striking in a north
and south direction ; the slates are cut by a number of quartz leads, but the only one of
note visited was the ' Elise,' situated on Huckleberry Creek, a tributary of the Wild Horse
Creek. An open cut on this claim, about 35 feet long and from 8-10 feet deep, shows a
well-defined quartz lead from 3-5 feet in width, striking about N. 25° E., and dipping to the
north at an angle of 65°. The quartz carries galena, iron, and copper pyrites, blende, and
native silver. Several tons of the ore have been shipped from this mine, and is reported to
have yielded GO ounces in silver and a few dollars in gold to the ton. Claims have been
staLed on a number of the other tributaries of the Salmon, but I had no time to examin%
them."

The Hall Mines Gohpany, Limited.
Silver Kino.

This company now owns 18 claims, of which 9, or 196.6 acres, are Crown-granted, and the
remainder, or 312.8 acres, mineral locations. Not all these claims are on the silver-copper
belt, but the Silver Kiu;/, Kootenny Bonanza, American Flay, and Koh-i-nor, or 56.9 acres,
constitute the group upon which the extensive mining operatiims are being prosecuted, to be
(lescrilwHl beh)w, while the Brittania, Eureka, J.B.D., Grand, Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock are
locations close by on the gold belt, in the same geological formation. The main group of
four being old locations, oi- made in 1886-7, possess apex rights, and are located on Toad
Mountain, 5 miles from Nelson, or 8J miles by waggon road.

Owned by the Hall Mines Co., Limited, London, Eng. Capital, £300,000, of which
"•0,000X1 shares are cumulative preference shares, one-half of which were issued when the
company was formed, and 250,000 of £\ ordinary shares. Sir Joseph Trutch, K.C.M.G.,
chairman ; F. Ramsay, 111, Wool Exchange, Coleman St., London, E. C, secretary.

Canadian officers : Gen. Mana{|;er, H. E. Croasdaile ; Mine Superintendent, M. S. Davis ;
Smelter Superintendent, Paul Joiinson ; Foreman, W. A. Turner, Nelson, B. C.

Formation. — This copper-silver lode is situated in the greenish diabases that, in prox-
imity to the vein, are generally massive, but also schistose, the planes of the schistose lamina-
tion being nearly vertical, and also nearly parallel with the trend of the ore zones that strike
east and west, magnetic, and dip south 70°. In the main workings of the big Imle no distinct
walls can be seen, but in the largest stope the highest grade ore had lower grade ore receding
from it on either side, indicating that probably the ore-bearing solutions hivd permeated and
impregnated the country rock on both sides of the channel or crevice up which they had
risen. In several places could be seen where the solutions had evidently followed divergent
crevices and formed local impregnations leading off from the main ore body. Several fault
planes of different strike and pitch traverse the lode, but with, as yet apparent, a very small
amount of dislocation.

As yet but one large ore-shute, 200-225 feet long, extending right to the surface, has
been developed by the present workings, but smaller ones have lieen found, that on further
exploitation, hardly yet begun, may expand to much larger dimensions.

Towards the east, on the Kootemiy Bonanza, surface showings lead to the inference that
the vein may have branched, one continuing along the main direction into the Grizzly Bear
ground, the other turning more to the south-east along the Kootenay Bonanza, but having
apparently a dip opposite to that of the main lead. However, further work this winter to
thoroughly explore this particular part of the property, may serve to show up the true condi-
tions. This lode has been traced almost continuously throughout the length of the Silver
King and Kootenay Bonanza claims, or nearly 3,000 feet, into the claims at either end, but
the width of course varies greatly, from 1 or 2 feet up to the maximum, so far shown, of 50
feet,

Ore. — The ore may be graded into two classes ; (a) into that carrying a high percentage
of value-bearing sulphides, and (b) lower grade country rock impregnated with a much smaller
amount. In the upper workings of the mine, down through a rich zone in the shute, the ore
consists of bornite, or " pea-cock copper," with some tetrahedrite, also copper- and iron-pyrites,
and small amounts of galena and blende, and of this ore the former owners shipped 206 tons,
that averaged 190.9 ozs. in silver, and 18.17 % copper; one lot of 18.7 tons yielding 286 ozs.
silver, and 27.2 % copper; and another of 13.5 tons, 321.5 ozs. silver, and 31 % copper. The
present company, before the erection of their own smelter, shipped 1,160 tons of sorted ore
that averaged 119 ozs. silver, and 12.9 % copper.

When the company's smelter, at Nelson, was put in blast, there were accumulated several
thousand tons of good grade ore, of which over 5,000 tons assayed at the mine 46.44 ozs.
silver, and 5.92 % copper, which yielded a very high grade matte when smelted. Since then,
as will be seen by the total of production below, the grade of the ore has fallen considerably for
two reasons : — (a.) As much lower grade ore can now be profitably treated, much rock hitherto
profitless has been and is mined, increasing the tonnage but pulling down the average value,
or for 15,000 tons mined in 1896, the mine assays were 20.52 ozs. silver per ton, and 3.64 %
copper. (6.) The bulk of the highest grade ore in the present ore-shute, so far developed and
accessible to mining, has been mined out leaving a large body of the lower grade, but still a
considerable amount of the rich ore. The thorough development and prospecting of this
property can be said to be now well inaugurated, and the exploitation of the present ore shute
and other shutes, in depth disclosed by the diamond drill, can now be properly undertaken and
vigorously carried on. ,

In the lowest workings of the mine the ore appears to be changing in that chalco-pyrite
is replacing the bornite. The diabase country rock in the ore shute is impregnated with the
metalliferous sulphides and some quartz. With an increased amount of gray copper in the ore,
the silver value rises. At the surface the sulphides have been oxidised to a brown or black
gossan, stained by the green and blue copper carbonates, and this gossan evidently contains
much manganese, as the ore carries a good percentage of this metal. {See smelter analyses.)

PnoDucTioN OF Mink. *'>

The following table gives very cloaoly the total production of the mine from the beginning
of work to January Ist, 1897 : —

Tons.

Ozs. per Ton
Silver.

% Copper.

Silver— ozs.

Copper— lb.

Amount shippotl by former (iwrntrn. .
do II touuiHidoflinultorH.
do M to Company smoltur

200

1,160

20,860

11)0.0

119.0

21.0

18.7

12.9

3.7

38,000

l38,.^'^l

627,060

74,800

299,400

2,209,640

Total production of mine ....

31,220

803,391

2,683,840

Production of Shelter.

Mr. Paul Johnson, Superintendant of the smelter, reports that from Jan. 1 4th to Jan.
Ist, 1897, the smelter has been in blast for 255^ days, and that with the one 42 by 100-inch
blast furnace there have been smelted : —

Ore Smelted.

Silver King ore 59,720,335 fts. or 29,860 tons of 2.000 lbs.

Outside ores 542,070 .. 271 .. ..

Total ore 60,262,405 n 30,131 .. .,

Production.

Pounds. Silver — ozs. Gold — ozs. Copper — fts.

Matte and metJiUics 4,775,355 containing 628,125 575.2 2,247,891

Flue dust 240,000 ., 4,836 2.9 15,030

Totals 5,015,355 632,960 578.1 2,262,921

The average value of tlie ore. From the above returns the average silver and copper
contents yielded per ton, as calculated from the product obtained in smelting nearly 30,000
tons of the Silver King ore are nearly : — 21 ounces of silver per ton, and 3.7% copper.

Dividends.

No dividends have been paid by this company. As in all other mining propositions, the
strictest economy and the most careful and experienced management will have t' '>e exercised
before profitable returns will accrue to the stockholdere.

Mining Operations.

All mining work, apart from prospecting, has been done on the Silver King lode which
runs through the Kootenay Bonanza and Silver King claims, and especially upon the large ore
shute on the latter claim. Further and extensive underground development work now in
progress, should serve to locate and determine the size and value of the ore-shute, and to give
more points of attack, with the consequent increased daily tonnage of ore.

About $104,000 were spent by the former owners, the Kootenay Bonanza Co., in prospect-
ing this main ore-shute near tlie eastern end of the Silver King, by driving three
tunnels, or 1,100 feet, numerous cross-cuts or 345 feet, and sinking winzes, etc., and the present
company has utilised and extended these workings, exploring also extensively with the diamond
drill. The following will give some idea of the present workings, and the size and extent of
ore bodies now disclosed : —

Silver Kino. — Tunnel No. 1, 85 feet long, near the crown of the hill, is not being used,
but some very good ore was disclosed, particularly in some short winzes.

Tunnel No. 2, 132 feet, is a short distance below No. 1, and 44 feet above No. 4, to the
large stopes, from which it is connected by two winzes, down which the ore is sent in mill-holes
to the main haulage system. A large amount of very high grade ore has been taken from this
level, and at present a considerable amount of medium grade ore is being mined, but the bulk
of the ore now exposed is below.

TuNNKL No. 4, or Main Tunnel, 6 by 7 ft., is at present the main artery of the mine, and
was run by the former company 912 ft. easterly, in a strai},'ht lino, nearly along the course of
the ledge, but directly through the main ore-shutc, at 720 feet it passes into the Kootenay
Bonanza ground, 270 ft. vertically below the surface, while its face is still 600 ft. west of a
shaft on this claim, to be described below, where are excellttnt surface indications of ore, 290
ft. above the tunnel level.

In driving this tunnel no ore was found for 85 feet, when a small amount of mixed ore
was followed until, at 175 feet, 3-4 feet of good ore came in, down in which a winze is now
sunk 70 feet, along which, and a 100-foot drift, are 2-3 feet of good grade ore, belonging,
apparently, to a different shute from the main one. At this point a Jioist, run by compressed
air, was being installed to facilitate sinking, as this will form an important connection with
the new tunnel. No. 5, by the time this reaches this point over 200 feet below, beside per-
mitting in the mean time the opening up of this section of the lode. From this on there
is little ore showing in the tunnel, until at 345 feet it enters . and traverses for over 200 feet
the magnificent ore-shute that extends right to the surface through upper turmels, but appears
to have its greatest width at this level. At first a core of 6-9 feet of very high grade ore was
mined, but since then ore of lower, but very profitable, has been mined on either side, until
this stope is now 35-50 feet wide and up 35-40 feet, showing a large amount of the medium to
good grade ore 15-30 feet wide in the roof, besides that below the floor, but at either end this
shute is narrowing down to a width of a few feet.

This large stope is being very well timbered up with square sets of 12-inch squared
timbers, 6 by 6 by 8 feet, with strong floors ; and this will not only make this ground safe, but
render easy the catching up of the ground when the ore is stoped out from below this level,
but so far the ground is very solid, and no timbering is required, except in these large open-
ings or at the tunnel entrances.

From this main tunnel level another winze or incline, 135 feet deep, 250 east of the first
ore described, is being sunk near the hanging wall and about half way along this large stope
(by the aid of machine drills and a compressed air hoist) from which run two levels ; No. 2 at
30 feet, with 170 feet of drifts and 60 feet of cross-cut ; No. 3 at 60 feet with 75 feet of drift
and 110 feet of cross-cut. Both of these levels are connected by another winze from the
tunnel level, and up from each considerable high grade ore has been stoped out, leaving 12 to
15 feet of the lower grade. At the bottom the winze has run into the foot- wall, and at 135
feet prospecting at this level was just being connnenced.

Thus the ore-shute, developed to a depth of 260 feet, has been shown to be in the present
workings, about 225 feet long and 50 feet at its widest, and it is believed to have on its dip a
trend to the east, iw the workings and bore holes seem to Midicate.

In the continuation of tunnel No. 4 there is no ore, this working being south of the
lode, but 30 feet in one cross-cut north and 50 feet from the big stope, is a body of good ore,
10-12 feet thick, which is again struck in a diamond drill-hole in another cross-cut north, 100
feet east of this, and is there about 6 feet thick. This tunnel, after being deflected into the
course of the lode, should be continued through the Kootenay-Bonanza, at least 6-800 feet.

9'unnef. No. 5, or New Tunnel, 300 feet west of the No. 4, and 210 feet vertically below, or
230 feet on dip of the lode, follows for some distance a zone 2 3 feet wide of mixed ore, carrying
more galena than found in other workings on the Silver King. This vein has a strong out-
crop and runs through the Dandy claim, and in all probability is the (extension of the Silver
King lode, only it appears to be hjcated about 150 feet north of where this lode should be by
continuing its course as indicated in the upper workings. This tunnel, 6 by 7, double-tracked,
now in 360 feet (Oct. 17th), is being advanced by using two machine drills, one Ingersoll-
Sargeant, and one Rand, and 5-600 feet yet intervene before it will be into the big ore shute,
but a large amount of ground can be pro.spected by this working, and much stoping done
above it, while the handling of the ore will be rendered very simple, as the cars from this
tunnel are run directly to the top of the ore bins of the aerial tiamway.

■ .' Kootenay Bonanza.

On this claim a shaft 65 feet deep, with 1 20 feet of cross-cuts, now being enlarged for
extended prospect woi'k this winter, disclosed a considerable amount of good ore, and 100 feet
east, in a small open cut, is some high grade ore believed to be in the continuation east of the
Silver King lotle, while st)uth of this shaft, extending to the east end of this claim, exposed
by a number of trenches, runs a mineralized zone, S. 40° E. (mag.), cutting across the stratifi-
cation of the schists S. 80° E. (mag.) The rock in this zone is solid, light coloured, fine grained.

and impregnated with copper pyrites, bornite, and a little galena and grey copper, with quartz
stringers, while the country rock is very schistose. It was here that the first copper-stained
surface rock was found by the locators, and although drill-holes have been put down here,
more satisfactory knowledge is expected to be gained this winter by drifting from the shaft,
and if with favourable results, tunnels Nos. 4 and 6 can be pushed on into this ground.

Miming Machinbry.

Large and commodious buildings at the mouth of No. 4 tunnel were being completed, in
which were engine, compressor and boiler rooms, sorting floors and blacksmith shops, <&c.
The plant consists of: —

(rt.) 1 Corliss steam engine, 16 by 36, made by Albion Iron Works, Victoria, B.C. ;
2 60-H.P. boilers made by Ingersoll-Sargeant Rock Drill Co., Montreal ; and
1 35- H. P. boiler with boiler feed pumps;

1 10-drill air compressor, 18 by 24, Ingersoll-Sargeant, Montreal;
1 2-drill II II II II

(The engine fly-wheel is 12 ft. by 22 inches, with l>elting to pulley on shaft, whence another
belt from the driving pulley runs back to fly-wheel of compressor, 10 ft. by 18 inch s.)
(6.) Work shop, with lathe, <fec, :

(c.) 1 No. 3 Gates rock-breaker, in which large stuflF is thrown from sorting floor, thence
to bins for the 3-rail gravity tramway ; also a small Dodge crusher for breaking
the samples for assay:
(d.) Saw-mill, with planer, <fec.

The compressed air, at 80 lbs. pressure, is conveyed through the tunnel in an 8-inch spiral
riveted steel pipe, thence by iron pipes and hose to the drills, which are used in driving headings,
all stoping being done by single-hand work. The fuel, or cord-wood, costing $1.25 per cord,
is cut on the property.

Transportation.

(a.) Ore from Tunnel No. 2 is trammed in cars to the shute down to Tunnel No. 4:

(6.) From shutes on No. 4 level all ore is trammed out to the sorting floor, from the bins
below which —

(c.) The ore is loaded into trains of three cars, each holding 1,350 B)8., which are pushed
out by two men and attached to the rope of the gravity tramway:

(d.) This 3-rail tramway, equipped with |-inch steel cable and a 3-brake drum, runs down
a trestle 700 feet long, dropping 190 feet, to the ore bins, 3,000 tons capacity, of the aerial
rope-way, into whif h bins the cars from Tunnel No. 5 empty directly :

(e.) The Hallidie Aerial Rope Tramway had to be divided into two sections, as the total
length and drop were so great that the rope, as it went over the pulleys on the bents, cut right
through these and also cut ofi* the bucket-clips so that sometimes 25 to 30 buckets could be
seen lying in the snow. By division this trouble has been greatly obviated, and this simple
rope system is now doing very satisfactory work, while its length and amount of fall should be
of interest to all mining men concerned with the transport of ore. The following are the data : —

Total Length — 23,250 feet, or 4.4 miles.

Length of upper section 10,200 feet.

lower II 13,050 n

Tot*; difierence in elevation between terminals 3,750 n

No. of bents 145

Longest span 700 feet.

Diameter of steel rope 1 inch.

No. of buckets 850

Capacity of each bucket 150 to 165 ftw.

Best capacity of tramway to date for 10 hours. ... 145 tons.

Average 132 n

Total cost, about $50,000.

As there are no automatic devices for loading or unloading buckets, a large number of
men is required, or at upper end 6, division station 7, lower end 2, line workers 2, total ; 17
men.

The life of the present rope will be about one year, or guaranteed by the builders for
35,000 tons.

TiMUBU.

There is a considerahio amount of good mine timber below the mine on the Company's
property, but not much above.

Water.

Water, so far, gives but little trouble in the mine, but at the face of No. 4 tunnel, water,
under a high pnvssure, waH struck in a drill hole, into which is now fastened a 2-incli pipe,
through which very good water, under a pressure of 120 lbs per H(|uure inch, is carried to the
lH)il(>rH and other places outside. Tht^ mine water is non-corrosive and quite lit for boilers.
The supply of surface water is limited but adequate.

Diamond Drilling.

It is stated that over 22,000 feet of holes have been drilled by this company by means of
the steam-actuated diamond drills, and of this 11,000 feet by the present management (Mr.
Fred. Stone), who are now contracting all this work at $1.15 per foot. The rock is very suit-
able for this work, and very long cores are extracted except when passing through ore or rock
containing a large amount of sulphides, and then all the material grinds to sludge. This lode
has been prospected by setting up the machine on the surface, then drilling 2 or 3 holes at
right angles to the strike of the lode, but at angles of 45° to 70° from the horizont<i,l, thus
intersecting the ore body in 2 or 3 points from this one set up. Also the drill has been used
with greater satisfaction in the under ground workings, where the work can be done at more
direct angles to the ore body, or rather ore bodies, as this prospecting has shown the existence
of 2 and in some sections 3 parallel lenses of ore of some thickness.

The writer did not ascertain fully the results of these borings, but they are reported by
the management to be very favourable.

Mine Buildings.

Besides the engine buildings, the log boarding 1 living houses have been this year
replaced by new buildings built of material cut at tlu; mine saw-mill, and among these are the
following : — ■

(1.) Offices and superintendent's residence.

(2.) Assay and chemical laboratory.

(3.) Powder magazines.

(4.) House for foreman.

(5.) 3 double houses to bo rented to the miners with families.

(6.) A large boarding house, 100 by 32J feet, with kitchen, 17 by 32| feet, three stories
high with large basement. Masonry foundation, lathed and plastered, hqated by furnace, and
supplied with hot and cold water. For rooms and accommodation in this most commodious
building the miners will be charged, besides the rate for board, which will be under the control
of the company.

(7.) Stables, sheds, out-houses, &c.

Wages and Costs op Mining.

The number of nwn engaged at the mine was 160, but on completion of the buildings, this
was to be reduced to 120. For 10-hour shifts miners are paid $3.00; topmen and rustlers,
$2.50 ; Iwsses, $4.00 to $4.50 ; blacksmiths, $3.50 to $4.00 ; engineers, $100 per month.

Cost of driving tunnels, $9 to .$10 per foot ; cost of breaking and delivering ore at upper
terminal of aerial rope tramway, $2.50 per ton ; cost of transport of ore l>y tramway, including
cost of rope, wear and tear, Ac, 75 cents to $1.00.

The Smelter at Nelson.

The smelter built by this company near the lower end of the tramway, on the outskirts of
Nelson, and | mile from the Kootenay River, was first blown in Jan. 14th, 1896, and has been
in blast for 255^ days. At tramway terminal are 7 bins of 1,000 tons each, from which ore is
lowered by a 2-car gravity tramway 400 feet long to the smelter ore-bins.

FoRNACK Room. — There is one water-jaoketted blaHt furnace, 42 by 100 inches at the
tuyeres; tuyeres 3 ft. 8 in. froui floor; feed floor 17 ft. from floor ; water jackets 4 ft. 6 in.
high and of steel ; 6 tuyeres of 3 in. nozzle on each side. At the time of visit the ordinary
solid foundation hearth had l)een replaced with a removable crucible, consisting of a steel plate
frame 21 inches high, on a strongly braced cast-iron bottom, laid with cold water pipes in the
tightly rammed steep, on which are laid fire bricks on end, 3 inches below the water-jacketted
t<apping-hole. This crucible is mounted on jack-screws with a 6-inch play, on a strong carriage
on rails running lengthwise under the furnace and extending each way, the track at the back
of the furnace carrying a duplicate hearth, while covered in front with iron plates, thus
permitting the quick replacement of a hearth that is pushed under and jacked up snugly against
the water-jackets, suspended by legs and hangers from the I-beams.

The fore-hearth is mounted, 5 feet square, 2 ft. 6 in. deep, lined with common red brick,
and the slag runs into a large wheeled slag pot, which traps a small amount of matte, but more
especially provides for accident, in case there is delay in tapping the fore-hearth, and thence
drops 4 feet from a long iron spout into an iron-lined water box to be granulated and swept
out to the dump by the rapid stream of water. From the tap-hole of the fore-hearth, the matte
runs along an 8 ft. solid iron gutter, to a series of moulds on a carriage, 18 in. by 12 in. by 8
in., holding 220 lbs. .of matte each, into which, while molten, is stuck an iron hook, for con-
venience in lifting afterwards.

Another furnace, designed by Mr. Johnson, with same kind of movable hearth 44 by 1 44
inches at tuyeres, capacity over 200 tons per 24 hours, 8 tuyeres on each side, with a bosh both
in the stack and the water-jackets, is being erected, while the building is so arranged that 5
stacks in all may be put in easily.

This new furnace, by means of the mounted hearths, may be utilised for lead smelting, by
replacing, in a very short time, the crucible for copper work by one suitable for lead smelting.

Dust Chahbehs are of brick on a stone foundation, 175 feet long, 8 feet wide, 10 feet
high, leading to a stack 177 feet high from the base, but nearly 200 feet above the furnaces,
built of red brick (from Spokane) on a granite foundation Most of the dust collects in the
front part of the chamber, and in the two pyramidal hoppers in the iron down-take. (See
below for analysis of flue dust).

Engine Room contains at present a temporary plant of an 80 h. p. engine, 14 in. by 18
in., operating a No. 6 Root Blower; a 5 by 16 feet tubular boiler, feed pumps, etc. This
building is to be extended for the installation of another engine and blower, that are to be so
combined as to be on the same bed-plate. By the 0. P. R. trestle, the fuel (wood) is brought
to the door.

Water. — A solid masonry reservoir, built in a very favourable basin in the granite,
capacity, 150,000 gallons, 50 feet above the smelter floor, is fed by a small stream, but to insure
a proper supply of water — in case this source should fail, a large wooden tank stands on the
end of the railway trestle, and is kept full by a small steam pump down on the bank of a
constant-flowing stream below.

The Sampling Works, 40 by 60 ft. two stories high, have the upper floor so that
barrows can be wheeled directly into the railway cars, to load matte for shipment, or unload
ore from other wines. The crushers and rolls are placed up on the floor, so that all material
has to be lifted by hand when feeding, and (a) for sampling matte there ai'e a Blake crusher
15 in. by 24 in., made by Ingersoll-Sargeant Rock Drill Co., Montreal, and a Cornish rolls, 15
by 30, made by Jenckes Machine Co., Sherbrooke, Que.; and (b) for sampling ores a crusher
10 by 18, Fraser and Chalmers, and rolls 10 by 18, Jenckes Machine Co. The ore is wheeled
to the sampling floor covered by iron plates and quartered down.

Bins. — Besides the bins at the tramway terminal, there are bins for the coke, iron ore,
fluxes, limestone, ore from other mines, and for the mine ore.

Refinery. — This part of the smelter will be included in a 60 by 100 foot building, 25
feet to the eaves, and comprise (a) a Reverberatory calcining furnace, hearth 16 by 50 feet,
fuel, wood, and (ft) a Reverberatory smelting furnace, hearth 13 by 17 feet, or 16 by 20 feet,
outside measurement, both furnaces being built upon a foundation made by filling in excava-
tions of the proper size with molten slag, and connecting with a 65-foot stack.

In the smelting furnace it is proposed to reduce the calcined matte to blister copper, or
95% copper, and 2% silver, the fuel to be soft coal.

On blowing out the furnace in September, prior to putting in the removable hearths, a
large mass of metallic copper, very rich in silver, was found fllling the Iwttom of the furnace
and also eating into the bottom, extending down to the ground by replacing the mortar

between the fire bricks and a steel plate with inetallio copper. This valuable mass was broken
up, after a great deal of trouble, by using dynamite pop-shuts, and now several large pieces
will be easily handled by being put on the hearth of the furnace before the arch of the roof is
turned, and then melted down.

The offices and laboratories are excellent, and with the completion of the lulditions now
being made, the company will possess a very complete and excellent smelting plant, designed
and constructed by Mr. Johnson, who has added to his already high reputation, by the success
he has met with in his treatment of the Silver King ore, and further — with th» mine well
laid out and thorougly equipped, and means of transportation good, this company should be in
position to thoroughly explore their property and mine on a large scale.

Furl. — Both American and European coke are l)eing used, and of the latter quite a large
quantity has been imported this fall.

(a.) The American coke, from Wilkington, Wash., cimtains, as nearly all similar coke
made from the coal measures of the Cretaceous, a large amount of ash, or 18-19%, and costs
delivered at the smelter $13.40 per ton.

(6.) The Welsh or CardifTcoke is being delivere<l at the smelter for $15 per ton, and over
4,000 tons were in stock. In the furnace on an average 1 1 % of this required.

(c.) 700-800 ttms of Westphalian coke has been imported and landed at the smelter at a
little less cost than Cardiff; these cokes having been sent out by sea to Vancouver.

Fluxrs. — A very pure limestone, crystallines, is brought down on scows from 9 miles
above Kaslo, on Kootenay Lake.

Analyses. — The subjoined analyses of the ore, matte, etc., were kindly given by Mr.
Johnson : —

Orb.

Insol.

48.00

40.60

SiOa

32.30

3.70

4.39

AI.O3

2.37(1)

12.50

Fe.

6.18

6.92

MnO

10.97

9.11

CaO

6.40

10.50

MgO

1.04

3.56

Cu.

6,06

5.59

Ag.

35.05 oz. per ton.

30.00

40.50 46.50

29.70
3.00

8.01
6.80
7.20

4.40

33.70
3.00

8.12
8.30
5.70

4.30

30.00 oz. per ton. 22.08 oz. per ton. 32.00 oz. per ton.

Mattb. — A typical matte assays : 175-310 ozs. of silver per ton, 45-50% copper.
Analysis :— Cu. 43.0, Fe. 19.7, S. 23.6, As. 0.06, Sb. 0.50, Mn. 4.§0, Zn. 1.5, Ag. 1.0,
Au. a trace (or .12 oz per ton).

The analysis of slag shows its very acidic character: — SiO.^ 41 to 44%, Al^Og 15 to 25%>
Fe. 7 to 10%, MnO. 8 to 10%, CaO. 11 to 14%, Ag. .7 to .9 oz. per ton, Cu. .025 to .035%.

Analysis of flue-dust: — Insol. matter, i.e., mineral 33.9, and carbon 7.8, Cu. 6.12, As. 3.2,
Sb. 2.9, iron peroxyd. 10.3, CaO. 4.7, MgO. 5.8, AljOg 1.9, S. 9.52, ZnO. 3.1, Mn. traces, and
Ag. 37.6 oz per ton.

Analysis of coke from Fairhaven, Wash. :— Ash. 23.85., S. 0.52., HgO. 0.35., fixed
carbon 75.28.

Transportation. — (a.) The C.P.R. has a spur up to the smelter, by which cars can be
run to the main line that leads out to Robson, or to the wharf, where the steamers from the
Kootenay Lake land :

(b.) The Nelson and Fort Sheppard R.R. is about 1 mile distant, to which will be built a
waggon road, as by this railroad ore can now be shipped direct from Ro.s8land.

Custom Smelting. — This smelter has now entered the market at Rossland for the gold'
copper ore that can be brought to this point. Also by means of the new furnace with remov-
able crucibles, and especial flues to be erected for the condensation of lead fumes, it is intended
to undertake the treatment of the silver-lead ores, and thus make this one of the smelting
centres for Kootenay ores.

Adjacent Claims.

The Dandy. — This claim Crown-granted, 19 ftcres, owned by A. H. Kelly, Nelson, lies
immediately went of the Silver King, on the extenNioii of this vein, and considerahle work has
been performed. About 400 feet Itelow the new working tunnel of the Silver King, and not
far from the end-line, a tunnel was in 75 feet along the vein, which is here 3^ Ut 4 feet widr,
with quartz, copper-pyrites, ) ornite and galena, also spathic iron. About 80 feet westerly
along this vein was a shaft, said to be 47 feet deep, but full of water, and lielow this was
Tunnel No 2, which cross-cuts for 65 leet then follows continuously 1 70 feet along the vein,
in which there is much quartz, brecciatecl country rock, the copper ores and galena as found
alM)ve. Still further along the vein is an open cut, 50 feet long, exposing a 3 to 4-foot vein,
and in Tunnel No. 3, 170 feet long, the vein is followed for 100 feet. Considerable ore is
piled on the dumps, but its value W)u not learne<l, as no shipments have been made as far as
could be ascertained.

The Iro(/uoi», 500 feet .south-westerly from the Silver King, appears to have a parallel
lead of the same character of ore, but although exploration has been carried on by means of
tunnels, open cuts and diamond drill holes, a body of sutiicient size for profitable working has
not yet been located. This claim is Crown-granted, 15.13 acres, to Mr. J. E. Boss, Spokane.

The (irizzii) Rear, Crown-granted, 12.5 acres, owne«l by the Stadiicona Silver-Copper
Mining Co., of Vict<iria, B.C., lies easterly of the American Flag and Kootenay Bonanza and
a<ljoins them. No work wius being d(me, but in the shaft near the westerly end there is some
very go<Kl ore, as this is evidently on the easterly extension of the Silver King vein, which is
trace<l to this point by open cuts. Farther easterly considerable work has been done to
intercept the vein, but this was not successful in 300 feet of tunnelling and cross-cutting,
(iood cabins are on the claim, and gCHxl timber, and further exploratory work is understood
to be under advisement.

On the Silver Queen, title, Crown Grant, 20.25 acres, owned by the Silver Queen Mining
Co., Victoria, B. C, a gwid deal of work had been done in exploring for the branch of the
Silver King lode, that is l)elieve<l to run thri>ugh the K<H>tenay Bonanza into this property.
In several cuts could be seen small traces of copper minerals, and in a shaft, now full of water,
it was stated that some copper-silver ore had been found, but as no work was being done on the
claim, satisfactory information wiis not obtainable. Since the time of visit, further prospecting
has been begun by the sinking of holes with the diamond drill, by the same contractor, who has
done much work upon the Silver King Group. Assessment work was being done on a number
of other claims, and on some are small quartz veins, carrying gold values, but concerning which
but little has l>een really ascertained.

Qold Olaims.

PooRMAN Group.

This group consists of six claims, the Poorman, Ilardacrabhle, White, Myemer, Ilardup
and Electron, of which the first is Crown-granted, the others mineral locations. Location, on
Eagle Creek, 6 miles westerly from Nelson, and about 2 miles S. E. of the Kootenay River and
the C. P. R. R. Owned by N. L. Davenport et nl., Nelson.

iMast mining work has been done on the Poorman and White claims, on two distinct
([uartz veins, 1,200 feet apart, strike, about N. and S., dip, easterly 40°-50°, in a greenish
coarse-grained hornblenclic granite.

The PooHMAN Vein has the usual characteristics of quartz fissure veins in eruptive rock,
lieiiig persistent, but very irregular in width, varying from a few inches to 5 and 6 feet of
milky-white compact quartz, now holding a considerable amount of sulphides, or copper- and
iron-pyrites, with, in parts, a little galena. In the upper workings the ore was found to be
very free-milling, and several thousand dollars worth of magnificent gold-bearing quartz was
taken front a part of the vein 5-6 feet wide, but now, as depth is attained, the ore has become
less free-milling, and the value is going more into the sulphides that are saved by concentration.
About $100,000, it is repoite<l by the owners, have been taken from the comparatively small
iiroa of the vein so far worked, and now the average value of the ore saved by amalganiation, is
from $12 to $14 pi r ton, wiiile the concentrates a.ssay from $26 tti $30 per ton, with the pro-
]Hirtion of concentration about 10 tons to 1, so the total yield value of the ore is about $16 per
ton of ore mined.

On the Poorman workings there are : — The main tunnel crosa-cutting for 90 feet, follow-
ing along a fault wall that faults the vein at intersection, 5 feet. To the south the drift runs
about 180 feet, with ground stoped out nearly all the distance, and practically to the surface,
the vein varying from a stringer of quartz to 5 and 6 feet in width, and now 6-8 inches wide in
face of drift. To the north the drift is 323 feet long, with thus about 500 feet of work along
the ledge, and at 30 feet is a winze 85 feet deep (full of water), in which the vein is said to
average 2 ft. throughout its length, thus exploiting new ground.

There are several faults exposed in these workings, causing dislocations of a few feet, and
at 110 feet, in the north drift, occurs one nearly parallel with the vein but steeper, up which
the lower part of the vein has been lifted 6-8 feet. Other faults run transverse to the vein,
but the throw has not been uniform in direction, being in one place to the east, in another to
the west. Much stoping clear to the surface, 70-80 feet, has also been done along this drift,
with an average width of about two feet, and at the face the vein is a few inches wide, but
there is no reason why the vein, on continuing the drift either way, should not widen out
again, as was the case several times before.

Tunnel No, 2 was in about 140 feet, having passed through a small vein from which 50
tons have been mined from a 40-foot drift and stope along it, and at 450 feet it is calculated
to strike the vein 300 feet on the pitch below the upper workings.

On the White claim another, but smaller, vein has been exploited by a tunnel along it,
al)out S. 25° E., 140 feet long, from which about 200 tons of ore have been accumulated on
the dump, consisting of white opaque quartz containing a good percentage of very coarse iron
pyrites, some copper pyrites, and in parts galena. Jn tlie altered granite country rock, are
developed cubes of iron pyrites. In one place the vein was 2 to 3 feet wide, while along part of
the tunnel there were two small veins, with breccia between and small stringers of quartz
running into the country rock. About 80 tons of ore have been milled, which yielded, it is
said, somewhat higher returns than the Ptwrman ore ; but this vein has not yet been really
developed to an extent to give much idea of its size and value. No work was being done on
the property at the time of examination.

Stamp Mill.

A waggon road, 2| miles long, has been built from the railroad bridge over the Kootenay
River, where is a magnificent water power, to the mill, and thence 2,000 feet to the main
tunnel. From Eagle Creek, flowing down past the mine and mil!, water is carried in an 8 by
20-inch flume to the penstock, and thence under a 200-fo(jt head, in a 11-inch steel pipe, to
the rjill ; but a sufficient amount of water to keep the mill working is now only obtained for
part of the year, or for April, May, June, and July, when a 150 to 175 h.p. is available ; but
while more water can be got by building a flume 2 miles long to Sandy Creek, it is doubtful
if a continous mill run throughout the year can be got without erecting a mill at the Kootenay
River, where are abundant water and power, easily accessible by waggon road. In the mill
are (a) Blake crusher above the bins ; (6) two automatic feeders ; (c) two batteries of 5 stamps,
each 850 lbs., made by Chicago Iron Works Co., with two outer copper plates 10 feet
by 4 feet 8 inches, as well as the inside coppers, mercury traps, etc.; (d) three end-shake
vanners, 12 feet by 4^ feet, smooth belts, made by the Joshua Hendy Co., San Francisco;
(e) a 4-foot Pelton water wheel running the mill and air compressor ; {/) a three-drill Rand
air compressor, made at Sherbrooke, Que., with receiver and 2-inch pipe to tunnel No. 2. The
mill, as well as severol good cabins, stables, etc., are built of logs.

Costa of milling were not obtainable, but the ore is broken
embracing, it was understood, the cost of drifting, upraising, etc.
shipped to the Hall Mines smelter at Nelson, with a fieight and
ton, with 95% of the gold paid for.

As there was i ot enough water to run the compressor or mill, all work was suspended, but
when tunnel No. 2 it^^hes the main vein a large area for development will thus be opened up,
and in all probability the vein will be found to have the same character as to size iis fouiiil
above, only the sulphides will, it is expected, carry a larger percentage of the yield value, but
as these are cheaply concentrated, and a smelter is but a short distance away, no serious
results can follow this increasing refractoriness of the ore.

Otiieii Gold Claims.

Other (juartz veins have been discovered and developed to a sn)all extent, in this same
granite area on the mountain slope, south of the Kootenay River, also in the formation in

by contract for $6 per ton,
The concentrates have been
treatment charge of ^8 per

which is the Silver King lode. Much attention is now being paid to all such claims, ai.d
and before long many of these will receive a thorough testing. As the water supply in the
small creeks is precarious, and too small to leep mills running throughout the whole year, the
Kootenay rivei' will prove the best site ( ^r stamp mills, as there is abundant water power,
although special allowance and provision will have to be made for the great difference between
the high and low water stages of that river. The transport of the ore to the riverside presents
no difficulties. Probably the out-put of several of these veins may yet be controlled by one
company, and sent to one mill, or the ore from different claims be treated at a custom mill, as
is now so often done in the West, as in Gilpin County, Colo.

As this ore will, without doubt, in depth, carry a fair percentage of sulphides, which, in
turn, will hold a part of the gold values, if such ores are shown to carry pay value in this
metal, the question of treatment of these sulphide concentrates should be greatly simplified by
the easy access to the smelters, where low smelting charges should be the rule, and the
necessity of the erection of chlorination or cyanide woiks, although the amount of copper
present may preclude the latter, may be thus obviated. In Gilpin County above mentioned,
a large amount of such concentrates collected at the numerous mills at Blackhawk, yielding
$18 to $90 in gold per ton, is yearly treated at the Denver smelters, at a cost that is below
that of any wet or lixiviation process. In that County the ores carry a high percentage of
sulphides, and after much nearly pure pyritous ore has been sorted out for direct shipment to
the smelter, the ore then averages from 12 to 15% pyrites, or concentrates 7 to 1, after leaving
the stamp-mill proper. However this district, apart from the experience of the Poonnan
mine, yet remains to be proved ; but it must be borne in mind, that in modern mill practice
the term " free-milling " ore now embraces much material, that not long since would have been
considered " refractory," and also, the point desired to lie made, that the proximity to smelters
further simplifies conditions, as what gold will not amalgamate may be retained by some simple
form of concentrator, the treatment of the product of which is at once available.

The Royal Canadian Group.

About a mile west of the Poorman mine, a number of other quartz veins have been found,
in the granite and on this group, the Royal Canadian, Colorado and Nevada claims, GOO by
1,500 feet, title, Crown Grants, have been located two such veins. These claims are along the
main trail to Nelson, and about 1 J miles back from the Kootenay River, the tunnels being
close to the trail. On the Colora<lo, a short tunnel has been run south on a small vein running
iioi'th and south, dip, easterly, 2 to 20 inches wide, of white opaque quartz, carrying some iii^a
and copper pyrites, 15 tons of which are reported to have yielded at the Poorman Mill, $14.50
n gold per ton ; the sulphides not being saved.

On the Royal Canadian, about 400 ft. west of the Colorado tunnel, another but much
stronger vein has been developed by a tunnel running south 205 feet, the vein following under
a very distinct and straight hanging-wall, with a width of G inches to 3A feet, avernge perhaps
IG inches, and yielding an ore similar to that of the Poorman, or a white sugary quartz, with 8
to 12% of iron pyrites and some copper pyrites, 60 tons of which fiiled on the surface, I was
informed, assaying 812 to 1?14 in gold, while 8 samples taken by a gentleman who has a bond
on this group, assayed from §8 to $51 in gold. An upper tunnel, 50 feet up and GG feet in,
siiows the same vein 4 to 12 inches wide. On the Nevada, sluicing, or the cutting of surface
trenches by rujining water, has been tried to locate the source of the (juartz float, but as the
surface wash is thick over nearly all these mountain slopes, no vein lias yet been found. No
water is nearer than the Kootenay River.

The Mnldoon, owner, M. Monuban, Nelson, title. Crown Grant, is the .south extension of
llie Royal Canadian, and shows in a tunnel, a small quartz stringer, with same dip and strike
iis the vein on the claim described.

Majestic.

Title Crown Grant, area GOO by 1,500 feet, owned by John Miles, Nelson, located south-
east of Canadiiin and about a mile west of Poorman. In a tunnel running south 120 feet is
unnlber (juartz vein, 8 inches to t'l feet wide, in the granitt', <>f a white opaque (juartz with
only a small amount of pyrites, the values in which could not be ascertained. About 50 feet
1(1 the west is a second parallel vein, 12 to 16 inches wide, exposed to an open cut, from which
it is claimed free-gold samples have been taken.

Starlight Group.

This group of claims, consisting of the Starlight, title Crown Grant, area 600 by 1,500 feet,
and the mineral locations 1,500 by 1,500 feet, the Golden Star, Kootenay Star, White Witch
and Black Witch, in all 224 ticres, located 4,000 feet above Kootenivy Iliver, has been attracting
attention by reason of the existence of two auriferous schistose bands, one of which, running
through the Starlight, Golden Star and Kootenay Star, has been exploited by a tunnel 209
feet long.

This tunnel, crossing this band at right angles, discloses a width of 148 feet of schistose
rock between two porphyry dykes, and the results of careful sampling of this width of rock by
Mr. G. Grant Francis, M.E., of London, England, have given the assay value in gold of this
rock to be $3.00 per ton, of which 35% was recoverable by amalgamation, and the remainder
in the pyrites that amount to 2^ to 3% of the whole rock.

At 158 feet a drift has been run 59 feet east and 72 feet west along a small quartz vein,
parallel to the strike of this band, that can be traced on the surface, 90 feet above, for 700 to
800 feet, and in the drift is ^ to 3 fee*^i wide and assays from $2.50 to $32.00 per ton.

On the White Witch and Black Witch is another wide band with a 50-foot tunnel, but
no returns were got con<!erning the probable value of this rock. The property is about 3,500
feet N.W. from the Silver King mines, and close to the road leading to the mine. It is
crossed by the small stream, or Give-out Creek that might be utilized for a test mill but would
not be large enough to supply ample water for all the year round for a large plant which low
grade ore of this character would demand.

As this large body of low grade material could be easily mined, experiments are projected
to ascertain whether, after paying the cost of mining, hauling, milling, concentrating and
ehlorination, a margin of profit would still remain providt^l a large amount of several hundred
tons was milled daily. At the Alivska-Treadwell Mine, Ahiska, large dividends are paid from
rock yielding $2.65 per ton (1895) or a prolit of $1.28 per ton. At the Homestake, South
Dakota, the ore yields about $4.50 per ton, while at the Haile Mines, North Carolina, U.S.A.,
Mr. Thies has made a great success, treating by milling and ehlorination, ore that assays $4.00
per ton in gold, of which if is free gold, and yields 2 to 25% sulphides ; but in this work he has
been greatly aided by the low cost of labour, much less than obtains in the West.

Fbrk Group.

This group comprises the Fern claim. Crown Grant, the Eureka and Hidden Treasure,
1,500 by 1,500 feet, Crown Grants applied for, and two fractional claims, the Chicora and
Foothill, located 10 miles from Nelson, to Hall's Siding, on the Nelson and Fort Sheppard
R.R., and then 4J miles by trail to the mine, 3,500 feet above Nelson* Owned by Frank
Fletcher, et al.. Nelson. This vein of white opaque quartz, carrying copper and iron-pyrites in
the diabase porphyrites and the green schists, belonging to the series in which is the Silver
King lode, is from 3 inches to 3A feet wide, average perhaps 2 feet, strike N.E. by S.W., dip
N.W. 50° to 70°.

Mine. — Beginning at the lowest workings, a 20-foot cross-cut tunnel intersects and then
follows for 25 feet along the vein of 2 to 3 feet of decomposed quartz that will give good gold
colours on panning. A 22-foot winze has been sunk on the vein, but was full of water. Above
this an open cut again shows the vein, and 50 feet still higher up a 15-foot shaft is sunk along
the vein, here 1 foot 9 inches wide; 50 feet further up the hill an open cut shows the vein to
be 1^ to 2 feet wide, while about 200 feet above the first tunnel is Tunnel No. 2, 276 feet
along the vein, that is variable in width from 4 inches to 3| feet, and contains more sulphides
as the zone of decomposition is passed. Tunnel No. 3 is 60 feet above No. 2, and 160 feet
along the vein that at the beginning was 3 inches wide but widened out to 3^ feet. Near the
mouth of No. 2 is the blacksmith shop and a Hammond 2-stamp prospecting mill, with stamps
850 B)s. each, drop 8 to 10 inches, 2 silver-plated amalgamating plates, punched metal screens
and a small steam boiler. This mill was only run three days and the results were not learned.
A small stream passes the mine, but a mill would be put up, probably, on Hall Creek, J mile
distant. There is a good supply of good timber. On the F(K)thill another and parallel vein is
now being opened up. Mr. Fletcher reports that 25 tons of ore, partly decomposed and partly
unaltered rock, sent to the Pilot Bay smelter and sampled, assayed $39 in gold per ton.

87
The Athabasca Group.

Ainsworth Mining Division.

lu this, the pioneer mining district of West Kooteimy, in which Dr. Dawson, in 1C80,
found mining being actively carried on ; this industry for some time back has been quietly
progressing, but not with that advance the success of the present mines and the mineral
indications would seem to warrant. This is due to several facts, one of which is that many
were attracted to the high-grade silver-lead veins of the Slocan, whose early prospectors of
1891-2 flocked in from the town of Ainsworth after Eli Carpenter and John Seaton, making
their diflicult way up Kaslo Creek, located the Payne claim September, 1891. Again, many
good properties, Crown-granted, owned by men who can afford to wait, now lie dormant, like
others that carried ore of such a grade that was in earlier days hardly profitable, but now,
with cheaper rates and easier means of shipment, should pay well if developed. Disastrous
forest fires destroyed several good mining plants on claims on which work had fairly started,
but has not since been resumed, and again, many have had an unwarranted lack of faith in
the probable pen ::anence of these veins and ore Ixnlies, especially of those in the limestones,
which have been considered as merely " pockets " and local, but to one who has worked in
silver ore-bodies in limestone, as in Colorado, this pocket theory is not so alarming a bug-bear,
OS the general experience is that when one ore-shute is found others are almct invariably
discovered on prospecting further along the line of break, up and along which have come from
greater depths, the ore-bearing solutions that have impregnated the country rock in favourable
places and formed ore-shutes.

The fact that at Ainsworth (or Hot Springs), where most work has been done, good
veins of very profitable ore, are found in all the different geological horizons, and also that
while many seem to be conformable to some extent to the stratification of these rocks, many
cut through these formations, should strengthen one's belief in the probable persistence of
these veins, and give greater confidence in beginning work on a good and liberal scale.

The tide of prospectors is spreading over this district, and from the territory at the north
end of Kootenay Lake, along the Lardo and Duncan Rivers and their tributaries, and from
Crawford and Hooker Creeks, and white Grouse Mountain, back from the east shores of the
lake, came reports of locations of veins of high grade ore, while at Ainsworth itself new
properties are being found and opene<l up. By the way, it will be seen that ihis district
embraces a wide territory, and that in reality but a small part of it has become familiar to the
prospector or explorer.

With large smelting plants in British Columbia, the demand will vastly increase for dry
ores, or ore carrying a small or no percentage of lead to mix with the galena ores ; and such dry
ores as are found at Ainsworth will be in special denumd and couimand favourable smelting
rates when shipped in bulk, i. e., not sacked, and there will be yet shipped large quantities of
low grade ore now not very protitable.

Geology.

All the formations of the series detailed alx)ve, are found in this district, and in each
formation of tliis series Iiave been discovered valuable ore-bearing veins and deposits, mostly
of silver or silver-lead, but also of gold-silver ores.

Ores and Ore-Deposits.

Oue-Dkposits.

In the immediate vicinity of Ainsworth, and at the Blue Bell mine on the other side of
the lake, many of the veins or ore-deposits appear to be conformable in most part with tlie
very marked stratification of the metamorphic rocks but many others cut across the formation,
and in many cases the veins present the usual characteristics of the typical cavity-filled fissure
vein, while in others, as at the iSkyline and Number One, the deposits have lieen formed by
the impregnation and replacement of the country rock by ore and quartz, and sometimes by
calcite.

However, on none of the mines west of the lake has there l)een done more than a com-
paratively small amount of work by wiiich to form positive opinions doubtful of the permanence
of these ledges, and certainly not enough yet to condeuni them as being likely to soon play out,
for ev((n if one ore sliute should be exhausted, further work on this horizon, nearly always
indicnte<l by slicken-sidwl walls, a narrow seam of gouge or other evidences of a fault fissure,
will, in very many cases, disclost* other ore-shutes.

Ores. — There is a considerable variety in the different grades of ore, there being : —

(a.) Solid galena ores carry a good silver value, as the little Phil, Black Diamond, High-
land, Tariff, in which there is not enough zinc to bring the percentage above the smelter limit,
or 10%. In some of the properties not now being worked, can be seen a large amount of blende
hat concentration would remove :

(6.) In the Number One, there is little galena or blende, but the chief and important
sulphide is iron-pyrites, with white quartz and calcite, a very desirable smelting ore :

(c.) The Skyline ore is again different, being a quartz and lime matrix, carrying silver
compounds, but a very small amount of sulphides :

(d.) In some claims the sulphides, as galena, are not found solid, but disseminated, usually
through quartz, and in the case of the Silver Glance and the Wakefield veins, with the pres-
ence of gold :

(e.) From Crawford and Hooker Greeks, from samples seen and by i-eport, the high silver-
gold values are carried in tetrahedrite or grey copper in quartz with galena :

{/.\ /.t the Blue Bell mine, these large low grade ore-bodies consist of a calcareous matrix,
with a siiiuil percentage of galena, iron and copper pyrites and pyrrhotite.

Costs, Etc.

Mining. — The cost of mining is small, i. e., for drifting or tunnelling $6 to $9 per foot,
of sinking $10 to $16 per foot.

(6.) Labor and Supplies can be got at the best figures, or about the same as in other
parts of West Kootenay :

(c.) Transportation of course is immensely aided by the main water-way of the lake,
and from nearly all parts waggon roads or aerial cable trams can be bu'lt to the water front :

{(1.) Smelter Ciiaroes for the dry ores, i. e., with little or no lead, run from $4 to $7 per
ton, the maximum price being on account of an occasional excess of zinc ; for the purely lead
ores $12.00 per ton, with a freight charge on all classes of ore to smelter of $8. Of the lead
90%, and of the silver 95%, are paid for at New York prices at time of settlement. For gold
all paid for, if at least $2 00 in value are present.

■■ - ,
Number One.

This claim, 600 by 1,500 feet, Crown-granted, and a 5-acre mill-site, also Crown-
granted, together with No. 3 claim, and interests in the E. W. R. North Extension and
Oneida locations, form the property of the Brittania Mining Co., of Windsor, N. S., Pres.,
Ohos. DeW. Smith, and Sec., A. E. Shaw, Windsor, N. S., Superintendant, Leauder
Shaw, Ainsworth. This mine, located 2| miles west of Ainsworth, or 4^ miles by w&ggon
roiul, and 2,500 feet above the lake, is one of the earliest worked mines in West Kootenay,
considerable work having been done at the time of Dr. Dawson's visit in 1889, and up to the
present time about 1,000 tons of ore and concentrates have been shipped. The ore body, as
now developed by large stopes that are from 4 to 12 feet between walls, and nearly 300 feet
long, would require very careful study with complete maps and models to explain its forma-
tion and relation to the enclosing rocks which belong to the Slocan slates series that at this
point consists of limestones and shales and slates. The existence of many faults of very
dift'ering strikes and dips has certainly served to increase the apparent irregularity of the ore
body, which, while having a general dip throughout the workings, is in places lying flat or
dipping in exactly the opposite direction to the main direction, while in one part of the mine
the ore-shute, divided into two flat-lying shutes, which the men worked out, leaving but a few
feet of barren i-ock between. At the time of examination there was a good amount of ore in
sight (Oct. 22nd), but the stoppage of the concentrator by lack of water was retarding mining,
and some development work only was in progress. The ore is almost unique in its character.
In the early workings considerable rich "carbonate" ore was mined, or the decomposed part
of the ore-body immediately amenable to surface influences, but now the ore has a quartz and
calcite gangue, or rather, the country rock is replaced in part by quartz and iron pyrites and
some zinc blende, but very little galena, the silver value being in direct ratio to the amount of
iron pyrites present, first-class, or shipping ore, averaging 75 ounces of silver, 3 to 8% lead, and
seldom over the 10% zinc limit The mine is now worketl through a tunnel running N. 75° W.
375 feet, when it turns and follows along a fault wall 157 feet (W. 15° E.) and connects
with a winze to the stopes, 35 feet above. This drift is to be continued, and when in 100 or
1-0 feet, will probably intersect the ore zone, and by connecting with an incline from the

Btope, now down 35 feet along the foot-wall, which here has a 46° pitch, the further explora-
tion of the property should be made much easier, while giving a much better outlet for the
ore, the present means, by the rapid advance of work, liaving Income unhandy. The mill ore-
bins are just below this tunnel level. No work is being done to exploit this property beyond
the work under way in this ore-shute, but there can be little doubt that as the ground is
further opened up along the ore-bearing horizon, as soon as this is definitely determined, if
not too much obscured by faulting, or along the fault fissure tlirough which the ore-bearing
solutions have found access, and then a place of lodgment in this formation, that more ore and
oth«r ore-shutes will be developed and mined.

The surface improvements consist of several log cabins, boarding house, office, assay
laboratoiy, stables, and the concentrating mill that has cost .^16,000 to $17,000.

Concentrator. —For six months of the year sufficient water for milling purposes is avail-
able, and by putting in a flume to tap another small stream, it is expected that then there
will be water for the whole year for the mill, with enough, part of the time, to supply power
generated in the low-water season by the present steam engines. While some first-class ore is
shipped direct, moft of the product of the mine goes to the mill, the capacity of which is
18-20 tons per 24 lOurs, concentrating 8 to 1, yielding concentrates that average 295 to 300
ounces in silver, 4-8% lead, and usually less than 10% zinc Experiments have shown that
ore assaying 15 to 20 ounces silver per ton can be mined and concentrated with a good margin
of profit.

The mill is 45 by 75 feet, with an addition along one side 15 feet by 75 feet, and is
supplied with (a) 100-ton ore bins, (6) 1 Dodge ore crusher, (c) 2 7-foot trommels giving 3
sizes, {(l) 3 geared rolls, (e) 4 4-compartment Hartz jigs and 2 4-compartment slime jigs (Hartz),
(/) elevators and hydraulic classifiers, (g) 1 Frue Vanner 6 by 12 feet, and one Embrey or
end-shake vanner 4 by 12 feet, and settling tanks. This machinery was supplied by Fraser
and Chalmers, of Chicago, and the Colorado Iron Works, Denver, while (A) the 35 h.p. engine
and boiler came from the Phoenix Iron Works, Meadowsville, Pa.

Costs op Transportation of ore or concentrates in sacks, 160 fcs. each, to the lake
landing at Ainsworth is $3.00 per ton; from thence to the smelter in the U.S., $8.00 per ton,
while smelting charges are $6.50 for crude ores, and $4 per ton for concentrates, with a zinc
penalty of 50 cents per unit over the 10% limit.

Other Claims in this vicinity are: — Lilly May, and the Bellie which is now btring
actively developed by Mr. S. S. Bailey, late owner in the Payne group, near Sandon, who is
running a 300-foot tunnel to connect with a shaft 100 feet deep, 10 men being at work. This
claim is in the Slocan Slates series and about 1 mile N.W. of Number One mine.

The Lilly May, through which runs the Dellie vein, is under bond to Mr. Max. Stevenson
of the Highlander, and Mr. T. J. Lendrum. In 1895 a shipment of 12 tons of ore is reported
to have returned 160 ozs. of silver per ton. East and south of this claim may be mentioned: —
United, title Crown Grant, with a vein, in green schists, of coarsely crystallized galena — not
working, having had all the buildings destroyed by a forest tire — but at the top of the 190-foot
shaft are piled 400 to 500 tons of concentrating galena ore, carrying a large percentage of
zinc blende; the Old Timer, the southern extension of the United, with the same kind of ore.
The Krao, title Crown Grant, owner A. W. McCune, suffered by the loss of all the buildings
by fire and is not being worked. There is a shaft sunk on the vein, which lies in a greyish oi
bluish marble, or limestone, carrying more or less coarse cubed galena.

The Neosha is being worked with a force of 8 to 10 men, engaged in running a tunnel to
connect with a shaft from which 100-oz. dry ore is said to have been mined. It is now being
worked by an Exploration Co., Nelson, title Crown Grant.

The claim to the north of this one, the Ontario, is owned by the Braden Bros., of Kaslo,
who have 3 men at work on the same vein as in the Neosha ground.

Sktline.

The Skyline, Perhaps, Crown-granted, and the Morning Star, 600 to 1,500 ft. claims located
on the Slocan Slates series, near the granite area, 1 mile west of the Number One mine, and 6
miles by road from Ainsworth, are owned by A. W. McCune, of Salt Lake City, Utah.

As this property had stopped work for this year and "1 was closed down, with water said
to be in the mine, I was unable to examine it, but during the year over 1,100 tons of ore were
shipped. Mr. McConnell reports (Summary Report for 1895, pp. 33, 34): —

"The Skyline and No. 1 occur in limestone bands associated with the Slocan Slates, and
are situated, the former about 200 yards and the latter about one and a half miles east of the

ocated
and 6

and
of the

granite area. The deposits worked in these mines are of a somewhat puzzling character, and
would require extended study before conclusions of value could be arrived at concerning them.
They appear to occupy fractured zones of considerable but unknown width, traversing the
limestones and slates in a nearly north and south direction, and dipping to the west. The
zones have been silicified, and impregnated with ore in a selective manner, by ascending
solutions.

"The ore occurs in flattened ore-bodies, occasionally 10 to 12 feet in thickness, which, in
the case of the Skyline, according to Mr. Scott McDonald, the manager, often cross nearly
horizontally from the foot to the hanging wall. The workings in the Skyline include an
incline 87 feet deep, sunk on the lead, and a shaft farther to the west, 200 feet deep, from the
bottom of which a drift 120 feet in length and an upraise of 40 feet lead to the incline and the
chambers of ore now being worked. The Skyline ore consists of a porous silicious rock, carrying
a dark mineral, probably mostly argentite, native silver and galena, along with some grey
copper (tetrahedrite) and iron and copper pyrites. It averages from 45 to 50 ozs. in silver per
ton. The present out-put of from 10 to 15 tons per day is shipped directly to the Pilot Bay
smelter, its silicious character rendering it valuable as a flux for the basic ores of the district."

During the past year, the ore has been shipped partly to the Pilot Bay and partly to the
American smelters, and at a lower rate of transportation to the lakeside, by reason of the
larger quantity of ore hauled, than for the Number One ore, although a mile farther up the
road. The smelter returns from 74 lots, or over 2,000 tons in 1895-6, assayed from 35 to 149
ozs. in silver, or an average of 54 ounces per ton, and less than 5 % lead, and of the large
amount shipped during 1896, the silver varied from 51.5 to 74.5 ounces of silver per ton, or an
average of 58 ounces per ton.

Tariff.

Title, min. location. Area 600 by 1,500 feet. Located 1 mile south of Ainsworth,
J mile west and about 550 feet above Kootenay Lake. Owned by Wm. Braden, Helena,
Montana. On this property 6 men were working in the mine and 6 on the waggon road, ^
mile long, being built from the mine to the lake side. The ore is (a) a very solid galena with
fine and coarse crystals, with a little zinc blende, and (6) also in considerable amount, concen-
trating ore in a quartzose gangue. From an open cut Daniel Clark mined and shipped about
45 tons, in 1896, that yielded 30 ozs. of silver and 55 % lead, and at this point an incline has
been sunk 100 feet, 80 ft. under cover, and for this 80 ft. solid galena ore 1-2^ ft. wide, has
been followed all the way down, while also in a drift 45 ft. northerly, the ore still continues,
being 2-3 ft. wide. The vein, strike magnetic north and south or N. 25° E, and S. 25° W.,
dip west (mag.) 25°-30° is apparently conformable to the stratification of the schists and quartz-
ites of the country rock, but in places there were evidences that the vein was slightly flatter
and crossing the formation, the hanging wall being schist nnd the foot wall a bed of quartzite,
25-30 ft. thick, in which could also be seen more or less brecciated matter, under which has
been found in an open cut another vein of galena, small as yet but of a very good grade. It is
thought by some that all this bed of quartzite is mineralized, and may be concentrated, but as
yet no work is done to test this. The vein is traced through the claim by cuts and strippings,
and is said to be found in the extension claims on either end. On the dump war< a large pile
of first-class ore; and when the present exploratory work has suflSciently shown up the proba-
ble extent and value of this promising property, a more convenient system of mining will be
inaugurated.

Mile Point.

The Mile Point near the lake shore, south of Ainsworth, is under lease and bond to Mr.
A. Stalberg, assayer, who is now working the property and shipping ore that runs 106 ozs. in
silver and 4 % lead. Title, Crown Grant.

HlOHLANDEK.

Title, Crown Urant. Located on a bluff" below the main waggon road l\ miles S. W.
of Ainsworth, on a parallel vein about 600 feet east of the Black Diamond, about 1000 ft.
above the lake. Owned by Max. Stevenson, Philadelphia, Pa. A cross-cut tunnel has
been run in a bluff of gneiss 120 ft. S. 30° W. intersecting at 80 ft. in schist and quartz-
ites a small vein of fine grained galena and zinc blende, with a little arseno-py rites, 4 to 18
inches wide, along which are short drifts, 20 ft. N. 30° W and 10 feet S. 30° E. At 120 ft.
was found the main vein (that outcrops on the surface along in close proximity to a dyke)

along which is a drift 270 feet long, to be extended by contract 50 ft. farther N. 15° W. and
S. 15° E. following under as a hanging wall a smooth striated fault plane, dipping west 45° or
apparently at a slightly steeper angle than the dip of the planes of stratification. Below the
wall the country rock ha.s been much shattered and then cemented with quartz carrying galena
and blende, forming a fair amount of concentrating ore. 27 feet from the tunnel a winze now
nearly full of water was sunk 67 feet, from the bottom of which a cross-cut was run 52 ft. to
the first vein, where it is said 5-6 ft. of low grade concentrating ore were cut. From the drift
an upraise of 91 ft. to surface showed in places 8" to 10" of good ore and 2-4 feet of concen-
trating rock. Should sufficient ore be found to warrant the construction of a concentrator,
there is a very good site for an aerial tramway down to the lake. During the year 1896, a
small lot of 12 tons carrying very little lead, but 70 ozs. silver per ton, was sent to Everett,
Wash., the smelter charge being $12, and freight $8.

Little Phil.

Title, Crown Grant. Location, on the main waggon road IJ miles from Ainsworth.
Owned by T. McGovern and Capt. Hay ward, Ainsworth. This fractional claim of about 4.1
acres has been bonded to the Hon. N. Clark Wallace, Ontario, for $20,000, 10 % cjish down.
This vein out-cropping on the surface in the schists, was tapped by running in a cross-cut tun-
tiel 442 feet along the line between the Little Phil and Black Diamond claims, intersecting at
72 ft., the above vein, strike about N. 55° W., dipS.W. 70°-80°, along which a drift is run
200 feet, showing solid large cubed galena ore, averaging 30 ounces in silver per ton for most
of the distance, from 6 inches to 2 feet wide, with Some " carbonate." In a short upraise was
a fine showing of solid ore 3 ft. wide. In the main tunnel 282 ft. farther in, a second vein
along a wall developed fissure wall, having a more northerly trend and south-westerly dip,
has been followed to the north 100 feet disclosing a small amount of mixed galena ore. Con-
siderable concentrating ore is seen, or galena in a matrix of quartz, some calcite and crushed
country rock. At the time of visit no work was being doiie.

Black Diamond.

The Black Diamond and Little Donald claims, the southerly extension of the Little
Phil, the former 282 by 300 ft., and the latter 600 by 1,500 ft., owned by Jno. F. Stevens, of
the Great Northern R. R., St. Paul, have had considerable work done upon them, but were
also idle, so that the underground workings were not examined, but it is reported that in
1895, 250 tons of ore were shipped that returned 33 ozs. silver and 66-70% lead. Other claims,
believed to be located along this lead, as the MaeMro, Paymaster, Spokane and Trinket, were
lying unworked, although the last two have shipped ore in the past.

Hkjul.^.'.'d.

Title, Crown Grant, area 600 by 1,500 ft. Located \\ miles north of Ainsworth, \ mile
north of Cedar Creek, and about 3,000 feet west, and 1,100 feet above Kootenay Lake. Owner,
E. D. Carter, et ah, Ainsworth. A tunnel has been driven 680 ft., N. 35 W., along a well-
defined fissure plane, dip S. W. 70°-80°. At the face is exposed a width of about 10 feet of
concentrating galena ore, in a white sugary quartz, that with fragments of country rock forms
a breccia. Going towards the mouth, for 50 ft., some ore is in sight, and at this point is an
upraise 120 ft., with an 80° slope, with nearly solid galena ore it to 2 feet thick, most of the
way for 105 ft. 90 ft. above is being sunk a shaft, then 59 ft. deep, to connect with this raise,
and good ore is also found in this working. For 285 ft. more along the tunnel more or less
ore is seen, and at this point is another raise of 160 ft. to the surface. Thence out to surface
but little ore has been found, but on the dump are several tons of first-class ore, of coarse and fine
solid galena, carrying a little blende, and also considerable concentrating ore or galena and
blende, in a matrix of quartz and fragments of country rock, which is a mica-gneiss of the
Shuswap series. A mill-site has been located at the mouth of Cedar Creek, and a line surveyed
thence for an aerial tramway, while in" Cedar Creek is a fair amount of water. From a small
shipment of several tons of the best ore, the returns were 40 ozs. in silver, and 75% lead.
Number of men at work, 3. Superintendent, E. D. Carter.

Other Claims in this vicinity are : — ^" Josephine," title Crown Grant, or the northern
extension, on which this vein is found in some cuts throughout the length of the claim. A
fractional claim, the '■^Little }f aggie," and also to the S. E. the " Libliie," 600 by 1,500 feet,
Crown Grant, owned by Mr. A. W. McCune, on which is a 40-ft. sho.*t, and a ledge of low
grade ore, but with no work being'done. The Josephine and the Magg ie and Esther May, are
the property of the owners of the Highland.

Canadian Pacific M. and M. Co.

Canadian Pacific Mining and Milling Co., of Minneapolis. This company owns four
Crown-granted claims, of which the Amazon, Jiudtveiser nnd Superior, are 600 by 1,500 feet, and
the Wakefield, 1,500 by 1,500 ft., situated at the mouth of Woodbury Creek, 3J miles up the
lake north of Ainsworth. Capital stock, 500,000 shares at $1.00 each. Superintendent, J.
11. Hardie, Ainsworth.

Woodbury Creek, carrying a good volume of water all the year round, runs down through
a narrow gorge in the very hard gneiss, that has a strike north and south and a dip of about
30° to tlie west. Passing at nearly right angles, with a dip of 70°-80° S. to the formation, are
several well-defined fissure veins, 4 inches to 2, and in some places 4 feet wide of galena, with
both large and fine crystals, and zinc blende in a quartz and calcite gangue, the ore in places
lieing solid and 6-16 inches thick. High on the face of thecliff on the west side of the stream,
is believed to be a ledge lying conformable with the formation, and of course nearly at right
angles to these galena veins described, and now two tunnels are being driven in with Ingersoll-
Surgeant machine drills, to the west along these veins, to intersect in depth the last-mentioned
ledge.

Down this gorge there has been built, at a cost of $6,000, a splendid flume 1,200 feet long,
3^ by 4 feet, to the mouth of the creek, where the water enters a 36-inch penstock or pipe,
which at the l)ottom has a Y-connection to two Pelton wheels, under a head of 75 feet. A
42-inch Pelton is now running a 12-drill air compressor, mode by the Ingersoll-Sargeant Drill
Co., Montreal, while the mill will be run by a 6-ft. wheel, both wheels having a 5-multiple
nozzle. Along the top of the covered flume run the air-pipe and track, and 500 feet farther
to the farthest present workings from the mil).

Jiudweiser. — One of the tunnels was in 65 feet', and following along a fault plane above
which the rock is much fractured and seamed with little quartz veins, carrying a small amount
of copper and iron pyrites and some galena, also $3-5 in gold. Upon the face of the cliff could
be seen a quartz vein, following along this line of break, while 25 feet to the north is a small
parallel vein of galena. Between these two veins, or 25 feet, this rock, carrying a small per-
centage of sulphides, is said to be concentrating ore but this has yet to be proven by mill tests.

Two other prospecting tunnels are on this claim, one 60 feet long, in the wash, from which
large boulders of brecciated rock have been taken, carrying a very fine grained galena, assaying
30-40 ozs. in silver. Another tunnel, 45 feet, followed a small vein of large cubed galena.

Amazon. — This tunnel, being run with a machine drill, was in 120 feet, following a galena-
blende vein dipping also southerly 70° to 75°, with, in places, 8 to 14 inches of solid ore in
quartz and calcite. This vein can be seen running up the face of the cliff, and in places is four
feet wide, and what is rather unusual the ore carries considerable pyrrhotite. On another
vein, 14 to 20 inches wide, two tunnels have been run in on either side of the creek, one for
140 feet the other for 120 feet.

Wakefield. '>n the top of the bluff a shaft has been sunk 140 feet in another vein of
mixed galena ou. 4 to 24 inches wide, that gives good assays in gold.

Concentrator. — This mill, situated \ mile from the lake, is being built by Mr. M. A.
Halman, of Carterville, Missouri, U. S., who is equipping the mill with crushers, rolls, jigs, &c.,
from that place, and is following the Missouri method, or by exclusive use of jigs without
vanners or slime tables. The ore bins are immediately below the tramway, and the capacity
of the mill will be 75 tons per 24 hours. A tramway has been built for 1,400 feet to the lake
side where is deep water, and ore and concentrates will be easily loaded into the steamers.
Cost of mill, $1 2,000. Number of men employed, 20.

Silver Glance, title, Min. location. Located 2 miles up Woodbury Creek, or 3J
miles by trail N. W. of Ainsworth. This claim was located Aug. 5th, 1896, by Wm. Franklin,
Alex. McLeod, and F. L. Fitch, Ainsworth, the vein being discovered in the stream bed where
it cuts through the schists. A good cabin has been built near the tunnel, which starts in on
the vein just above high water mark, and follows it for 20 feet, at time of visit. This vein,
strike east and west, magnetic, dip 60° S., has from 4 to 16 inches of ore with, in places, 2 to 3
feet of mineralized brecciated country rock and quartz, and has been disclosed for 2-300 feet
by stripping. The ore is white sugary quartz, with galena, iron pyrites, and marcasite
disseminated through, and assays (from samples) 50 to 232 ozs. silver, and $18 to $20 in gold.
About 15 tons of ore are now at the tunnel mouth, and this winter the owners will proceed
with development, also build a trail down the creek to the lake, above which it is about 1,200
feet. There is an abundance of water in the creek, and good timber on the claim.

Blue Bell Mine and Pilot Bat Shelter.

Neither the Blue Bell mines or the Pilot Bay smelter was visited, as mining operations
had been suspended, and the smelter was not in blast ; however the followin<> information is
given as h may prove of interest to many. In the Summary Report for 1895, p. 33, Mr.
McConnell states : —

" At Hendryx, the Blue Bell is in active operation. This mine is situated on a band of
crystalline limestone interbedded with the Shuswap schists, which has been fractured in various
directions. The ore, consisting mostly of low-grade galena and pyrrhotite with some blende,
iron and copper pyrites, and their decompositici products, occurs either pure or disseminated
through a calcareous and occasionally a silicious matrix.

It occupies irregular chambers in the limestone, some of which are of huge dimensions.
The ore body being worked at present, including some large horses of limestone, measures
approximately 70 feet in width by 200 feet in length and 150 feet in height. Forty thousand
tons of pure and concentrated ores have been shipped from this mine during the year, and
prodigious quantities remain in sight.

Pilot Bay Shelter. — This plant is located on a small peninsula on the same side (or
the east) of Kootenay Luke as the mine, but about 8 miles south. There are three main
buildings, the roast house, smelter and concentrator, besides the smaller ones for offices, labora-
tories, workshops, etc. The concentrator contains two Blakn crushers, 9 by 15 inches, 4
4-compartment jigs, 2 double Colluni jigs, 2 two-table slime tables, and 2 Frue Vanners, and
has a capacity of 200 tons of ore per 24 hours. There are four 17 by 65-foot reverberatory
furnaces in the roast house of 12 tons capacity each per 24 hours, while in the smelter is one
100-ton water-jacketted blast furnace. In the engine room is a 150 h.p. Corliss engine for
the concentrator and sampling workt , an 85 h.p. engine for the blower, and a 30 h.p. engine
for the dynamo, for the electric lighting of the whole works.

The ore is brought down from the mine on large scowfa and then hoisted up on an incline
plane to a point whence it can be taken to any point desired. Mr. Hendryx states {see
Minister of Mines Report, 1895) : — "Since commencing operations to the finish of the works,
July 10th, 1894, to December 31st, 1895, the Kootenay Mining and Smelting Co. has
expended in cash for purchase of machinery, labour, ores, etc., a sum exceeding $650,000.
During the year 1895 the company has employed daily on the average 200 men, and has paid
from their office on labour account, $170,000 ; for supplies, $85,622 ; for duties, $70,000 ; for
freight, $92,500 j for ores purchased, over $150,000."

The above-described Blue Bell property, consisting, in part, of the Blue Bell, Surprise,
Black Hawk, and Silver King claims, and the smelter plant, equipment, etc., are the property
of the Kootenay Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd. Capital stock, $2,300,000 ; general manager,
A. B. Hendryx, Pilot Bay, B. C.

'■»''■-
South Fork of Kaslo Creek.

No examination was made of this part of the district, but mining work is now being done
on several properties, such as those owned by the Gibson Mining Co., and others, on which it is
reported veins of high grade silver-lead ore are being developed. On the "Montezuma," under
bond to Messrs. C. L. Webb and E. C Hughes, of Seattle, two tunnels are being driven, from
the upper one of which a winze is being sunk on a vein of galena ore to the lower tunnel, 100
feet below and 270 feet long, in the face of which are said to be 11 feet of .solid galena ore,
assaying 120 to 140 ounces of silver per ton.

Crawford and Hooker Creeks.

A trail now runs from Crawford Bay, on the east of Kootenay Lake, near Pilot Bay
up Crawford Creek to the divide, and thence down the St. Mary's River to Fort Steele, in
East Kootenay. Six miles from the lake a branch trail runs up Hooker Creek to the claims
there located, and at the head of this creek, or 10 or 12 miles from the lake, at an altitude of
4,500 feet above the lake, is the Commonwealth group, comprising the Commonwealth, Sultan
and Bepublic, now bonded to the London and British Columbia Gold Fields Co., Ltd. A
tunnel is now in 150 feet along a ledge, said to be 4 to 16 feet wide, in which is quartz
disseminated with galena, grey copper, silver sulphides and some gold. Plenty of timber and

water are available close by. On the adjacent claim, the ExpreM, a cross-cut tunnel is now in
90 feet, being run to cut two quartz veins, 2 to 2J feet wide, carrying galena and grey copper.

From the California 3 tons of ore, taken from the surface, were shipped to the Pilot Bay
smelter, 2 tons of which assayed 170 ounces of silver per ton and 37% lead.

The Hidden Treamre 8hippe<l 5 tons of similar grade of ore to the same smelter.

A number of claims have been staked off on Crawford Creek. 1 1

Magnetic Variation.

The magnetic north is on the average about 25° east of the true north.

Weights.
The ton in all weights given contains 2,000 fi>s.

The earlier publication of this report has been prevented by the delay in receiving import-
ant smelter returns, the copying of which has entailed considerable labour upon those who
have so kindly assisted by sending exact and complete returns.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,

WILLIAM A. OARLYLE,

Provincial Minercdogiat.

Bureau of Mines,

Victoria, B. C,

January 15th, 1897.

VICTORIA, B. 0. :
Printed by Richard Woihrndkn, Printer lo the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty.

18»7.

. i

117

lie

MINING RECORDING DIVISIONS

MAP

OF THE WEST DIVISION OF

KOOTENAY DISTRICT

AND A PORTION OF LILLOOET, YALE &. EAST KOOTENAY,

f'**

'■f'JA

B.C.

^00.

0/0

Compiled \jy Direction of
THE HOXOURABLE G.B.M ARTIN.

CHIEF COMMISSIONER OP LANDS AND WORKS

>TICTORIA,B.C.

1887

mn»m mimnvfimmmi