^ 
 
 w 
 
 ^, 
 
 ^. 
 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 
 1.4 
 
 25 
 
 I!II2£ 
 
 1.6 
 
 ^ 
 ^ 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 PhotDgraphi! 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 «. 
 
 4v 
 
 c?>^ 
 
 \\ 
 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 
i^. 
 
 <;, 
 
 t& 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHIVI/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions 
 
 Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
 1980 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniquo» et bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 r~7\ Coloured covers/ 
 LjLJ Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Couverture endommag^e 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaur6e ot/ou pellicul6e 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 Coloured maps/ 
 
 Cartes gdographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Reli6 avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge intdrieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas 6td filmdes. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires suppldmentaires.- 
 
 T 
 t( 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une linage reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la methods normale de filmage 
 sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. 
 
 I I Coloured pages/ 
 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagies 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaur6es et/ou pelliculdes 
 
 \/ 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages d6coior6es, tachetdes ou piqudes 
 
 I I Pages detached/ 
 
 D 
 
 Pages ddtachies 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Qualit^ in^gale de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary materii 
 Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 I I Showthrough/ 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 I I Includes supplementary material/ 
 
 I I Only edition available/ 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totaiement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont 6x6 filmdes A nouveau de fa9on d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 T 
 
 P 
 o 
 
 fl 
 
 G 
 
 b 
 
 tl 
 
 si 
 o 
 
 fl 
 
 si 
 o 
 
 T 
 si 
 T 
 v« 
 
 !V 
 d 
 ei 
 b 
 ri 
 r< 
 rr 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce documeiit est film* au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 26X 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Library, 
 
 Geological Survey of Canada 
 
 L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grAce ii la 
 gAnirositi de: 
 
 BibliothAque, 
 
 Commiision GAologique du Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t4 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition at 
 de la netteti de rexemplaire film*, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Las exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimte sont filmts en commenpant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 derniire page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont filmto en commen9ant par la 
 premiere page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminnnt par 
 la derniire page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la 
 derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbols — »> signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbols V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the uppor left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, nlanches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre 
 fiimis i des taux de reduction diffirents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmA A partir 
 de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mAthode. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 

 iVlAR 1 4 1930 
 
 JAMES E. STEEN, PUBLISHER. 
 
 SUBSCRIPTION, $2 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE. 
 
 WINNIPEG, JULY 15th, 1892. 
 
 The ^ml New Mineral Gountrij. 
 
 -M^ 
 
 Illustrated with Engravings of the Principal Places 
 
 in the District ^ 
 
 .WITH. 
 
 A NEW MAP CORRECTED TO DATE. 
 
 Oommervlal Print, Wiiinipejf. 
 
JAMES E. STEEN, PUBLISHER 
 
 SUBSCRIPTION, $2 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE. 
 
 Xootenay, jSritfdA ^oiumbia, ^uppkment 
 
 WINN'II'K(i. JILY l.Vrn, IS'.ti'. 
 
 THE KOOTENAY GOUNTRY 
 
 Of British Columbia— A volume Devoted to its Resources and Possibilities. 
 
 Like m<wt Iniliiin iiaincs Kixitoiiay 
 lias a chdii'o ofsiwlliii;:. In tlic carlifsf 
 ffeiuTiil map "I" llritisli ('olumbia it 
 was ('(>o-tiM)-iiay. In otHcial majjs df a 
 later ilatf it was isontonaic tin- si'i-ll- 
 ing adopti'tl on tin- American side. 
 Dr. Dawson spells it Knotoniiie, Imt on 
 the ("anadian side the (iflieial ami pop- 
 ular (>rtiii>;rrapliy is Koolenay. It is 
 of little mmnent. In the classics ol" 
 modern showdom, "you pays your 
 money and you takes your choice." 
 TiiK CoMMKmiAi, is patriotic and pre- 
 fers it Willi an "nay" 
 
 THE KOOTKNAY Dl.STUKT— EAST AND 
 WE.ST. 
 
 Kootenay is divided into Kasi and 
 West, and einliraces in all alxiut U'.,- 
 r)OQ.<HH) acres It may I"' described as 
 ii bisected iriaii>,'le, the apex of which 
 is a little north <" the r»2nd parallel, 
 includintj the Hifj li<'nd country, form- 
 ed by the ^reat bend of the Columbia, 
 which, after a lonjj sweep northwest- 
 erly from where it Just touches the 
 upper Kootenay, turns with a sharp 
 curve at the Junction of Canoe river 
 and flows aliiiost directly .south la little 
 southeasterly), llndiiif,' its way to the 
 Pacilic ocean throufyli .\mcrican terri- 
 tory. The l)Mse of this triaiifflc is the 
 boundary line, the liyitothcmisc or lon^ 
 
 side is the eastern boundary of the 
 province so far as Koolenay extends, 
 beinfT the Watershed of the HcK'kics, 
 while the third and west sidt is a line 
 runniiifj almost midway between the 
 llHtliand ir.tth deffrees of lon^'itiide. 
 The line dividinjf I'jist and Wi'.-:t Koote- 
 nay, runs from the apex to tlu' base 
 alon;,' the main water shed of the I'ur- 
 cell branch of ihc Relkirks in a south- 
 (•asierly direclion. 
 
 These districts, i|e.oiin}>' an oflicial 
 <,''iiide book, incluile three important 
 valleys, formeil by the Ihreefold divis- 
 ion of ilie Selkirk K'anj^o. The first is 
 a ]>oriioii of the y:reat we-itern 'alley 
 of the Woekies, iind is watered bv the 
 upIK'r reaches of ilie Columbia .nid 
 Kooicn.'iy rivers. .\^'-rifu!tiir;il land is 
 limited to the immediate vicinity of 
 tlie.se rivers and much of it is subject 
 to overflow. MiniiifT operati<tiis are 
 beintr prosecuted in several localities 
 with fjood prospects of siu'ccss, and 
 larfje timber limits are lieiiif,' worked 
 in the nei^rhborhood of the Canadian 
 I'acilic Railway. The second valley is 
 that lyinti: between tin- I'urcell and 
 Selkirk K'anjfes. and is occupied by the 
 I'plK-rand Lower Kootenay Lakes. L 
 is in this re^i^lon that the mineral de- 
 velopments now (K'cupyiiiff so much 
 attenti'-;! are l^ikiiif,' place, The third 
 
 valley, lyii'ff between the Selkirk and 
 (iold Kaufjes. is tK-cupied by the second 
 bend of the Columbia Hiver aii<l the 
 -Vrrow Lakes, and is at present the 
 chief means of communication, by 
 steamboat, with the Canadian I'acilh' 
 Railway. To the north of the railway 
 lies the region known as the Hij;: Bend, 
 which once had a somewhat short-lived 
 fame as a successful placer mining' 
 flistrict. It is with the western divis- 
 iori that we have iirincipally to do in 
 
 what follows, 
 
 l\e\elstoke, on till' 
 
 C.'iiiadian I'acilic Kailw.-iy, is the north 
 ern ^,^•lteway into this district. 
 
 THE JOURNEY IN. 
 
 One of till' most lii'iiuirkahle h'liiifes on 
 ('inithieiif. 
 
 In former days it rctpiired a circuit- 
 ous, arduous and leiigthene<l journey 
 to reach West Kootenay, a Journey 
 which to-day is accomplished with 
 comparative ease and comfort by rail 
 and st<'aniboat. It was a trip which 
 was made by ,i variety of routes, all 
 laborious and liazardous, whether from 
 north lU" south of the bouiulary liiu' — 
 by steamboat, canoe, pack-horse, on 
 foot, over trail, tlirou>?li mountain i)ass, 
 on river and lake, loickiiiff provisions 
 and camji outfit in their nu.wt vuJl- 
 
THE UOA^" JRCJAL-KOOTENAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 dcii8e<l furin, now alone, now piloted 
 by Indians, associating with wliitc men 
 at long intervals and always depending 
 for physical cndarancc and individnai 
 resource to carry you through. Many 
 and many a pioneer of tiiose early days, 
 yet only a few yuan back, lives to 
 toll, in a manner that pen can do but 
 fochic justice to, the story and these 
 reniinisc'cnce^ would form the most 
 interesting feature of »ny history of 
 tills western country. Kootenny, 
 tliougli a southern and compact ]>oition 
 of British Columbia, was by reason of 
 its physical characteristics one of the 
 most remote and isolated up to witliin 
 three or four years pjist. Bancroft 
 says : " Remote from Victoria as was 
 this portion of the country, its mining 
 operations (referring to the cjirly six- 
 ties) were better known in and were 
 in fact tributary to Oregon ; yet many 
 Victorians went tiiither. and some 
 trade was carried on in tliat direction 
 in later times, notwithstanding the in- 
 con veniencies of the route." Such men 
 as Wm. Douglas, the wandering l)otan- 
 ist, the early miners, Judge Sproat, 
 and scores of well known men, have 
 had experiences in f)enetrating this dis- 
 trict wliich few men would care to re- 
 peat in the present day and generation. 
 
 East and West to Revelstoke. 
 
 To Revelstoke from the east or west 
 is travelling over a now familiar path. 
 It has been descrilxjd so often, so well 
 and with such wide spread eft'ect that 
 to add to the stock of literature de- 
 scriptive of the C.P.R. tlirough tlio 
 Rockies to tlie coast would be under- 
 taking a work of supererogation. The 
 author of the New West has, after 
 giving in detail the experiences of a 
 monotonous but wonderful ride over 
 a thousand miles of prairie, wliich is 
 as if the bosom of a mighty heaving 
 ocean had been suddenly congealed 
 and rendered fruitful, very eJfectively 
 sums up the impressions of the jour- 
 ney : "Like a huge battalion of Ivxly 
 guards of God, marshalled in scried 
 ranks from north to south, as if co dis- 
 pute the approach of man, t'.ie grim 
 rocks rise in their awful Stupendous 
 grandeur and make the ?x;holdcr feel 
 his utter insigniticancc -\ud puny little- 
 ness. As the traveli'ir advances the 
 glorious landscape ever changes. The 
 forms which the mountains and the 
 clouds assume become more beautiful 
 
 and strange and weiixl and fantastic. 
 On either hand they so intermmglo 
 and blend that in the delicate haze — 
 aml)cr and golden aad roseate and 
 golden at times — the lines of demarctv- 
 tion are invisible. None but the Al- 
 mighty could frame so wondrous a 
 scone ; no brash in human hands could 
 paint it ever so clumsily ; no words 
 could describe its dazzling beauty. 
 It Is gnmd beyond description, over- 
 powering tlie senses, and subdues one 
 with mixed feelings of awe and won- 
 derment, the sublime grandeur of the 
 surroundings being accentuated by the 
 sudden and wide contrast between the 
 level prairies and the tumultuous 
 masses of serrated and broken rock 
 whicli reach upwai-ds and upwards 
 until they pierce the very clouds. * * 
 * The scene is one of indescribable 
 grandeur. The senses arc overpower- 
 ed by the ideas of immensity, tibinic 
 strength, adamantine hardness and 
 endless existence whicli these huge 
 collections of rock evoke. It is only 
 in such a six)t that the human mind 
 can adequately comprehend the sub- 
 lime imagery of the inspired writers 
 who told of the "everlasting hills." * 
 Here, too, is Mount Steplicn — tower- 
 ing overeiglit thousand feet above the 
 railway track, tlic highest peak in the 
 range — and beyond. Cathedral nioun- 
 biin, grand past all conception, 
 impresses one with its magnitlceiit 
 presence. 
 
 The scene changes. Through the re- 
 gion l)earing the common-place name, 
 Kicking Horse Pass, the narrow deHlc 
 leadsdowns a dark and gloomycanyon, 
 through which flows the river, raging 
 and boiling and leaping as if all 
 the imps of the inferno were lashing it 
 into a inad fury. Hemmed in on all 
 sid(!j by the towering mounts, you des- 
 cend deep< r and deeper, as if into the 
 Valley of the Hliadow of Deatii, guard- 
 ed by adamantine Titans to resent in- 
 trusion into tills other world. The 
 waters of tlie Kicking Horse Pass roar- 
 ing and liissing and lashing furiously 
 — a devil's cauldron — break the dead 
 silence. 
 
 " If the scenery of the regal Rockies 
 is wierd and impressive, tliat of the 
 sister Selkirks is even more entranc- 
 ing, because more weii-some and beau- 
 tiful. * * The beauty, the grand- 
 eur, the sublimity of tiie Selkirks are 
 bewildering. Tlie fcjist of pictures<iue 
 loveliness satiates the senses, and, 
 dreamily closing the eyes, one can 
 imagine he is passing tlirough an en- 
 chanted realm, whose gorgeous beauty 
 outrivals the wonderful scenes of the 
 Arabian Nights. * * * Crossing 
 the Columbia River — the grandest 
 stream in America west of the Rockies 
 — the name reminds one of the prov- 
 ince to which it give8_ its name, * * 
 
 Up, tlio railway climbs and creeps — 
 the size of the dark, densely foliagcd 
 monarch of the forest, tlic Douglas flr, 
 increasing appreciably. Up the moun- 
 tain side, and Sir Donald, with seven 
 other great p<!aks, enrolled in perpetu- 
 al snow, comes in view. The beauty 
 of the scene is augmented by succes- 
 sions of foaming cascades wliich leap 
 down the mountain side— one of which 
 so impressed the riiilway builders with 
 its charm that they named it the "Sur- 
 prise." Beyond again, a rift in the 
 iiUtta atfords a grand siglit— the old 
 Hermit keeping lonely vigil, as he has 
 mutely watched since that solemn day, 
 when He created the heavens and tlie 
 earth. It is here that one of the loft- 
 iest bridges in the world spans a ra- 
 vine, 275 feet above tlie torrent and 
 750 feet long. On past the mile 
 Mount Carroll and the Hermit tlirough 
 a narrow jxirtal, leading between en- 
 ormous precipices, the summit of the 
 Selkirks is readied. While, doubt- 
 less, jirevio'is to tliiit time this fastness 
 of tlie Selkirks had never been i)ene- 
 trated by white men, the Indians Iwth 
 in tlie east and the west had known 
 the possibility of access by it, probably 
 for centuries, but neitlier Sliuswap or 
 Kootcnay would reveal it or traverse 
 it, as traditionally they were bitter 
 enemies. Tlie pass lies between two 
 lines of iiugc, snow-clad peaks — that 
 on the north, as told in the guide 
 Iwok, forming a mammoth aiiiphithca- 
 trc whose parapet, eight or nine thou- 
 sand feet above tlic valley, encircles 
 vast spaces of snow and shelters wide 
 fields of perpetual ice, gL^viii-s beside 
 whicli those of Switzerland would be 
 insignitlcant, and so near that the 
 shining green fissures penetrating 
 tlieir masses can be seen. Here the 
 traveller is 4,.'I00 feet above the sea. 
 At the very foot of tlie greatest of all 
 the glaciers of tlie Selkirks stands a 
 pretty Swiss e'laplet — a resting place 
 for the tourist from wliicli to view the 
 entrancing iK^auty of tlie mountiiiiious 
 surroundings. Here is to be seen those 
 magnificent atmosplieric effects of 
 light and sliade, whicli are so frequent 
 ill tlie mountains. * * ♦ Besides 
 tlie varied scenery to entrance the eye 
 of the tourist, tlie sjjot has an addition- 
 al attraction to the sjiortsiuan, for the 
 summit of these lofty peaks are 
 the homes of the wild slicep and 
 goat and grizzly. Here it is that 
 tlic tur))uicnt Illeeillewaet takies 
 its rise, and, following its course, 
 the descent of the western slope 
 of the Selkirks is made. At the base 
 of Ross Peak, a sudden, sheer, precipit- 
 ous cliff is reached, which could not be 
 bridged. An engineering diflrtculty was 
 cujountercd which seemed at one time 
 to battle the skill of man to overcome. 
 But by a series of lofty trestles and 
 
 • • • • • . 
 
TIIK (JOMMEIWIAL-KOOTENAY SUI'l'LEMENT. 
 
 curves tici'038 the IiciuIb of gorgrs iiiul 
 nround the hrowa of pronioutorieH - 
 known as " Tho Loop" — man achiovwl 
 a triuni]>li. * * * In tliis locality 
 are pi'omisinjr nil v(>r mines ixtnetratiniiif 
 tlic crt'st of one of t\w fool-liillit and 
 beyond is A!l)crt Canyon, wliieli seems 
 to 1)0 a final effort of Nature to 
 intensify all that is fri^'litful. It 
 is about 30() feet from the iev«'l 
 of the road and tlic mountain slioots 
 up at a very siigiit angle to the 
 heiglit of 2,000 feet. It is (luito 
 impossible to describe the feeling of 
 wonder and awe inspired by this deej), 
 dark cavern, at the Imttom of whieli 
 we see the river boiling and rush- 
 ing with the sjjced of a raee-liorse. 
 ♦ * * At Hevelstoke tiu! second 
 crossing of tlie Columbia is readi- 
 ed, the mighty Selkirks are cross- 
 ed, and liefore the traveller rises 
 up the third great rocky range — 
 lower than its brethren, Init richer 
 in mineral wealth — tlie Gold moun- 
 tains." 
 
 All this time you have been travel- 
 ling in tlie Kootenay district after 
 leaving Laggaii. 
 
 The trip from the coast to Kevelstoke 
 is scarcely less interesting and much 
 more historical. Passingtiirougli tli'^ val- 
 ley of the Frasei, ..oted for its fertility, 
 tlie traveller is soon introduced to the 
 wonderful canons of tlie river, liaving 
 the name of its intrepid discover- 
 er. Dr. Dawson describes tiie tract 
 of tlic Fraser as a "ragged gash in tlie 
 mountfiins," tlirough which tlie water 
 flows in a series of wild rajjids Along 
 the sides for many miles can be seen 
 the old wagon road from Yale wbicli 
 led to Carilioo, sometimes as at Nortli 
 lieiid, hundreds of feet higli niclied in 
 tlie walls of over hanging rock. Many 
 regard the Fraser canon sceiiei'y as tlie 
 most beautiful portion of tlie C. 1*. H. 
 route. At Lytton the road leaves the 
 P'raser and skirts tlie SoutliTlioinpson, 
 and here you enter on a section entire- 
 ly different in character— low rolling 
 hills, long extended lakes, a sjMirseiy 
 timbered and less coniferous country 
 than any other portion of the trip, 
 what would be called pictures(iue, dis- 
 tinctively so. Along Kamloops Lake, 
 Shuswap river, Sliuswap Lake, Salmon 
 Arm, Eiigie river and so on, we enter 
 the West Kootenay and embark at 
 Revelstokc. From whichever direction 
 tiie tourist wislies to enter he has a 
 glorious introduction. 
 
 Revbwpoke. 
 Kevelstok«i was formerly known as 
 Farwcill, naminl after a well known 
 tiiigineer who locatt^d a townsite there. 
 Revelstok*! stjition is a mile or so 
 east. Tlie Illccillewaet river Joins the 
 Columbia Just south. (leographically 
 Hevelstoke is well sitiuited to become 
 a town of im|)ort.'inc(;, and it was 
 thought several yeareago that it would 
 become the distrilmting and supply 
 centre for the Kootenay mining 
 districts, and this lioiie was strength- 
 ened by tlie fact that^i smelter 
 was erected there. For some 
 
 reason or other tlm smelter has never 
 been operated, exceptfor a brief spac(\ 
 and unless jironipt action be taken by 
 tlie Domini«)n (iovernment it will soon 
 be in the Columbia river, as the watere 
 here are orotling tiie l)anks at tiie 
 rate of several feet a day. One reason 
 alleged for tlie failure of the smelter 
 to smelt, and probably correct, is tliat 
 there is a legal dispute as to ^'le town- 
 site title, wliich, if the smel .' be not 
 submerged in tlie meantime, will lie 
 settled ill tlie course of a year or so in 
 the Privy Council of England. At pre- 
 sent tlie town of Kevelstoke is (juiet, 
 but with tlie openirgupof thellleciilc- 
 waet mines, wliicli are tributary to it, 
 tlie smelting of ores and the comple- 
 tion of a railway to Arrow Lake, there 
 is no doubt It will stand in a favorable 
 jiosition in relation to tlie trade of a 
 very considerable area. 
 
 INLAND NAVIGATION. 
 
 l>3irn the Columbia— The lieatttiful 
 Airotp Lakes— The Turlmlent' 
 Kontvtiay. 
 
 The next portion of tlio Journey is a 
 comparatively new one, :ibout wliicli 
 little is known, but which is bound to 
 be in tlic coming years one of the most 
 popular and best known in North 
 America. 
 
 The CoLUMniA & Kootenay Naviga- 
 
 TfON Co. 
 Surveyors of the Columbia and Koo- 
 tenay Navigation Comiiany, .vitli a 
 view to tlie development of tlie mines 
 in tlie Kootenay lake district and to 
 meet the demand with that country for 
 communication with tlie outside world, 
 placed four steamers in these inland 
 waters to connect with the C. P. R Co's 
 system, and at the same time that the 
 
 latter undertook the eonstruethm of the 
 Columbia and Koutimay railway to run 
 from RoliHon, at the the Junction of the 
 Kootenay river to Nelson at the head 
 of tho west ann of Kootenay liiike, a 
 distance of 2(i miles. One of these 
 steamers nms three times a week to 
 Rolmon, another daily from Robson to 
 Little Dalles on the Columbia south of 
 the iHtundary ; a third is used for 
 freight only from Revel.stoke south, 
 and the fourth runs from Nelson to 
 points on the Kootenay I^akc twice a 
 >veek. going as far as Honner's Ferry. 
 These steamers arc fitted up with all 
 nuKlern conveniences, are well furnish- 
 ed and provided with HrHt-clasn cuixine. 
 Trav(!lling on tliem is similar in all 
 respects to that enjoyed on any of the 
 inland hikes in America, so tliat, con- 
 sidering the newness of tlie country, 
 which is associated in all (^astern minds 
 with "the wild and woolly" eliaracter- 
 isticB of tlie Avest, there is nothing to 
 complain of and a great deal to cause 
 sjiecial comment as to the completeness 
 of arrangements. In fact, from the 
 first to last, except where we leave tlie 
 regular route for the trails into the 
 mines, tourists, with palace cars, i)leas- 
 ant steamers, and good hotels, miss 
 nothing of tin- comforts of civilized 
 life, even to the luxuries of good wine 
 and cigars. Tlie travelling service is 
 excellent and forms a matter of sur- 
 prise all tlirough this country tliat 
 the traveller is so well provided for. 
 
 Tlie steamer Kootenay is a freight 
 boat carrying 12.5 tons. Tlie steamer 
 Lytton, a passenger boat, carries 125 
 tons freight. Tiie Columbia, 350 tons, 
 is a passenger and freight steamer. 
 For convenience and accuracy tlie com- 
 pany's time card is inserted here. 
 
 C. and K. .S. N. Co's steamer leaves 
 Kevelstoke every Monday and Thurs- 
 day at 4 a. m., for Robson, Trail Creek 
 and Little Dalles, returning to Revel- 
 stoke on Wednesdays and Saturdays 
 making close connections with Canad- 
 ian Pacific Riiilway at Revelstokc, the 
 Col. and Kootenay Ry. at Robson for 
 Nelson, and the Spokane Falls and 
 Northern Ry. at Little Dalles for Spo- 
 kane Falls, Washington. 
 
 " Steamer Nelson connects with Col- 
 umbia & Kootenay railway at Nelson 
 and calls at all points on Kootenay 
 Lake." 
 
WR COMMKfiClAL~K(HJTKXAy sri'l'LKMES'T. 
 
 V, U. riirlstlo Ih Hccn-uiry aiul J. W. 
 Troupt' innnaiftT of tlic comimny. Tin- 
 Kontlemcn iiitciN>Htt<<l us BlmrehoUlfrs 
 hihI pruniottTH hciiiff pi-oinineiU citiz<'nH 
 of the provinco nn<l HHmiciateil witli 
 Hoinr of \tn liirgrnt luiHiiu^Hrt outer- 
 ]>ri8eH 
 
 REVEI.S'n)KE TO Roit-iON. 
 
 And n»iw for » trip in the "Lytlon" 
 from Revelstoke to KolMon, tlie Hrst 
 HtHffe in tlie Jouriu-y tliruuffh ihiH new 
 Kidorado of the miner. Tiie <liHt)ini'c Ih 
 nliout 1(5 mileH, iibuut tK) mileH of 
 wliicii Ih hike and the remainder Ih on 
 tlie Columbia river pro|H>r, althoiigli 
 upiK-r and lower Arrow lakew nuty Im- 
 rcganUnl au deep expanKions of the 
 river. In the i-arly days of the Biff 
 Hend excitement there was a steamer 
 used by the miners, and again during 
 the eonstruction of the f. 1'. H. In 1H88 
 two little stern wheeled, the Morion 
 ;ind Diaptttch were jiut on iK'tween 
 Kevelstoke and R])roat. It may be 
 state<l hero that owing to low water it 
 is only jwssible to navigate the Col- 
 umbia for seven or eight months of 
 the year and steamers with stern 
 wheels and light draft are neeessary 
 for its navigation, and tims are able to 
 poke their nose up to the Iwnk any. 
 where and tlirow out a plank, as in the 
 Frascr and many other rivers. The 
 lakes are navigable at all seasons of 
 the year and free o( lee. Aceonling 
 to railway levels tlie river at Kevel- 
 stoke is 1437 feet above t.ic sea, and 
 Arrow Lake, Dr. Dawson determined 
 barometrically, I.S'.IO feet, the actual 
 distance between the two is about ,»J0 
 miles. 
 
 The sail is as Iwautiful as one could 
 wish, where natun^ had perfect free- 
 dom and left a waterway not less 
 picturesfiue than useful as a highway. 
 The whole valley throughout is iiord- 
 ered by parallel and continuous ranges 
 of mountains, of a uniform height of 
 between 5000 and 7000 feet, rounding 
 rather rugged with woo«led slojies. 
 Here and there are denuded slopes 
 which in the distance are decldly pas- 
 toral in apjiearance. The cast side is 
 more abrupt than the west, which is 
 usually an easy slope from the water. 
 These mountain ranges, or more prop- 
 erly foothills, shut out the mountain 
 peaks back, wliich arc only seen at 
 rare intervals. Mount Begble, eleven 
 
 inllett un the way, looms up on the 
 right at an elevation of aUiut *.HXX) feet. 
 Down the rivorthere is considerable flat 
 land on each side, liable to overflow in 
 ]Nirtat high water during the months of 
 Ma> and .lune, much of it Huitable for 
 agriculture the valley varying from 
 oni^ to two miles in witltli. A great 
 deiil of the timbtT has Ik^cu destroyed 
 by forest tiraa. Ce<hir is the most 
 valuable and im|iortant element, the 
 other most abundant \m\ng spruce and 
 Cottonwood, with some white pine, 
 hemlock and birch and alder fring- 
 ing tli(! iMtrder of the rivers and 
 sloughs. 
 
 Ui'i'EK Aiiuow Lake 
 
 which we enter is considered the most 
 iH'autiful of all the many water ways 
 of the Kootenay. Right at the o|)ening 
 we |iass the North Kjist Arm extend- 
 ing inland to the lefl aliout ten miles, 
 into which at the head empties Fish 
 Creek, flowing almost parallel with the 
 Illecillewaet. On tliis river have Ikjcii 
 located some promising mining claims, 
 mainly argentiferous galena. A gtxxl 
 deal of prospecting and exploration is 
 going on in this section with gratify- 
 ing results. Immetliately south Thumb 
 liay is passed, where there is said to 
 be good timber an<l s<mu> agricultural 
 land. 
 
 I'plK'r Arrow liiike presents no strik- 
 ing peculiarities as to scenery, a[)art 
 from the geiKtral aspect of the whole. 
 It is very straight, and hugged close to 
 its shores by the same lines of moun- 
 tains, charmingly regular, with many 
 an artist's ideal sketch. There are oc- 
 casionally at the mouths of indentations 
 stretches of bottom lands large enough 
 for townsites or farms. Mountain peaks 
 rising up to an «'levation of 8000 feet 
 are sometimes seen over these oi>en- 
 iiigs. Towards the southern end the 
 lake narrows up and small valleys lead 
 off. The most important of these is that 
 down which the Nakusp flows. It is 
 along this valley that the new trail in- 
 to the Slocan country runs, built by 
 the (lovernment, and at the head of 
 which the C. P. K. has laid out a town- 
 site. On the east side of the lake, near 
 midway, is a somewhat remarkable 
 hot spring some distance back from the 
 shore. 
 
 The two Arrow lakes arc connected 
 by means of a river eighteen miles in 
 
 length, which ftowiiig west and then 
 south forma almoHt a right angle. It 
 is boitlereil by considerable Itottom 
 lamls and terraces, susceptible of agrl- 
 cnltniiil oceu|>atioii. 
 
 LowKK Ah now Lake 
 is in the form of a Im>w 51 miltw in 
 length and generally of the same char- 
 acter as its twin sister, the mountains 
 lower and more roun<ling at the head 
 and gradually rising higher aiul more 
 ileclivitous towards the southern end, 
 rather heavily woodinl, with hero and 
 there picture««|Ue grou|isof cotton wood 
 trees. One of the most remarkable 
 landsca|H- views is that atToi-ded by 
 " Deer Park," so calUfd from its attrac- 
 tive and iMirklike appearance, aiul tlie 
 fact that it is fre<iuente<l by great 
 numbi>r of deer, esiKicially in winter, 
 when the higher imstures are covered 
 with snow. At the " I'aiiitwl Rocks," 
 a few miles lielow IK-er I'ark on the 
 same side, there are Indian pictographs, 
 roughly done in red i>aiiit on preci- 
 pitous or overhanging surfaces. Deer 
 Park, it may Ih; reniarki-d, is on the 
 east side of the lake, just iK-fore enter- 
 ing the Columbia river again, into 
 which the lake gradually narrows 
 again. 
 
 Tlu^ Indians say that the Arrow 
 I^ikes were named in this way : The 
 Shuswaiw, from the west, made incur- 
 sions to hunt in the lakes, and had 
 many fights with other frequentere 
 of that district. One party, having 
 gained a decisive victory, '.vei-e return- 
 ing in triumph. Their chief said: 
 "We have no further use for our ar- 
 rows, let us shoot them into that big 
 hole in the cliff." Thus the name was 
 adopted and the Indians show the hole 
 to-day. 
 
 There is a number of streams flow- 
 ing into tlie lakes from Irath sides, 
 several of which on the west side will 
 ultimately form communication with 
 points in the Okanagan district. The 
 seasonal fluctuations of the lower lake 
 arc much greater than those of the 
 upper, the latter being aliout 12 feet. 
 
 The Columbia river below the lakes 
 extends about ten miles Iwtween nar- 
 row !ngh walled banks. 
 
 ROUSON. 
 
 Disembarking at Robson we arc 
 fairly in the centre of the country wo 
 
TltK (J(>MMKIWIAL KiMtTKS'A Y sUl'I'l.KMEXT. 
 
 have como to see, the hind (if I'tch 
 iiiiiivrHl vuinH, HhIi, mountainH iintl 
 buddiiiff towiiHiU'H. HolMon, wliicli in 
 levol, plctur»8(|Uoly iiihl ruvornbly 
 Hitiuted, \h tlu> |>i'«>seiit Htartiiiff ituinC 
 and turniinuM ut' t\n>. Columbin and 
 Kootcnay railway, and has iMson well 
 cloarcd fop action. The C. I'. K. Co. 
 have built a whari, a Htoreliou^e and 
 repair 8ho|M necenHary for the vrovk 
 of tho road, which runs one train a 
 day, leaving NeNon at two p.iii. and 
 roturniuK at ninr p.m., and by way of 
 digrressioi) it may Ik; addod that a 
 very large amount of fittiglit litw liecn 
 handled from Kevvlittokc since the 
 opening of navigation. Tliere is a 
 good hotel, tlie HoImou IIouhc, comfor- 
 table and rensoiial>le in price. 
 
 ALONd THE KOOTKNAV IIV KaII.. 
 
 At seven o'clock the C. P. K. train, 
 nominally the ('olunil)ia and Kuotonay 
 railway, is boardcnl and wc follow the 
 sinttositics of tlie Kootcnay river val- 
 ley to the west arm of the Kootcnay 
 Lake, the road making its terniiiUH at 
 Nelson, at present the principal town 
 In the Kootcnay country. This valley 
 lies at al>out right angles witli tlie 
 Columbia and the ride on the railway 
 is perhaps tlic mojt interesting and 
 pictures«|Ue |M)rtion of tlie tri]). Ah 
 has already Ixsen said tlic valley is 
 sinuous, witli numerous sharp curves 
 to turn and a surprising number of 
 trestles to cross. As may be inferred 
 by the map, the btul of the river is 
 boixlered by rock on both sides, much 
 broken up and the river itself rougli 
 and rapid. The waters of the Koo- 
 tcnay evidently forced themselves 
 through a rocky imss to join tlie 
 Columbia. Prior to tlie railway k-iiig 
 built a irail ran from Sproat's Ijand- 
 ing, up which supplies were packed. 
 For some time it was a problem to be 
 solved how lieat to reach the Kootcnay 
 Lake country from the north to con- 
 nect it with tlie C. 1'. K system and it 
 was finally solved by adopting the 
 route over which wc have travelled, 
 the water stretches l)eing utilized as 
 muci) as possible, because railway 
 building through a country like this, 
 especially antccoding mining develop- 
 ment, is no child's play. The Kootc- 
 nay river not being navigable it was 
 necessary to build the short piece of 
 line paralleling the river and it is be- 
 
 traying no secret lo add that it will 
 in all proliabillty U^conio |Nirt of the 
 new short lino to the coast whicli the 
 C. i'. U. has dtH'ided to build through 
 Crow's Nest |n(hs direct to llo|ie, thus 
 shortening the diHt4inee several hun- 
 dred miles and avoiding the present 
 circuitous and eX|M>iislve route 
 through the mounbiiiiH, the snow sheds 
 an«l all tli«- rest of it. Interest, there- 
 fore, in several im|M)rtaiit resjK'cts, 
 focuse.s in this bit of isolated railway, 
 and it will always continue to Ih; one 
 of the moU picturei(|ue sections of the 
 road. On this river occurs a series of 
 rougli, wild rapids and a numlM-r of 
 falls of unprcce<ient«-d Is-auty. 
 
 AI>out nine miles IVom Kolwon the 
 Slocaii Uiver, which empties into the 
 'vooteiiay, is crossed. The station 
 iH-re is called Hlocan Crossing, where 
 pack trains a:"e m idc up at present 
 from Neis m to ascend the trail into 
 tlu' .Slocini country, it iM-ing one of the 
 alteririte n ites into the miiieral pro- 
 perties discovered last fall whicli have 
 created one of the most marked min- 
 ing excitements of recent years in 
 Htitisli Cjlunibia. About a mile or so 
 further on through a wide wo(Kled Hat 
 Waril's Kerry is reached. 
 
 Dr. Dawson describing this says:-- 
 Helow Ward's Kerry the river is every 
 wluire swift and then; are numerous 
 rough wild rapids, but the lowest fall 
 occurs at alM>ut a mile above Ward's. 
 Tlie river is here divided into clian- 
 nels, the water on one side falling ver- 
 tically a distance of about thirty feet 
 and tlu; other coming down a steep 
 chute witli great vcio-ity. They are 
 known as St. Agnes Kails, and they 
 limit the ascent of the salmon at the 
 Kootcnay. The falls were formerly a 
 noted salmon fishing place for the Sa- 
 lish Indians and the limit of these 
 people to tlic east, the country beyond 
 belonging to the Kootcnay trilKJs. The 
 falls on the north side is a very pic- 
 turesque and striking feature, its 
 l)cauty being enhanced by tlie cKyir, 
 blue color of the water. Kine trout 
 may be taken in the basin below it, in 
 almost unlimited quantities at certain 
 seiisons. Witliin a couple of miles 
 above the falls, the two other notable 
 falls occur,namcd the Pillar and Geyser 
 Falls respectively, and between the 
 highest of those and the end of the 
 
 West Arm the river forms several 
 strong raphls. 
 
 Along here the C. P. K. C«i. has 
 establisli«>d Hsiiing stations, where 
 tourists may be accommodated by the 
 day or w (>k with lishing ta< kle, 
 camping outfits and everything (ex- 
 cepting a certain kind of liaiti icces- 
 sary for complete piscjil en joyiuciit at 
 a merely nominal rate. l<ast year this 
 provision was grnitly taken advant- 
 age of At low wati'r fishing r«-(|nircs 
 too little skill in angling to make it 
 s|M>rt. Kish are very large and plenti- 
 ful. 
 
 Witliin a short distance of Nelson 
 the railway crosses the river to the 
 east side, and directly Is'iieath the 
 bridge is a magnificent sweep of 
 water forming a long, swift rapid tliat 
 is mncli admired. Toad Monntain, tlie 
 mineral background of NeUon, is seen 
 for some distance.lieavily forested higli, 
 In'oad and rounding. From its side and 
 tliat of otliiM' mountains of its series a 
 number of streams flow into the Kootc- 
 nay lu'tween Ward's Kerry and Nel- 
 son, Kovcr, Korty-iiiiie, l-agle, ^Saiidy 
 and Cottonwool Creeks, Cottonwood, 
 eqK'cially in spring, l.ideii witli moun- 
 tain waters, Is a bounding, rnsliing 
 stream forming a sliort distance up a 
 striking cataract and alToi'diiig unlim- 
 ited water power. In fact, the up|>er 
 pjirt of Kootcnay as tvell is admirably 
 adapted for milling purposes or sup- 
 plying water for manufacturing uses 
 transmitted by electric wires, and now 
 we have reached Nelson. 
 
 NELSON. 
 
 A Ikisiixj 'I'oini ill the reiitre of the 
 KiMiteiiiji Mining Count ry,' 
 
 The rise and progress of the city of 
 Nelson — all m^w places in tiie west arc 
 cities, although Hirmiiigliam, Kngland, 
 has only recently been exalted to that 
 rank — has been in some respects simi- 
 lar to that of Vancouver on Hurrard 
 Inlet. I'lilike tlie latter however, it 
 lias iHicn the direct outcome of prosjiec- 
 tive mining development, coupled of 
 course with tlie advent of a railway. 
 As y(!t the urban centre of the district 
 has not yet been fixed, and which of 
 the many townsites on the lijikes may 
 yet have that distinction depends 
 largely upon conditions that have not 
 yet definitely developed themselves, 
 
riiK iX)MMh:innAi. KtKrrKSAY sii'I'I.kmkst. 
 
 nnd you will inoct wiili na iiihiiv 
 rival clniiiiH hh tlicrt) iii'c(IIv*'|-hc liitcr 
 oittH an<l tii\v:;siti-it, and tlicro arc at 
 IniMt tinc'.-n <>!' tlic latter clainiiiiK M- 
 tciitloii. It JH not r<ir '''iiK ('oMMKiiriAi. 
 to not aH arliitur. Hut 11° it were BHkiNl 
 a|iart tVom all otiici' conHiilt-ratioiH 
 which <>nt«>r into the Ititun- of a town, 
 what Ih at tlio liack ol' Nclmm, the nii- 
 Hwor Ih riwly at liaixl : "Toad Moun- 
 tain." One rifli iiiinc in o|H>ration will 
 8U8t;iin a ir*>u*i hI/ciI town. Ncli on haH 
 halt' a ilo/.on iinnicdintrly triliutary, 
 ont! of whirli, the Silver Kinjr, has Ix-en 
 homled for i»L>,(iti(),(KJO liy a ItritiHh 
 syndicate. That Ih what a H|Hrulator 
 would eall "a |iretty Htraiu:ht ti|i on 
 futuroH." 
 
 lll.sTouicAI, Skkitii. 
 
 Ilistorieally the orijrin oC Nelson 
 was the discovery of mines in Toad 
 Mountain. In the middle of August, 
 188f., tlie Mi-ssrs. Mall, White, Miller 
 nnd Oakes left Colville in tlie Cnited 
 HtatcH to |>ros|K'et up the S.'ilmon 
 river. Mritish Coluinhia, for placer dijj- 
 (fin^fs. It took nearly a month to cut 
 the way out. Tlicy found colors but no 
 jmy. (foin^on tliehi^ii land now known 
 as Toad Mountain a name dating; from 
 then, two of the |>fii'ty started to shoot 
 woodclmcks, ancl wliile rcstin>j saw 
 8om • liriffht rwk on wliat is now the 
 KtM)tenay IVmanzti claim, oni" of tlio 
 party who knew tiuartz recommended 
 'A\i\X .'10 lbs Ix' taken to t'olvilie for as- 
 i\ay. This was done and tin- nssiiy 
 lu'ove«l to be rich in silver. AVintcr 
 havin^r come, tlie ground was not lu- 
 cnt«'d until the next year. Two men 
 stnrtcd from Colville early in May, 
 but It was a snowy year nnd it was 
 not until July, 18H7, that the two fam- 
 ous claims, Kootcnay l<oniin/.n and Sil- 
 ver Kinfjf, were reconleil, which starl- 
 e<l the now famous Totid Moum.iin 
 camp, six miles from Nelson. 
 
 Needless to say tliiit tliesc discover- 
 ies attracted .tttention and tofretlier 
 with what was alrcnily known of th<' 
 mineral itro)HM'ties at the Il<'i\dryx and 
 Hot Sprinffs cnmp on the Lake attract- 
 ed the notice of tlic (iovernmcnt, of 
 railway men, prospectors, traders and 
 80 on and that process by whidi new 
 districts are oiK-ned up brouj^fht about 
 the starting of a town in tlie s]>rin^ of 
 1888. Tlint harbini'er of modern dis- 
 covery, tlie newspajier, was on tlie 
 ground early. Tlir<'(^ enterprising 
 journalists, Messrs. Houston, Ink an(l 
 Allnn, sUirted The Miner, & small but 
 neatly printctl journal which recorded 
 the doin{>:s of the district, and paid 
 from the start. The goverement laid 
 
 out the townsite of Nelson and the (irst 
 Hale of lots took |>lace in Ik-tuU'r, 'HH, 
 bringing about V*) apiece. The town 
 really commence<l in the lollowing 
 year. .\moiig the pioneer traders 
 were |{. K. l<<'nion and J. l-'re<l Hume, 
 now doing large busiiiesHi s. Marks «\L 
 X'anNcKs started the llrst hotel, the 
 Nelson liollHe. 
 
 The railway came in in the spring 
 of IH'.M, the llrst regular train making 
 its ap|H«arnnee alMiut the 27th of .May, 
 ilie railway wharves lieing constructed 
 the same time. With the railway came 
 tlie stcauier Nelson of the Colinnbia 
 and KiHiteiiay Navigation Co. I'rior 
 totlKit supplies came in over the trail 
 from Spront's linnding and by boat 
 from south of the line. Already there 
 had U-eii strong agitation fur railway 
 c(unniiiiiication witli the American 
 railway systems. Nelson at that time 
 was crenti-il the recording centre of 
 tlie Toad Mountain district. Thcsame 
 year the Provincial (iovernmeiit ex- 
 |KMided :f l,."»(K) in making streets, of 
 whicli the following are tlie priiici|M>! ; 
 Parallel witli the lake front are Ver- 
 non, linker and Victoria. Tlie princi- 
 |>al cross streets are .loscpiiine and 
 StJinley. 
 
 Hesides the abti'-e in 1«1»1 water- 
 works were put ill, a telephone com- 
 pany started, scIkhiI i>]M-ned, a saw mill 
 ojieratcd, n lock-up erected a brick 
 yard opened, nnd several churches 
 Presbyterian, Kpiscojinliaii and Mcth- 
 (Mlist, and a large; niimlH-r of private 
 residences and business bloi'ks erected. 
 
 During the present year. Nelson has 
 Irt'eii erected into llie judicial centre of 
 the wliole west Kootenay district, tlie 
 Provincial (iovcrnmi'iit lias built whar- 
 ves H(KJ feet long, the Hamilton I'owder 
 Works has started a branch otlice with 
 a ])owder magazine opposite, and at 
 the present time an electric liglit |ilant 
 is iM'ing set up for the lighting of the 
 city, with coiiHdent ex|it!ctations of 
 being oinrnted by ilu; first of .July. 
 
 I'UHMC" AND SEMI-I'UIU.K; in.stiti tions. 
 
 As has already been stilted water- 
 works were put in in 18!>1. Tlie sys- 
 tem is owned by a jirivale company, 
 known as tlie Consumers' Water 
 Works Company. The sourct; ofsuj)- 
 ply is Ward Creek, at an elevation of 
 12.') feet, with a sunicient cajiacity for 
 all present reiiuirements and facilities 
 for increasing to meet any demand. 
 The stoi'kholders are J. K. Hume, Hous- 
 ton and Ink and T. S. llarnard, M.P. 
 The mnins nre wrought iron, supplied 
 witli i;j tire hydrants. 
 
 As the result of a big tire, a tire 
 company was organized in the winter 
 of 18*.ll, compose<l of :i5 meml)crs, nnd 
 supplied with hose, ladders, buckets 
 and other tire appliances. 
 
 Not the least remarkable of the pro- 
 
 gressive indieatloim in this new coun- 
 try is the syMtein of telephone commu- 
 nication by which the whole Inke 
 country with tlie exception of Pilot 
 liay is brought into touch. It is con- 
 trolled by the KiHttenay l<iiku Tele- 
 phone Com |>any. There are 15 miles 
 of main line altogetiier, connecting 
 with the Silver King mine, Kolwton, 
 Ainsworlh and the niliu back of It, 
 and llalfoiir. Nelson has 10 Instru- 
 ments, Aiiisworth lOand liitlfour :t. 
 
 The public school is a frame buiUI- 
 iiig, in charge of .Miss Katli, with a 
 growing attendance. 
 
 Tlie government rtcoiiling oHlce Is 
 ill charge of .Mr. Kitz Stublw, one of 
 Hririsli Columbia's old-timers, who is 
 also government agent for the district. 
 His oOice is an unpretentious i.ig build- 
 ing next to whicli is the l(R-kup, which, 
 by the way, has only housed two In- 
 dividuals si ,ce the date of opening — 
 one an lt.alin.i and another a Chinaman, 
 soinetliing speaking louder for the 
 morality of Nelson tlian words. 
 
 The Nelson Klectric Light Company 
 was organized last year and is now 
 putti'ig ill its plant, with a capacity of 
 l,r>(M) incandescent and .M) arc lights. 
 The dynamos of which there are tlireo 
 — two 7H() I ti candle power and one; 
 (ifty l',()(K) candle jiowcr — are mn by 
 water ,K)wer, having ItW) feet head. 
 
 (If the threi! churches J{ev. Mr. 
 Turner is pastor of tlie Methodist ; Kev. 
 Mr. Rogers, Presbyterian, and Kov. 
 Mr, Held, lOpiscop;ilinii. These church- 
 es, wliicli lire merely in their infancy, 
 have fairly well attended services and 
 arc sliowing a great deal of zeal nnd 
 activity. 
 
 There are several engineers, t law- 
 yei-s, .'! doctors, an assay olllce, branches 
 of two chartered banks, one private 
 bank, a number of real estate oHices, 
 the C. P. R, land ollice, a brick yard, 
 prj<luciiig a goo<l (|uality of brick, a 
 piger beer brewery is under way, a 
 saw mill nnd the usuni comph-meiit of 
 liotcis and business houses. 
 
 HOTELS. 
 
 The Pliair House is tlie leading hotel, 
 its rates ranging from i?2..'J0 to i^it.riO 
 jier day. It is n large three-story 
 liotel, frame, with ;{.'> bed-rooms and 
 parlors, llnislied in Hritisli Columbia 
 woods throughout nnd well furnished. 
 It is run as n first-class eastern house, 
 under the management of Mr. K. I'liair, 
 witli hot and cold water bath-rooms, 
 Hush closets, electric bells, i)ar, billiard 
 tables, dining-rooms, and furnished 
 sample rooms. The Phair has a cen- 
 tral nnd commnnding situation, five 
 minutes walk from the C. P. K. depot 
 and wharves. 
 
 The pioneer hotel is the Nelson, 
 owned and run by Marks and VanNess, 
 and situated at the corner of linker and 
 
 
77/ a; VOMMKIWIAI.-KOOTKSA Y srri'l.KMKST. 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 elson, 
 iNess, 
 r nnd 
 
 Wiinl HtivctH. It wiiH ii|iciii><l tliriM' 
 y<>)ii'M ii^o, nnd uliilinH in Iw ■■ tlio 
 oltt*>4t, tli<> iiKMt (>«>ntrul itiid Ih^nI np- 
 |)oiiit(Hl lioUtI in NulHiin.' It iHc-<>rttiinly 
 wttll i'lirnirthiMl will) ntiw furniture, tine 
 Ixir liuil liilliitnl rtxinii iiixl uttict-, an«l 
 Imit :ii) roonii in Hii. 'I'Ih' rcMtiuirant 
 in connt^ction Im foniluctt'il on tlit^ 
 Kuro|M>iin pliin liy Mi':«Mrrt. liiH'liinr^ky 
 and lK>nkenlt, tliot'ornu'r In-in^ ii well 
 ItuKwn rhff, Willi II rc|iutHtii>:i for lii« 
 liiU III' fiirc, wliicli includes till rtvamtn- 
 .. .0 dclle'Mi'iiM at very n'ftHonable 
 rat«'H, 
 
 'riic'rceuniHch ii«anolli«M' \v)>ii known 
 liDUH*'. It WAS u|M'nud ill Apiil last liy 
 Mr. .1. Hrown, and lias iu'(>«iinnu)dation 
 for 25 (fin-MtH. It in a nt-w house, newly 
 ami I'onipietely furnished and is very 
 conirally located. Kver since oponinjf 
 the Tecuniseli lias Ih'uii doing a iarffo 
 and satisfactory liusineHs. 
 
 HANKS. 
 
 It marked an entirely new era in 
 tlio liistory of Nelson nnd district 
 when it was announced tliat tlie liank 
 of Mot'. i'e;il would open a branch in 
 Nc.dj.i. It was Ml eariumt of the ♦'•litli 
 which one of tlie largest and ohUtst 
 monetary concerns, on tliis continent 
 had in the Kootcnay district. Mr. A. II. 
 Muohanan, accountant in tiie Vancouver 
 hrancii, was appjinted to take cliarffc, 
 and as tlie winter was well iidvanced 
 and navigation closed lie went around 
 by way of Spokane and siiow-soed it in 
 takin;? four days for the trip up. He 
 arrived in the dyint,' days of IH'.il and 
 0|M;n(!d an ollicc! on tlie second diy of 
 January 1H;»2, witli exactly ^ILfiO 
 cash, a somewhat liumorous situation 
 for tlie iarjfest liank in .\m(\rica to be 
 placed in and soinewliat awkward if 
 someone had protl'ered a ciieck to be 
 cashed, but tlie Hrsi day a {fcnticinaii 
 bought a draft on some point in tlie 
 cast ami placed the m.'iiiager in funds 
 nnd for two months until tlie money 
 arrived by express tiie de|M)>iti of 
 traders and o'hers were su'licit'iit for 
 the business of the bank, wiiicli, by 
 the way w.is not inconsiderable. Ke- 
 cently new and more commodious 
 offices were occupied on Ifciker street. 
 Mr. L. Craig is accountant of tiiis 
 branch. 
 
 Immediately following the Hank of 
 Montreal came the Hank of hritisii 
 Columbia, wliich opened in March l«'.t2 
 in the block facing the Hank of Mont- 
 real, A.K()rest(!r Daly isngentand Wm. 
 Wilson, accountant. Ikitli banks are 
 popular with tlic business community 
 of the Lake country and transact a 
 large volume of business. Their com- 
 ing was a great boon. 
 
 Applewuitu and Allan do a small 
 banking business in connection with 
 their real estate. Allan, formerly of 
 the Miner, has rcitirwl. 
 
 LEADINCt MrUHANTH AND OtIIKRh. 
 
 Higelow nnd Co. Ih one of the lending 
 inerennttlo lioust's of the Kootenny 
 district, and Itn «|H-rationM nre not con- 
 lined to the town of Nelson, but extend 
 to dilTerent imiIiiIm over the surround- 
 ing country. The firm handle gnieer- 
 leti, dry goods, clothing, ImkiIs and 
 shoes, wiiu^s and lii|Uors, nnd almoHt 
 every kind of merchandise outside of 
 hardware, nnd carrying a stock eost- 
 ing from fl<),00() to #r>0,0(»(). The 
 muinlters of the tirin are U. A. Kige- 
 low and J. C. Steon, IniHi of whom have 
 Is-en many yeait* eonneet<'<l with mer- 
 cantile interesiM in the mountain coun- 
 try. The house has Im-oii estiiblislied In 
 Nelson for three years, nnd they oc- 
 cupy a store 25 by 70 feet in area, 
 und liave underground frost proof and 
 Are proof si<irii"'e covering an area of 
 25 by 20 feet. 
 
 U. K. Lemon v^ s one of the men to 
 getin the interioi country earlyaiulwiw 
 well knowM as n rustler. Knr yeare 
 he has I < ■ iileiu.iied witii the com- 
 merciiil progress of ine up country 
 and iiad his eye on Nelson from the 
 outset, lie ' >ok part in the agitation 
 for railway coiiimunicalion and did 
 much towards bringing tlie Kootei;;:y 
 country forward and making its 
 claims f<>r greater con:;;deration 
 known. He was in Nelson from liic 
 start. For some rime lie carried on a 
 business at Kevelstoke as well, but 
 last spring sold out there and devoted 
 himself to his Nelson business 
 solely. He carries one of ilie 
 largest stock ot goixU in the Lake 
 country including every thing 
 called for from the proverbial 
 needle to an anchor and does a big 
 business. .\ cut of his liuihlings on 
 Vernon street adorns these pages. 
 Mr. Lemon is public spirited and in- 
 terested in several enterprises outsid*; 
 of his own busine.ss, whidi is a large 
 and rushing one. 
 
 J. Kred, Hume is anotlier of the 
 pioneer tr.i lers wn ) ci isses witli the 
 aljitve two. \U' came to Nelson 
 four years ago, liaving formerly done 
 business in (Joldeii. Donald and Hevel- 
 stoke. He has a general stock of 
 groceries, dry goods, clotliing, liard- 
 ware, boots and shoes, etc., in two 
 stores on Vernon street and estimates 
 the value of his stock at between 
 *IO,OJJnni' *.VJ,0)). Mr. Hume has 
 large outside interests as well nnd 
 thinks of selling out owing to poor 
 health. 
 
 ProiK^iy the Hrin of Huston and 
 Ink, real estate and general brokei-s, 
 should figure very prominently in a 
 review of this kind. Tliey in connec- 
 tion with Mr. (Jrisner Allan were the 
 founders of the Miner, having only 
 sold out a short time ago, and have 
 been closely identilicd with every 
 
 movement of a public character sinco 
 Nelson Mtarie<l to Im^ a town and were 
 promotei'H and are large sUN^kholdem 
 in the water wdrks company, electric 
 light company, telephone coni|iany, 
 Slocan Trading and Navigation Com- 
 |iany and other concerns of public mo- 
 ment. Tlie Houston and Ink blcM-k on 
 tin- corner of Kaktrr nnd .losophino 
 streets just completed is the finest 
 building in Nelson. 
 
 (iilker and Wells, wlio also keep tlio 
 |Nist office, started here in the spring 
 of 18'JO and have doin* a gtHxl businesa 
 ever since. Tliey carry a #|0(trH) stock 
 of dry gooil.s, clothing, b<K)tsand shoes, 
 hats and uqiH, stationery, and so on. 
 They nre centrnily locntcd on the 
 south sid«! of linker street. 
 
 Carney \ Harivttcame from Calgary 
 in .luiie IHIH. Tiiey are wholesale 
 and retail butcher and cattle dealeni 
 and do an immense trade in Nelson 
 and the district. Tlie senior member 
 tif tlio firm owns a ranclie in Alberta, 
 N. W. r., from wliiih h'.: draws his 
 supply of cattle and dressed iii(>ats. 
 Tills linn also carry on in connection 
 a general store and are dealeiv. in 
 flour, feed, groceries and, in fact, 
 everything except dry giHxIs. 
 
 W, K. Teetzel, druggist and phar- 
 macist, dropiM'd down in Nelson in 
 in May, 1S'.»I, from Kevelstoke, 
 wiiere ill- did liiisiiii's.-i ill the saiuc lino 
 for live years and only recently sold 
 out there, li is one of the surprising 
 features nf western iimgress to find in 
 a store here a full stock of drugs, and 
 other goinls usually associatetl, such 
 as are found in large cities displayed 
 witli corresjionding taste. Mr. 'Peetzid 
 also carries a iiin' of fancy an<l sport- 
 ing goods and novels and is not com- 
 plaining for lack of busine.ss. 
 
 One of tlie latest but liy no means 
 the last to I'liter the mercantile field is 
 tlie Hudson's Hay Company, thus add- 
 ing anollier Imincli to the wonderful 
 rainitications of a great commercial 
 corporation, whose tradei's were among 
 the first white men todo busin(!ss on tlie 
 racillc coast. Tin' interior of Hritish 
 Columbia is iKMniliarly its camping 
 ground and though a veKu'an, is still in 
 tiie foreground keenly alive nnd on the 
 march for business. The branch in 
 . Ison, under the management of Mr. 
 Norton, formerly factor at Kamloops, 
 is doing a general wholesale and retail 
 business, including li<|Uoi's and cigars. 
 The store is located Just west of the 
 Hank of Montreal on linker stree.. 
 
 TflE MiNEflAL PllOI'EllTfES IMMEDIA- 
 TELY TRIUUTAny IX) THE CITY OK 
 
 Nelson. 
 Ti, deicrilxi Nelson without taking 
 into consideration the mineral proper- 
 ties without which it would not have a 
 
THE C0M.4ERCIAL-K00TENAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 raixoH d'etre, 'voukl be like playing 
 "Hamlet" wiili Hamlet omitted. 
 
 AVitli a view to projierly presenting 
 the pliyriical environments to reacUu-a 
 some rem;irks will be made o;i tlie 
 general aspects of the surrounding 
 country, Iwrrowed from Dr. IXiwdon, 
 Judge Sproat and otlier comiH'te;it au- 
 tliorities. 
 
 The steep and generally uniform 
 slopes of the lower mountains which 
 border on tlie deej) valley of the Koo- 
 t<Miay river, prevent any general view 
 of the higiier and more distant sum- 
 mits from being obtiiined, bat from 
 one of the eastern iwiuts of Toad 
 MountJiin a somewhat extensive out- 
 look is gained. From this point, with 
 an altitude of (i,'J'JO feet, it was esti- 
 mated th:it the general height of the 
 .summits of mountains in view o:i all 
 bearings except to the south-westward 
 was about <i,(Jj() feet above sea level. 
 Al)ove this general level, however, 
 higher and rougher peaks rise, usually 
 about the central parts ol the blocks of 
 mountainous country which lie be- 
 tween tlie several larger valleys occu- 
 pied l»y rivers and lakes. One of the 
 most important of these culminating 
 ranges, with v.ild ragged outlines and 
 carrying much sno \\ is seen at a 
 nortli-west bearing at a distanci^ of 
 about .'$."> miles. This was evidently, 
 says Dr. Dawson, tlu' southern aspect 
 of tlie Valhalla mountains previously 
 noted as 1_, .ag to the east of tlie head 
 of Lower Arrow Lake, bt-tween that 
 lake and Slocan valley. It is prol)al)le 
 that several peaks in then' mountains 
 reach a height of 8,.".U0 feet. Tiie 
 mountains between the Slocan valley 
 and that of Kooienay Lake culminatcr 
 in a second central ali>inc region of 
 about 8,(J(JJ feet in height, in addition 
 to which there is another partially iso- 
 lated group of mountains near the 
 head water.-> of Coffee Creek, some 
 j)oints in which may afain a height 
 of '.•,<K)0 feet. The Mountains to 
 the south of the west arm of Kootenay 
 Lake, after their first abrupt rise from 
 the lake shore, continue rising gradu- 
 ally in wooded slopes, till, in a bear- 
 ing aljout due east from Toad Moun- • 
 tain, they attain heights of about 
 8,000 feet and form together a consiil- 
 erable ar(>a of rough, rocky ri<lges 
 and summits, some of them snow- 
 bound. Southward from Toad Moun- 
 tain several mountains in different 
 bearings reach heights of about 8,(K)0 
 feet, but there is no eonsi>icuous range 
 of high mountains. Through this 
 mountainous region the deep valley of 
 Salmon Uiver may be seen running 
 nearly due south for many miles. 
 The head waters of this river and 
 Cottonwood -Smitli Creek nearly come 
 to the east of Toad Mountain. This 
 V{VH'i"sl»'f' !'' itbout ;t,(K)0 feet above. 
 
 the sea. It is drained to the south by 
 Salmon River tributary and on the 
 north by Cottonwood and other 
 streams. The trail from Nelson to the 
 Silver King and other properties fol- 
 lows ( ■oto.iwood-Smitli creek and a 
 branch of it known as tiive-out creek. 
 Another trail westward leads to the 
 Kootenay near Foriy-Nine creek. The 
 mountain slopes are densely wooiled 
 with some gocxl timber in the valleys. 
 The area of stratiHed rocks in which 
 nearly all the metalliferous deposits of 
 Toad Mountain have been found, says 
 Dr. Dawson, appears to be surrounded 
 on all sides by granite. The rocks re- 
 presented are believed to be those of 
 the .\dams Lake series — grey and 
 greenish schists. The most of the 
 dise()V(!ries on Toad Mountain and 
 vicinity have occurred within a 
 limited area of stratified rocks, running 
 about east and west and extending 
 from tlit^ head of Cottonwood-Smith 
 creek westward to near Ward's Ferry, 
 about eleven miles. Dr. Dawson 
 thinks that the occurrence of this iso- 
 lated metalliferous area renders it 
 probable that other similar deposits in 
 the great granite r(!gion may be dis- 
 covered 
 
 TiiE SiLVKK Ki.N'O Gaoui'. 
 Sp(!aking of the Silver King group 
 of mines, the lode is of pecular charac- 
 ter, in as much as it has no distinct 
 walls but as (lescrii)ed in one respect 
 to occur as a zone of variable and some- 
 times a;/parenily of indefinite width, 
 of shattered and mineralized rock, 
 throughout which veins of pure and 
 richly argentiferous ore occur in a 
 somewhat irregular character. Where 
 gangue app(?ars it is principally (piartz, 
 but there is on the whole a rather not- 
 able absence of gangue or crystallized 
 vein matter, the ore apparently filling 
 irregular crevices and running in 
 shoots and spurs into tin' rock, so as to 
 form here and there considerable 
 masses. Only traces of galena are found 
 in it. The oie is bluish gray and 
 greenish, mainly what is known as pea- 
 cock copper, but consisting also of cop- 
 per \)yrites, copper-stained iron ore 
 and tetrahedritc, some specimens of 
 which aie very beautiful and very 
 rich. With the development work al- 
 ready done immense «|uantities of 
 nuneral has been exposed, and about 
 half a million dollars worth of oi'c is 
 said to 1)0 in the dump at the Silver 
 King. Mines are usually sold on X\w 
 strength of the mineral in sight, and 
 the bond for i!?2,(MK),()00 referred to 
 elsewhere would seem to indicate ex- 
 traordinary richness. At the time the 
 CoMMKiiriAi. representative visited Nel- 
 son, Mr. Rtiepel, a distinguished lOng- 
 lish mining expert, was making an ex- 
 amination upon which to rejwrt 1,0 the 
 syndicate bonding it. Upon his owq 
 
 statement, if the mines proved one 
 «iuarter as rich as represented, the sale 
 would be consummated. 
 
 As already sUited, the Silver King 
 was located in 1887 by .las. Hall and 
 party, and work was eommeneed the 
 same year. A trail was built from 
 Nelson to thcsa mines. About 8150,000 
 has been expended in develooment, 
 which consists of a main tunnel 900 ft, 
 long, six crosscuts averaging (50 feet 
 each and two drifts, witli a shaft 3(X) 
 feet to the lowest level. Shipments 
 of nearly 2(X) tons of ore were made to 
 tlie smelter at Huttc, Montiina, at a cost 
 of i?3;j a ton, and yielded an average 
 ofJJOO ounces in silver, and 28 percent, 
 in copper. 
 
 An ounce of silver, it may be re- 
 marked, is worth about one dollar, and 
 is so reckoned roughly. One to 111 was 
 the old standard ratio of silver and 
 gold, although at present value, the 
 ratio is about 1 to 'I'A. In giving the 
 result of assays, gold is in dollars, 
 silver in ounces and lead and copper 
 in percentages. 
 
 Tlie Hall mines, which comprise the 
 Kootenay, Bonanza, Siver King and 
 American Flag are situated one at the 
 summit of Toad mountain, elevation 
 G4 feet. VlY. Macdonald is secretary 
 and maiiager of the company, of which 
 there are a number of members. It is 
 six miles from Nelson. 
 
 Other Toad Mountain Mines. 
 
 The Dandy on the give-out slope has 
 a ledge of from ;> to 5 feet averaging 
 30 ounces in silver, 10 i)er cent, cop- 
 per; a shaft of b") feet has been sunk, 
 with drifts and tunnels 500 feet. Ele- 
 vation 4800 feet. This is a galena 
 property. 
 
 The (Jrizzly, owned in Victoria, is 
 the south eastern extension of the Koo- 
 tenay Bonanza. It has 350 ft of tunnels 
 and a 70 ft. shaft. It is a higher grade 
 ore than the Dandy, (10 to 70 ozs. in 
 silver and 12 per cent, cojiper ; eleva- 
 tion 5000 feet. 
 
 The Silver (jKu'cn is the south-west- 
 ern extension of the Kootenay Honanza 
 and is of similar character. The pro- 
 prietors are sinking a shaft. 
 
 The Iroquois, elevation 4100 feet 
 above lake, is a concentrating property 
 to the S(mth of the run of the Silver King 
 lo<le and is somewhat similar in char- 
 acter, but contains more galena. The 
 lod(' is vertical witli a mineral expo- 
 sure of 12 feit. It is owned in Spo- 
 kane. 
 
 The Union .lack and Newmarket bc- 
 loiiging to the above group are prom- 
 ising claims. 
 
 "On the Sandy Creek slope of the 
 Mountain," says the government report 
 of 1890, "are some importjint locations, 
 among which are the Toughnut and 
 Evening. On tlie former a shaft has 
 been sunK >^0 feet aiul a tunnel rui\ 
 
)rove(l one 
 ed, tlie sale 
 
 ilver King 
 «. Hall and 
 nenced tlie 
 
 built from 
 lit If 150,000 
 svcloonHMit, 
 iinel yOO ft, 
 iif? (>0 feet 
 I sliaft 300 
 
 Shipments 
 re made to 
 la, at a cost 
 in a\-erMgc 
 !H percent. 
 
 lay be re- 
 liollar, and 
 c to 1 () was 
 silv»;r and 
 value, the 
 riving tlie 
 n dollars, 
 nd copper 
 
 inprise the 
 King and 
 one at the 
 elevation 
 secretary 
 ', of which 
 lers. It is 
 
 Mixes. 
 
 slope has 
 I ve raging 
 uent. cop- 
 en sunk, 
 eet. Ele- 
 a galena 
 
 ictoria, is 
 the Koo- 
 
 of tunnels 
 er grade 
 
 ozs. in 
 eleva- 
 
 uth-west- 
 Honanza 
 riie pro- 
 nto feet 
 I)roperty 
 ver King 
 in char- 
 Ha. The 
 il expo- 
 in Sjio- 
 
 arket be- 
 proni- 
 
 c of the 
 >t report 
 ucations, 
 nut and 
 haft has 
 nel run 
 
 /'///•; CO.MMI'.L'CIM. KoolKSA) sf I'l'I.HMKST. 
 
 \'ii;\\ '>y I'lijiT i'lW. 
 
 llciMl ,1 l'il.i|...;|,||l|l l.,V NkIUM- llll.-. .\.K..|1 I1.I-, 
 
THE COMMEIWIAL-KOOTKXA Y SCI' I' I.EM EXT. 
 
 Haii.wav ('Ki)ssixi; nr tiik. Khotkxav \k\k \i:t.s((X. 
 
 From 1 IMloto^'raI>l^ li\ Nkki,anii!* linos., NeK«i?i, li.t '. 
 
 .AiNSWOUTH. 
 
 i Ktoiii n l'hiitoi{iniili li> Nkfi.andn IIkos,, NcIi^oii, II.(". 
 
THE COMMERCIAL-KOOTENAY f^UPPLEMENT. 
 
 127 feet. The vein is from four to 
 eight feet wide, and continues of a high 
 grade character. This mine will be 
 an ore producer next summer. A tun- 
 nel has been run in the Evening, which 
 is an extension of the Toughnut, a dis- 
 tance of 137 feet, in addition to an in- 
 cline <i5 feet." 
 
 Stork ok R. K. I-kmon, \rij4os -Phntn bit SiTtaii'ltt lirnx. 
 
 The Labkau Mines. 
 
 Four ciaiuis Icnown as tiie Liz n' C 
 grouj) are situ«t<Hl on the west side of 
 Cottonwood Crcpli three ),iil»'s above 
 Nelson. The ore is gp.lena bearing 
 silver all the way from 10 to .S800 oz. 
 and the ledge from 5 to 12 feet in 
 thickness. This important group of 
 
 The Gold Belt. 
 
 The .silver belt which has just licen 
 described is piiralleled by a goldbear- 
 ing bolt, both running easterly and 
 westerly, but the latter a mile and a 
 half lower down the northern slope 
 l)etweon the former and the Kootentiy, 
 the two belts tending to converge as 
 they go westward. The gokl discoveries 
 were made in 1888; Judge Sjjroat, gold 
 commissioner, describes the formation 
 in his reiwrt of that year as follows ; 
 " The county rock of the gold lielt is 
 said to he composed of a sulicrystal- 
 line, slaty rock, perlmfis chloritic, ex- 
 cept at the west end, where the veins lie 
 l)etween greenstone on tiie one side, and 
 grey compact Hue grained granite on 
 the other. ♦ * ♦ The gold rock in 
 generjil lies almost in eonfflct with the 
 lime rwks in which the silver is found. 
 The gangue in the gold veins is com- 
 posed eliicHy of clear (|uart/.. Tin- 
 west to south wall, generally, is im- 
 pregnated with copper i>yrites, in 
 some cases these are in the vein." 
 
 I'rinciixil of the claims in this belt is 
 the I'oormanon F^jigle Creek on which 
 a large amount of work in shafts, tun- 
 nelling and flrifting has been done. .\ 
 winze has been sunk. Following a 
 streak 80 feet from the tunnel the rich- 
 est ore yet has been struck which assays 
 f 300 and is free milling. At present 
 the owners are stojiing from tiie 
 
 THE PH.\IR HOrSE, yr.LHIfS.—Pholu li;/ Sre'aiHh IWm., Si'lfmi. 
 
 mines are owned by Dr. Labeau, of 
 Nelson. Tom CoHkis and his associ- 
 ates, who have done about !f3000 
 woith of development work. The 
 government n^port says these locations 
 " will prove proHtable to their owners 
 when in a position to make shipments. 
 Tliese mines are well situated for 
 transportation facilities." Cottonwood 
 Smith Creek supplies unexcelled water 
 power f a tirst class mill site. Dr. 
 Dawson ..i liis report on West Koote- 
 nay makes a detailed and favorable 
 reference to these claims. 
 % 
 
 croppings to the tunnel, working in a 
 decomposed quartz which runs liigh in 
 gold. A stamp mill has Imjcii erected. 
 Several good runs were made during 
 the last two summers. Elevation, 8(X) 
 feet ; widtli of ledge 4 leet. 
 
 There are several properties U, 
 miles south of the Poorman, assaying 
 815 to 830 in free milling gohl. One, 
 the Wild Cat, has a ledge 10 feet. 
 Several promising iwations have been 
 made one mile below where the trail 
 crosses l^jigie Creek, showing veins 
 from 'ij to (■> feet in widtli. A goo«l 
 
 deal of development has lieen done on 
 the Koyal Canadian which is said to 
 assay 820 to 8iJ0 a ton. 
 
 "On Rover Creek some locations 
 hjive been made which promise to Iks- 
 come of great value. They are known 
 as the Whitewater, Midas, Snow-water, 
 and Columbia. The tunnel in the tirst- 
 nunitioned showing a ledge (i feet 
 wide, of a free milling nature. The 
 average of Jifteen assays nmde amoun- 
 ted to *8() in gold. The return from 
 U, tons tested at the sampling works 
 was 8110 in gol<l and 8'.* in silver. 
 
 '•The output of ore from the gold 
 Ix'lt, extending from Eagle to Hover, 
 is estimated at about 181KJ tons. — K,v- 
 ti'dcfs from (iorfriinti'iif rfjMni tS90. 
 
 A DiscovERv OF Nickel. 
 
 Dr. Dawson in his ".Mineral Kesour- 
 ces of Hritish Columbia," published in 
 18.SH, classes nickel as among the min- 
 erals not found iri any appreciable 
 (piantity. However, the rtijiort of the 
 Minister of Mines for 18H0 has the fol- 
 lowing with reference to Toad Moun- 
 tain; About one year ago wliat will 
 eventually [)rove to )>e a valuable pro- 
 pei'ty was recorded by Messrs. Ather- 
 ton and (W-raghty. It is a nickel 
 mine, situated on the west bank of the 
 Kootenay. alxmt 2^ miles below the 
 present railway crossing and over a 
 mile from tiie ri\<'r. Tlie mine was 
 discovered in the li. .1 of a creek, which 
 liad intersected the vein and exposed 
 if. to view. A cross cut eight feet 
 long failed to reach the opjiosite 
 wall and assays have returned 
 .■'.0 per cent, nickel but the average 
 (|uality of tlie ore will i)robably yield 
 from 10 to I.') per cent. In ^•iew of 
 the enhanced value of this metal this 
 may lie considered an important dis- 
 covery. 
 
 Othek Metals. 
 
 The Toad .Mountain ores, tliough 
 more valuable for silver or gold, con- 
 tain all the way from 10 to 50 per 
 cent, of copper. In Kootenay the only 
 other ores sigiiiticant for copper are 
 those from .luhilce Mountain and the 
 I'ppi'r Columbia. (Jreat masses of 
 copper pyrites are also found near the 
 mouth of P'orty-nine creek. 
 
 Loose masses of magnetic iron ore 
 weighing several tons havelieen found 
 on the north bank of tiie Kootenay 
 river near the lower fall. A prospec- 
 tor interviewed by the representative 
 of The CoM.\iEiuiAL claimed to know 
 of the existence of an extensive depo- 
 sit of hematite ore on Kootenay Ijake, 
 the location of which, however, the 
 writer cannot "call to mind.' Judge 
 Sjiroat also informed him tliat the ex- 
 istence of tiro brick clay had been re- 
 ported somewher(! in the vicinity of 
 IMlot Bay, but nothing definite was 
 known concerning it. 
 
THE COMMERCIAL— KOOTENAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 THE KOOTENAY LAKE. 
 
 Wonderful Mlnetttl Weaith of the 
 country nurrounding it, 
 
 A notice posted up in tlie Hotel Ptiivir 
 int'orniB the traveller that the 
 
 .STEAMER NELSOtY, 
 
 For Aiihwortii, I'ilot Bay asd llAi.rouR, 
 
 LticfJi I, a.m. Tiifilniin aiul Frulnii', 
 ttild at H n.m. Moiulag' ami ThiirnlniiH. 
 
 For Bphnrr* Frrrv 
 AtliU.m. Tuendagii ami *'rid«,>'«. 
 
 The steamer (ialena also makes dai- 
 ly trips up and down the lake, leavinj? 
 Pilot llay early in the morninff for 
 Ainsworth and returning to Pilot liay 
 at 8 a.ro., arrives at Nelson at 10.30 
 a.ni., leaves again for lake iroints at 
 one o'clock p.m. Tli*^ steamer Spok- 
 ane from Bonner's Ferry carries 
 freight to lake yjolnts ; several littU) 
 boats, such as the Midge, Surprise and 
 Idaho, are nscd for towing and other 
 purposes. 
 
 The West Aum 
 
 of the Kootenay Lake is about 18 miles 
 long varying from half a mile to a 
 mile in width and is supplied on both 
 sides by a number of small streams. 
 On the right passing Nelson is some low 
 lying land. About a mile eastward is 
 the site of what is known as " Itoguis 
 Town," a name given to it by Nelson 
 people, a townsite having been laid out 
 and sold under the name of Nelson . 
 The iiromotere, however, say they 
 have a good property, they claiming it 
 as the terminus of the Nelson and Fort 
 Sheppard railway, a charter and land 
 bonus for which was passed at the last 
 session of the Provincial Parliament. 
 An unsuccessful attempt was made to 
 secure a charter and money grant 
 from the Dominion, but the application 
 will in all probability be received at 
 next session of FVderal Parliament. It 
 is said that it will be proceeded with 
 anyway, and connect with Spokane 
 and Northern at Fort Sheppard. Bogus 
 town is marked by a rather striking 
 clump of Cottonwood trees. .\ pass 
 nearly opposite this point is said to be 
 a prospective route into the Sloean 
 country. 
 
 The valley of tiie Arm Eastward 
 widens somewhat and is identical in 
 character to that of the Kootenay river 
 valley, but is Hooded. Considerable 
 of the low lying flats towanls the hkc 
 might be made arable by dyking, 
 Much of the timber, which is of poor 
 quality, has been destroyed by fire. 
 The mountains though abrupt at tiic 
 shore afford a good view of the [leaks 
 beyond, and nunu'rou^ pietures(|U(' 
 scenes come to view. Navigation is 
 impedetl in winter by ice, but the water 
 during the season though not deep is 
 ample for any steamer plying these 
 lakes. Before reaching the main body 
 of water on the south side 
 
 Q. O. Buchanan's Saw Mill 
 
 is passed flfteen miles from Nelson. 
 .Mr. Buchanan is the pioneer lumber- 
 man of the Kootenay Lake country and 
 an influential man in the district. Ho 
 (Mtablished himself at this point four 
 years ago, the greater part of his ma- 
 chinery being packed in on horses. 
 The engine and boiler was bronght 
 to Koo'enay station on the Northern 
 Pacitic, thence to Bonner's Ferry over 
 the wagon road. 
 
 The mill is now being moved by the 
 proprietor to Kaslo City. Sixty horse 
 power is being added to the former 40 
 hp., and by the addition of new machin- 
 ery the sawing capacity ptu" diem is 
 being increased to 25,000. Forty hands 
 are employed. Now machinery is al- 
 so being placed for the manufacture of 
 mouldings, lath, planing, etc., to meet 
 the requirements of the district fully in 
 that line. I'rior to engaging in busi- 
 ness for himself Mr. Buchanan was in 
 the employ of the C. P. R., and follow- 
 ed construction through to Donald. 
 
 On the north side at the point of 
 turning up the lake, Balfour, another 
 townsite is passed. So far it has not 
 
 Kootenay Lake, 
 
 and usually there is a heavy swell on 
 and a stlftish breeze. In a little lake 
 lx)at yoa realize the ftill signiflcance of 
 being "rocked in the cradle of the 
 deep." Weak stomachs sometimes re- 
 liel. The lake extendt 5G miles north 
 and south, 32 north and 24 south, and 
 though a much more important 1)ody 
 of water than either of the Arrow lakes 
 is comparable with them, occupying as 
 it does one of the longitudinal valleys 
 characteristic of the southern interior of 
 British Columbia, with the exception 
 of a jog where the West Arm leaves it 
 is a straight sheet of water, of a uni- 
 form width of two miles, very deep 
 and clear, and extremely picturt^sque 
 during its whole length. The eleva- 
 tion of the lake above the sea is 1730 
 feet, bordered by mountains a little 
 more rugged and crowded on the shore, 
 but genervlly c'osely resembling the 
 Upper Arrow Lake. The scenery 
 is of a most interesting character. 
 
 Opposite Balfour, or rather directly 
 east crossing the main lake is the head 
 of a long neck of land or peninsula, 
 eight miles long and several miles 
 
 l.EA\rN<i THE norK at AINSWOKTH.- /"Aotii 61/ Afrfni«/» Brot., AVfooii . 
 
 Iiad an opportunity of demonstrating 
 its possibilities to any degree, but time 
 and chances ixn' on its side. The 
 steamers stop there where several 
 liuildings liave been erected and a 
 srore. It is also a telephone station. 
 
 Along here, too, is^' another possibh; 
 route into Sloean, which has been 
 traversed b.\- a few prospectors. 
 
 Passing liiilfour, wliieh is situated 
 on !i point, the shore bends gracefully 
 around to the nortii. Steering a straight 
 course ahead through (^hicen's Bay. 
 Pilot Biiy, the new smelter townsite is 
 ri'ached, distant tiu'ce miles. Op- 
 posite Balfour, where the transvtsrse 
 watei-s meet is a great salmon fishing 
 point, where the Indians catch beauti- 
 ful land-locked salmon, for all the 
 world like the tyhee saUnon of the 
 Fraser river. You arc here very near 
 the centre of the great 
 
 wide, l3etween the north extension of 
 the lake and Crawford Bjiy, pendant 
 almost due south, slightly south-west- 
 erly. At the southern end is an in- 
 dentation known as 
 
 Pilot Bav. 
 
 Here the most important industrial 
 undertaking in the West Kootenay 
 district has been set on foot and opera- 
 tions the most energetic and permanent 
 in character are under way — opera- 
 tions whicli betoken a lively faith in 
 the future of the district as a mining 
 centre. Several large interests are 
 Involved In the aggregation of indus- 
 try and trade here represented. The 
 smelter and smelter site containing 
 flfty acres Is the proptu'ty of the Koot- 
 enay Lake Reduction Co., at the head 
 of which is Dr. Hendryx, who may 
 
THE COMMERCIAL— KOOTKNAY 8UPPLEMEm\ 
 
 ts are 
 iiidus- 
 The 
 aining 
 3 Koot- 
 e head 
 inav 
 
 justly be termed the pioneer of Koote- 
 nay Lake mining enterprise; the large 
 store opened tliis spring, managed by 
 Mr. Byer8, is the business of the Galena 
 Trading Co., principally Victoria pjir- 
 ties ; the townsite, rcprt^iented on the 
 ground by Mr. Newion, is owned by 
 Victoria capitalists, cnief of wiiom is 
 Mr. Josiiua Davies ; and tlie sawmill 
 on Pilot B»vy is owned by Messrs. Davies 
 and Say ward, Victoria. 
 
 The Smelter. 
 
 AV'hen The Commercial correspond- 
 ent visited Pilot Bay 870 feet of sub ' 
 stantial wharves had been built, the 
 excavations started for the roasting 
 and concentrating plants, several car- 
 loads of machinery from the Chicago 
 Iron Works were lying on the wharf, 
 and a large staff of men at work fram- 
 ing timbers. Somewhere between 
 fifty and a Imndred men have been 
 regularly employed in one way and 
 another since spring opened. 
 
 The smelter will have a daily capa- 
 citp of 100 tons, and will be fitted up 
 with all tiie latest and most improved 
 machinery for tlie reduction and treat- 
 ment of dry and galena ores. 
 
 The company is erecting a hundred 
 ton concentrator for custom work. It 
 is the intention also to build a refinery, 
 put in an electric liglit plant and ma- 
 chine, and generally to make the smel- 
 ter and works complete in every re- 
 spect. Dr. Hendryx expects to have 
 the smelter in operation in September, 
 although if he succeeds in opening 
 next spring he will do well. 
 
 A deposit of good rich clay exists 
 adjacent to the townsite on Pilot Bay 
 and the Smelter Company has been 
 jxperimenting with a view to the 
 manufacture of .brick, with satisfac- 
 tory results and a plant is now in 
 operation. 
 
 Associated with Dr Hendryx in tliis 
 enterprise is Mr. Franklin Farrel, head 
 of the Parrett Mine and Smelting Co., 
 Butte, Montana, and said to be one of 
 the jireat copper syndicate and his 
 brother Mr. A. P. Hendryx, who is an 
 extensive manufacturer of brass wire 
 goods, with ii factory at Newhaven, 
 Connecticut. These gentlemen intend 
 carrying on tiieir business on sound 
 business principles, working within 
 their own capital, piying cash and 
 discouraging wildcat schemes. They 
 are men properly opposed to booming 
 and have gone about their work without 
 any tiourish of trumpets, which in 
 itself, is indicative of success. 
 
 Galena Trading Company. 
 
 This institution is one of the very 
 latest and one of the largest commer- 
 cial corporations on the Lake, opening 
 for business only a few months ago. 
 Mr. Byers, a gentleman who has had 
 extensive experience of the coast, is 
 
 manager, and is confident of doing a 
 large and remunerative business, ex- 
 tending up and down the lakes. So 
 far, the dilliculties and delays in trans- 
 portation have rendered it impossible 
 to keep the stock up to demand. The 
 store building is frame, about 100 by 
 15 feet, two-storeys high. The lower 
 or ground floor, with the exception of 
 offices at the rear, is filled with a gen- 
 eral stock of goods, embracing every- 
 thing required in the country. AVhen 
 full J' stocked, Mr. Byers' says the 
 goods will run from !!?.5(t,0'>0 to *7r),000 
 in value, a wholesale as well as retail 
 business being carried on. Upstaii"s 
 are living rooms in suits, whicli are 
 occupied by tiie manager and his start' 
 of assistants. The Imilding is sub- 
 stantially built and well finished 
 throughout. 
 
 The otlicr buildings arc tlie offices 
 of the Kootenay I^ake Reduction Co., 
 and a large boarding house, owned by 
 the company, besides Dr. Hendryx' 
 house and several minor buildings. 
 A restaurant, under canvas, is doing a 
 good trade. 
 
 Davies-Savward Saw Mill. 
 
 Just back of the townsite, on tiie 
 other side of the bay, is situated the 
 Davies-Sayward saw mill. It has a 
 capacity of 25,000 feet a day and last 
 year cut about 350,000 feet of timl)er. 
 The mill is fitted up for the general 
 manufacture of wood, planing, etc., 
 and employs in all aliout 45 men. 
 Recently the mill was obliged to close 
 down on account of high water, and 
 the proprietors have under considera- 
 tion the advisability of removing tlie 
 plant to a more convenient and mc re 
 elevated site. There is a large 
 stock of logs and sawn stuft' on hand. 
 The mill is rhu by steam ])ower, 
 but it is thought that excellent water 
 power could l)e secured from the 
 mountains, back of tlie mill. 
 
 Pilot Bay is one of the best points 
 on the lake for fishing, beautiful large 
 trout and salmon being caught by 
 trolling early in the season, or later on 
 with a fly. 
 
 A trail from tlie smelter follows tlie 
 contour of the Bay around past the 
 brickyard, up to wliich point there is a 
 good wagon road, after which to the 
 saw mill it is somewhat rough and 
 precipitous. 
 
 The townsite is not large, and there- 
 fore tliere is liut little chance for the 
 inevitable "addition;" it is elevated 
 and commanding, attbrding a view of 
 both waters. It has been nearly ail 
 cleired and will be on the market 
 shortly. In clearing tiic land of trees 
 the wood has been sawed for fuel in 
 connection with the smelter, hundreds 
 of cords of it being ready for use. 
 
 In the vicinity of the brickyard a 
 valley extends northward, the soil of 
 
 which is rich and clayey, and excel* 
 lently adapted for agriculture, though 
 limited in extent. 
 
 Mines Tributary to Pilot Bay. 
 
 This i)oint on the lake, for the loca- 
 tion of a smelter, was chosen on account 
 of being central in location to the 
 greatest body of ore. Directly west 
 are the rich Toad Mountain mines, al- 
 ready described. Kight miles further 
 up on one side is the famous Hot Spring 
 ("amp, and dii-ectly opposite the Hen- 
 dryx Camp, both characterized by ex- 
 tensive mineral deposits of wonderfUl 
 richness and a number of well devel- 
 oped claims. 
 
 Then farther up again, about an 
 hour's sail from Ainsworth, is Kaslo, 
 the trail from wliicli to the Slocan 
 mineral properties is tlie shortest and 
 most direct and naturally when de- 
 veloped a good deal of the ore will 
 take this route out, so that tlie smelter 
 is, as has been said, well and centrally 
 located to tap all the principal deposits 
 of the Kootenay Lake country. A 
 smelting industry is most conducive to 
 population, and while it is isolated to 
 a certain extent from the communica- 
 tion possible on the west side of the 
 lake, it has certain elements of support 
 in itself, in that it will supply labor to 
 a considerable popalation, which is 
 after all the surest basis of success. 
 
 The 1Ieni)Kv.\ Camp. 
 
 The celebrated Blue Bell mine, situ- 
 ated on a low lying jwiiinsula oi)positc 
 Hot Springs, has one of the most inter- 
 esting histories of any mine in Britisli 
 Columbia, and may riglitly be said to 
 have been the first discovered in the 
 province, whether placer or vein mines. 
 It is owned, with other mineral prop- 
 erties, by the Pilot Bay Smeitir,;' Co, 
 
 Tt) revert for a iiioinenttoa liistorical 
 reminiscence, David Douglas, previous- 
 ly referred to, was a young botanist 
 sent out by a Scottish Scientific Society 
 to explore tlie North-west. He des- 
 cribes ill 182") liis finding a large de- 
 posit of silver bearing ore on the cast 
 shore of Kootenay Lake, probably the 
 Blue Bell mine. It was from this 
 Douglas, and not from (iovernor .lames 
 Douglas, as many suppose, tliat the 
 Douglas Five gets its name. Poor 
 Douglas liad many an adventure, and 
 one of the most pitial)le was the loss of 
 liis botanical specimens, tii rough an 
 Indian upsetting liis canoe. His grief 
 was uncontrollable. At Kamloops, this 
 same Doug'as was challenged to figlit 
 a duel by liis host Samuel Black be- 
 'jausc? lie remarked, while drinking 
 rum together in good hospitjible Scotch 
 fashon, tliat the fur traders had not a 
 soul above a beaver skin. Fighting, 
 however, was not in his line, and he 
 took liis dep-irture next morning. 
 Siiortly after that he fell into a pit on 
 
THE VOMMERCIAL-KOOTENAY sOPPLEMEfJT. 
 
 \h 
 
 li 
 
 the Sandwich Island, In which a wild 
 bull had been entrapped and was gor- 
 ed to death. 
 
 Kootcnav Lake was formerly known 
 to voyagenrs as Flat Itow Lake. The 
 lake called "Kootenay" was just cutnldc 
 the south-east angle of the p'ovlnce 
 (probably the present Waterton Lake, 
 through which the International liound- 
 ary runs). The pre8«!nc(' of coal and 
 lead deposits In that angle of the 
 province was known to trapiters, voy- 
 ageurs, missionaries and travellei-s 
 over half a ct-ntury ago, hut was unim- 
 portant owing to the remoteness of the 
 district. 
 
 Blue Bell mine has a moi'e recent 
 history. It was In dispute as to owner- 
 ship for a long time, a dispute which 
 ended somewhat disastrously to the 
 mrtles involved. The Commkkciai, 
 was Informed that the small stone cot- 
 tage there, with walls like a castle. 
 Is the only stone house in tlie district. 
 It was hu'llt bv Sproule, who, in 188.'>, 
 It Is alleged, killed a young Coruisli- 
 raan named Hamill, who had jumped 
 the claim and for wlilcli he was execu- 
 ted In Victoria after zealous ertorts 
 were made to save him, and a number 
 of respites. 
 
 The Blue Bell, winch contains nn 
 enormous deposit of low grade silver 
 bearing galena, was purchased by Dr. 
 ■ Hendryx In 1884, and has been steadi- 
 ly developed ever since. Tliere is 2000 
 feet of tunneling, 300 ft of shaft, and 
 2000 tons of ore on the dump. A wliarf 
 350 feet In length has been built and 
 it Is the intention to erect a concentra- 
 tor at the mine. 
 
 About 70 claims in this section have 
 been recorded. Adjoining tlie Blue 
 Bell are the Silver King, Ivooti'iiay 
 Chief, Galconda, Conefoot, No. I and 
 No. 2, and Henry, all similar in cliar- 
 acter. 
 
 The Tarn O' Shanter, a dry ore pno- 
 jKjrty, is a little north, assays high in 
 silver, and Is altogetliera very promis- 
 ing mine. There are 200 feet of tun- 
 nel and between 200 and 300 I'eet of 
 shaft. This is easily accessible from 
 the water's edge. 
 
 The ore deposit in the Ih'udryx 
 camp, though low grade, is very larger 
 and striking. It is described as run- 
 ning a general north and south direc- 
 tion through the entire length of the 
 peninsula, about 4,000 feet. The ore 
 consists of a mixture of iron and cop- 
 per pyrltcs.galena and blende, In iiuartz 
 gangue. Portions of pure galena oc- 
 cur throughout. The width cf the lode 
 varies, but is everywhere of unusual 
 body and thickness. The rocks of the 
 peninsula consist of coai-se mica- 
 schists, marble and quartzite, with 
 westward dips at angles of 20" to CO". 
 The bordering rocks and the general 
 formation are granite, including in 
 great quantity, large and small masses 
 
 of 8tratlHe<l rocks of the Shaswap ser- 
 ies. 
 
 MonK Reckxt History. 
 
 Up to '83 and '84 very little was 
 known of the Kootenay liake country 
 except In scraps. In 1884 <•. M. 
 Sproat, Keq., was commidsloned by the 
 Provincial (Jovtrument to make a re- 
 jwrt on the country. In 1883 Mr. Far- 
 well made a re|K>rt on the Koott-nay 
 Indians. In a iiaragraph In .Judge 
 Sproat's report on Kootenay I^»ke min- 
 ing countrv. he says : Very little is 
 known of the mineral resources of 
 Kootenay Like. It Iwks a mining re- • 
 gion, luit prospecting for gold has not 
 l)een very successful hitherto. The 
 ohl galena letlge on the east side (the 
 Blue Bell) which ctmtalns nioderate 
 quantities of silver, has again attracted 
 attention owing to the approach of rail- 
 ways to the district, and per ha jis more 
 'argely owing to improvements in the 
 process of sepjirating the silver from 
 the lead, which creates hopes that 
 such low grade ore may now be hnnd- 
 Ifd proHtablv. (ialena ledges, suppos- 
 ed to be silver bearing, have be i dis- 
 eovere«l last year on the west -'(le of 
 tht^ lake. Practical men who have 
 been sent to examine the region gener- 
 allv, and have spent several montiis 
 in exploring, have l)een satistied with 
 its promising character. Alniost 
 everybody who was employed at Koo- 
 teniiv Lake in 18H:! has what he con- 
 siders to be a siher bearing galena 
 claim. Haifa tlozen men regard them- 
 selves already as Comstoek million- 
 aires. There" is nothing in the facts as 
 yet to justify any such belief." 
 
 AVlien we ecmi«<re the above with 
 the reports .is gold commissioner nnide 
 by Mr Sproat in IS88 and 188'.t, and 
 consider it in view of actual develop- 
 ments, we can well undei"sU\nd that 
 little indeed was known about its min- 
 eral resources in 1884, or indeed about 
 iiny phase of the country. 
 
 Not only was Kootenay remote and 
 not easily accessible in the sense of be- 
 ing unknown and unfrequented, but 
 It was a dltticult country to prospect, 
 owing to tlie inability to obtain supplies 
 at any price. In the early days of the 
 Big Bend excitement hundnnls of men 
 were driven out by starvation or fear 
 of It. A ])otato was worth a dollar If 
 you could get It. Nothing green or 
 fresh to eat, no source of supi)ly, no 
 trails; salt b!>con, sUle flour and 
 molasses brought on scur-y. It was 
 only the proximity of the Northern 
 Pacific railway on one side and the 
 Canadian Pacific railway on the other 
 that brought traffic within a horeful dis- 
 tance, an l her recent hlsto y, there- 
 fore, begins practically along about 
 1883. 
 Old Trade and Other Routes, 
 In his most Interesting report, made 
 
 up principally, 'as it must have Ijccu, 
 of original obse'rvatlons and data, Mr. 
 Sproat in 1884 has a chapter devoted 
 to trade, a few excerpts from which 
 will bo' Instructive : 
 
 "The trail to Kootenay through our 
 own territory, known familiarly as 
 the Fort Shepiwird Trail (by Kock 
 Creek, Kettle, and Pend d'Oreille river 
 and Summit Creek ), has not been used 
 for many years, and U not In a pass- 
 able condition. The district has been 
 supi.'ied of late vears entirely from the 
 United States. There not having been 
 any duly constituted United Sutes 
 • bonded route along our southern fron- 
 tier, the Portland Custom House would 
 not bond Victoria goods for Kootenay. 
 Some years ago, however, a few In- 
 voices from Victoria were tjiken in by 
 the Osoyoos and Coivllle route through 
 United States territory at heavy cost, 
 as the goods had to be accomi)anied 
 from Osovoos by a Custom House offi- 
 cer at tiie expense of the Iwnder. 
 Cattle and horses from British Columbia 
 for Kootenay (or through Kootenay to 
 the North-west Territory) are permit- 
 ted now to 1)e sent by the same route 
 on the same condition, which entails a 
 charge of *5 a day for the officer. A 
 few weeks ago the Northern Pacific 
 railway was made u bonded route by 
 tlie United States Government, and 
 Victoria or New Westminster goods 
 destiiuHl for Kootenay probably could 
 now be sent by that route from Port- 
 land to Sand Point station, but the un- 
 bomled route thence through United 
 States territory Into Koot»nay will be 
 an ototacle still, unless the United 
 States Secretary of the Treasury agrees 
 to regulations on the subject to facill- 
 tjvte through trade in bond. 
 
 " The goods from the United States 
 have lieen brought Into Kootenay by 
 pack routes. Kootenay has not yet 
 reached the humble level of a bull 
 team country. One pack route is from 
 Missoula, Montana, through Tobacco 
 Plains, and northerly along the east 
 side of the Kootenay river to Wild 
 Horse Creek, a distance of about 2(K) 
 miles. The Imports have consisted 
 principally of flour, bacon, beans and a 
 few dry goods. . 
 
 "The other route and the one hither- 
 to most used Is that by which goods 
 were brought from Walla Walla and 
 other places by teams or trains to Sand 
 Point (on Lake Pend d'Oreille, In Ida- 
 ho), and thence 1G5 miles farther, by 
 pack train to Joseph's Prairie, or Wild 
 Horse Creek, as centres of distribu- 
 tion. , 
 
 " The long pack train transport has 
 made goods high priced In Kootenay . 
 ♦ * * Flour is now ?22 a barrel at 
 the Upper Columbia Lakes." 
 
 Judge Sproat then goes on at some 
 length to discuss the trade policy af- 
 fecting the Kootenay Lake Valley, 
 
have Ixjcu, 
 1 data, Mr. 
 or devoted 
 rom whicli 
 
 li rough our 
 niliarly as 
 
 (by Hock 
 •reillo river 
 
 been used 
 i ill R pasH- 
 't has I teen 
 ly from the 
 ftving boon 
 itcd States 
 tliern fror.- 
 ouse «oukl 
 
 Kootcnay. 
 
 a few in- 
 liien in by 
 ite tiirough 
 leavy cost, 
 coin|)anied 
 Mouse ofti- 
 le lx)nder. 
 Ii Columbia 
 ootenay to 
 re permit- 
 lanie route 
 h entails a 
 olticer. A 
 rn Pacittc 
 il route by 
 ment, and 
 iter goods 
 ably could 
 from Port- 
 lut tlic un- 
 gh United 
 ay will be 
 lie United 
 iry agrees 
 et to facili- 
 
 ted States 
 otenay by 
 18 not yet 
 of a bull 
 ite in from 
 1 Tobacco 
 ;i: the east 
 r to Wild 
 about L'(X) 
 consisted 
 Willis and ji 
 
 me liither- 
 icli goods 
 tValla and 
 lis to Sand 
 le, in Ida- 
 irther, by 
 e, or Wild 
 distribu- 
 
 isport has 
 
 Cootenay . 
 
 barrel at 
 
 1 at some 
 policy af- 
 e Valley, 
 
 THE gommehcial-kootbnay supplement. 
 
 Mrhich he describes as a " pocket " 
 naturally accessible by one aperture 
 and that the United States. However, 
 the developments iu railway construc- 
 tion and routes and the recent trend of 
 political events has rendered less and 
 less the argument of "mountains" 
 against the trade with the Coast and 
 EasterH Canada. Five-sixths of the 
 trade of the whole Kootenay Lake dis- 
 trict comes through Canadian chan- 
 nels, and the country is as well and 
 as cheaply supplied with goods as the 
 older settled mining districts to the 
 south of the line, except perhaps In a 
 few special commodities or linos that 
 as yet Canada cannot supply quite as 
 advantageously. In » few years it 
 will be second to no part of this conti- 
 nent in point of faciiitics for communi- 
 cation. 
 
 Recent Devkloi'me.vt. 
 As has been already remarked, 
 railway communication on either side 
 gave a stimums to discovery, which 
 early in the eighties began to Ikj 
 active, and men like Dr. Hendryx 
 V'heeler, Anderson, Wright, McCune,' 
 McGovern, and Hall took an interest 
 and soon made known to the outside 
 world the nature of the country. One 
 of the principal promoters of develop- 
 ment was Dr. Hendryx, who came in 
 1884 as a young medical practitioner, 
 on pleasure and health intent. He 
 purchased the Blue Bell mine and has 
 since stayed with the country full of 
 faith in the outcome. The Hrst steamer 
 on the lake was the Mud Hen, owned 
 and run by Mr. Baillie (irohinan, t ;e 
 well known promoter of the Kootenav 
 reclamation scheme, which liad for its 
 object the reclaiming of a tract of 
 40,000 acres near the boundary in 
 Southern Kootenay, by means of a 
 canal, whereby the overflow of tin- 
 Kootenay river was to liiive heen di- 
 verted into the Columbia. 
 
 Dr. Hendryx built a wagon road 
 from Kootenay station on tlie Northern 
 PaciHc railway, a.5 miles to Bonner's 
 Ferry in '84 and '85, and stjirted a line 
 of boats to connect with the Kootenay 
 Lake mining properties. This wagoii 
 road was kept in repiir and sulee- 
 quently sold to the countrv through 
 which it ran. The steamer Surprise 
 was put in in 1885 and thus communi- 
 cation was esbiblished with the south 
 and has been maintained to the present 
 time. Dick Fry started the Idaho in 
 1887. In 1888 Dr. Hendryx built the 
 steamer Galena, the largest boat <» i 
 the lake up to that time and which is 
 still being employed running from 
 Pilot Bay to all lake points. Subse- 
 quently the steamer Nelson was put 
 on by the Columbia and Kootenay 
 Navigation Co., and an American boat 
 the Spokane. From 1884 development 
 
 work at the Hot Springs and Hendryx 
 Camps went slowly on, culminating in 
 the undertaking to erect smelt- 
 ing works at Pilot Buy during the pre- 
 sent year. 
 
 AINSWORTH AND KASLO. 
 
 Tint llhiHij Toirnx on the Went of 
 
 h'ootenat/ Lake. 
 
 Ainsworth is the modern name of 
 this little town of 300 «ld inhabitants, 
 called aftjr Ainswoith, the promoter 
 of a railway charter which cjirried 
 with it considerable tracts of land. It 
 was known, or rather the mining loca- 
 tions on the mountains Imck of it. as 
 Hot Springs Camp, "camp " being the 
 American name for a group of claims. 
 Hot Springs was the name of the little 
 town at the foot, an appelatlon arising 
 from the fact that a hot spring exists 
 there, wliich from a townsite point of 
 view adds so much additional impor- 
 tance to it. 
 
 Tile ti.it mining claims were taken 
 up at Hot Springs in 188:j l)y Tliomas 
 Hamniil, who afterwards lost his life 
 at the Bine Bell min(^ These were 
 situated near the shore of tlie lake and 
 named tlie "Lulu" and "Spring." 
 Several claims farther back wer«> 1(»- 
 cated tlie same year. The ore was 
 low grade. It was not, iKwcver, until 
 tlie discoveries at 'I'oad Mountain were 
 pulilished that prospecting took an im- 
 jjetus and prosiiccts of an unusually 
 promising chfiracter made, which at- 
 tracted the attention of mining capital- 
 ists from the other side of the line. 
 Since tiien a great numlter of claims 
 have liet'ii recordetl and every fixtt of 
 land for six miles square or more lias 
 been stfiked. 
 
 The Tow.n ok Ainswokth. 
 'i'lie townsite isaltou!, ten miles from 
 the moutli of the West Ann and almost 
 directly opposite the llendrvx Ciinij). 
 It is pleasantly situated, but its area is 
 limited, a fact which considerably en- 
 hances the value of lots; suburban ad- 
 <liti«»ns can only lie made a.sccnding 
 the terraces to the lienches niiovc 
 which occur at pretty regular int.Tvals 
 as you go up. From the edge of the lake 
 the mountains rise uji in long, irregular 
 sioiHis, characterized, as already re- 
 marked, by a series of steps or launches 
 geologically said to be the result of tlie 
 " irregular denudation of a series of 
 lieds of unequal hardness," a theory 
 with which the writer is not particular 
 to(|uarrel This whole country side 
 ha}! evidently l)ecn densely wooded, but 
 tlie ruthless forest fire, which has all 
 but denuded the whole of British (Col- 
 umbia of its Ix'st timlier, has here 
 wrought havoc as well. There are, 
 however, in the hollow* some excellent 
 cedar and white pine. 
 
 The situation of the town in one 
 particular respect is most favorable in- 
 agnmch as water for domestic use, 
 tire protection, or water |)ower for any 
 use, the production of electric light 
 running machinery, etc., can Iw pro! 
 cured in unlimited quantity and atanv 
 pressure, lioth cheapl y and easily. * 
 The population has Imen placeil at 
 •too, but if we take those employed in 
 the mines tributary, that nanilier 
 would »)e doubletl . The pav list Is one 
 of the largest on the lake so that 
 the caah in circulation is the liasis 
 of a good business. 
 
 The townsite is owned by a joint 
 stock company, the headqiiartei-s of 
 which is in Victoria. P. C. Dnnlevv is 
 President, E. Crowe Iiak«'r Secretarv- 
 Treasurer and (i. B. Wright resident 
 manager and agent, gentlemen all 
 thoroughly well known. The com pain- 
 is gradually making imjirovements in 
 grading streets, making draiiist, build- 
 ing wharves, and it is umlei-stootl will 
 shortly iM-gin the construction of an ef- 
 ficient system of waterworks. The re- 
 presentative of The (;ommkrciai, was 
 informed that a compjinv was in con- 
 templation for the purpose of introduc 
 ing an electric plant to light the town 
 and furnish \yo\\Q.v for working the 
 mines in the vicinity. 
 
 The Hcrr Si'ui.Vis. 
 A group of mineral springs are situ- 
 ated in the northern iwrtion of the 
 townsite. They contain sulphur and 
 s(xla and have a teinijcrature of al>out 
 l-'0° F. In cases of rheumatism they 
 have lieen found lieneflcial. and also 
 elticacious for dyspepsia and debilitv. 
 Their existence has suggested tiie 
 establishment of a sanitarium and com- 
 bined with the Imlniy lake air and the 
 excellent fishing, trout weighing all 
 the way to I'O lbs lieiiig caught, should 
 give Ainsworth a reputation as ir tour- 
 ist and health resort, and in this re- 
 spect it has many advantages. Two 
 steamers touch the \m-t daily, giving 
 close connection with the lake points 
 and with Bonner's Ferrv in Idaho. 
 
 Mkuchants. 
 The business men of Ainswoith 
 s<tem to Ir' on a very solid footing in- 
 deed, and are doing a large business ; 
 reference here is made to two leadinjr 
 Hrnis. " 
 
 Green Bros., whose headquarters are 
 at Ainsworth, have also a branch store 
 at Kaslo and are doing a big trade at 
 both places. Their Ainsworth store is 
 125 X 50, with extensive additional 
 storage underneath. Are and frost 
 proof. They deal in groceries, cloth- 
 mg, Iwots and shoes, hardware and 
 miners' supplies, etc., carrying a stock 
 of »10,oa). The Mcjsrs. Green Bros 
 who have gained popularity with the 
 
THE COMMERCIAL— KOOTENAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 public, C8tubliHli(xl theiuuelv(!8 iit Aiiitt- 
 worth two years ago, and have identi- 
 fied themselvps witli every public 
 movement of imi)ortance nft'eeting tiie 
 district. 
 
 A year ago Mr. II. (iiojj^oricli buu)|flit 
 out Mr. (t. H. Wright and lias extended 
 the trade largely, lie, like all the 
 traders in the I^jike country, carries a 
 general stock of gocnls and <loes busi- 
 ness all up and down the I/ike. Mr. (iie- 
 gericb's store is 25 x 8') feet, besides 
 whicli he has three warclioust^s, one 
 Ijeing fire and frost proof. The value 
 of his stock of ffoorU* is estimated at 
 *25,000. Mr. (iiegericii is largely in- 
 tested in mining cltiinis, owning shares 
 in nineteen in all, several of which 
 they are preparing to develoj) on an 
 extensive scale this season. 
 
 HoTEI,.S. 
 
 Ainswortli is well supplied with lio- 
 tels, they being the inevitable precur- 
 sor of business in all new towns. The 
 Vancouver, Windsor and Columbia are 
 the principal hostelries. 
 
 The last named was built two years 
 ago by the present proprietor, Mr. 
 John McNeill. The Columbia is locat- 
 ed so as to command a beautiful view 
 of tlie Lake, and is central. There is 
 accommodation for 2.5 guests and the 
 bar stocked with best brands of liquors 
 and cigars. Mr. McNeill is interested 
 besides in several promising mining 
 claims. 
 
 The Windsor Hotel is a large three- 
 storey frame building 35x!)('i, in process 
 of completion, Mr. R. McLcod is the 
 proprietor. There are three floors and 
 basement. Tiie ottice, dining room, 
 bar and sample rooms are on the 
 ground floor. Up stairs are parlor 
 and sleeping rooms, of whicli latter 
 there are thirty in all. This hotel, 
 whicli is expected to be ready for com- 
 plete occupancy about the flrst of 
 August, will be fitted up with all mod- 
 ern conveniences, and as will be seen 
 ftom its dimensions is one of tlie larg- 
 est if not the largest hotel building on 
 the lakes. 
 
 The Mines. 
 
 Ainswortli'tf chief importance, how- 
 ever, is due to the fact that it is the 
 entrepot for a large number of very 
 promising mines. Hot Springs is em- 
 phatically a lead and silver ciimp. 
 The ores of most of the claims are 
 composed of galena, carrying irom 20 
 to 70% of lead. The greater portion 
 of these are extremely rich in silver, 
 assays often running' from 25 to 100 
 oz. per ton. Tliere are also several 
 mines which furnish dry ores, that is 
 to say witliout lead. Some of these 
 carry a large proiwrtion of iron 
 oxides, thus affording an excellent 
 flux for smelting and in connection 
 with the native wire silver and rich 
 
 steaks of silver sulphurcts, making 
 them a desirable ore tor treatment. 
 
 Speaking of dry ores and low grade 
 ores, without attempting to speak 
 cither scientifically or mining-wise 
 (the scientific editor of Thk Commku- 
 viM. having taken a holiday) as a 
 matter of observation in the Kootenay 
 district, and it is bcdieved to be a gen- 
 eral fact, the grade of the ore corres- 
 ponds in some degree with tlie eleva- 
 tion of the mine. All the low lying 
 claims as a rule are low grade, and 
 the high grade, of wliicli the Silver 
 King and Sky Line are striking illus- 
 trations, at high elevations. It seems 
 as though nature had specially design- 
 ed that the richer the prize tlie more 
 ditticult to achieve. It does not fol- 
 low, however, that a low grade lod(^ is 
 not as valuable as the high grade. It 
 may Iw a much more vaUuible prop- 
 erty. Accessibility is always a com- 
 pensating advantage. A low gradi^ 
 ore in sufticientiy large boily, easy to 
 reach with smelting facilities at hand, 
 may pay Ixsttcr than a very rich ore 
 requiring a large expenditure ot capi- 
 t«l to develop and work. The value 
 of a mine is not altogether in the 
 cliaracter of the ore itself but depends 
 largely on the conditiins surrounding 
 it, and there are many conditions to 
 take into consideration. This state- 
 ment is not necessary for tlie informa- 
 tion of mining men who fully appre- 
 ciate such conditions, but inexperienc- 
 ed capitalists are too often lead into 
 mining investments simply on the 
 results of assays, which man be honest 
 enough, and the width of ledges and 
 so on. 
 
 There is another important factor 
 which enters into mining enterprises 
 as a condition to be kept in mind, and 
 that is the general character of ores in 
 a camp or contiguous camps tributary 
 to a smelter. .Judge Sproat — "Judge" 
 as applied here is a title attached to 
 the position of gold commissioner, a 
 government officer, where duties are 
 largely of a judicial character, often 
 combining several important functions. 
 A gold commissioner vis not necessari- 
 ly a legal gentleman, usually not, 
 but one necessarily versed in law, ea-- 
 officio, a magistrate — in liis report on 
 the Kootenay country in 1884, which 
 considering the facilties for travelling 
 through the country at that time, and 
 the limited information to be procured 
 regarding it, is wonderfully exhaustive 
 and accurate, succintly explains the 
 condition above referred to. He says. 
 "Smelting operations can be most 
 successfully carried on where a variety 
 of ore is obtainable, not only of differ- 
 ent chemical combinations, but also 
 from different mines. They can only 
 be profitable when conducted on an ex- 
 tensive scale. A single mine is not 
 always in a condition to furnish a 
 
 regular supply of ore, but If other 
 mines were found, the smelting works 
 could be fetl." 
 
 The conditions which Judge Sproat 
 stipulated as necessary to the success- 
 ful operation of mines on the Kootenay 
 L'lke, stated at a time when it was im- 
 ]>ossil)le to form an estimate of its re- 
 sources, have fortunately proved to ex- 
 ist. As a mining district it is naturally 
 most favorably situated in almost every 
 respect necessary to success. The ore 
 has been discovered in extensive de- 
 |)03its, which development work so far 
 lias conflrnu^d its permanency and rich- 
 ness. The mineral lodes are every- 
 where easily accessible by trail from 
 the water's edge : they exist contigu- 
 ously on the shores of a deep and 
 navigable body of water, in other 
 words, facilities for transport to a local 
 smelter are excellent ; ' '-e Is a variety 
 of ores suitable for tre cut; a smel- 
 ter is being erected v , n easy reach 
 of all of them ; the average assay value 
 of all the ores will render them profit- 
 able to work. So far as a practical 
 knowledge of conditions go at the pre- 
 sent time they are as favorable as they 
 well could be. There alone remains 
 the question of a market for silver, 
 lead and copper, which time only can 
 solve, and which may safeh be 
 trusted. 
 
 The Mineral Formation. 
 
 From a geological point of view, the 
 formation is favorable for large and 
 lasting deposits of ore, and forgeological 
 and mineralogical opinions we, of 
 course, must depend upon the autliori- 
 ties who have examined the district and 
 reported on it. These, together, with the 
 opinions pf practical mining men, who 
 perhaps after all are the safest guides, 
 lead us to but one conclusion. Scientists 
 systematise facts and formulate theo- 
 ries based on facts ; the practical men 
 supply the facts. Prospectors and 
 miners are invariably the percusors of 
 mining knowledge. They opened the 
 eyes of the scientists to the mineral 
 riches of British Columbia, although it 
 is true that the great Murchjnson long 
 ago theorized the existance of the 
 northern lode of the western mettillifer- 
 ousbelt in New Caledonia, a proposition 
 which is proving true. 
 
 The mineralised area back of Ains- 
 worth is mainly between Coffee Creek 
 and Woodberry Creek, a distance of 
 about six miles and from the lake 
 shore to the "Sky Line," over 5000 
 feet above the sea level. The country 
 rock is mica schist, intersected by va- 
 rious dykes of limestone which form a 
 continuous contact for miles. The 
 country rises abruptly from the lake 
 to a height of nearly 6000 feet, but 
 with a series of terraces, varying from 
 a few hundred feet up to a thousand in 
 elevation. On these terraces the veins 
 
THE COMMERCIAL— KOOTEN AY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 Ains- 
 
 Creck 
 
 Incc of 
 
 lake 
 
 5000 
 
 |»untry 
 
 jy va- 
 
 form a 
 
 The 
 
 lake 
 
 ^t, but 
 
 from 
 
 mdin 
 
 I veins 
 
 of galena run northerly, almost 
 parallel with the lake, and one can 
 often walk alonfif tli> continuous crop- 
 pings of a vein two or three niilcH 
 without a break. A good wagon road 
 has been built by the Provincial Gov- 
 ernment, which leads from the town 
 to the most prominent of the mines, 
 and branch roads are yearly being ex- 
 tended from those to newly opened 
 veins, which are in almost regular 
 tiers. The dip of the rocks, to which 
 the vein matter usually corresponds, 
 is to the westward at an average 
 angle of 45°. The inclination is less 
 near the shore. Near the summit the 
 beds are much disturbed and of- 
 ten nearly vertical. Speaking of 
 the dip of the veins. Dr. Dawson 
 says : "Some of these appear to dip nt 
 the same angle with the enclosing 
 beds, but in other cases, to the west of 
 this, the metalliferous veins cut across 
 the bedding of tlio rocks to a greater 
 or less extern and may be expected to 
 change in character when followed in 
 depth into country rock of another 
 kind." The same writer goes on to 
 say the ore, principally argentiferous 
 galer..., which, in the lower veins con- 
 tained in the harder rocks, has usually 
 become decomposed to a very limited 
 depth only from the surface ; but on 
 the limestones the decomposition has 
 often extended to a considerable depth, 
 and has resulted in the production of 
 soft rusty "carbonate ores." filiform 
 native silver or " wire silver," togeth- 
 er with terahedrite are also found in 
 some of the richer deposits. The 
 veins which like the "Spokane" fol- 
 low the bedding of the mica schists, 
 are the most regular, while as might 
 be anticipated, those contained in the 
 limestones are not nearly so uniform 
 in size and tend appnrhntly to assume 
 the character of impregnated rock in 
 which occasional large masses or 
 " chimneys " occur. 
 
 NOTESJOF THE HOT SlMUNGS MiXKS. 
 
 The principal mines in this camp so 
 far as is yet known are the Sky Line, 
 Krao, Tenderfoot, United, Neoslia, 
 Libby, No. 1, Spokane, Trinket, Little 
 Donald, Fourth, Ayesha, Dellie, with 
 several others. A good deal of ore 
 has been sent to the smelters across 
 the line, and, notwithstanding the 
 American duty of 830 per ton on the 
 lead contained in the ore and the cost 
 of shipment, paid a good profit. Now 
 that a smelter is being erecte 1 within 
 a few miles on the lake, it is expected 
 that twenty or thirty mines wiU soon 
 be extracting ores for its consump- 
 tion. 
 
 The Skyline — A dry ore, property 
 of A. W. McCune, Salt Lake City, vein 
 perpendicular ; shaft 200 ft ; drifting 
 200 feet ; width of ledge 12 feet ; as- 
 says as high as ^1000 to the ton ; ele- 
 
 vation 4000 feet above the lake ; plant 
 consists of pumping and hoisting ap- 
 paratus, with milling machinery about 
 to be added. Shipments of ore to the 
 Montana amelter yielded from $10 to 
 300 oz. of silver to the ton. 
 
 No. 1 —Property of Revelstokc Min- 
 ing Co.; six feet body of rich ore ; 150 
 feet of tunnel and drifts ; 200 tons 
 shipped to the Montana smelter yielded 
 an average of 100 oz. in silver. 
 
 Krao — Twelve feet body of ore, con- 
 centrating one in four, concentrates 
 going 200 oz. in silver; 25 h.p. pump- 
 ing and hoisting plant ; sinking to 200 
 feet level. Company intends erecting 
 concentrating works mouth Copiwr 
 creek ; elevation 2,000 feet above 
 lake ; 200 feet of drifts made last win- 
 ter and spring. 
 
 TENDERFom —Shaft 100 feet ; 80 feet 
 drifts. The machinery in use is from 
 Doty and Co., Toronto, first used here. 
 
 Fourth — ^ /as stocked by a St. Paul 
 Co.; ore higii grade, large quantity on 
 the dump; 300 feet tunnels and drifts; 
 average assav 100 oz. in silver; eleva- 
 tion 1,000 feet. 
 
 Neoshe — Owned by Dr. Coe, Seattle; 
 carbonates ; six feet body of ore ; 80 
 feet shaft, with some cross cutting ; 
 very high grade, small shipment of 
 10 tons to the Tacoma smelter ran $600 
 to the ton. Some beautiful specimens 
 of wire silver were taken from it. 
 
 The United — Property of Revel- 
 stoke Mining Co.; concentrating ore; 
 had a very rich belt of native isilver, 
 running up into thousands of ounces of 
 silver ; small pumping and hoisting 
 plant; 100 feet sliaft ; 12 men are at 
 work and now drifting with a good 
 body of ore; 1,000 tons of ore ready 
 for shipment. 
 
 The Little Donald assayed at Helena 
 115 oz. silver and- 05% of lead. 
 
 Tlie following particulars are given 
 of the otlier mines :— 
 
 Crescent, 
 
 100 feet 
 
 shaft. 
 
 Dictator. 
 
 200 " 
 
 " and tunneling 
 
 Libby, 
 
 100 " 
 
 " 
 
 (ilengarv, 
 
 50 " 
 
 a 
 
 Dellie, 
 
 70 " 
 
 .i 
 
 Norman, 
 
 .')0 " 
 
 u 
 
 Lady of the Lake, 
 
 50 feet tunneling. 
 
 Blackbird 
 
 50 feet shaft. 
 
 Snowbanl< 
 
 , 75 
 
 (4 U 
 
 Ellen, 
 
 45 
 
 " tunneling. 
 
 Ajax, 
 
 40 
 
 (( i( 
 
 On Deck, 
 
 50 
 
 " shaft. 
 
 l-^jirly Bird, (iO 
 
 " tunnell. 
 
 The first claim was recorded in 
 Ainsworth, in October, 188i). 
 
 There were 156 claims recorded at 
 the Recording ofHce here in 18'Jl. The 
 (iovernment recorder at Ainsworth is 
 Mr. Lendoum, from whose report the 
 above particulars are taken. He is a 
 gentleman, who besides understanding 
 the duties of his office, evidently ap- 
 preciates the fact that courtesy and 
 
 politeness are essential ((Ualities in the 
 character of a public servant. 
 
 The Hot Springs, so far, have not 
 been utilized, but recently a small 
 building and bath has been erected 
 and it is the intention later on to es- 
 ttiblish a sanitarium at this |K)int. 
 
 Anderson and Kettilaack are a relia- 
 ble firm of real estate ami mining 
 brokers, doing business iiere. 
 
 Kahix). 
 
 The town of Kaslo is situated nt the 
 mouth of Kaslo Creek, which (lows into 
 the Kootenay liake at a point about 12 
 miles north of Ainsworth, on the 8anu' 
 side. It is the direct outcome of tlie 
 excitement following the discoveries of 
 last fall. 
 
 The representative of The Commek- 
 ciAi- visited it on the 2ltli of May and 
 helped j celebrate the first (Queen's 
 birthday that had ever been cc^lebrated 
 on grounds whicli but a few months 
 before was covered with forest. There 
 were about dOO people present, priiici- 
 pjilly prospectors and miners, and while 
 our idea of mining life is apt to | artake 
 a good deal of the "six-shooter" and 
 "bowie-knife" complexion, nothing 
 could lie father from that conception 
 of it. The men were orderly, well- 
 behaved, sober, and enjoyed tiiem- 
 selves thoroughly. Only one man was 
 overpowered with intoxicants during 
 the day; no fighting occurred; no loiul 
 or blasphemous language. You could 
 not mistake that you were in a miaing 
 camp; the men were distinctively of 
 that class — wore belts, a species of 
 sombrero ; many of them " Mack- 
 inaw's," free and easy air, and all that, 
 but the kind of man, who, if you mind 
 your own business, will mind his. 
 They are a very decent lot of men, 
 who. considering the admixture from 
 all parts of the world and ail grades 
 of society, surprise you by their intel- 
 ligence, good behavior and goo<l sense. 
 Of coui-se there are rough characters 
 among them, gamblers and heaven 
 knows what some of them may not 
 have been, but there is no place where 
 the criminal and vagabond class dis- 
 guise their former selves so completely 
 as in a mining camj). Here all men 
 are alike, nobotly asks questions, no- 
 body cares what you v> re, so long as 
 you mind your own business and be- 
 have yourself; expo.se your hand and 
 there is no place will be made so hot 
 for you in so short a sjiace of time. 
 
 The evening before the 24th a com- 
 mittee meeting was held in Green's 
 store, Mr. G. O. Buchanan was made 
 chairman, and for formality and jarlia- 
 mentary style no meeting was ever 
 conducted more decorously. All were 
 comparative strangers to each other, 
 all took part and the business, which 
 was to arrange the programme for the 
 following day, was expeditiously, 
 
THE aoStStRliCIAL KOOTK.VAY SUri'LEMENT. 
 
 harmonioUHly and ityHtttimitiuHlly triiiiH- 
 acti'd. Tlio qucHtion of tMiforcin^ onlc^r 
 was hroujflit up, and Home one |M)into(l 
 (•lit, that as tli«M*e wiTc two Justices of 
 the jM'ace present, s|M'oial (■onstat)leM 
 could Ih« Hworn in to i^ecp tlie {K^aoe. 
 For Home reason or other tlic nuffges- 
 tion <lld njt meet wit!) favor, and one 
 man, a Mo;-t of leader in the proceed - 
 in^i^s, 8|K)ko up, and the applautte with 
 which hia remarks were reccive<l 
 Hhowed that he voiced the unexi>ress- 
 cd Hcntiment of the meeting, lie said : 
 " Mr. Ciiairman and gentlemen. I am 
 op|)Oied to the appointment of nix-eial 
 eonstahies. It ii a retlection on the 
 moral standing of this camp i laughter 
 and apiijausei. We do not reijuire of 
 Hcers of the law to keep us in order 
 I hear, hear'.,. I don't think there will 
 he any need of any one to keep order. 
 We all know enough to behave our- 
 selves. In CMS*', however, some out- 
 sider should come in iiiid raise a row 
 or disturb the peace, I tiiink it would 
 be just as well to have a vigilance com 
 mittee. There is no need of any swear- 
 in' bujine^s. Tom Nor<|Uay, Hill 
 .lonc'i, F]d. McViu'cn, Sam F^lwards and 
 me will act in that capacity if agree- 
 able to the meeting. We'll be around 
 handy all day and if any person starts 
 any funny work or idcks up a row, 
 which is not likely, we'll simply collar 
 him, march him <io\vn and throw him 
 in the bay i tremendous applause). I 
 don't see any use 'pjinting iK)lice';'" 
 Tlie speaker sat down and the chair- 
 man, mounted on a barrel of bacon, 
 asked if somebody would "move that," 
 and instantly it was moved and sec- 
 onded in two or three places, and car- 
 ried unanimously. The speaker's pre- 
 dictions proved to be true. Nobody 
 was si)oiling ior a Hght the next day, 
 and although there was lots of enthusi- 
 asm and keenly contested events, and 
 considerable betting, there seemed 
 to be a general understanding 
 that order was essential. The duties 
 of the self-appointed vigilance commit- 
 tee were light, and with the exception 
 of carrying a man off the dancing 
 stand, overcome by drink, to a shady 
 place on a plank behind a big log, 
 their services were not called into re- 
 ([uisition. 
 
 Kaslo is a beautifully situated town- 
 site. It is bis?ctetl by a rapid, rushing 
 stream that will furnish unlimited 
 water power and supply. On the right 
 is a snug little bay of deep water, af- 
 fording excellent anchorage and plenty 
 of shipping lacilities. The townsite it- 
 self is level with an easy gradient to 
 the mountiiins back of it. It waj^, 
 formed like any number of stretches 
 of bottom lands on the lake by a de- 
 posit of sciiiment and drift at the 
 mouth of creeks upon which vegeta- 
 tion and forest grew, furnishing a foot 
 hold for man. Looking up the lake is 
 
 a iM'iiUtifiil view, one of the tinest on 
 the lak<!s, with abrupt, declivitous 
 m aintains on one side, meeting at tlie 
 angle of the lake, the low sloping hills 
 on the other side, which with a rapid 
 ascent lead up to snow |M>aks. In fact, 
 there are beautiful views everywhere 
 (I long here. 
 
 At the time referre<l to, there were 
 two hotels in operation, several stores 
 and a number of smaller residences. 
 It is to this point tliat .Mr. (!. (). 
 huchanan is removing liis saw mill 
 from the West Arm of the Kootenay. 
 Tlie Kaslo Land company has oHices 
 here in charge of Mr. TIkm. \ort|uay. 
 hxjal agenr, and a lively business in 
 property hin been done ever since the 
 land his l)eeii put o i the luiirket, lots 
 in gool locality ap|»reciatiiig from i»5() 
 to #,'^)!) and !«l(KJ. 
 
 (J een Briw., whose business has al- 
 reidy been referred to iit .Vinsworth, 
 have established a bniiuh here and 
 have done an extensive tnide witli the 
 prospectors. Tliey carry a general 
 stock of goo.ls, the sami- as at .\iiis- 
 worth, valued at between ??ri,(K)!) and 
 #C.,();M). The Km sIo store is 21 x im 
 feet, with ample storage and ware- 
 house accommodation. Mr. (ireen, the 
 senior partner, is ji Justice of tlie peace 
 and very poi>ular with the miners. 
 
 Mr. Wilson, formerly of Kingston, 
 and recently from the other side, had 
 Just opened out his stock on the visit 
 of our representative, and was busy 
 putting away large consignments of 
 goods, of whicn he carries the usual 
 general and varied stock found in the 
 interior new towns. On tlie 24tli of 
 .May a large number of prospectors be- 
 ing in town were buying supplies and 
 both merchants were uj) to their eyes 
 in business Hlliiig orders, 
 
 A CHvn.urK.HisTic Ixcidknt. 
 
 .An incident wortliy of note as char- 
 acteristic of western mining life was 
 oVjserved at Kaslo. 
 
 Kaslo is scarce six months old as yet, 
 but the inevitable missionary has 
 reached it and services are being held 
 regularly. There is now a proposition 
 on foot to build a church. On the oc- 
 casion in question, a young lady came 
 into Green Bros.' store soliciting sub- 
 scriptions for the church organ. She 
 went straight up to a prospector who 
 was buying an outfit at the counter, 
 explained to him the object of her 
 mission and asked him to subscribe, at 
 tlie same time handing him the book 
 with the 'names' in it and the amounts 
 subscribed. As he glanced over the 
 names his chum 8tepj)ed up and asked: 
 •' What've you got there, panl ? " An- 
 ticipating the reply the young lady 
 stepped up and explained and wanted 
 to know if he would subscribe. With- 
 out noticing the solicitous look and the 
 pleading smile on the young lady's 
 
 face the second said carelessly : " I'll 
 tell you what I'll do, Itob ; I'll flip the 
 dice with you to see who pays the girl 
 Hve dollars. " •• I'll go you," was the 
 nonchalant reply, and turning to tiie 
 clerk he sahl : "Hand me down the 
 arbitrators" (meaning the leather dice 
 box.) They shook, — poker dice, aces 
 high, — one lost handed over the Hve 
 dollars and the young lady procee<led 
 in a business-like way to the next. 
 N'o one seemed to look on the event as 
 in any way humorous or unusual, al- 
 though it could not but striken strang- 
 t'l' as extremely so. 
 
 .\ Talk aiioct Minkks and .Mininh. 
 
 That these miners, rough in their 
 way, have good heiirts is shown by nu- 
 merous incidents. .\t Aiiisworth a 
 man and his wife arrived destitute, the 
 latter being in a delicate condition. 
 The man's story enlisted their sympa- 
 thies and they supplied them with 
 shelter in a vacant shack and provided 
 them with tlic necessaries of life. 
 Shortly afterwards a baby was born 
 and the father came home in an intox- 
 icated condition a few nights after- 
 wards, beating his wife and Jeopardiz- 
 ing the life of his child. As soon as 
 the miners heard of it they drummed 
 the man out of town ami taking his 
 poor wife and child placed them in 
 comfortable (juarters and maintained 
 them until some means of earning a 
 livelihood o[)oned up. 
 
 .Vs is well known they are not reli- 
 gious in the ordinary acceptance of 
 the word, but are quite willing to sup- 
 port cliurches and contribute to the 
 " means of grace " so long as they are 
 not asked to be restricted in any par- 
 ticular or interefered with. Tliey will 
 not swear in the presence of a clergy- 
 man if they know it. and if they do 
 will ask pardon for the mistake. ' No 
 class of men will venture more, endure 
 more and work harder than the pros- 
 pector in the hope of making a strike. 
 The prospector is the real pioneer of 
 civilization and progress in a mining 
 country. No man will do less when a 
 strike is made. As a rule, a prospector 
 will not work as a miner. He is a 
 discoverer, and a gambler on big 
 stakes, when strapped he will " grub- 
 stake " for the man who has money. 
 
 It will be of inierest to the uninitiated 
 to know the meaning of " grubstake." 
 One person may supply another with 
 provisions and an outfit and maintain 
 him during a trip or season on the un- 
 derstanding that the prospector shall 
 give to the one that grubstakes him 
 an interest, usually a half, in all his 
 finds. That is "grubstaking" A 
 large iiun^ber of prospectors in all 
 mining districts are working in "grub- 
 stakes," of which there are a variety 
 of kinds according to individual bar- 
 gaining. 
 
THE ('i>M.\li:H('IM. KOniKSAY sC ri'l.r.MllST. 
 
 roli- 
 iiice of 
 to sup- 
 to th«' 
 [hey are 
 
 |iey will 
 c-icrgy- 
 thev do 
 No 
 endure 
 he proa- 
 strike, 
 [ncer of 
 mining 
 Iwlien a 
 )8pector 
 lie is a 
 )u big 
 gruli- 
 [)noy. 
 litiated 
 kstalce." 
 with 
 lintain 
 ^he un- 
 shall 
 tea him 
 lalt his 
 ." A 
 in all 
 "grub- 
 ^ariety 
 ll bar- 
 
 NkI.-^iiX LnipKlNri Ac l!ci><-. TIIK l,\KK. 
 
 From :i IMioio.'i'iijiti !>> Nkklwi** H»m,s.. N.-U.in, l!.< 
 
 Looking lp Koutkxav TiVKr. kkom Xki.so.v. 
 
 From a IMioinMra|th \\\ \kki.\niis Iihus., N('I-.»m, B.C. 
 
Till-: ('fniMi:i,'('/AL k(kh'i:.\.\) sri'i'i./:Mi:\r. 
 
 
 SlKAMI-KS •• ( 'ILIMIII \ " AX1> ■ I .VTIc iX " AT li KV KI.S'P "K | 
 KmiM :\ l'h'>in^'rii|ili !■> Nkh.wii- IIih.-.. N>|..in; II. C. 
 
 IvASLO. 
 
 I'loiii a I'll! to„'n\|ili lij N'KKi.ANiiii Hm:e , Ne'soii, II.C. 
 
TUR ro.yofERcrA i. kootkna y snr pi. rmknt. 
 
 
 A proxnoctorn' ontflt niitiiill.v roiiMlHtu 
 III' II |)r<M|N>cturM' |>t>>.k and ii miiuiII iixu. 
 ;i |Miir of lilnnki-tM, n rent, niryiiiK imii 
 iinil knttlf. aiul pruviHiiiiiH In n coiiilcn 
 M*t(l IWriii, Muoli iiH Imu-oi) Ktul iM'niiH, 
 Hour, iiiola!«8i>t(, t<>H, aii<l cuiiikhI (fuoilH. 
 etc. Ciimlitioim uf time, distain'c. 
 I'liaiWu!!' of fountry, lU'cuHMihllity of 
 HtipplicH and MO on dotcrinint* (h<^ Hi/<> 
 of tlio outfit. A pi'os|M>ctoi' UHually 
 "(HickH" from TiU to Ih imiuikIh oii \\U 
 buck. Sudi a life doiM not prevent 
 liny royal road to rleluM, but like 
 many other anluoaii eallintc* ^vhen 
 once entered upon Im hard to relln)|ulHh 
 and an old prospector lookM to a couple 
 of months in tin; mountainH eaeh year, 
 in the mtnie way iiHiin actor do<*H ro an 
 annual touring. It Iuih its fartchia- 
 tioUH, and every man, no matter what 
 hiM ex|H'rienee has l*eenor diseouraffe- 
 incntH, expect" to "Ktrlke it rieh'Homrt 
 day. 
 
 Few men in a mining district but 
 has a claim to wlijch he fondly lookn 
 to make a fortune for him as mion as ii 
 railway conies in, or something else 
 happens wliicii is sure to come al>out. 
 Kvery man .Jack of him will tell you 
 he has the l)est claim in the district. 
 Some Hjjuratively speaking sit <lown 
 by it and wait for a capitalist to come 
 aloi 4 and pay him his price, lie will 
 stay ther<' until hi' jfets it, which !.•* 
 usually a lonjy time, very often never. 
 Others either barter them away at a 
 nominal i)rice for present necessities 
 and go on searchinj,' or let them droji 
 as a playthiufj' which has served its 
 term of pleasurable prospects. A few 
 co.nparatively speaking do the sensi- 
 ble thing and develop their claims as 
 far as their means will |Mn'niit and 
 then selling or giving an interest to 
 some person with means enough to 
 prove the value and i)ermanency of 
 the lead. .\ rich " strike "^rf><4«cdis« 
 covery of a vein or dejiosir of rich 
 surface showing, which usually finds 
 a ready bonder if not a purchaser. 
 
 Kssentiaily the business is a lottery 
 — one full of anticipations and big 
 chances, intcrmingiod with numerous 
 disappointments. To go into it to 
 succeed a man recjuires shrew<lne8,s, 
 nerve, good judgment and some capi- 
 tal. Kxperience is a great factor. 
 While as a class the American mining 
 fraternity is cliaracterizcd by a com- 
 mendable tiioi'file, there are many who 
 arT thoroughly unscrupulous and con- 
 scienceless. No other calling has been 
 productive of more trickery. It is 
 against that class of men that inves- 
 tors must be on their guard, because 
 the pursuit is one alx)vc all others 
 wherein apptmrances may be deceiv- 
 ing. Such men, like t'-^e professional 
 horsotrader, may be In other respects 
 (jnite honorable but wiii deliberately 
 let you in on a niinip.g deal. It is 
 like an instinct, 
 
 IVoHiioetIng for places In deterniine«i 
 by '■ coloFN of gold " oUaincHl In a 
 pr(M|HM-tlng |)An. Vein matter is hull- 
 catiHl by the character of '•Hoat," or 
 Hurfkce rook. dllTerent nilnerala )N>ing 
 variously detern>ln"d in this way. A 
 pro8|)ector, though he may bit In no 
 sense a mineralog'st or metallurgist 
 becomes very ex|Htrt and for practical 
 puriMwes may often t)e rolitHi u|N>n to 
 a greater extent than the scientlHo 
 ex|wrt, though of course the man with 
 the mdentlHc ac(|Ulremonts addtnl to 
 local exjmrlenee is liy far the letter 
 off. 
 
 SouK! curhtUH finds, other than min- 
 erals, are often made by proH|)octors. 
 Some strange relics of man f'oun<l 
 when^ human Ix'ings wttre never sup- 
 l>o«(>«l to have Im'cu. \ peculiar ttnti 
 was made on the summit of the Shn-an 
 mountains this summer, lN>ing a hand- 
 somely lM)und copy of the HIble, with 
 the wonU "presented by (J. W. Ha- 
 sure, cowlwy (^vanyelist," no other 
 name apiiean-d. It 1 ad lain under the 
 snow all winter and I jmI evidt'iitly Iwen 
 lost bv one of the ear v discoverers last 
 
 fall. 
 
 ■ ■ ■ 
 
 THE SLOGAN COUNTRY. 
 
 Fhiiix irh'u'h vreoinl yretif er- 
 
 vifetneiit ami a mining 
 
 Ixinni. 
 
 Prior to ScptemlK'r of last year the 
 exist{inc<- of minerals in tin* Shx-an 
 district was merely a conjecture. It 
 is said now that this, that and the oth- 
 vv one knew of the galena ledges 
 which have exciti>d so much attention, 
 but thore<i« no written record of any 
 such knowledge. Gold commissioiu-r 
 Kitz-Stubljs sa>i5 in his rej)ort that the 
 cxistance of minerals in this region 
 had l>een known for years. The mines, 
 he says, ajiiKVifs to l)e in the limestone 
 belt which Dr. Dawson noticed as 
 running south-easterly from about the 
 liK)tof ilpper .\rrow Lake. However, 
 that may 1m', Dr. Dawson in none of his 
 H'lHjrts nnikci; any mention of minerals 
 in tiic vicinity of Slocan Lake, or oven 
 hints at any knowledge of such, al- 
 though as the map attached to his rc- 
 jiort of l8S!t shows, the general char- 
 acter of the district was not unknown 
 to liim. And it was not until ,1. L. 
 Scaton and Eli Cariienter made the dis- 
 covery in Sejitembcr last that any at- 
 tention was (Unacted to it, although the 
 countrj' all up and down the lakes and 
 the Lardcau north of it had l>ecn pros- 
 pected for years. 
 
 They located a claim nearCariHiiitcr 
 Creek and came out to get supplies 
 and assistance. It was anderstootl that 
 these discoverers had agreed to shart^ 
 equally in all tinds, but this was dis- 
 claimed by Eli Carpenter, who was th«( 
 I>ioneer of the district and a guide. It 
 
 was ascertained, so it was said, tluit ho 
 had sliaken his |)artmtrand was work- 
 ing with other |>artles. .\t all events 
 there was a mIsundei-Ntanding Ixitween 
 the two, and H«>aton organi/e<l a pnrty 
 known as the "Noble Five, " conslHting 
 of J. L. Seaton, \V. K. Ilunnessy. .1. (J. 
 McCJIngan, F. W. Flint and .1. .1. Hei, 
 nessy. who started in and madit 
 the discovery of the Nol>le Five groug 
 oil the summit of the divide between 
 Kootenay Ijike and Slocan Ijike, which 
 arenamtnl as follows; Maudi' H, Worhl's 
 Fair, IJonanza King, Kiioxvllle and 
 N'obI" Five. 
 
 These veins are very ri-h and if 
 surface indications are any criterion 
 of the wealth of the ledges is they go 
 down it undoubtedly Is one ot the rich- 
 est lead and silver eainpH on the con- 
 tinent. Twenty assays made ran all 
 the way from 20 to i(XK) ounces \>i'.v 
 ton in silver, the average being ifl7'>. 
 The width of the ledge is from f. to « 
 feet. .\ mineralized ledge has Is-en 
 uncovered var.\ ing from 12 to 25 feet 
 in width. Of course this must not Ih^ 
 mistaken for solid ore, which woultl 
 Im> phenomenal, but measuring Im>- 
 tween the walls of the hnlge, and in 
 which, in what is known as ledgt; mat- 
 ter, are one or more rich veins of 
 solid galena 
 
 The argentifpious galena iu of three 
 kinds -coarse cuIm-, steel and wavy 
 galena. Coarse cube i« the predomin- 
 ating ore in these finds and a peculiar- 
 ity of tlic mineral l)elt to which these 
 claims belong is that while in ti.e 
 Cour d'Alenc and other mining dis- 
 tricts south of the line coarse cube ga- 
 lena is invariably low grade, immedi- 
 ately north of the line in tlu; Koott-nay 
 Ijike district it almost is invariably 
 a high grade onv 
 
 TlIK F,KFK<T OK TIIK Sl.OCAX DlS- 
 COVKHV. 
 
 The news of tiiese finds spread like 
 Willi lire and soon jirospectors came 
 pouring in, though late in the season, 
 and the result was an excitement 
 which had not been eiiualled in 
 Hritish Columbia since the early 
 mining days. Not only that, biit 
 tiie discoveries led to most important 
 results both as to government and to 
 railway i)olicy and brought to the no- 
 tice of the outside world the resources 
 of the Kootenay count i-y in a mora 
 emphatic manner than anything that 
 liad as yet wcurred. 
 
 Slocan has been the prevailing talk 
 ever since among mining men. Pros- 
 |)cctors went in and remained all win- 
 terand a number of what is called snow 
 claims were recorded, that is, the 
 stakes were put into the snow on 
 "spec" to hold until spring opened. 
 The attention of storekecperUj packers 
 steamboat and railway men and specu' 
 l«tors, as well as miners anil prosj)ec 
 
THE OOMMKJtCIAL—KOOTENAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 ■^^\ 
 
 M 
 
 toi-s, was iittrnctcd, iiiul nil {fot roat'.y 
 to t.iik(( advuntago of the (li"v«^lopinent8 
 ofth<' spring, ))ecaus«' tlu-ic wore only 
 a few weeks left from the time the dis- 
 coveries were made until winter set 
 in. Hut while the snow lay on the 
 mountain side and prevented further 
 discoveries, the brains of all these 
 jilanned The Nelson people huilt a 
 trail in from Slocan crossinfj on the 
 ("olumbia anti Kootenay Railway 25 
 miles to Slocan Lake ; the Government 
 reserved a tract of land one mile 
 s(iuare at the mouth of Carpenter Creek 
 on Slocan Lake ; the C.P.K. decided on 
 a townsite at the mouth of Nakusi) 
 CriM'k, near the mouth of Upper Arrow 
 Lake, from which an easy gradient oc- 
 curs into the head of Slocan Lake, and 
 the (iovernment on a trail from the 
 same point; the Slocan Trading and 
 Navigation Co. was formed to do busi- 
 ness on the Slocan Lake, a steamboat 
 for which was contracted for and now 
 built, CiO feet long : the Slocan Trading 
 Co. was organized and is now doing 
 bui-iness at Eldorado; Hunter McKin- 
 ley went in there Ij'ist fall and ojjcned 
 a store. Kaslo Creek presenting the 
 shortest route from the south into tlu^ 
 mines, a comi)any was formed incliMl- 
 ing such men as Alex. Kwen and John 
 Hendry, New 'Westminster, and Irving 
 and HaywocKl, Victoria, ant' iiurehasccl 
 and laid 'Out the town site of Kaslo at 
 the mouth of Kaslo Creek ; and at the 
 snuie time a company was organized 
 foi the construction of n railway fol- 
 lowing up this route, to be known as 
 the Kaslo and Slocan railway. Ar- 
 rangements were made and a trail hao 
 been constructect from Kaslo to Bear 
 Lake Aftd' into the "Xoble Five" group. 
 T'le Kootenay Lake Heduction Co. de- 
 cided on building a smelter at JMlot 
 liay ; the C.P.H. has decided to build a 
 line of railway from Hevelstokc to thf 
 head of Arrow Lake, from Nakusp to 
 the head of Slocan Luke and into the 
 mines, and I'roni the south end of Slo- 
 can Lake down the Slocan Kiver to 
 Columbia crossing, connecting witli the 
 ("olumbia and Kootenay railway, 
 thereby amply supplying the whole 
 region affected with means of commu- 
 nication. These and many other en- 
 terprises were eibhar directly insjiired 
 by the Slocan excitc^ment or greatly 
 (|Uickened, the effect on the wliole 
 Kootenay country being wonderful. 
 
 Karly this spring thousands of men 
 were said to have been waiting at 
 Spokane Falls to get in as soon as the 
 mines could be reached, but the late- 
 ness of the spring and the fact of new 
 strikes being made south of the line 
 greatly reduced tiie numbei who were 
 at first expected, it heing <^stimated at 
 10,000. Those added to the numbers 
 who ciime in from the north via the 
 C. \\ \i. are estimated at about 5,000 
 persons, l>etween two and three thous- 
 
 aiul of whom have stayed in the coun- 
 try. On the 24th of May from the 
 most reliable accounts it was thought 
 that there were bt^tween tiOO and 1000 
 prospectors in the Slocan district, 
 scatten^d everywhere over the moun- 
 tains. It is but recently that the 
 snow has left the summit and prospect- 
 ing could bo frec^ly prosecuted. What 
 ever the future of this new mining 
 district, the Slocan excitement will 
 remain a memorable chapter in the 
 history of British Columbia. 
 
 The rRiNCiPAi. Camps. 
 
 I'rior to the big discoveries on Car- 
 penter Creek and in and around the 
 Noble Five group, valuable discoveries 
 of copper and lead on Kaslo and 
 Schroeder Creeks, on which about 80 
 claims have l)een located. "Some of 
 the prosi>ectors," the government 
 report puts it, " on Kaslo Kiver, who 
 proceeded westerly across the divide 
 mado some very important discoveries 
 of mineral claims on the Slocan slope 
 towards the close of tiie season. These 
 lie for the most part from 10 to 15 
 miles easterly from the Slocan Lake." 
 The principal locations are at .lardine's 
 Camp on Schroeder Creek about It 
 miles in a straight line north-west of 
 Kaslo : Montezuma Camp, south of 
 Kaslo Cr(H'k, three miles west : Breu- 
 nan's Camp foar miles north of Bear 
 L-ikc; in the vicinity of Bear Lake on 
 the summit of the divide ; and a belt 
 of claims extending about eight miles 
 in a south easterly directioit from 
 Carpenter Creek along the summit of 
 the divide, the last named including 
 about 150 claims in which are includ- 
 ed the Noble Five group and other 
 important distovcries. The latter two 
 contain the principal and most exten 
 sive deposits. The latest discoveries 
 an^ near Bear Lake on the summit. 
 '•Lucky .lim,' the Shiell discovery 
 and the Rudling claim, which is an 
 extension, are the most noted. These 
 show about .'5 feet of solid galena ore 
 assaying from KKJ to 175 oz. to the 
 ton in silver with a percentage of 
 between 50 and 75 in lead. 
 
 \ number of practical mining men 
 have gone in there and several of the 
 more promising claims have been 
 bonded for considerable amounts, and 
 a number liave been purchased. So 
 far, of course, there is nothing but sur- 
 face indications, there not having been 
 sutticient time to develop the claims, 
 but as a purely surface showing of ore 
 and character of assay, perhaps no 
 other mining camp in America, unless 
 it be the ow at Ainsworth, can show 
 its equal. The testimony of the prac- 
 tical mining men who have gone in is 
 unanimous as to the richness and ex- 
 tent of the showings. ' 
 
 It is a district, toft, which is j€cu- 
 liarly favorable in poittBof iu,p''e,s> and 
 
 egress. There are half a dozen or 
 more jjossible passes leading into it, 
 and at present threes trav(flled trails, 
 which have been previously referred 
 to — from Nakusp coming in from the 
 north via Nakusp Creek ; from Nelson 
 on the Columbia and Kootenay rail- 
 way at Slocan Crossing via Sfocan 
 river ; from Kaslo via Kaslo creek. 
 A statement of distances and .eleva- 
 tions by the various routes arc as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 A Comparison. 
 
 Nakii'p to .Slouan Lake 20 iiiilea. 
 
 HiKheBt elevation alnve lake 1(180 feet. 
 
 .Slocan l.ake in lenitth ii niilex. 
 
 Outlet .Slocan Lake to mouth Carpenter 
 
 Creek, almnt l.*) niilei*. 
 
 From mouth ('ariienter Creek to Huniniit ... 10 '* 
 
 Kaslo to mouth (.•ari>enter Creek 2fi " 
 
 Elevation sununit al)Ove lake level 1,7S0 teet. 
 
 From Slocan Crossing to Slocan Lake :Ui miles. 
 
 Almost dead level, tritiint; elevation. 
 
 The aliove distanccK and eleviitions will enable readei's 
 with the aid of a map to 'lecide for themselves. 
 
 It is claimed on behalf of the NakUHp route that it is 
 tributary to British Columbia trade, leading north insti^ad 
 of south, that the elevation is much less, the route luucli 
 more diret^t from the north, and that depth of snow on 
 the summit "uid the time it lasts into the siumner pre. 
 chides the po:. ■'hility of success by the Kaslo route. 
 
 It is (claimed oi- \ 'half of the Kaslo route that a rail* 
 way is practicable, t.iat it is a nmch shorter distance intx) 
 the nines from Ktt«lo than from .Nakusp, that It ii the 
 natutal route of traiel from the f uth, anil that ores will 
 come out thi* way. 
 
 It is not definitely decided j'ct u:i to the route of the 
 C.P.K. in from Nakusp. It will probably touch the head 
 of the lake and follow down either one side or the other 
 to Slocan Kiver Valley ,'.nd follow that to the Cchimhia & 
 Kootenay Railway, with a spur from tlie mouth of Car- 
 penter Creek into i\\e mines. 
 
 A trail has been cut in from Nakusp to the head of 
 Slocun l.ake, and a wagon road for the conveyance of 
 passengers and mails In six hours t3 lie undertaken at 
 once. A large number of lots in Xakusp have been sold 
 and a number of buildings are under way. A smelter is 
 under consideration. 
 
 A gooil trail from Kaslo has been ciu through to the 
 summit and into the Noble Five claims and connects with 
 another from KIdorado, the IJovernmcnt to unite at the 
 mouth of Carjienter Creek, where several trmlers have 
 CHtabiished theu selves. Two other town sites have lieeii 
 laid out, one at either end of the lake. 
 
 Nakusp, the now townsite on Upper 
 Arrow Like and Kaslo, may fairly be 
 regarded as rivals, in relation to the 
 trade of the Slocan district ; but it is 
 not within the province of The Co.mmkr- 
 riAL to play the part of advocate, simp- 
 ly to state facts, 
 
 Nakusp stands advantageously in 
 rtdation to ingress from the C. P. K. at 
 Kevelstoke both for supplitis and pass- 
 engers, that is undoubted. It is ob- 
 viously a mucli "horter cut to the 
 mines, and if a smelter is erected at 
 Nakusp, which Is talked of, and a rail- 
 way built in to Slocan Lake, which is 
 decided, a fair share of the ore for 
 smelting will be carried that way. 
 
 Kaslo, on the other hand, from the 
 south is also most advantageously sit- 
 uated, both in regard to its nearness to 
 the mines and its proximity to the 
 smelter at Pilot Btty, an advantage 
 which would be increased if the pro- 
 jected railway be carried out. 
 
 Nelson, too, is favorably situated. 
 The C.P.K. railway through f'rows 
 Nest Pass, which in all probability will 
 make the Columbia and Kootenay rail- 
 way from Nelson to Kobson, a line in 
 its system, in passing through to thfe 
 coast, and the proposed Nelson and 
 Fort Sheppard, if built, will give it an 
 evident "grip" oi tiie Slocan trade by 
 
TtiE COMMiiRCIAL-KOOTENAY SOPPLEMUMT. 
 
 a dozon oi' 
 dins' '"f" '*■• 
 '(^Ilcd trails, 
 irfly rofcrred 
 
 in from tlio 
 from Nelson 
 DOtonay rail- 
 
 ria Sfocan 
 Kasio cHM'k. 
 
 and ,ol»',va- 
 is are as foi- 
 
 20 miles. 
 
 1,(W0 leet. 
 
 ii iiiileH. 
 
 penter 
 
 Ill niileii. 
 
 lit ... 10 " 
 
 •>» " 
 
 1,780 feet. 
 
 :li) iiiiies. 
 
 nili enable readeifi 
 
 iiiHeiveH. 
 
 tm route ttiat it !h 
 
 lainif north inat^ail 
 
 98, the rotite niu<-ii 
 
 t depth of Hnow on 
 
 the Hnninier prt*- 
 
 Kasio route, 
 route that a rail- 
 orter dixtance into 
 isgi, that it ii tlw 
 and that ores wili 
 
 ) the route of the 
 )ly touch the head 
 e side or the other 
 to tlic Coiunihia & 
 Hie mouth of tiar- 
 
 ip to the head of 
 lie conveyance of 
 he undertalien at 
 isp have been sold 
 ny. A smelter is 
 
 It throuKh to the 
 and connects with 
 I'lit to unite at the 
 ■eral traders have 
 VII sites have lieeil 
 
 te on Upper 
 y fairly be 
 ition to the 
 t ; but it is 
 
 HE COMMER- 
 
 ocate, sinip- 
 
 igeously in 
 [> C. P. K. at 
 s and pass- 
 It is ob- 
 cut to the 
 erected at 
 and a rail- 
 e, wliieh is 
 lie ore for 
 It way. 
 il, from the 
 i,'C()usly sit- 
 lU'iU'iiess to 
 Hty to the 
 advantaffe 
 if the pro- 
 it. 
 
 y situated, 
 gh f 'row s 
 bility will 
 )tenay rail- 
 n, a line in 
 uph to thk 
 felson and 
 ffive it an 
 n trade by 
 
 means cf the Slocan .iver route, down 
 which, as already stated, the C. F. K. 
 proposes to build from Slocan Lake. 
 At present those interested in all three 
 place, are enthusiastic about their pro- 
 spects. 
 
 T«K AVest KaitTEVAY Towxs. 
 
 Just nc." 'f i:; diftic.lt to decide be- 
 tween the rival townsites, which are 
 plentiful enough for choice, as to their 
 various prospects. The country is in 
 a budding condition, dependent large- 
 ly upon ultimate setthtd railway routes 
 and other factors which it is impos- 
 sible to determine accurately. To the 
 intending investor or those? seeking for 
 advice, the best thing to do, if po.ssible, 
 is to go and see for themselves. The 
 trip in itself will amply repay anyone 
 for the tiiu;> and expense incurred, 
 provided always he can affoad it — ^the 
 fishing, the scenery, the sports, the 
 climate, are all mo.-*t enticing, and ai)art 
 from all material considerations, are 
 very sure to make the Kootenay coun- 
 try a most popular resort. 
 
 Porur,.\Ti(i\ Axo Poijtkn. 
 
 There is a i)opulation of four or five 
 thousand persons scattered up and 
 down the districts descril)ed in the 
 foregoing which ii- daily increasing. 
 
 A large proportion of the miners, 
 prospectors and mining capitalists who 
 have gone in jire Americans, and a 
 good sprinkling of the busiiu'--s men. 
 The contiguity with the United States, 
 that portion south of it as far as Mexi- 
 co possessing extensive mining inter- 
 ests and a pc^pu'ation of some millions 
 more or less dependent on the iiiiiiin<4 
 industry, accounts for the iiiHow of 
 American population, attracted as it 
 has been by the rich iniueral deposits 
 disclosed. It is, therefore, iml.\- iisitur- 
 al to Hud in Southern Kootenar an 
 American sentiment and a desire 
 for closer reciprocal relations with 
 the United States, a feeling which 
 to some extent is imimrted to 
 the Hritith element. However, a ma- 
 jority of the business men and propiM'ty 
 owners are either Canadian or old 
 country people and are gradually ob- 
 taining the a-icendeney with a corre- 
 sponding change in sentinumt. The 
 advent of the C.P.R- and the establish- 
 ing 1)1 legular eomnuinication with the 
 Canadiiin side has materially altered 
 the commercial aspect, and at least 
 four-HftliS of the trade is with British 
 Columbia and eastern Canada, and 
 with the still more direct railway com- 
 munication in tilt? near future trade 
 will he almost,, entirely carried on 
 through (-'i^viadian channels. As the 
 country is becoming known in the east 
 and In Great Britain, Canailian and 
 British capitalists are coming in more 
 anrl more anil daily records in "m; 
 uewsjiapers are being made of their 
 
 investments in mines and otherwise, Kemarking on the above the (iold 
 
 While, however. The Co.mmkkciai, is a Commissioner says : " Development 
 
 Canadian paper, devoted to Canadian work, in the sense of work to prove 
 
 interests and upholding Canadian sen- and not merely to hold the mine has 
 
 timent, there is not a woixl derogatory not been lackiiig, though no mine in 
 
 to be said of the ' Americans who the district is, as yet, fully worked 
 
 have come in heie. Tliey have proved with adequate capital and labour in- 
 
 themselves to be an intelligent, moral vested in the hope of realizii*g divi- 
 
 and enterprising ciass of citizens, and (lends, but the offers made and high 
 
 to them is deserving a large share of prices paid, or agreed to be pjiid, for 
 
 credit for the progress in and develop- promising prospects, together with the 
 
 ment of West Kootenay, nor are they steady work undertaken by claim 
 
 to be abused for their natural political owners, on tli- r own well known 
 
 and national leanings. There existed claims, in the Toad Mountain, Ains- 
 
 largely and still exists a feeling that worth. Trail, (Jo'at River and Illecil- 
 
 Canadians wen? slow, unitrogressive lewaet camps, indicate that there soon 
 
 and altogether not the "men for Gal- will be in the district mines worked 
 
 way." They seemed to know little and systematically on a large scale, some 
 
 care less for the district or the inter- of which, ito doubf,^ will become 
 
 ests involved. This of cour.se is a mis- divi-iend paying properties." 
 ajjpreliension of the true character of (Ioat Hiveh. 
 
 the people of the Dominion as a whole. ronsiderable attention has l)een 
 
 Kootenay, besides, has been isolated directed to the twentv or thirty 
 
 up until the last ye:ir or two from the ,„i„eral claims which' liave been 
 
 rest of the province and Canada. Can- located in the vicinity of (U-eat River 
 
 iiadians are not instinctively a mining .^nd Duck Creek, tributaries to Kootenay 
 
 people, as the Americans immediately ^jy^^^. j,, the(ioat River district. Tlie 
 
 south are, and hence did not so quick- ^re, so far, does not appear to be high 
 
 ly recognize tne value of the mining grade, but is in sumcient (luality 
 
 resources or appreciate the same, ^q i,e regarded as promising. .\n 
 
 largely from a lack of knowledge and American company promises to uiider- 
 
 information respecting them. Amen- f,.,k,, development work on some of 
 
 cans, on the other hand, already inter- ^l^^,^^^. elaims in this locality during the 
 
 ested in silver, lead and copper mines ensuing season.— Government Reix.rt, 
 
 in a country of similar mineral forma- iH'.tl . ) 
 tion and in proxiimty very natural- li.i kcii i.ewaet 
 
 ly came through t_l.e Kootenay valley .._^^ IKccillewaet, the oiilv coi.-'mii- 
 
 from the Courd.Uenean.l other con- ^^^^ ^^.^,.,^ j^ the Lanark claim, 
 
 tiguous mines and became the pioneers: ^^.,,j^.,, j^ ^j^,, .^^ „,. j,,^, ,^,^„_.,,.,. 
 
 but it only reiiuircs a few years to de- ^-^,„„,id,,t„d Mining ami Smelting 
 
 moiLstrate that the pe ^pU; of ( aiiada ^ ,,,._ t,,,.;,. ^^,^^,^ .^ j^ eontidentlv 
 
 and (rreat BiMtaiii are (,mte e.,ual to ..^ t,,.'i_ ,,.(„ ,„, ^,,,,^^,,t\il and have 
 
 th<' opportunities which the Koofiiay j,,^ ^^^^.^ ^^. .,.^,;„ ^,,,. .^ .^.^^ ^^. ^,^.^ 
 
 country aftord. Already they are tak- ,.,^,„,^i,,,. well-placed camp, toward 
 
 iiig a strong hold vigorously. In act. ^^.,^1^.,, ,,ttention is again directed, 
 
 when It CO- .es to that, many of those ^^^^.j..,, ^,,.,1,,^^ ,,.,^.^ ,,,,,,,j ,^,^^,j^.^j ,^^ 
 
 who came in from the American side ^,,^ ^^^^^^ ^^. ,,j^|, ^^,^^^^ ,^^^^^^- 
 
 are Canadian born, and a very arge ^,„, ,,.,„g g,,,,^^, ^^. j,^^ p,„,spectors 
 
 element of the enterprising population „.,,^ ,,,,^.^ ,,^.,.„ ^^.,.^^^ j,,^. .jf;,;,,,! ;„ j,,,. 
 
 of the whole L.S. Pacific coast is ( ana- „eighborliootl of Trout Lake, express 
 
 dian and their progress has l,eeii re- Hiemselvcs in favorable terms as to the 
 
 markal)le. mineral appearance of parts of the 
 
 lAST Year's Minino Record. country. It is a part oftlie Revelstoke 
 
 The following is a statement of 'I'vision, which may repay further 
 
 transactions for the year IHiU in fu'ther prospecting."— {iovernment Re- 
 
 W(!st Kootenay government recording l'*"'^- l^-*!' 
 
 yfllpg . " The Illecillewaet divisicm is one of 
 
 Keveistokc: tlic iiiost important of tile whole Koo- 
 
 Locations 7:1 teiuiy district, and geographically it 
 
 Assessment certificates 25 , ' • . . ■ . '., .', 
 
 jjj,,,g„. has advantages 111 being easily tnbut- 
 
 i.ocationi 4111 able to the main line of the C. P. R. 
 
 A^sesinii'nt cortiHcatuB 7.'i ti,; , ..,..„,, a- ...;., i • <i . ■ i 
 
 Transfent 2.-ii ' hiK group ot iiiines, eliietlv Contained 
 
 Trail Creek: ill the angle bctwecii the north and 
 
 A^'?»irnroeriiHc»ior.:;.::::' ::•.■..■.:;::; ai «'iith branches oi the nieciiiewaet 
 
 Tmtuti ......,.; 40 River, is in a very iii(aiiit;iiiious coun- 
 
 ^''''To'^'ion. ...... .. 3111 "'y- '^ ■"'■&i' nunil)er of claims have 
 
 Aweasnicnt ujrtiHc.\ta(i .','. .. 113 been located. 
 
 Trantfera ',... 171) ii o i i -i ■ ■ ,. 
 
 (ioatuivor: (no rHi.rns) "■ • ^,. Dr. Selwyii describes the mode ot 
 
 Summary: '' , occurreiice of ijie orcs here as follows: 
 
 li^nt™r,^it;«.e«-;:;;;":::::::::';;;:: 'Z -'^^''^ i»rgentiferous gauma of iiieeii. 
 
 Tranrfon ..:... I. .j.. 47(1 Icwacl occurs cliiolly III (|uartz veins, 
 
THE COMMERCIAL— KOOTENAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 cutting a seriew of bliick carboimceouM 
 or graphite slaty Bliales, and tliin 
 Ix'dded limestones, often much folded, 
 but showing an avorage dip of from 
 i{5° to 40° to E. N.K. and appan^ntly 
 flattening towards the summits of the 
 mountains. Most of tiie veins are par- 
 allel with the shaletlcation, though not 
 nnfreiiuently passing from one bed 
 plane to anotiier." 
 
 "The formation, locally at llleeil- 
 lewaet, so far as examined, presents 
 commonly a heavy limestone eaprock 
 and foot wall of slates — black or dark 
 pyritous slates. 
 
 " Iroi julphurets, brightly colored 
 on the surface, form part of the veins 
 and hanging walls. 
 
 " The ore usually consists oi galena, 
 carbonates of lead and gray copper. 
 
 "Thegangue of the veins is gen- 
 erally a reddish ([Uartz. which lies in 
 regular veins varying from four to 
 twelve fe(^t in thickness, and is sonje- 
 times closely mixed with streaks of 
 pure limcistone. Tiie carbonates run 
 through this ipiarts in streaks from 
 the size of a few inches up to two feet, 
 and generally carry from twenty to 
 forty ounces of silver to the ton, and 
 from 10 to 2.'') per cent, of lead. Some 
 streaks, however, are found which 
 assay from 100 to 100 ounces to the 
 ton. 
 
 " Mixed with these carbonates is tiie 
 pure galena ore, in pieces varying 
 from an ounces uj) to a ton in weight, 
 and lying in veins from three to 
 eighteen iuclu's in thickness. This 
 ore, wluMi free from gangue, gives 
 from sixty-five to seventy ounces of 
 silver per ton, and ")') to <iO per cent, 
 of lead. 
 
 "The gray copper ore lies in solid 
 veins from four to eighteen inclies in 
 tiiick'iess, sometimes mixed witli gal- 
 ena, and assa\s from 200 to 800 ounces 
 silver per ton, and from tl to HO per 
 cent, of copper. Some of tlie decayed 
 copper ore of a greenish liue has run 
 as high as 1.800 to 1,900 ounces, and 
 one specimen gave 2,825 ounces per 
 ton.— (J. M. Sproat's Iteport, 1887. 
 
 The principal claims arc the Lanark, 
 ui>on which the greatest amount of 
 work has liecn done. The lode is from 
 2\ to T) feet in width of high grade ore ; 
 the Maple Leaf, 4J foot vein, showing 
 silver, gold and lead ; the (Gladstone, 
 vein 18 to 80 inclies, high grade ; tlie 
 (told Cane, the Corbin and Kennedy: 
 No. 1 and 2, and Dunvegan on Fish 
 Creek. There is a number of others, 
 the indications in all of which have 
 been of tlie most promising character. 
 
 Of course, in a description of this 
 kind it is impossible to convey a good 
 general impression of the mining 
 claims, without going intpdetails which 
 would be wearisome an«l too lengthy. 
 Tlio information i)rcseuted, however, 
 has been drawn from the most authen- 
 
 tic sources, and generally may l)e re- 
 lied upon. 
 
 Thau, Creek. 
 
 Trail Creek, on the Columbia river 
 near the boundary, has been attracting 
 attention and shows some remarkably 
 good claims, about 170 in all of which 
 have been recorded, considerable work 
 has been done. The principal claims 
 are LeRoi, Josie, Centre Star, Idaho, 
 No. 1 and St. KIdmo. A shipment of 
 ten tons from Le Hoi claim averaged 
 •*8<1 in silver. Concerning this camp, 
 last year's mining report .says: "The 
 camp at Trail Creek has advanced in 
 public favor. The principal leads are 
 of silver-bearing copjier ore, yielding 
 also gold. There is also silver-bear- 
 ing galena ore. The leads are very 
 extensive, and the (|Uality proves to 
 l)c higher than was at lirst supiiosed. 
 .\))OUt .'50 men have been at work in 
 the camp. The Le Hoi Mining Co., an 
 active Spokane concern, has an 82 feet 
 shaft, and a tunnel IJW feet. Assess- 
 ment, and also some development work, 
 has been done on other claims. The 
 size of the leads and the presence of 
 quantities of ore tliat will pay to 
 'matte' are encouraging facts, .\ssays 
 and returns have been satlsfa''torv. ' 
 
 ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. 
 
 A Oenei'dl Talk of t/ie Cliartnii'r of 
 file ('oiuifrji. 
 
 After we have found the ore iiiid re- 
 duced it to bullion, the r.ext great coii- 
 sideraton is to sell it. and the state of 
 the market att'eets the demand for and 
 the value of mines. As i>: well known, 
 silver, lead and copper are low in 
 price, and likely to be lor some time. 
 Smelters are combining to limit the 
 output in the United States, and wealthy 
 mine owners have closed down some of 
 their mines. .Mine owners with limit- 
 ed capital are, of course^ forced to keep 
 producing to live, but have to content 
 themselves with smaller profits on the 
 output. In the case of lead, there is a 
 duty, not only on lead in l)ars Imt on 
 the lead contained in the ores, when 
 classified as lead ores, going 
 into the United States, which is the 
 most profitable market. If the market 
 for lead and silver was rising tlierw 
 would be a decided boom in the sale 
 and development of Kootenay mineral 
 properti(^. On the other hand if they 
 were low grade they would attract 
 little or no attention at the present 
 time from mining men on the other 
 side. As it is, while the ores so far 
 are unusually rich in silver, that is 
 speaking of argentiferous properties, 
 the value o*" mines is aftected, and 
 capitalists invest with tlie condition of 
 the market in mind. The lead for the 
 time being, which is usually looked to 
 to pay for the cost of troatemcnt, must 
 
 remain largely an inoperative factor. 
 Tills constitutes one of the problems 
 of mining in the Kootenay country. 
 
 However, the fortunate tact remains 
 that the ores are rich enough to pay a 
 good profit under present conditions, 
 and upon the future must depend the 
 possible utilization of tlie lead. It is 
 Just possible that a profitable market 
 may be found in England and in the 
 UnitedStates as well. The market insil- 
 ver will of courseappreciatc again, and if 
 the present agitation tor a universal 
 bi-mettalic standard of coinage, owing 
 to tlie high premium on gold, succeeds, 
 although many regard that as highly 
 improbable, it means gi ^at things for 
 Kootenay, HritishColumf)ia, and the Pa- 
 cific coast gcn(!rally. Kootenay would 
 at once Jump to the foremost position in 
 the world as a silver producing district. 
 
 Tlie scarcity of gold and the present 
 depressed condition of the silver mar- 
 ket is leading to and will still further 
 inspire renewed activity in prospect- 
 ing for gold. The gold belt in Koote- 
 nay is limited, though well defined, 
 but not sufficiently developed to de- 
 termine its importfince. A number of 
 prospectors this season are out in quest 
 of placer diggings in the Hig Bend 
 country, up the Lardeau and other 
 sections which formerly produced 
 placer gold or where "colors" are 
 known to exi ; and with this is in- 
 cluded th<' (j.iest for vein gold or 
 quartz i)roperties. It is premised by 
 many that a rich gold belt exists north 
 of the present Slocaii properties and it 
 iscoiilidentially expected tliat the next 
 big finds wili be in that direction. 
 That is, however, speculative. A good 
 deal of confidence is expressed in the 
 future of the gold belt on Toad Moun- 
 tain and the reserve of tlie owners re- 
 garding the I'oorman .Mine, wliicli is 
 t\w hest representative of its class there, 
 is reported as significant of important 
 developments in tlic near future. ( lold, 
 at present, is the acme of the miners' 
 hopes, notwithstanding that AVest Koo- 
 tenay is. speaking widely, distinctly 
 an argentiferous property. 
 
 .Vdvektising the Resouhoes. 
 
 So far, beyond the articles that ap- 
 pear from time to time in the press at 
 home and the intlividual efforts made 
 by mine owners, government reports 
 andtheexcellenttreatisesofDr. Dawson, 
 little has been done in the way of 
 systematic advertisement of the coun- 
 try's mineral resources. The first step 
 in this direction was the sending of 
 mineral exhibits to tlie eastern fairs 
 two successive years, one of wliicli 
 was sent to London. England, and the 
 other placed in the Canadian Institute, 
 Toronto. So far as Eastern Canaiia is 
 concerned, this was practically the 
 first that was known of Kootenay's 
 mineral riches, and was instrumental 
 
THE COMMERCIAL— KOOTRNAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 ill attracting' a groat deal of attention, 
 not only tli rough the press, but indi- 
 vidually. There is now a widespread 
 interest manifested among capitalists, 
 a number of whom during the past 
 and present year have made visits to 
 the milling districts, or taken stock in 
 mining companies. Exhibits are now 
 being prepared for the AVoi-ld's Fair 
 and the Imperial Institute, Lmdon, 
 England. 
 
 This issue of Thk Cjm.meik'Ui, will 
 be the first suceiiit as well as compre- 
 hensive review of the West Kooteiiay 
 district, in popular form, yet jmblish- 
 ed, and will reach thousands of readers 
 of the mercantile and financial class 
 on this and the European continent. 
 
 What thk Coun'trv W ant.s. 
 
 Primarily, ofcour.se, railways, roads 
 and navigation arc the sinews of a 
 mining country, or ta Uic a simile 
 that would be more appropriate, tlit^y 
 are what artericis and veins are to the 
 human body. These, of course, are 
 coming as fast as the country justifii-s 
 it. People in a new country are al- 
 ways impitieut in these mitters. Hut 
 when we consider that the West Koote- 
 iiay is practically only five or six 
 years old the dcvelopnuMit already 
 made is really wonderful. (!ovirn- 
 ments and large corjiorations proverli- 
 ially move slowly, Imt in truth after 
 all, wliat they have done liisre eiiuiot 
 be quoted as a fair illustration of the 
 correctness of the saying, and the in- 
 dications are that in a yeiir or two the 
 district will be as well off for means of 
 communication as any known mining 
 region. 
 
 The •' sinews of war'" are of course 
 capital to develop the mines. That is 
 coming in fairly well, but practical, 
 U^vel-headed experienced men with 
 money are reipiired, not to buy real 
 estate or speculate but to carry on the 
 business of the country — to mine. 
 The field is a grand one. Come any- 
 way and see, is good advice. The 
 chances of investment in all lines are 
 excellent for the rigiit man. 
 
 Prospectors and miners are not 
 specially invited because they natur- 
 ally gravitate to the mining fields and 
 will get there anyway. 
 
 One requires to be careful in giving 
 advice, to laborers and niech;iiiics. A 
 country may be good for a certain 
 number, who can be steadily and pro- 
 fitably employed, but if everyone 
 rushes in seeking emjdoyment the 
 market is glutted and depression fol- 
 lows. The sujiply Is usually e(|ual to 
 the demand and a laborer or mechanic 
 must ill ways take chances. .\t the 
 present time no honest, willing man 
 seems to be suffering, but there are 
 jilenty for jobs. 
 
 For clerks, book-keeijers, and that 
 class of settlers who are looking for 
 
 gilt-edge occupations or money to turn 
 up in some mysterious way the coun- 
 try has hung out a card labelled " Not 
 Wanted." Not that the polite occupa- 
 tions are absent, but where one posi- 
 tion is vacant there are many apjili- 
 cants. If a clerk or book-keeper or 
 even a geiitlenian of no occupation 
 with education and adaptability about 
 him is willing to turn his hand to aiiy- 
 tliing and be px'cpared to rough it if 
 necessary by working on street eon- 
 tracts, or doing anytliing else that may 
 oSFer, he may provt; himself a useful 
 man and make a success of it flnilly, 
 as many osliers have tloiu^ ; bat if he 
 be afraid to soil his hands, and regards 
 labor as dishonorable and degrading, 
 he hail better remain where he is and 
 (!xist on dignity and good niiinners. 
 
 Tli(M'(! is, too. a danger of ovei^to^k- 
 ing die country with traders and busi- 
 ness men. .lust now there are plenty 
 of inercli:i its and traders for the busi- 
 ness done. It is true that wherever 
 ouegoci we Hiid the ini'rcliants doing 
 a good trade and handling a wonder- 
 ful lot of goxls. It is surprising how 
 substantial the business iii.'n are for a 
 new eoiiiitry, and the amount of the 
 ••turn-over." It would be ditticult, as 
 a class, to find better or more well-to- 
 do business men anywhere ; but at 
 this sea soil they are in the hey-day of 
 their success, and by-and-by the win- 
 ter conies when the district is shut off 
 from the world and business, figura- 
 tively speiking, hybernates. It re- 
 ([Uires large traiisaciJons and good 
 prolits while it lasts to even upon the 
 whole year. The trader in the Ivoo- 
 lenay country wants considerable cap- 
 ital, because it is necessrry to carry a 
 large stock of goods to carry him over 
 the long period between shipments and 
 ti cover the demand for the goods 
 nec(?ssary in ;i general store, which 
 are nameless in variety. It is a coun- 
 try, toj, where jilenty of cash is re 
 (juircd. I'iVerybody being coinpvrative 
 strangers to each other, nobody trusts 
 his neighbor too far, which is wise in 
 any country. Tlieri; is, therefore, 
 little room at the present for new busi- 
 ness or more business miMi. As the 
 country develops the population will 
 naturally create not only new busi- 
 ness, but a complexity of business. 
 How fast the country will grow, or to 
 what extent it will develop, is Just 
 what the new arrival must take 
 chances on. 
 
 The TiMiiEH in Kootenav. 
 The trees of West Kootenav com- 
 prise the following, which, it will l)o 
 observed, include varieties not found 
 ill any quantity in the arid region, or 
 zone, that lies between the highlands 
 of Kootenay and the coast region : — 
 
 DhukIuh Kir, or morf corrtK'tly Snmi'c; While Mr; Bull 
 or iwk, or Uluck Pine; White, or .MniiiiUiii, I'iiii'; WhiU' 
 Spruue; Ced*r; Cottonwood; Balm uf Clllead; Taiiiarau; 
 
 White Hin^h: n ti-w Ulwk Hitt^h; Alder; \'iiic .Muiiel; 
 some Vew; Henil'X-k: llnlwini Kir: Vellnw Pine. (/'. run- 
 
 The varieties of commercial value 
 are the Djuglas and white fir, white 
 pine, white spruce, cedar, tiiniarae, 
 liemlook, balsam and yellow pine. 
 The whole district of West Kootenay 
 may be said to be woDdcd, but the 
 surface is so broken and so much of the 
 timber liis been destroyed by fires tha*^^ 
 it is doubtful if there will beany great 
 continuous lumber trade from tliis dis 
 trict to points beyond the province, 
 unless the market jirice should rule 
 high. Old Journals of the Hudson's 
 H:iy Co.'s oJiiccrs describe large forests 
 filoiig the beautiful and extensive 
 Arrow Likes where, now, unless per- 
 haps, on back benches or uplands dif- 
 ficult of access, there is comparatively 
 little saw-milling timber to be got. 
 An abundant supply of timber, chiefly 
 balsam, is fouiitl at an elevation of 
 1,00) or .">,0:)0 feet, where some of the 
 best mines are. It has been noticed that 
 there are mmy more kinds of trees on 
 the Selkirk range and its spurs than 
 on the Rocky Jlountains. .\s on the 
 coast, the red cedar is one of the most 
 useful <•*■ womls. 
 
 A(iUirui/runAiJ<v. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to inform 
 readers that West Kootenay is not an 
 agricultural country. From Hevel- 
 stoke to the boundary, embr.acing the 
 Arrow and Kootenay 1/ikes, and the 
 t'oluinbia and Kootenay rivers, with 
 the exception of about oiMlOO acres 
 comprised in tli»^ Kootenay reclamation 
 scheme, tlier>.' are only scattered 
 stretches of bottom lands along the 
 rivers and ])atelies at the inoutlis of 
 creeks, which in time no doubt will 
 becomi! a producing area. In the ag- 
 gregate it will be considerable, prob- 
 ably fifty thousand acres altogether. 
 .V good deal of it is covered with wattu- 
 at certain seasons, but could be easily 
 dyked. The demand for vegetables, 
 fruit and garden stuff generally, by 
 the increase in iiopulation will ultima- 
 tivcly cause it all to be reclaimed and 
 brought into cidtivation. Nothing is 
 known of the fruit-growing capabilities 
 of the several valleys liereinbetoii 
 ilescribed, because no experiments 
 have been made to prove them, but 
 general metereological conditions arc 
 favorable and the area of Itencli lands 
 that might be made available are very 
 considerable. 
 
 One thing thing that might be done, 
 which would at least add to the desi- 
 rability and some to the agricultural 
 importance of the district, would be 
 the sowing of grass seeds on the low 
 lying lands anil on the benches (or low 
 sloping hill sides) many of which are 
 suitable, with little expense, to Ikjcoihc 
 grazing ranges of unlimited extent for 
 the purpose of pasturing stock during 
 
TtlE COMMEkClAL—KOOTENAY SVPPLEmENT. 
 
 
 the tiumiuor season. (JraHs grows 
 readily wherever sown, and as there 
 is considerable precipitation all aionjo^ 
 the lakes and rivers of the southern 
 valleys, which arc not witiiin the dry 
 belt, grass as pasture would do well. 
 If nothing more, it would greatly im- 
 prove the appearance of the country. 
 
 Thk KootenW Kkilamation SrilKME. 
 
 By far the most impirtant ti-act of 
 agricultural land in the whole country 
 is that embmced in what Is l<now.i as 
 the Kootenay reclaniition scheme. 
 
 The lower Kootenay bottom lands 
 begin near Bonner's Ferry in the 
 United States territory, about 1(3 miles 
 from Kootenay Like, .^;i miles of whicli 
 are in Canadian territory, so that the 
 greater part of tlieiu arc in the United 
 States. .ludge Sproat says the valley 
 was formerly an extension of Kootenay 
 Lake made into land by the material 
 brought down by the Kootenay Kiver, 
 and which is still forming. The bot- 
 toms arc hardening. The Indians for- 
 merly used side hill trails to get to the 
 lake. They now use trails that run 
 along the bottonn. Tlie v illey is 
 from three to five miU's on an average 
 between the side hills, which are from 
 1000 to 200J feet above the surface : 
 those on the west side inferior for pas- 
 ture and scfvntily timbered ; those on 
 the east side lower and less regular 
 and not retiring to liigh mountains, 
 with grassy sloi)cs The east hill side 
 {ffffords a considerable but not connec- 
 ted area of fertile land, being heavy 
 clay and sandy loam suitable for the 
 growth of the ordinary cereals. Seve- 
 experiments in farmiiig have been 
 successful, ("attic graze alternately 
 on the side hills and bottoms. .Judge 
 Sproat in his 1884 report says : " 1 
 would class these wooded tine grass 
 east-side hills within our territory as 
 a third class stock i-ange for limited 
 bands." 
 
 Speaking of the bottom lands, Mr. 
 Sproat speaks of tliem as follow; : 
 " Every acre of these fertile lands, if 
 completely reclaimed, would at once 
 be ai)plied for by the best class of sot- 
 tiers, as there is little doubt that all 
 the cereals and the ordinary root 
 crops and vegetables would grow well 
 and ripen if early sown or planted." 
 The same gentleman speaks hopefully 
 of the prospects of dairying. 
 
 This tract of land is what is included 
 in the Kootenay reclamation scneme. 
 Its importa ice as an agricultural feed- 
 er for the Kootenay Like district can 
 hardly be over estimated, and will be 
 to that country what the Frascr Vall(;y 
 is to the coast. 
 
 It is described in the Victoria Colon- 
 ixt of March 30th, 18i)2, as fo'l .ws : 
 
 " Ki'twe^ii liedlinirton, on th<; iiifriittlr' < Inuiiilar.v 
 liiip, and the •»n-,h enri of Koot«ii>i.v Ijoke, >mc- Kooteiitiy 
 Kiver Hiwithruiif(h n >ulley, »iiKi><K '"> '< thrw lo ttve 
 iiiUm in width iii»iir|>aimd in riohneas end fertility liy 
 any lands in the provinue. IJnfortunatuly, tlie banks of 
 
 the river are inniffinlently liinh to retain the vnluine of 
 the flood wat«r8 cl\irint( the spring frcitheti. Annually, 
 during the monthti of April and Mav, onow wat«r8 from 
 Iho adjic 'nt mountains HII up the river channel, overflow- 
 in|( itK banliH, and convertiUK the valley into a teni|Kirarv 
 lake. Ah this In the ptirio<l for tillin>r and sowing:, ajfricul' 
 ture hai (ip to the prei«ent h«en practically at a fttandatill. 
 KtHiently an effort wax made to reclaim this valuable 
 trai^t of land hv enlar|(in)( the outlet of the lake some few 
 miles below NelHon, the uHHumption heintc that a wider 
 outlet would ^ive a greater discharge to the flood waters 
 of the lake, and as a conHcipience allow the flood waters 
 of the river to ditii-harge freely into the lake without 
 overflowing its banks. Considerable money has been 
 spent in o»rryi!ig out this idea, but the object aimed ot 
 ha-- -.ot been obtained, even in the slightest degree. To 
 anyone verseil in hydraulics this result would have been a 
 foregone cr)nclusion, aH it i" se'f-evident that to ohtiin an 
 in(;rcase<l di»!harge from a body of still water, like a lake 
 diHcliar.;ing throuj;li a long river, the gra<lient or fall of 
 the river's lii-d must be increased. With an increase of 
 fall the vulot-ity of flow will be increased, and with in- 
 creased velocity niUKt l>e inore.vse*! discliarg-i. Widening 
 the moutli of the river, without increasing its fall, will 
 merely increase the lake's area. 
 
 The A'berta and B.C. Kspltoration Company, of London, 
 Kngland, (whose resident manager is .Mr. O. Alexander, 
 of Calgary, one of the pronnters of the project) some few 
 months ago secure<l the services of .Mr. O. A. keefer, M. 
 Inst. ('.E., of this city t^ report on the works, so far as 
 {tarried out, and to outline a scheme by which the object 
 desirefl iniglit be obtained. 
 
 ".Mr. Reefer's opinion was that the reclamation of the 
 valley could more readily and economically be accomplished 
 by <lyking the lianks of the river, and, acting on bis re- 
 port, the (somnuny are aliont to energeticilly carry out 
 his recoinnienoatibns. 
 
 "The ma<;hinery for a powerful drag drcilgo, (Capable of 
 excavating l,'2(f> cubic yards per day, has been construct 
 cd Iiv .Messrs. Beatty Ar'Cj., of Welland, l>tit., and is now 
 on tde way to the works. The hull of the dreilge, as also 
 a house barge for the officers and men. has l)een under 
 way at the mills ot Messrs. Siyward i Davies for some 
 tinu- past. Work will be ctnnmen<red at the international 
 boimdary about the l.'ith of April, and wdl be prosectite*! 
 tlay and 'night. The magnitude of this inulertaking cati 
 be mulerstoiMl, from the fact that "n miles of d^vke, six 
 feet wide on top and averaging eight feet high, will be rc- 
 t|uired. It is estiimited that the work caimot be com- 
 pleted before the middle of lHi)7, a perio<l of Ave years. 
 
 "The superintendent is Mr- F (J. Little, late superin- 
 tenilent ot the Matsiiui dyke. The engineers are Messrs. 
 Keefer anil Smith, of this city. In the hands of these 
 gentlenieti, a successful result can he confldentiv looked 
 for." 
 
 (This refers to the BaiilieGroJunaii scbcme of reclamri- 
 tion.— Kn. I 
 
 Two objections have been urgt^d to- 
 wards this scheme, first that seapage 
 will occur and render the dyking 
 futile ; second, that if reclaimed, irri- 
 gation will be necessary and that the 
 facilities for that are too limited. 
 Local opinion is opposed to the second 
 ob.jeciion, and the fact that the irriga- 
 tion is not necessary on the side hills, 
 would seem to be conclusive. As to 
 the first the engineers in charge should 
 be the best authority and liotli are 
 gentlemen of high standing in their 
 profession. Regarding that point JLr. 
 II. H. Smith, O.K., in an interview 
 witli the Victoria Tiin's of a recent 
 date say.s : 
 
 "Tlie erei^tion of tluit d.,'lic will rcjlaiin tT.Tfi) ar.rei of 
 the linost lami in the world. It ii a perlct (iardan of 
 Eden. It is th) moat pcrfest stretih of loam ever seen 
 anywhere and is practicvlly bottomle-is, inexhaustible 
 A rich, fat s)il, the very iream of farming land. Now, 
 to show you that it is hot a (juagmire or peat moss or 
 anything "else but spleidid farming land, the excivation 
 in which the dredge was built is ten feet deep, surround- 
 e<l with w iter within a few feet ot the edge. Vet the 
 bottom ot the excavation is only damp and the water has 
 been standing around the excavation for weeks. That 
 should surely settle the statement that has been made 
 about the land being only a swamp or iiuicksand." 
 
 The Indians of the Kootenay. 
 
 Mr. A. S. Farwell in his report to the 
 Provincial ( Jovernment in IHS.", says : 
 
 " From the most reliable resources, I gather the Koote- 
 nay tribe of Indians numlwr about 8J0 men, women anil 
 children, and are divided aiiproximattdy as follows : - 4riO 
 Britisli Indians, domiciled north of the International 
 lioundary line, and 2 U American Indians reafding in 
 Idaho and Mont »iia territories; the remaining irsl Indians 
 are migratory, receiving their share of the aimuitlcs paid 
 Iiv the Tniteil States Uovernment, at its agency on the 
 -locko River, in the Flathead roservatlon, Montana terri- 
 tory and claiming to be British Indiaiiswhen they wander 
 north of the hound»',\ line, 
 
 "Of the 46) BritUh Indians, loll claim the lower Koote- 
 nay as their country, from the boundary line, down 
 
 Kootenay River and through Kootenay I.ake and its trib- 
 utaries. The rei lainmg 3IKI Indians consider the laiul 
 along the Upfier (ootenay Kiver, from the boundary line 
 at Tobacco plains northward to the Lowtr Columbia' I.ake 
 iw theirs. The inajorltyof these l'p|ier Kootenays winter 
 at St. Jfttry's .Mission." 
 
 The Lower Kootenay Indians arc 
 the only Indians in West Kootenay dis- 
 trict. They formerly lived about 
 S[)roat and the Kootenay mouth, a 
 little band who hunted up the Colum- 
 bia and Slocan. These were of the 
 same "nation" as the Colville Indians 
 (now in the United States) and they 
 assembled about the Hudson's Bay Co. 
 jiDSt at Fort Shepliard; on the abandon- 
 ment of that post they went to Colville 
 and are not now counted as British 
 Columbia Indians by the Canadian 
 (iovtumment. The Lower Kootenay 
 Indians arc not nearly so highly civil- 
 ized as the Upper Kootenays. "They 
 are," Mr. ?'arwell goes on to say, " in- 
 dolent, poor, bidly clothed and 
 badly arinetl They have no houses, 
 and live sumnu'r and winter, in 
 ' lodges ■ constructed of poles cover- 
 (ul with mats or hides. In former 
 years they were supplied with seeds of 
 ditTerens kinds, and they made efforts 
 to raise potatoes, wheat, etc., but the 
 uncertainty of securing their crops 
 through the flooding of the country so 
 thoroughly disheartened them that 
 they gave up in disgust. They also 
 possessed (luite a number of houses 
 and cattle, but have become greatly re- 
 duced, the result of gambling. Con- 
 cerning this tendency which is more 
 or less characteristic of all Indians in 
 British Columbia." Mr. Sproat tells 
 the following : 
 
 " On one occasion, wlicii encamped on tlie Kootena.^ 
 bottoms, between Kootetiay Lake and Bonner's Ferrv, an 
 Indian rode up, nake<l, but for a breech clout, and with a 
 liit of rope for a bridle. lie sprang from his horse and 
 otTereil bis hand with a grand air. He had passed up the 
 valley iour days previouslv on a fine horse, with an expen- 
 sive saddle and ei|iiipment, silver spurs, a iWin suit of store 
 clothes and ^2tMl in liis pocket. Having staked and lost 
 everything, he borrowed a pony and a breech clout, and 
 was on his way home. Hiul an artist seen him he would 
 have a good subject for ' before ' anil ' after.' 
 
 \ great many of these Indians 
 formerly wintered on (ioat River, 
 about nine inikM north of the boundary. 
 Tlicy run their stock in the wiiUcu" on 
 (ioat Kiver and between McLaughlin's 
 and .I(M"ome Creek. As the summer 
 adv;;iices and the water recedes, the 
 Indians move down the river and fish 
 and take their stock with them. 
 
 Bancroft tlescribes these Indians as 
 the "dulle Kootcnayii." In appear- 
 ance they resemble the plain Indians of 
 the Nortliwest rather than the typical 
 Si wash of British Columbia. 
 
 Fishing. 
 Kootenay is, par »»xccllcnce, the- 
 country for fishing. Fish abound in 
 all the waters of the valleys described, 
 the Arrow Lakes, Kootenay River and 
 the Kootenay lakes. These are caught 
 by trolling, with the rod and line and 
 any other way that fish are caught. 
 Fly fishing in the -cason of low water 
 during July and August is said to be a 
 
THE VOMMKHCIAL—KOOTKNAY hupplrmknt. 
 
 111- 
 
 as 
 
 (lelifflit. PerhaiiH the licst locality is 
 nloiiff the Kootenay (Vom Kolisdu to 
 NelHOii Just below the ncvcM'al falls. 
 The ('. P. li. has established a number 
 of Hailing stations along here, where 
 accommodation, Hsliing tackle, etc., 
 are supplied to tourists at a merely 
 nominal rental, and where tish to no 
 end may be caught. As has been re- 
 marked elsewhere tish are «!0 plentiful 
 at times as to almost cease to he sport. 
 
 The most common fish taken are 
 lake and mountain trout, and land 
 locked salmon. The trout range all 
 the way from one to ten and fifteen 
 pounds, and of delicious flavor. Sal- 
 mon, said to be overgrown trout, 
 weigh from fifteen to twenty pounds, 
 and are caught in large numbers by 
 the Indians. 
 
 There is also a species of sturgeon 
 found in the Kootenay Lake and, it is 
 said, species of white fish and fresh 
 water cod, but of the latter two the 
 writer has nothing authoritative to 
 offer. There is another species known 
 as " squaw fish," rather coarse and 
 eaten liy the Indians only. One of 
 these caught in Pilot Hay weighed 
 about ten pounds. It is also stated, 
 apparently on good authority, that a 
 little red fish ai>pears in a heavy run 
 during the summer months for a few 
 days, ascending the niounv.in streams 
 in great numbers and (lis opear again, 
 without being seen at ai.y time until 
 the next run the following year. Noth- 
 ing appears to be known of them, ex- 
 cept the peculiarity noted. 
 
 Added to the delightfully pic- 
 turesque scenery, the beautiful watoi- 
 stretches and the exliiliratiiig atmos- 
 pheric conditions, the fiscal wealth of 
 the Kootenay waters constitute the 
 district an enchanting tourist resort, 
 already being fretpiented, but destined 
 to be very popular in a year or two. 
 Of British Columbia's iiiaiiy attraetions 
 in this respect, this lake and mountain 
 region holds a full hand. 
 
 (iAME. 
 
 If sport, which partakes a little of 
 the adventurous and toilsome, be the 
 only sport worth the while as English- 
 men claim, thou here again West Koo- 
 tenay supplies its quota. 
 
 This part of the Province not having 
 be(!n hunted as freely as others better 
 known and more fre(iuoiitcd, there is 
 no available data for an exact list of 
 animals and birds, but generally 
 speaking, deer are abundant, espec- 
 ially along the Columbia and its lake 
 expansions ; grizzy and black bear are 
 plentiful, the former being nio.e remote, 
 mountain sheep and goats on the moun- 
 tains further back and a few wolves. 
 
 Of the feathered tribe, geese, duck, 
 
 grouse and loons are well represented. 
 
 Climate. 
 
 . West Kootenay, as has alr^iady been 
 
 stated, is not in the '-dry'' belt, which 
 
 is at once evident from the appearance 
 of the veg(!tation all along the valleys. 
 The rain fall at Kevelstokc and the 
 Upper Arrow Ijike is considerable, but 
 decreases as you go south and the at- 
 mosphere becomes less humid until it 
 becomes as Dr. Dawson puts it ''rather 
 dry". Local conditions, however, vary 
 with a eorresponding ettcet on the cli- 
 mate. The extensive 1 (kUcs of water 
 in valleys enclosed and sheltered by 
 steej) high mountains on either side, 
 opening to the south, draw in the warm 
 air and hence have an effect not ob- 
 servable on the wid(^ plateaus. On 
 the whole the climate is healthful and 
 less severe than is generally supposed. 
 In fact, salubrity is a distinguishin«r 
 feature. In summer, the heat is not 
 excessive, though as a rule it is warm 
 with cool evenings. 'J he excejifion is 
 the month of June, which is usually 
 cool with more or less rainfall. In 
 winter it is cold, with a snowfall vary- 
 ing from one to two feet. The deeji 
 waters of the main lakes never free/*' 
 so as to impede navigation, while the 
 shallower waters in the rivers and 
 smaller lakes either take on a fairl\ 
 thick coating of ice or crust in places, 
 with occasionally jams. Therefore, 
 any system of raihvay communication 
 connecting with the larger lakes would 
 give uninterrupted service during tlie 
 entire year. 
 
 There is no exact nietcMa'ologieal 
 data to go by, but the residents of one 
 or more year's standing describe the 
 climate as at no season of the year 
 severe and generally pleasant and 
 agreeable, that is, the cold in winter is 
 exceedingly bearable, inviting no hard- 
 ships or discomforts, while the summers 
 are not excessively hot — a district, in 
 other words, the climate of which is 
 not against it. 
 
 Judge Sproat supi)lies the following 
 ill his report of 1H84 in regard to the 
 Kootenay bottoms : " Cold in winter — 
 sometimes for a day or two 2') to 30 
 below zero, but frequent thaws, snow 
 not dry, rather w('ttisli. February, 
 tlie coldest month. Mornings always 
 frosty until May 1st : occasional light 
 night frosts until lUtli or 2()th May, 
 which, however, do not hurt crops ; 
 very little rain, I'ain clouds hig'i up, 
 seem to pass over ; very heavy dews, 
 particularly latter part June and July 
 and continuing up to the occurrence of 
 frost ; first frost, first week in Sejitcm- 
 ber ; weather in most years t<'nds to 
 become unsettled and raining about 
 middle of October, but some 'falls' 
 are dry and the beginning of win- 
 ter late " On the Arrow Lakers and 
 Columbia south of them the climate re- 
 sembles that of the Kootenay bottoms. 
 
 Seasons vary, and therefore it is im- 
 possible to give exact dates for the ope n- 
 ing and closing ot navigation. The ice 
 disappears from abovit the first to the 
 
 middle of April, and forms again from 
 about the middle of No\<-ml er to the 
 middle of December. 
 
 Navioahi.eness ck Lakes and Hi vers. 
 
 In the following will le four.d an 
 aj proximate statement of distances of 
 navigable lakes aid livers. 
 
 The Columbia Kivcr in British 
 Columbia territory is navigable for 
 light draft side-wheel steameis 2.'?() 
 miles, as follows : 
 
 Pcun'niy to Kfbiirn ;t iiiilf^. K( li-oii to Tcuer Anew 
 lake 11. Iliiix ):li Iiwrr Ari( H I i.ke HI. to Iri f f Aru » 
 I eke 17, il.ioi |il> I 1 1 t-t Anew lake 4li, lo I rnth KnpiilH 
 mt, ft tolnl'ol 230 miles. 
 
 It is found that estimates of distan- 
 ces on all these water ways differ, but 
 are given approximately. 
 
 The trip to Little' Dalles from 
 liol)son, on the steamer Columbia, is a 
 delightful one. d'oing down the cnr- 
 iciit is very swift, ard the steamer 
 makes very quick time. 
 
 Peyond Death Hnpids to Po«c Kn- 
 eamiment 20 miles is navigable. 
 
 The Kootenay Hiver from Nelson to 
 Robson is not navigable on account of 
 the falls. 
 
 The Kootenay Kiver from Ponner's 
 Ferry to Kootenay Lake is navigable 
 for any sized steamers for !';{ miles; 
 the Kootenay Lake (!") and the AVest 
 .\rm I'O miles, a total of l.'iH miles. 
 
 The Kootenay Hiver from the United 
 States boundary to Tobacco Plains is 
 navigable at seasons for suitable steam- 
 ers lOO miles : the Ui)per Kootenay 
 Lake 20, Sloean Lak(^ about 25, 
 making a total of navigable watei-s 
 in the foregoing of about 550 miles. 
 
 .\t the present time these waterways 
 are of great ecoiumiic iniiiortance, as 
 will hv. readilv seen and understood. 
 
 EAST KOOTENAY. 
 
 .1 lir'ief Dciicrijjfioiiof this jirnmisinq 
 
 District. 
 
 Though .«itrictly speaking not within 
 the limits of the territory intended to 
 be described, some mention of East 
 Kootenay, whic'.i is the "eonipanion 
 I)ieee" of West Kootenay, can scarcely 
 be omitted. West Kootenay, oil 
 account of the richness of tlu^ mineral 
 liiid and its greater accessibility has 
 eome more rajiidly to i\w front recent- 
 ly, although l-jist Kootenay has been 
 longer and luitter known. However, 
 the writer is willing to risk a jiredict- 
 ion that the next mining excite- 
 iiient and movement will be in Kast 
 Kootenay. The selection of the Crow's 
 Nest Pass route for a short line of the 
 C. P. K. and the undoubted under- 
 taking of the branch roads and other 
 lines within a few years, will ett'ect a 
 marvellous change in its condition. 
 
 I'2ast Kootenay is, speaking general- 
 ly, more of a pastoral countiy and less 
 of a mining country than West Koote- 
 nay, though exceptionall.T promising 
 in the latter respect as well. 
 
THE CO.\f.}fEl?CrAL—h'OOTEXAY SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 
 It contains a valley .'W)0 miles loiip, 
 from tlie lionndary t^ the a])ex of tl>o 
 Kootenay triaiifflc, witli an aviirapre 
 wicltli of H to 10 miles, in tlie centre of 
 which is enclosed the mother lak(!s of 
 the Columbia 2850 feet above sea level. 
 Tiie Columbia flows north from these 
 and the Kootenay south through the 
 vaiit^y, "It is," says Judge Sproat's 
 n^port, "on(^ of tne prettiest and most 
 favored valleys in the province, liav- 
 ing good grass and soil, a fine climate, 
 establislied min(!S and promising mines, 
 excellent waterways and an easy sur- 
 face for road making. Its chief navig- 
 able '.vaterway leads to a station of the 
 Canadian Pacific Rjiilway. 
 
 Nearly the whole of tlie area of the 
 valley descrilied is a bunch grass 
 country, afT'ording excellent grazing. 
 The grass country is 2M miles long of 
 an average width of five miles, besides 
 a number of lateral valleys of more 
 limited extent. 
 
 It might be safe to sa.v that the 
 whole of the valley is fertile, thougli 
 except in a few places its agricuitural 
 abilities have not been tested. It lies 
 witliin the dry belt and irrigation will 
 doubtless be necessary over the great- 
 est jwrtion of it. The atmospliere is 
 clear and dry and the snowfall in 
 winter light, but in adi.strict so cxtent- 
 ed climatic conditions vary consider- 
 ably from local causes. 
 
 The country is more thinly wooded 
 than tlic West Kootenay district, and 
 affords admirable opportunities for fish- 
 ing and hunting, ))eing a sportuian's 
 Eldorado. 
 
 MiNKUM, Resources. 
 
 Mr. Cummins, gold commissioner for 
 P^st Kootenay, in his report for 18!)0, 
 admirably summarises the record of 
 mining development up to that time, 
 extracts from wliicli are appended. 
 
 *' .\ltlioii-^h s.vijteniatic pronpei'tin^ i>a>i hardly be snui 
 to have coniinen<*t5c1, exueriencefi and bucc ssfiil ininintr 
 men, who saw the deve opineiit of the CVuiir d'Alene and 
 other rh^h mineral district:! to the ai ith, and ^ho visited 
 this district <lnrin^ the past sunnner, unhesitatingly state 
 ihut the prospect* they have seen in Ka-*t Kootenay, and 
 the extent of the mineral discoveries, promised better for 
 the future than had been the cose in any district to the 
 south, at a>timitar tttigf in tht-ii- itfrelopini'iit, 
 
 "Tile opinion of the best authorities who have rejiorteil 
 on the minerals of llritisli Oohnnbia agree that the mineral 
 zones and belt«, which havij been <iearly defined in the 
 va ious ran/es in the I'nited States to the south, e\tind 
 regtdarly into British t;olu)nbi.». 
 
 " The'mineral belts of the . irk Uange in Koote?n»v 
 are dire"t cxteimitnm of tho^ ' the most prosperous dis- 
 tricts of Idaho and Weste 'tana inmie<liately south 
 on the same range. Theu i.h'^se districts are found 
 to be identical with th st ^»enay and their ojcur- 
 rence similar. 
 
 ''The p'lrtion of the dis'.rici i - hioh i>ro4pecting has 
 been so far most active lies south ot the (.'anadian racific 
 Railway, extending up (he Cohunbia valley to the Colnni- 
 hia lakes, in the ranges lying on Imtli sides of the rivi r, 
 the Selkirk Range to the west, and the Hrisco, Stantford 
 and tlughea Ranges of the Roirkies proper to the east, the 
 latter eximning (acoonling to l>awson)the limcBtone form- 
 OLlons of the ikvonian and oarhonife-ous perio<l8. The 
 eastern slope of the Selkirks have not been exainineil by a 
 (^mpetent geologist, but it may lie safe to state that the 
 formation is composed chlofty of the metamorphic slate 
 and Other rocks of an oliler period, with beds and i ,tni- 
 sion^ of igneous rot^ks. The contact between the more 
 recent limestones of the Rockies and the older formation 
 of the .Selkirks lying in a northwesterly and southeast- 
 erly direction along i.he Columbia valley, crosses Into the 
 Kughes Range on reaching the Kootenay rivr-r. 
 
 "The ndneral of the district, as far as at present asoer- 
 tained, lies in two main bets. The mineral at Ottertail 
 and Field, in the Rookies, appears to be lo(«l, no con- 
 tinuation of large extent having been traced. The first 
 of these belts conunencea in the Selkirk range, at ihehead 
 of the North Fork o( the Spillemcheen River, near Mount 
 
 Sir Donald, an<l runs thence in a southeasterly dire<!tion 
 on the easterly slope cf the Helkirks, pas<^il g through the 
 McMurtlo Kiftrict, including Carllioo Itesin, Carlmnate 
 Hasln, and cutting Mc.MnnIo (reek. Cornier Oieek, Ver- 
 mont Creek, Horse Thief Creek, Tohy Creek, etc., grad- 
 ually app oaching the Columbia valley and passing into 
 the Kc'kies to the south of the Columbia lakes. 
 
 "The minerals discovered up to the present in this 
 belt are gold in sulphurets (free milling at the surface), 
 ailvertieariiig galena and grey copper, antimony, bismuth 
 and other minerals ocx'urring casually. Thi> formation In 
 the inunediate neighborhoo<l is geneially slate, wilh (re- 
 (|uent dikes of syanites, mica schists and' various granitic 
 roi'ks, also true pi»rphyry in certain localiiies. 
 
 " The minerals of this licit are liiiilfjiiiile, esjiecially the 
 grey cmpper and antimonial copper ores, assays us high 
 us 11124 la. to I he ton having lieen obtaine<l. Test lots of 
 ore, amounting to aliout 50 tons. shlppe<l lust season from 
 the neighlsirhoi d of Veimont t'reelt, gave excellent re- 
 sults. 
 
 "The second important belt, mentioned aliove, nms 
 about parallel t« Ih ■ Selkirk mineral licit, generally in the 
 limestones and (jiuinzites at or close to their contact with 
 the slates (Cambrian) of the Selkirk formation, along the 
 vailey of the Cohmibiu t-outhwarrls, crossing the \alle.\ 
 and passing into Ibe Rockies near the Columbia lakes. 
 The niscoverits in this belt are probably some of the most 
 important in the district, though less contimmus than 
 those of the .Selkirk belt, viz.: .luhilee .Mountain, .Spil- 
 lemt'been Mountain, SleamlKiut Butte, Windermere Monn- 
 tuin, und vat ious pronnsing discoveries of copper ore in 
 the Hughes Range, east of the Kootenav River. The bulk 
 of the ore so fur extracte<l is of Clipper and leud, carrving 
 silver. Some high assays in silver and gold have iiecii 
 obtained, principally from .luhilee Muimtain. 
 
 "The Field disoo\ cries, of which the 'Monarch' mine 
 is the most important, also those in the neighborliowl of 
 ottertail, Isith <{uite close to the Canadian Paciflt; Rail* 
 way in the R<M'kies, would appear to be more local in their 
 character, no continuous belts haxing been trace<l for any 
 considerable distance. 
 
 " The region down the Colnnibia to Canoe Rive-, north 
 of the railrcxd, has not yet been prospected for ipiartz. 
 
 rO.MMl SICATIOSS OK THK ni.STRICT- 
 
 "The Columbia and Kootenay vulleysare exceptionally 
 favored by tluir to|H)graphy for transportation pur|Hisea. 
 The present (communication of the ilistrict is cITccteil iiy 
 the Kmitenuy mail line of steamers pl.ing from Oolde'n 
 Station, on the ('anadian Pacific Railway, southwards 
 for 1'20 miles to tbc Coliiinbia lakes ; thenc'e the (ioveni- 
 nient waggon road cjirrics the trathc to Fort Steele and 
 Cranbi-ook in the southern | ortinu of the district . "This 
 road has likewise be».'ii extendeil northwui-d from the 
 lakes down the Coliimbia valley to within twciity-fl\e 
 miles of Golden, and it is expii-tisl tocompletc the wagon 
 communicatiOM with tlic railroad ai that place next 
 suininer. 
 
 " The mines arc at present reached li\ (>ack trails up the 
 various creeks branching from the main line of tmnsjior- 
 lutioii. As the mines de\elop, a trunk line of railway 
 will be constriicted up the Columbia and down the Koote- 
 nay River, to join the projected Crow's Nest road in the 
 southern portion of the dist'ict ; the mines being rcacluil 
 liy branch mineral lines and wagon roads up the creeks. 
 
 CL.VI .S IN rilK IIISTRHT. 
 
 " The 'Monari'h' mine, situuteil on .Mount Stephen, 
 near the summit of the Rockies a quurter of a mile from 
 und at un elevation of S.*!!! feet ulio\e the Canadian Pacific 
 truck, is at present the onl> fully cijuipped working mine 
 in tlie district- 
 
 "The shipping ore uxcrages (H) per cent. lead with s'li 
 of siher to the ton. The ore occurs in somewhat irregu- 
 lar chaiiibei*s, pockets anri other deposits in the lime- 
 stone, with but little gaiigue, and seems aliuiidunt. It is 
 c\pe<'ttd that the mineral will lie in more regular form 
 and even greater IkmIv when more depth into the iiiouii- 
 tuin has been reachisl. The mine v us disco\ercd in l.ss-l. 
 "On the north side of the .Uidille Fork of the Spillem- 
 cheeii, or McMui'ilo Creek, a number of claims showgoofl 
 croppings have been Im'atisl. 
 
 "On the south side of McMiinIo Creek, bus mau.\' ini- 
 portunt claims. .Mcssi-s. Rami Bros., of Vancou\ er, on 
 iiehulf of English capitalists putt-based a property of ten 
 claims in the fall of 1880, to which ihcy huveaddtsl other 
 locutions. The most iniportnni of these prospects, siiow- 
 ing on the surfa e, owur on the '.Monitor,' 'Soullicrn 
 Cro.s.s' and 'Polly Brown' claims. The previous develop- 
 menl done on these cl liiiis w.s unimportant. The vein 
 can be traced continuously along I lie whole length of the 
 proiierty, extending fmiii .McMuiilo Creek along the sum- 
 mit of Carbonate .Mountain into CopiH'r Creek This 
 main lead, like most of the mineral in the belt, runs in a 
 south-easterly and north-westerly direc ion, lying almost 
 verticallv between walls of slate," mica-schist and granite 
 rock, 'rhc w'idth of the vein on the surface is estimated 
 us varying in width from 'I (o 5 feet, fairly well inineral- 
 izcil. The ore of the croppings s coiiiprise<l of sulphides 
 of lead, iro,: and antiiiioii.\', averaging ab<iiit .''til oz. to the 
 Ion of silver. 
 
 ".\bout three miles further up .McMunlo Creek from 
 the ubove line of claims, neur the summit of the range, a 
 number of claims have been locatcfl. Th ■ 'Bobby Burns' 
 contains a large vein of gold tpiartz, free milling on the 
 surface. tJold is \ isible in some of th'i surface ro<-ks, and 
 assays of 36 oz. of gold have been obtAilied. The 'Chief 
 of the Selkirks' and adjoining claims at the snnmiit con- 
 tain galena and grey copper ores. 
 
 "Continuing s lutli-eastward from the Carlionate Moun- 
 tain claims, between (.'upper Creek and the South Fork 
 of the Spillciuchceii, several claims have been located. 
 These arc favorably reported on. Also on the southern 
 sialic of this divide, running down into Veniiont Creek. 
 
 'On the south side of Venuont Creek, near its Junction 
 with the South Fork, a Mock of claims, discovered in the 
 summer of IIMU, contain a number of veins of galena and 
 grey copper, about ten in number, var: iig in width from 
 '2 inches to '21) inches, in the slat« fonimtion. It is con- 
 si'teretl that these veins will in soiue c-iscs run together 
 
 Tlie ore was pronounced to he of excellent nualltv at 
 Revelstoke, and [lald a handsome profit. 
 
 "Oood prospeitts have been loi'ated, further south, on 
 Crystal Creek and BugalMM Creek in the same lielt near 
 llorse Thief Creek. Tohy Creek, \ery pnnnisiiig new 
 discoveries were made last season and a numlier of claims 
 recorded. Assoys front '21) to i-it) per cent, of copjier ami 
 •20 to 100 oz. of silver have lieeii made. .Several other 
 good copper proenecis have been located on this creek 
 
 "New disoovorfes, stated to lie large veins, containing 
 high grade galena, are also reported from about -2(1 miles 
 up Tol.y Creek. 
 
 ".luhilee .Mountain, situated aliout 42 miles up the 
 Columbia River from Oolden, on the Canadian Pacific 
 Railway, has mineral claims located along its ridge and 
 western slope for a distance of over four miles. A large 
 amount of work has lieen done on this mountain for se\ 
 eral years bock. Copper glance and ttarlwiiates of vei v 
 fine (piallty, averaging 5B per cent, copper, were shipmsl 
 from the ' I.Ancaster' claim. A good Wly of silver-hear- 
 iiig galena ore has been opened up on the ' Constance.' 
 
 "A ctonslderaltle ainount of work has been done oii va- 
 rious claims on S|iilleincheeii .Mountain during the past 
 few years. The result of other prospecting work reccntii 
 done or the mountoiiihave teen very favourable ; a large 
 i|uantity of ore has lieen taken out. 
 
 "Windermere Mountain, situated about four miles 
 north of Windermere, on the Ixiwer Columbia Lake, has 
 been drawing much attention during lust summer. .Mr 
 O. A. Brown, of Spokane, became intei'este<l in claims on 
 this inoutitBin in July last, and has been acti-ely devel- 
 oping with excellent results, having exposed a large liodv 
 of copjier glance and carbonatns. The ore consists of 
 cojiper glance, carbonates and red oxides. A large imnt- 
 licr of assays have been obtained, ranging from 10 to tdi 
 per cent, in copjier, and from *) to *l;m In silver, to the 
 ton. Two principal ore bodies have been cut through, 
 one IS feet in width, the other 7 feel. There are 14 
 claims taken up in this locality. Some of these promise 
 to prove valuuble. 
 
 " In the neighbourhood of Wild llorse Creek some 
 development has been done on a galena le<lge aliout three 
 miles above the old cjiinp. It would appear that a large 
 ijuantity of concentrating ore, carrying silver, has lieen 
 met with. Prospectors have brought in samples of ore 
 from aliout 2.') miles up Wild Horse Creek, which are 
 stated to hove a.s.saye<l Hiib in gold, silver and copper. 
 The discovery of a new mineral district is reporte<l aljoiit 
 11 miles in a south. easteriy direction from Fort Steele. A 
 sample from this locality as8aye<l : gold, *IH) ; silver 
 *100 ; and copper, 12 per cent. " One hundred and lortv- 
 tltree new clafins have been recoiiled In the district din- 
 ing 1890." 
 
 181)1 KKI'OIIT. 
 
 " Thiimlcr Hill is a large hutte situated in the fool 
 hills of the Selkirk Range, near FindlayCreek, and within 
 about one utiil a half n,''cs of the Cjiper Columbia Lake, 
 on which a number of claims ha\ e lieen located. This 
 discovery was made by .Mr. .lames Braiy, M.K., in 1884. 
 During the latter part of last summer Mr. Brady formed a 
 comiiaii,v, registered as the Thunder Hill Mining Coin- 
 pan.i , Limited, of \'ictoria, to test anil operate his doiins. 
 The lead is of exceedingly large ditnensioiis, running in a 
 norlherly and southerly direction. The tsnintiy rock of 
 I he loi-ality appears to be generally Cambrian slate. " 
 
 Vast deposits of coal exist in Crow's 
 Nest Pass. Petroleum fields have been 
 discovered in the eastern corner of the 
 district. 
 
 One hundred and thirty-eiglit new 
 claims were recorded in 18'.)1, and 25;} 
 free miners' certificates issued. 
 
 A smelter has been erected at ( Joldeii 
 witli a capacity of .")0 tons a day, with 
 a roaster of 12 to 15 tons capacity. It 
 is proposed to add a copper furnace 
 and dcsilvering process. 
 
 (^'ONCI.USIO.'^. 
 
 In the foregoing there is contained 
 a review of the resources of Kodtenay 
 District, penned imiiartially and for 
 the purpose of giving the public a 
 relialile and, it is hoped, readable ac- 
 count of the district as a whole, the 
 facts of which are gleaned from only 
 authentic sources and which will be 
 found invaluable to send to those who 
 want to learn more of this wonderful 
 country now being opened up. So 
 much and so complete information 
 aI)out this district has never been pub- 
 lished in one volume before, and in 
 this respect this supplementary edititm 
 of The Commercial concerning Koote- 
 nay is unique and is issuetl witli the 
 hope that it will both be usefnl .'iml 
 appreciated, 
 
I piloft""*"*"' '"'»'".>• a' 
 •Ji'e'l, funhfr south, on 
 ■« 111 theHainelwItiiMir 
 n'..j *'■*' l";;"ni"i"lf lieu 
 ttim a iiiiiiilier of (•lolin» 
 >er cent. o( oopiwr niid 
 
 lo<ated on thii creek 
 luiye veins, containing 
 «1 from about 2() niiltw 
 
 ilmut 42 nillex up the 
 >n IheCaniwlianlWillc 
 ^Hlaionif lt» ridge and 
 
 tniH mountain torsi". 
 »'«! carlwnatesof veiv 
 • copiwr, were shli,|H;i 
 
 on the 'ConstaiK*.' 
 has been done on va- 
 'tain duriuK the past 
 «l)eclin){ worl< recently 
 ;r}- favourable lalargi. 
 
 id about four milfc. 
 -'"• Columbia Lake, bm 
 IK last siuiuncr. J|r 
 interesteil in claims on 
 I been acti'elv (level- 
 rfixposed alargelKMly 
 The ore consisla of 
 >.vi(les. A laixe nuni- 
 ranuuiif from 10 to an 
 o«l30in silver, to the 
 ■ l>cen eut through, 
 7 feet. There are U 
 iiie of these promise 
 
 1 Uoi-se Creek some 
 ena ledge about three 
 l.appear that a large 
 (ing silver, has lieen 
 It HI samples of oi-e 
 le Creek, which ai-e 
 . silver aiKl copper 
 ct IS reported about 
 from Fort Steele. A 
 
 Kold, *!»« ; silver 
 1 hundred and forl\ ! 
 
 ill the district duV- 
 
 tiiated in the foot 
 lyCreek, and within 
 per Columbia Lake 
 Men located. This 
 ijly, M.K., In 1884, 
 Mr. Brady formed a 
 Hill Mining Corn- 
 operate his cliiiins. 
 sioiis, running in a 
 he countiv rock of 
 inlirian slate." 
 
 :ist ill ('rovv'.s 
 ds have been 
 poi-ner of tlie 
 
 y-eiffht new 
 Si^l, ami 25;i 
 lied. 
 
 2dat(ioIdeii 
 a day, with 
 apacity. It 
 Jer funiace 
 
 i eontaiiieil 
 f Koatenay 
 ly and for 
 3 public a 
 uadable ac- 
 whole, the 
 from only 
 cli will be 
 these who 
 wonderful 
 I lip. So 
 iformatioii 
 been pub- 
 e, and in 
 I'y edition 
 iig: KoQte- 
 l with the 
 refill and 
 
 Nelson Town Lots. 
 
 Present prices will be advanced after 15th July. 
 
 ^Aoiee7Su6in€66 and7ie6idenee9^rop€rtjf for 
 
 ...... ^fa/e...... 
 
 In the Town of Nelson, Kootenay District, the Mining and Business Centre of the 
 
 finest mineral portion of British Columbia. Communication by Rail 
 
 and Steamboat daily. Prices reasonable and easy terms. 
 
 ■^ROBSON^^ 
 
 The terminus of the 0. & K. Ry., at the mouth of the Kootenay River. Daily com- 
 munication with Spokane Falls. Lots from $76 to $200 each. 
 
 Apply to F. FLETCHER, Land Department O. & K. Ry. 
 
 Land Commissioner, NELSON, B.C. 
 
 JOB PRINTING. 
 
 The Commercial Job Department 
 
 This Office is second to none in the North-west, and was 
 
 awarded First Prize for best Job Printing at 
 
 Winnipeg Industrial ESxhibition of 1891. 
 
 MAIL ORDERS receive prompt and careful attention. 
 
 Full Line of O^ce Stationery. 
 
NA KUSP CITY. ^ 
 
 The Arrow Lake Terminus of the Projected Columbia & 
 Kootenay Railway and 
 
 The (j^ateway of the y^locan Mining L/iBtriet. 
 
 7lay(u4p'€ity I, 
 
 situated at the mouth of the 
 Na Eusp River on the Upper 
 Arrow Lake, and lies about midway between the Towns of Nelson 
 and Revelstoke. It is the natural outlet of the Slocan Mining 
 Country and is the most advantageous point for smelting the ores 
 of this rich district. 
 
 F. FLETCHER, ,, , - RAND BROS. 
 
 Land CommlMloner of the Columbia & Kootenay Railway. • >^^ ^fe-^ REAL ESTATE AGENTS, 
 
 Tliompson, Godville & Go. 
 
 ->— OOC5— <- 
 
 
 W HOLESALE 
 GROCERS 
 
 -»-OOCs— «- 
 
 26 McDermoti Street, V/imilFCQ, HflN.