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C. .*INTRODUCTIONac ALTHOUGH Hritisli Columbia was coiibiiltTed ii inininjj coimtry as early iis \H'tH on account of the finds ill the placor iligirincr.s on the Krasor River, ami u rush of niiiiiiijf iih'u to that locality from all corners of the j^lolte, it was not foi' many years after that mining operations in their present form assumed any extensive proportions. It was an easy matter for the pioneer miner to take his daily requirements up the Fraser hy boat or canoe, and transport the pioceeds of a few days' washing, by boat to market, and repeat his operations durinj^- the season suitable for such operations ; but discovery soon disclosed the necessity for a chantre in mining methods. When it came to this exjiloration of the hills for the ledges whence the placer dust was ground and washed down by glacier and other operations of nature in the course of ages, and transporting the mineral bearing rock there found to points available to large vessels, mining became a diHerent problem. Kveii though tlie inland waters were navigable adecjuately proportioned boats to remove the ore from the place of discovery, if at *Jie water's v>]iri\ or when pack(;d to it when distant, and the importation of supplies to the sci-ne of op'M"itions, retpiired wagon roads and railways. Until these were built but little progress could be made. Without going into the history of the commencement and growth of the industry in the province, even the casual reader can see from these remarks but little progress in mining could have been made before the construction of the main line of tlie Canadian Pacific Railway and other systems and their ramifications of branches, during the last few years. ^.jeTHE SLOCANueu* EARLY OPERATIONS. AS our iiitriition is not, to (h'lil with the iniiieral rescmici's of the country in general, which constitutes un extensive subject, and would till the pages of a very hirge volume even in outline, hut with those of the Slocan country only, the piincipal silver lead district, so far as prospecting has yet made revelations, our observations must be restricted. The resources of the country in other features are dealt with by others from general as well as local standpoints. From what has been said of the impossibility of rock mining in the absence of railways, it will be fully undei stood the industry in the province is sim])ly in its initial stages; and what is said in the following pages with local applications and present neaning, must not be considered in provincial application nor ft)r all time to come. There .ire other silver-lead districts in the (;ountry ; but as operations in them have not to the present been prosecuted to any great extent it would be idle to specu- lat«! on what their future may reveal. (Jold is found in all sections of the provin(!e by districts, from the southern boundary to the north of the Atlin Country, and the same may yet be said of silver and lead, but at the present it is not known to be the case. Our purpose is simply to deal with the silver-lead mining as it is known at present to exist. BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT. The Slocan ('ouiitry is boundi>d on the south by the west arm of Kootenay Lake and the Hlocan Hiver, and Slocan Lake: on the west by the Slocan Uiver and Slocan Lake; -.m the east by Kootenay Lake, and on the north by a height of land or divide between the rivers Mowing northerly and southerly. It has an average width of about ',i't miles, and a length of nearly twice that distance. Within these boundaries, so far as prospecting to any great extent has been prosecuted, are situated the chief, and we might say, the only silver-lead mines of any great importance in the country. As mineral bearing areas in any country have irreg- idar boundaries much gold and other minerals are foiuid in some properties within these outlines, as are silver and lead in many mines without them, as for instance, the Silver King and other mines at Nelson. Locally speaking, however, the Slocan is of much smaller dimensions than the district outlined. For iiistructiona to ^^0 th»' intemliiif? piiichastT, we iiiij?ht say the Slocaii pi<.|u'f is limited to a wi.llli of 10 iiiiifs «>r so. Ii(>iii a .stiaiK^a line down from lake to lake, from Silvertown to Kasio, important pc.iiits on the east and west houndaries. Within snth heit are the principal silver-lead mines of the tountry. if we except the Silver KinR. the Athahasca and one or two other mixed mines at Nelson. All the propi'ities dealt with in these pages are within this area. Those to the north of this strip or I.elt. sueh as the Lardo properties, and the Nelson Mines to the south, are not properly speaking silver-lead mine.«. as they possess proportions of golil. /inc. eopper and other metals. Small percentiiKes of these metals are even found in all the mines of the Slocan. hnt they are relatively so small as to he left out of the calculation in any ordinary ilescription. SHIPPING FACILITIES. Though some small sections or links of railway are sti.l r. quired in the district to advance the handling of .he ore produced and hring in the lequire.l supplies as the mines are deveU)ped from time to time, ill the main the district is very well supplied with shipping facilities. The main line of the ^ • ' • '<• runs through Hevelstoke, a short distance to the north; the (rows Nest hranch runs through Nelson to the south and westerly; the Ka.slo and Slocan road runs from Ka.slo to Sandon. with a projected extension to Slocan Lake to the west: the (;. I'. H. has the Nakusp and Slocan line from Naku^' to Sandon. with l.oat connection on Arrow Lake to the North, connecting with the main line at Hevelstoke; the ('. P. H. has a line passenger and freight service on Slocan 1/ike, joining the rail sections, and the ('. P. H. and K. and S. ( o. have excellent steamer service on K(.olenay Lake. There are hesides tw(. railway lines to Spokane aciof^s the houndary at the south. Short lines will yet he recruir.d to mines from these branches, as tun.- opens up th.' properties, hut at the present the facilities are .,uite complete. Th.- two Miott lines ot railway named have their termini at Sandon, some Ht miles inland from Slocan Lake. THE CTTIES AND TOWNS. A description of the coimtiy would not he complute without a brief reference to the cities and towns therein, which constitute the bases of supplies. At the southern extremity of Sl.uan Lake, and connected with Nelson to the south is Slocan city, a place of some (MH. peopi.-. with record otlke, good sf.res. h..tels schools and churches. Coming m.rtli on tiie lake s.)me l.'. miles, we reach Silverton. a place of some .m SANDUN, H. C, 1S97. (l.doKiNi; East.) population, with good sfcoips nnd hotels, and all other ronveniencpK for niining men. North from Hilverlon 4 mileH by boat, in New Denver, a >jrovfriimenl t(»wn of Ti^Ni people, with storeH, hank, hotels, record ofHoe, schoolH, chnrchen, etc. Kci>.t from New Denver ( mih's, is Alamo, with fxiKt ofMce, stoie and concentrator; and Three F'orks, a mile further on, with stoies, hotels, scIkxiIs, etc. Four milcH further inland is Sanhosed stratified mostly slate formations of later periods occupy nuicli of the whole area. They differ considerably in appearance and col«)i'. .Many of them are giey, other- characterized by black mica and frecjuently with much black hornblende. In many localities they are not unfre(|uently i-oarsely porphyritic with large twined iteld-spar crystals. The granites all ajjpear to be intiusive and of later date than the stratified rocks, nuich changed in contacts. The entire locks of the district bear evidence of having been in ages past subjected to imiiu>asurably great pressure in the movements of the earth's crust, which threw up the several mountain ranges of the entire west roast of the continent. The stiatiHed locks border- ing the granite area are of great thickness, |)r()bably 2."),gidar in width in given distances, the sides in some places coming together and in other places separating to great' distances, the seams of nieUil are irregular in thickiu'ss. In siune places whei'e tlie sides are close together they "pinch out" or wholly disappear, and in other places they greatly expand, forming what are technically called chutes. The explanation for this irregularity in width of seam, n)ay he given by the sides after separation coming together imevenly, the one dro)>ping more than the other. This pinching out of oi'e in fissures has often led to the abandonment of operations, when extende (Ishuh-h sfldoin oi- upvim- ocriipy llieir full wiillh. Imt ix nt'iu'ittlly enclnseil in a KeoloKiiiil inixtiiro technically i-alh'd yjiiinin', whii-h. in this (listrift, coiinisfH for (h»' most part of ipiai't/ ; spitiliii- ii'on, hleiulo, etc. While the origiii of the fissiircH cleaviii(; the mountains fmm top to liotlom anil to an nnkno'.n depth is various, the gradual procesH of folding upwards in the elevation of the moimtain system will account for most of them. In these lie embedded the metals foi' whose origin the two theoiies referred to aliove have heen advanced. Home are of the opinion that the elements of which these m<>tals are composed were originally in "the country rock" or the walls of the llssiues, and lliat clieinicjil agencies, or the action of heated alkaline water* from helow and <'t)ld water fr'om above couf-i'ig throtrgh the veins brought it forth as a deposit in the cavities, aH coal has heen cr-eated fr'orn wood tbron,'!' the oper'ation of ages. Others, again, are of the opirrion that the riicials wer-e in the gaseous matter' o«'cupyirrg spai"e befor'e the heavenly hodies were called into existence, an I that as the cooling jrrocess continued they, Im Ing heavier' than the surr-ounding elements, dr'opped to a i wer Itvel when the granite surface of the ear( h wa.s being formed by cooling. As the globe matter' cool.d nnd the iirface shrank, breaks occurred arul the underlying meta''i'' ■ .latter was for'ced up through the (Issur'es. As the veins ar'e of uru'ven thii'kriess. and as it is nothing uncommon to lind bod is of metal lying ag.iui.st the walls worn as smooth as a plough .>-hai'e, and creased like one rruich used, tiris appears to be the moat plausit)le theory. The wearing of (he soft metid against the granite r'ock in the upwar-d pr'essrre fullv exj)lains the smooth worn surface. Again, one of the Hrst surface indications of (he presence of metal b(>ar'iiig r'ocks is "blow outs," or pieci's of r'ock at least ol igneous, if not «if actual volcanic origin. The sign.s all indicate lire existeru-*' of subter-ranean forces a( work when the me(al« were making their- appei. ranee near' (he surfaci'. PROSPECTING. Kr'om what has been said in a jjr'evious si>cti(Ui as to the origin of the riiim-r'als. an ordinar'y reatler' would be led to sup))ose the miner-als would appear' on the sur'face of the r-ock, aiul so ihey do; but orr accoirnt of the long ages thit liave intervened, the seams ar'e now for' the most part cover'ed with the remains of vegetation, br'oken r'ock, and the other accuniMlations of ages. The near'er' to the tf)p of the hill one approaches, the less of these accmnulations ; arrd as a result, the summits are the favorite flehls for pi'ospectors. Kvidences of the existjuice of miner'als ar'e not wanting at the li;ises of mountains, or' even in the gulchea traversed by the streams. There are assurances in many eases that seams or ledges extbnd from suuunit to Huinmit of hills, and that in the valley traversed by the summit fed stream, broken i)iece8 or Hoat ore are freijuently seen. In koU districts these pieces are ground to dust by glacier or other action, and constitute the placer diu;gings. In the Slocan, however, there are means peculiar to itself for finding the ore bodies in the fissures. Sometimes the snow t>r landslides so expose the metal bearing veins, that Ihpy are readily seen by the prospector. Instances are not unknown in which the upturned roots of fallen trees lay bare the smiling metal in the crevices of the rock. The most conimcm nieans, however, is this: The prospector, some distance down the hill. Hnds a piece of ore. changed and worn it may be by the action of the elements through ages. The prospector knows this has been broken off from a cresting or coj)ping of a mineral lead. He considers the lie of the hill, to ascertain whether it has been brought down through an irregular or sinuous course by a slide of some kind, or rolled down of its own accord when broken from the body by some force or agency. After fully considering these surrounding cii* unistaiices, he starts up the hill pick in hand, testing the rock at intervals, until, if fortunate, he discovers the original source of his find. He marks "oe spot, stakes out the area allowed by law, registers, and finds he owns a i)rospect or claim. His next course is to test, under development, his find, to ascertain the value of his property, b\it of this, more in later sections. (H) AMINES OF THE SLOGAN^ THEIR LOCATION BY TOWNS. THOSE OF SAN DON. Those who have visited .nuny of the n.ining centres of the west .escribe ^-'^^^^/^ ;\'>;;';;;;,,;';:"2 town. It is situated in a gnlch between hills, snowcapped many nu.nths of he >"•". f-";'/^?^ ^lo^^" t sea level It has not room to rival in si/.e the largest cities of the coast; but nevertheless, m its lo^^t8t eve there plenty of roon, for n.any additions to its present list of fine stores, hotels and other busn>es Places and Its side hills with a n.oderate outlay, n.ight locate many thousands of people .n co.nfort a, , ^^ mitnvenienees. As its water supply is got fron. great heights above V^-';;^^-^;:;;^^^^^ is as Dure as any supply in the world, and atT,.rds a Hue system tor hre protection, (aipentei (uek thiougn he ceTe. affS Slent natural drainage and sewage, all conspiring to make it Heathy as -t - known to be Its present popnlation is abort l.o(H.. and if growth warrants it. there w.ll be but httle d.mcu t> n build' ne an elerdc cV service to the lake shor«. nnles distant, for pleasure, recreation and resident .al I'^t^^i:^ neceZ: As is staed elsewhere, it has all the business. « -"-^'^Vs "l/t'"'::: T":^Z that are necessary for present demands. It has the western terminus of the K. cV S. M. K.. nd the . asl r. end of theTaku P and Slocan H. H. also, giving it choice of routes and easy access to ';;--•;,;'' country It has two concentrators in operation, with two more un.ler consideration, an.l a fftb '" < '>. ^ mT Ind a half distant, which will nuike it internally what it is now externally a scene of K'-' ' '" ' « rtivitv. At present, averaged up. there are over sm miners working at mines that ship here, and last >ca. the cilly sent out 2»,7.-.(» tons of ore, woith in t.he gross, some .$2,..(!(».tiiK». (tt) Slocan Stak Mim.. Handon n.(" ^.*THE MINES..*.* THE PAYNE. This is the hirgest, and as fai' as work has froue, the most j.roHtahle mine in the Slocan. or in the whole province for that matter, not excepting the hirse mines of Uohsland. It was the first h)cateil of any of the dividend payers of the district. It is situated on Payne Mountain, some three miles or so to the north-west of Sancton. Up to two years ago it was operated l.y a wagon road leading up to the properly from the office and ore house on the K. & S. Railway. Since then it has been worked by a gravity tram, having stations on the K. A: K. and the Nakusp and Shcan. to give it choice of outlets. About October. K. H. Hailey, till then a half owner, sold i.ul his share to A. W. .McCune, of Salt Lake t^ity. his partner, for $87, mor'c pr-ecise, we mav s;iy the deepest workings are but little more than KX) feet vertical depth. ()u the prdperty there are live cross-cut timnels with drifts on the ore body from these. No. I ttmnel rciuhes the ore at "itl feet: No. 2 at 1<,(); No. ',< at 150; No. 4 at 475; No. 5 at 5(MI. Once depth was reached, sloping to the surface was abandoned, and internally drifting on the lead, and upraising tunnels followed in regular' order, until now the interior- is a network of regular mining oper-ations. A lower tunnel near- the creek shows good or'e, and verifies the invariable rule in the Slociin that wealth improves as depth is r'cachcd. Tho ledge of the Star' is one of the widest found in the Slocan. The mill i.s operated l)y watei' power' fi'om a long llumc, and has a cr'usher' and all the other' appliances devised by modern art. To .lanuary, 1S!.1!I, the pro|)erly p.iid over $1(10, (Hid in dividends to the sharclioldeis. THE RUTH. This mine stands acr'oss a gulch fr'oin the Star, to the west, and is 1} miles fr-om Sandon, with which it is connected by a wagon road. There (ire eight claims on this ja'operty also, but the bulk of the work is done on the Ruth, the Rirth Fraction, and the Wyoming. In its earlier' days, and when of fewer claims, it was owned by P. K. and W. II. .McV'ey and il. M. Foster, who paid $ltt(t,(l(Hi for a two- thirds interest. Since then these and five additional claims have been ac((uired by the Ruth Mines Co., (i:{) Paynk Okk Houkk. T^iinited, of Kn}i;laiid, with Mr. Alexuiult'i, ii-sideiit iiiiinager. The ledgi^ tiiiis from tlnee to nine feet wide, northeast and 8oiithwe»t, and cuts tlie slate at li^lit anj^les of very nearly so. The ganmie in the vein L.it'i-ies galena, spothic iron and (((lart/. The galena conunonly assays IK) oz. of silver and (Hi lead. It r\ins in earhonates near the snrfaee, which assays considerably lower in silver. In its operations and development ninch system has been observed. It has I tunnels aggregating probably 4, INN) feet in length all run on the lead, which is well-»leHncd on the suiface ; all are connected by upraises at considerable distatui's apart. The h)west tunnel is in probably S")!* feet, and reaches a piobable vertical depth of ;i7."> feet. For nnich of last summer the mine shipped h(>avily and realized over $7.),()(HI in profits or a total of over .SI{tcsent prominence. It was located in 1S!(1 by the Henm-ssey brothers, and sold by them at a low figure to llendryx and Tondinson. Mr. .\. K. Wood, the local manager-, h.-is now, however, a sul)stantial interest in the property. It covei-s llitt acr-es and has seven claims: The Last ("hance. Star Light, Hli/./,ard, Little Widow, Mine .lay. Silver (!ord, and (iaiena. Three of them have produced ore, but the Last Chance is the only one worked beyond a prospect. The locations cover the crescent of the iiill, or the divide separating the Sandoii and the .MctJuigan slopes of the mountain. In all about '1,'3*) feet of tunneling has been done, the lowest tunnel being about S(HI feet, and the longest. Some lim feet of upraises have also lieen stoped mostly on the lead. To the first of January, ISltl), 2,5(KI tons of t)re have been taken from the property; KM) of that from the Ist of .July previous. Since .lanuary, 1KS)0, its aerial (15) t UOAKDINO HOUSE, KECO MINE. gravity tram, one of whose spans is 2,80() feet long to escape slides, has been in operation, and its shipping has been heavy and continuous— a car a day going out. The tram lias in its parts a capa('ity of Ti) tons a day. The ore house alongsitle the K. and H. tracli is a four story structure, and carries tlie ore from tiie tram hu<;kets to sackers in th«' Ijasement who sack and empty into tars. Fr«)m oU to 00 hands are employed when the workings are in full operation. THE RECO. In many respects the Reco is a remarkable property. It is situated on Ilcco mountain, as the trail goes nearly four miles from Sandon northeasterly, but not half that as the crnv flies. It is named Ueco or " Ruecan," after the original French locator of the Reco dain). This claim was piuchased by the present owners, after ore was found on it, for $2,7(H) in July, lSil2. Since then the Reco Mining and Milling Co. have added the Texas, New Denver, Clifton, and Ephraim claims close by, either by location or purchase, the property now covering 150 acres. This v; also a "grass root" property and paid its way from its early workings. At the present there are accommodations on the premises for '2<*) miners, and has at times nearly half that number employed. There are three known leads on the properly and in all seven tunnels have been driven. In all there are about 4,u(J0 feet of workings, with ore hoirses at the extremities of all tunnels, for the reception of ore as mined. An aerial tram and concentrator in the city are projected, which will cost about $7u,(XH). Fr-orn the small or Reco-good-enough vein, has come the richest galena yet found in the Slocan, consisting of argentite and ruby silver. The "big lead" on the properly is at places Kl feet lietween walls, and runs about 17.") oz. in silver and 75 ' lead. In 'S\ years' operations the mine turned out 2,818,().")r) lbs. of ore, netting $2)9,970 over smelter deductions, duty on lead, freight and treatment. This gave $187,500 in dividends, and during the last 9 months of 1897, and a portion of 1898, it paid $1()0,(H)() more or a total of $287,500. Much development work has since been done and a large lot of concentr-ating or-e is awaiting shi])ment to further' swell the profits. The entire product of the property averages 2."«) o/.. silver and ^2^ ' lead. The heavy cost of rawhiding irr the winter and packin^j; in the surmner', to be dispensed with when the tram is built, was another obstacle in the way of larger dividends. A blend of grey copper' and galena found on the property has run $400 to the ton. (17) THE GOOD-ENOUGH. Just south of the Reco lies the Good-enoii>?h, which nature apparently designed to be a portion of the same property, as it is traversed by the same small vein that has rendered the Keco so famous. In short, a cross-cut tunnel between the two properties has been converted into a connnon thoroughfare for the operations on both mines on this vein. The mine is owned in part by J. A. Whittier, of Kaslo, and others are inter- ested with him. There are on the property a cross cut tunnel 27") feet long, an upraise of 100 feet from the 5th to the 4th level. From the upper tunnels stoping to the surface has been done the same as at the Star and the Ajax. The mine has not been operated much of late for reasons known only to the owners; but in its shipping days it paid well, the ore averaging ;^H) oz. in silver and '1')% lead, in the galena, and some- thing less in the carbonates of which much has been found on the property. The mine has shipped in all probably 6()() tons, and has paid $:^,()(XJ in dividends. THE R. E. LEE Is owned by L. Alexander, of Kaslo. It is five miles from railway by trail. The ledge is galena with stroke northeast and southwest. In some parts it has developed a width of 18 inches. The property has about 8()(} feet of woikings in two levels connected by a 05 foot upraise. It has shipped in past days, averaging I'M oz. in silver and 75% lead, though of late but little work has been done on the propeity. THE BLUE BIRD Adjoins the Good Enough, and consists of two claims. There are found on the pioperty a 3(( foot ledge, assaying 185 oz. in silver and 75^ lead, and several stringers bearing ore of like value. The workings consist of a 75-foot shaft, a drift of 2(K) feet on the vein some 4 wide, with about inches of a pay streak. Some $50,1)0() worth of ore has been mined on the property, tha, ran 175 oz. in silver and 05% lead. THE AJAX Lies just south of and alongside of the Last Chance. It is said to have been located by the Hennessey Brothers, who did much exploration of the Slocan in the earlier days of its history. They sold out for a (\8) tiDiiiinJil figure to the Hfodeii Uti)s. of Iiliilio. These peoph- employed W. W. Wjiiiut (o woik (he propeity, and under instructiotiK he sloped from tunnel to !-\irfa«e to get the most out of the property iit the least possible expense. Some two years since it was bought by the present owners, the Ajax Mining and Devel- opment Co. It consists of three claims — the Ajax, Crown Point and Uandoin Shot. Mineral has been found on all three claims, but the Ajax only has been worked to any considerable extent. On the Ajax there are five tunnels, in length 210, 1j5, 80, 2X0 and 2Xy feet respectively; the latter is a crosscut and from it there is a drift of 1^00 feet on the vein. There is but one raise of (5j feet from No. 1 tunnel to the surface. There are two veins found on the Ajax claim. On the west one nil of the above work has been done. On the east vein there are three tunnils, in length, do, KM) and 200 feet, respectively, with no raises or winzes. On Crown Point there is one tunnel 185 feet. No work has been done on Random Shot, but croppings of ore are everywhere visible. About $35,(100 worth of ore hiis been shipped, much of which has gone into development. The ore averages 200 o/,. in silver and (55 lead. THE TREASURE VAULT. This mine lies between the I^ast Chance and the American Hoy on the Last ('hance Ledge. It has three tunnels— 125, 425 and ;{00 foot long; three upraises of I5(», 125 and 125 feet, and one winze of 50 feet. It is owned by Hroden Bros., of Idaho. It has shipped 10 cars of ore assaying 100 oz. of silver and (i5% lead. RUTH No. 2. This comparatively young property adjoins the Ruth proper on the west. It has two tunnels together about 350 feet along and a shaft some 80 feet deep. It is assumed from indications that the mineral will be the same as that of the Ruth. THE MINNESOTA SILVER CO. "The property of this Company is just above the Ruth and the Star, on a line nearly midway between those two, and drops quite a distance short of the summit of the mountain. From all sul)stantial appearances this mine will prove itself yet to be one of the largest shippers in the camp, if not the equal of the best. It consists of 11 claims: The Ivanhoe, Elgin, Bendigo, Morning, Tom Bowling, Transit, Big Kanawha, Great (10) 1 Knslern, Admiral Ni-lsoii, Kitclu'iicr and Valarie. The two first named are the principal ones worked, though ore has heon found on the (ireat l']astern, Tom IJowllnfi, Hi^f Kanawha and the Kitchener. The Hrst. thing that strikes the eye of the visitor is several thousand tons of ore lying on the diunp awaiting the construc- tion of the tram and concentrator that are to he built the coming summer. The mass consists of galena and concentrating (u-e, and lies at the mouth of a rjfi.'i foot cross-cut tunnel, which strikes the ore body in No. 4 tunnel, and is the main outlet and inlet to the entire property. There are a few other short crosscuts but they are merely testers to the higher tunnels. No. 4 tunnel is on the Klgin, and it and the Ivanhoe are the most developed of the claims. No. 4 tunnel is a drift both ways on the ledge some 1,H(M) feet long. About the centre of this tunnel an upraise of KM) feet on the ledge is made, landing the visitor on No. 3 tunnel, a drift of 400 feet on the vein also. This tunnel is an internal wt)rking wholly, as it does not extend to the siuface. Another ui)raise of 180 feet from the centre of No. '.i tunnel lands on No. 2 tunnel, a drift on the vein also some 400 feet long and extending to the surface. A corresponding upraise 75 feet m height takes the visitor to No. 1 tunnel, a drift of u'lO feet extending to the surface also. A cross-cut in No. 4 tunnel strikes a parallel vein some three feet in width, of high grade ore. From No. 4 tunnel a phaft on the vein is now down 150 feet, at a considerable angle, as the ledge makes a considerable dip. A gasoline engine is the motive power to raise the broken rock and metal and facilitate the operations. \\'hen double this depth is reached, a tunnel to the surface will be diiven, and be called No. 5. No attempt has ever been mad'' at realizing on the output, because of the distance to haul the ore and no sloping has been done save that < Ich was the natural result of making the workings. The little ore marketed was simply brought down \: the empty rawhides which took up supplies to the miners. It has assayed 100 oz. silver and "(» lead. Two things strike the eye of the visitor to this property forcibly— the healthy condition of the workings and the bunkhouse by perfect ventilation, under P. .1. Mickey's supervision, and the excellent food supplied the miners. We cannot leave the property without referring again to the great magnitude of the ore body, In fact its width has been ascertained but in few places by the management. In a careful observation the one wall may be seen in several places, but at no point are the two walls visible to the eye at the same ti Toe ; and the mass of ore overhead smiling through the timbers of the works is ample evidence of the wealth of the property. Generally there are about 40 men emploj'ed in the woiks. THE EUREKA. This mine is now owned by the Byron N. White Co., though some time since Bruce White, J. A. Finch and Charles Chambers were largely interested in it. It is up the mountain from the Star and may (20) IHHH imm be a continuation of the Stnr ledge, as the ore is of the same prade. It has not been worked nineh recently, though it has a 2()0 foot tunnel, and has shipped MIN) tons of $1.'}() ore. THE RICHMOND. On the same ledge as the Kiireka and the Star, hut below the latter is the Ilien shi|)ped with gratifying returns, and some of the highest assays of the camp have been got from samples of its ore. It was owned by ,1. V. Eaton up to a short time ago, when he sold it to the Sovereign Aiiinug Co., of Montreal. THE ARGO. This IS the neaivst mine to the city, and adjoins its northern limit. It is owned in part by Sandon parties. It was located in 18!Mt, by .1. A. ^Vhittier, Alex. McDonald and W. Snowdon. It consists of three claims. A tunnel has been run on the ledge and sevei-al inches of galena liave l)een encountei'ed ; but foi- some leason or other but little work has been done on it since the year of its discovery, though it has oue substantial advantage in proximity to shipping. THE WONDERFUL. As its name implies, this is a wotiderful property in many respects. It lies across a ra.'ine, about two miles to the south-west of Sandon. In the property are three claim-i. The parent property is properly speaking a collection of float ore, and the mineral is obtained through hydrauiicing. Flumes are huilt from Miller and tributary creeks close by. At intervals the water is tnrned on, as in gold washing, and after a clean up is made, when boulders of washed galena are picked up all over the washed . rea. To September last, over $(50,0(Ht had been re!>''7,ed from ore picked up in this way, and but little work has been done on the property since, owing to dispiites between the company and the management, which have resulted in a change of inanagei'. The ore found is a Hue galena, assaying 125 oz. of silver and about 7.") lead. It was the opinion of all having knowledge of mining that this collection of lloat ore was from a ledge higher up the hill, and come down in slides. This led to the driving of a l.:<(M)-foot tinine), cross cuts, drifts and upraises, until a fine ledge was recently uncovred. As other ledges are known to exist up the bill, it is apparent this must eventually become a fine p operty. THE MILLER CREEK. On the west of the Wonderful, or rather on the west extension of the ledges of the Wonderful, m situated the Miller ('reek nnne of thi'ee claims, owned by Spokane parties. As yet extensive work has not been done on the property ; but a couple of shipments nave been made, which have turned out very satisfac- torily. At the present about a dozen of men are at work driving tunnels. The first cioss cut is about 70 feet in length, reaching the ledge, and about 17") feet of drifting on the ledge has been done It is known the vein is a true fissure about six feet between walls, where explored, and cutting the foimations at right angles. The mineral shipped was taken the gangue matter of the vein. As but about ")() feet of vertical depth was obtained until the tunnel passed under Miller (^reek, the highest expectations could not be realized from the results. They were, however, better than anticipated. After the bed of the creek was passed, depth was obtained rapidly. A wide vein was encountered that is likely to make an excellent record for the property. THE NOBLE FIVE. This 's one of the oldest mines in the camp. It is situated on the north of Cody, north-east from Sandon and about M.', miles from the latter place. The ore on the jnoperty consists of both solid galena and carbonates. It embraces eight clainis, and it is known they are ti-aversed by two distinct ledges, the one passing tl. rough five of them and the other through thiee. In short, development has discovered a third ledge f)assing through the property, but. later operations will determine its value. The main ledge has surface Ill: ct'oppings of galena, spothic iron and blende, a characteristic of the district. These by turns are found adhering to the walls, under development. The ledges run north-east and south-west through liniestone and shale, and cut porphyry dykes, the best oi'e being found in the contacts. In the earlier days of the property the idea appeared to have been "a grass-root" property, as short drifts on the ledge and sloi)ing toward the surface was the order of oporcations observed. Since then a different system has been pursued, but until recently not under the most satisfactory management, either. Some years ago a 70-foot tunnel and short cross cuts were driven in the neighborhood of the great slide; but that working had to bo abandoned on account of the danger to operatives. Attention was then t\irned to another section of the property, where operations have been most satisfactory, as at present the showing of ore is most gratifying. Up to a y(\ir ago, about 12,()(K) tons of ore had been shipped, netting, it is said, some ,$.*)(t,(MI() in dividends. The carbonates assayed (iU oz. of silvei- and 1") ', lead. In many instances the galena runs 'i;')') oz. silver and 70 lead. These, of coui'se, are not the ordinary valiu's of the oie from week to week. The company at too early a day, however, crippled its resources by building a (!,1(H) foot l-'inlayson double rope tramway, with a capacity of 20 tons per hour, to a coiicenti-ator at Cody with a capacity of 120 tons a day. Throughout the entire workings the tunnel and upraise system so general in the Slocan is reduced to simplicity and efficiency here also. About a year ago Mr. James Punsmuir, a wealthy man of Victoria, put a large sum of money into the propei'ty, which has been for the most part devoted to development work. In this a couple of very imjjortant strikes li.ave been made exjiosing some of the largest galena bodies ever uncovered in the Slocan. No shipments have been made in the interval; but the ore mined in the improve- ment work is lying in the tunnels, and this with the bodies of metal uncovered, will make shipping very heavy and steady when it commences a few months later. It is generally decided the projjerty will yet take a first rank as a shipper, and as it always lias taken it in point of (|uality of ore, the Nclle Five, notwith- standing past changes in fortune, will, eveiylbing considered, be counted a No. 1 property. THE SOVEREIGN Is on the Reco IVfountam, about '2\ miles easterly from Sandon— a group o three claims. It is rea(;hed by the Ileco trail. The woikings are about 1, 50(1 feet above .Saiulon. They consist of drifts run on the vein, which dips at an angle of about .")0 degrees towards the sunt beast, the strike being noi th-east. .lohn A. (21) ^m mok Finch, of Spokane, a familiar ntaine in the Slocan, was one of the first owners, though it is now stocked by a strong Montreal company. Finch put in two levels 7") and J^OO feet respectively, and found ore at a depth of 150 feet— a 2()-inch vein of carbonates in several chutes, lie shipped five cars that ran KM) oz. of silver and (50% lead. The new owners have driven a third tunnel— a cross-cut tap|)ing the lead at a depth of 'M't feet. The main tunnel. No. 2, is now about 75() feet long, and No. 1 12.5. They are connected by a laise of 110 feet, througli ore all its length. The country rock is the agillite of the distrii^t with intrusive dykes of porphyritic (piartzite. The vein averages about five feet in width and porjihyry is a ieading element of the gangue. Something like 150 tons of ore have been shipped from the development woik alone as no stoping has been done. The li.anging wall of the vein is well defined, but the foot wall is much bi'oken and indefinite, much impregnated with 'he country rock, which ai)peai's to be an exception to the rule in the district. A fault occurs on the uppei- level forcing the vein sevji-al feet to the west ; but the workings readily overtook the vein again in the usual cour.se. Though many valuable chunks of galena have been found the boily is not sold, so the value of the mine will have, for the most part, to be determined by the (piantity and (piality of the concentrates. I^'rom some cars S(( oz. silver and (id lead have been realized. Mr. Uiblett was long the manager, and has the propei'ty eipiipped in excellent form. THE ST. REVERNE. This property is a group of six claims directly south of the Payne. ,Iohn A. I'^inch is largely interested in it. It is said to have the extension of the Payne lead. Another' vein ci'osses the property T'HI feet further south of the Payne ledge, on which considerable development has been done. The vein runs from .{ to 1 feet in width, and considerable of the metal mined has run 150 oz. silver and 75, ^ lead. THE AMERICAN BOY. On the Last ('hance lead and immediately below that mine stands the American l5oy. In its eailier days Thos. McGuigan shipped several cars of ore from the property, and in all it has produced so far fr'om $12,(M)0 to $15,(MKI worth. It is owned in Spokane. A cr'oss-cut tunnel of 550 feet is driven to this lead, below the upper tunnel. This gives a depth of about l,tM)0 feet i)elow the Last t!hance, and places the property on a good shipping basis ; birt (ov some reason or other' the owner's have done but lilth- with it the past few months. (25) I ' ! ; ' THE SLOGAN BOY. This mine is near by the Washington, and was formerly owned by S. K. Green. It has two ledges, one of which has three tunnels of about liiO feet of aggregate length. The second is the southern extension of the Washington ledge, and is tapped by a 2(K)-foot shaft at a depth of 1(K) feet. A drift from this of 225 feet connects with a 17()-foot tunnel on the ledge to the surface. Several cars of carboTiates and galena have been shipped from the property. That from the small Ieu>i,c gave '.V3i) oz. silver and 7") lead; that from the large ledge 1()0 oz. of silver and 7<) , lead. It has paid $25,(HM) in profits and is now bonded for $r)(),()()((. Many consider it one of the best properties in th" Slocan. THE CHAMBERS GROUP Of four claims, south of the Goodenougb, has a ledge of concentrating ore from 40 to (10 feet wide. It is traceable from Carpenter Creek up the mountain side. Some otlO feet of tunneling has been done on the group, and ore has been shipped that ran !J<) oz. of silver and 70 _ lead. Of late but little work has been done on the property. THE STRANGER Lies to the east of the Blue Bird. A couple of cars of ore have been shipped fiom it that gave very satisfactory returns. It is understood the propeity will be worked extensively the coming sumraet. THE SAPPHIRE AND JEM Claims, beyond the Payne and the Slocan Boy, have made some shipments that ran $120 per ton in silver and lead, but the ore does not aj)pear to be continuous in deposit. However, enough work has_ not been done on the property to decide the prospects foi' the future, and the same may be said of the Slocan Reciprocity close by. THE DUNEDIN, The upper sxtension t)f one of the Reco leads, though not yet a mine, is a good prospect There are about 150 feet of cross cubs, which so far have fallen short of the ledge. 1. Brown and ,Ias. Marshall are the proprietors. (20) THE NOONDAV. o ledges, extension [lis of 225 lena have from the ,■ $r)0,(M)(). ide. It is )ne on the has heen gave very t. on in silver IS. not been the Slocan re are about shall are the No work of any moment has been done on this property during the last two or three years, though some $70,(Xk} -.vorth of work was done on it some years ago, and it was then a shipper of a good grade of galena. It is situated above Cody, and is owned for the most part by Byron N. and Bruce White. THE BABY FRACTION Adjoins the Noonday above. It consists of two claims. There are on it two cross cuts of 20 feet each, and a drift of about 30 feet on the vein. There is every indication of a good pay streak in llie vein, but it has not yet been reached. THE BOLANDER. This property is owned by Ohio parties, and is situated still further i-.j) the hill than the Haby Fraction, on an extension of the Noonday lead. It consists of two claims and has one large and three small leads. There are on the ground a 280-foot cross cut and a lot of tunneling. It has never shipped, but has much ore ready for market, grading about 70% lead and 100 oz. silver to the ton. EAGLE NO. 2 Is up the hill from the Slocan Star, close to the Freddy Lee. It has done no shipping, but has ccnsiderablis development, exposing a high-grade galena. THE DEER SLAYER Is near Cody Creek. It has considerable development work done, and shipped 10 tons of ore over three years ago, but has made but little progress since. THE SUNSHINE. This promising property is two miles duo west of Sandon. It consists of seven claims— the Oregon, Yakima, Sunshine, Fraction, Santiago, .Miiu' and Nooiulay. Three ledges of large pri.portions have l)een found (27) ii on the prnper-ty. One runs through the Yakima and Mine claims, on which l.oOO feet of workings have heen made. But little cross-ciitting has been found necessary, as all of the ledges are well marked on the surface. The first is a tunnel on the vein. Higher up is a shaft on the vein, and a drift on the vein from the bottom of the shaft. The workings throughout are in good mineral, as.saying 100 oz. silver and 05% lead, and some god, in a 3 to 4-foot vein, whose gangue is quartz, calcite and spothic iron. The best lead is on the Simshinr, west side of the mountain which ridges through the projierty. There are on this lead two tunnels of 405 and 589 feet respectively. The latter will lie continued through the mountain, and from the last extremity a tram to Sandon will be constructed to bring down the ore of the entire property. Its length will be about 1,0(K) feet through the ridge of the hill. The pay streak is from 6 to 18 inches of galena and carbonates. On the east side of the ridge two tunnels of 105 and 100 feet have been driven on the vein also. On the Noonday claim a cross-cut of 150 feet has been run to the vein, from which a drift of some 30 feet each way has been made, in good ore all through. The present owners, the Sunshine Mining Co., Limited, have shipped no ore, though the previous owners, from whom the ('onij)any bought, shipped considerable before 1893. Members of the Company, especially Mr. P. J. Hickey, the local man.iger, have individually several properties around in that locality. i I THE VULTURE. One of the yt)ungest properties in the district is the Vulture, but it is not the least promising. It is situated three-quarters of a "lile above ('ody, and comprises two claims. There are about 180 fec^t of tunneling on a large sized ledge carrying from one to two feet of clean ore, assaying 130 oz. silver and 50 ' lead. .1. H. M. E. is the resident manager, and the Financial Mining Trust of Canada, of Vancouver, who are operating largely in the Lardo Duncan country, are the owners. THE TRADE DOLLAR Is generaMy considered a promising property, situated *o the north of Sandon, and near the Hlue Bird. It is owned by G. W. Hughes and W. Hudrow, and is worked by half a dozen men. It has made two or three shij.ments. Its ore is galena and it has about KK) feet of tunneling done. Later this mine will be an important entity in the Slocan camp. n i i THE HEATHER BELLE Is a young property adjoining the Queen liess on the north-east. It consists of four claims, and is now being worked by men. It is owned by a local company with head office at Three Forks. It has about l.fMK! feet of workings, three known leads hxve been found, and two of them have been worked, with a drift of (K) feet on one. ('ontinuous veins of ore have not yet been found but several pockets of high gnde galena have been frequently met with assaying 2(J<) of silver and 59 per cent. lead. THE SILVERITE Is supposed to be on the Quern Bess lead, on the Sandon side of Three Forks. It consists of three claims and is owned by ("ory & Foster. A cross cut has struck the lead which h.as the enormous width of i)(l feet. A drift both ways shows a pay streak three feet in width one half galena and the other concentrating ore, lime rock and talc fill up the balance v)f the lead. The lead has been traced down the hill I.IKKI feet exposing a (MM) feet chute of oi'e. At the foot of the exposure a second tunnel is driven in on a good show- ing of ore. THE COIN Near ("ody very much resembles the Wondeiful. Laige boulders are got by hydraulicing, Mr. ( '. .M. Wilson in charge hopes by continued opei'ations in the rock to stritte the parent lead. The prop(!»'ty is owned by Spokane people, and the ore boulders found are very rich. THE SELKIRK Owned by Sandon parties, is a new property, near the summit of Ruth Hill. A 150 foot shan't has been sunk on the lead in shipping ore most of the distance, and from the foot of the shaft a tunnel for the suiface has been driven in good ore. It is confidently predicted by competent parties this will yet be o»ie of the largest mines in the district. M. L. Grimmett, Sandon, is the secretary. THE OCEAN Is to the east of the Payne. A 120 foot tunnel has been driven, part a cross cut and part another lead in good ore. (29) OTHER PROPERTIES. Jiesides the foregoing there are the Ajax Fraction, the (Ireat Western, the Wisconsin and perhaps 1(X) others on which more or less work has heen done and many of them promising prospects; but it would take a work much larger than the size assigned to this to give an outline of their workings and promise, sufBce it then to say many of them, as well as many in the list described before are awaiting capital to work them. Many of the number are held by the prospectors who located them, who are for the most part men wit'iout means. In every case here as well as elsewhere in the district, there are many openings for most satisfa y investments. Any of the substantial residents of any of the places will take pleasure in putting enquirers on the proper way to get full i iform ition as to any of the properties named, and unnamed, in the whole district. \* (30) i i i v^KASLO AND DISTRICT.* This town is situated on the west side of Kootenay Lake on a beautiful side hill, and presents an injposing appearance when ajiproached by steamer. It is well situated for trade with the surrounding country and the Lardo-Duncan country, which is now the scene of much activity, two railways being built and many mines being opened up. The town was visited in 1804 by tire and by flood and suffered very heavy loss, but the enterprising citizens "stood by the ship," and have to-day a neatly built place of about 2,000 inhabitants for their trouble. The place has excellent electric light and water systems, good stores, hotels, schools, churches, a saw mill that supplies the whole country around with lumber, and one of the most com- plete ore sampling works in the country, of 1(K) tons per day capacity. The city has the head offices and eastern terminus of the Kaslo and Slocan Railway, and also the head office of a system of lake service. Although the place has, from its locality, the head offices of many of the mines of the interior it is not a typical mining town in the sense that Sandon and Whitewater are, but has more the airs of a com- mercial and shipping centre. However, as development proceeds it is found the place is not without its mineral resources, and very important ones at that. THE TRUE BLUE. In May, 1807, Mr. Stevenson located the True Blue and Peacock claims, about three miles from the city in a southeasterly direction. But little work was done on the property, however, for a year after, when No. 1 tunnel was driven on a strong body of copper and gold -15% of the former and about $6.50 of the latter. The hanging wall was struck at a distance of 25 feet when a drift on the lead was commenced and continued with gratifying results. Later a second tunnel lower down was commenced, and in February last ore was struck in this, also carrying in addition to the values in tunnel No. 1 a quantity of silver. The country rock is serpentine and slate, and the ledge shows plainly on the surface in the two claims of the property. The Hall Mines Co. have bonded the property at $65,000, and are putting in a tram to the lake and a flume to secure water power to drive a compressor and improved working machinery. This is the only copper mine of the camp as far as discovery is made. It may be added a number of other claims have been located in the locality, but enough is not yet known of their value to give them a space in this report. (31) THE LEVIATHAN GROUP. Across the lake and about two miles from the city is located the Leviathan group. It is owned by a Kaslo company, and consists of eight claims— Mayflower, Tecumseh, Tiger, Vanderbilt, SmiHower, Nancy Hanks, Consolidated and Mollie Marsh. Some 20 men worked on the property much of last fall (that of 1898) and at length were rewarded by an excellent showing of copi)er with a moderate value in gold, the whole reseml)ling very strongly the outpiit of the Rossland camp. THE MONTEZUMA AND MEXICO. fork of Kaslo Creek, which is, from a six miles distant. It is best reached road two miles. A wagon road all the be of much importance to the place. Ilossitei and John Sandon, after whom This property in point of age, development and improvement, is the most important one on the south mining point of view, the principal feeder of the city. It is about by rail to the South Fork Hotel — four miles distant, then by wagon way from the mine to the city is projected, and when completed will This property was located in 18i)l by Edward Becker, .T. McLeod, C the City of Sandon has been called. It is now, however, owned by a Seattle company, having been purchased by them. Some time ago considerable shipping was done by the mine, though but little of late, awaiting the construction of less expensive transport. In No. 2 tunnel at a depth of 100 feet from the surface is an ore chute of 20 feet width. The third tunnel is in 800 feet, and has run about 75 feet on the ledge at a depth of 400 feet vertically. A 100-ton mill has been completed, with a double cable tram from the mine to the mill some distance below. An air compressor is also in working order, and drills are operated by air power, the whole institution being lit by electricity. The ore is con- soncentrating and the concentrates yield about 70% lead and 70 oz. silver. It is one of the best equipped mines in the country The mill cost $.50,000. • SLOGAN LIBERTY GROUP. A short distance further up this branch of the stream, and on the same side, is the Briggs group, or Slocan-Liberty, a bunch of nineteen claims. It is now owned by the Slocan-Liberty Hill Mining Co., of Spokane. About 1,200 feet of workings are on the property. Although a small amount of average ore has (32) IMTll CONCKSTKA TOK, been shipped in past years none has been shipped lately, the compnny preferring to have the claims properly developed and gol ready for improved working machinery, a compressor plant being the only machinery so far at work on the propeity. THE BLACK FOX. This mine is further up the creek again on the opjMisite side. It is owned by Victoria people. No shipments have been made, but the pioperty is known to have a large body of concentrating ore that will be turned to good a(!count by the concentrator the Company are talking of building. THE BISMARCK. This is a property of several claims, seven miles from the railway at South Fork. E. P. Sherwood, of Spokane, has it tmder bond. Some S()tl feet of tunnelling is in on three sections, all nearly equal in length. The ore chute shows a width in most places of about (! feet. About 70 tons of ore have been shipped that ran 150 oz. silver and 25 lead, though samples have been found that assay nearly double that value. THE GIBSON Is a group of two claims on which have been located three important leads. The pioperty is owned by the (iibson Mining ('()mi)any, and is 11 miles from Kaslo. Tlie three lea ^ have been struck ity one cross cut, they being parallel, the first at :}5 feet, the second at 50, and the third ' 250. A tunnel of consideraV)le length has been driven (Ui the third ledge, which shows it to have over foui- i, of pay ore at 125 per cent, silver, and 75 per cent, lead, in places the whole ledge matter assaying 50 per it ilver, and 00 per cent, lead. Some shipments have been made. THE SILVER BELL AND B.N. A. Are two properties close to one another that bid fair to be the "tloweis of the camp." One lead known to have a length of well on to l,5(HI feet, crosses both locations. A gi'eat deal of work has not been (34) done paitly for tlie reasi^ii the claiius are of late lotatioti. The ore found in the workinj^s is native silver in iron, jjfenerally found with the sulphides, galena, zinc blend, and pyrites. The product jo far has brought about $1,115 per car. THE JENNIE Has been opened by a forty foot shaft and a ledge from four to seven feet of concentrating oie which averages KM) ounces of silver and a small quantity of lead and gold. THE SILVER BEAR Was bought by the Reddin .lackson Co., of Rossland, some two years ago for .$2ij,(HHl. It has three ledges exposed by two cross t-uts. The first ledge has a width of 1") feet cari'ving some 7 inches of high grade car- bonates, and five or more feet of talc c-arrying kidneys of galena that assay very high. The seconil ledge carries three feet of pyritic iron, galena and spai' and a furthei' ([uantity of talc somewhat mineralized. The third lead carrii - three feet of spar and some inches of carbonates that run KH) per cent, silver and some lead. The second cross cut is 10 feet long, cutting the first ledge which shows 18 inches of 20(1 ounce carbon- ates. A 20 ft. shaft on this ledge shows 18 inches of high grade carbonates also. The property has made some shipments. In the Kaslo district are the mines on While (irouse .Mountain, those of Duncan River and Midge Creek, but they are beyond the limits assigned to this pamphlet. (35) .seAINSWORTH DIVISION^ For lec-oidiiif:; ami otluT .such purposes, tlio Slocui country is divided into four districts— Slocan, I'lnlnaciiiK New Deuvci', Silveitoii, Tlireo h'oiks, Saudou and .Mc(iuigau: Slocan City, enibmcing Springer and Lemon Creek properties, and all the country tributary to Slocan City; Nelson, taking in all the south country, and Ainsworth, embracing all the country suriounding Kootenay Lake and Whitewater inland. Ainsworth Division includes a superficial area of 2,.")(H1 s(|uai'c miles, and includes some of the oldest i)roperties in the country. In so fai' as work actually done, the ores are found to be, generally speaking, low grade, though many of th.em take an average rank. As the bodies are, however, large, (piantity makes up for dellciency in (pialily, and with the improved shipping facilities, improved facilities for woiking operations and lowered smeller charges, they are sui'e to come to the front as satisfacloi'y investments. THE BLUE BELL. .Ml authorities agree the Hhie Hrll. nea.r Pilot May, was I he lirst mine discovereil in the Sloeau. Some creilit David Douglas, a celebrated bot.inist, with the discovery in the early twenties, while scouring the hills in that neighborhood in search of botanical cmiositiet-. Others say it was known to the Indians still earlier, who used the h-ad they found therein in m.iking bullets, and that they in turn communicated the secret of their lliul to the Hudson M.iy Co. All, howiver, though unsetlled on the original discoverer, acknowledge it. w.as the first known to the white man. hi ;i .'•hort time afiei' other claims were located in the neighborhood, and though passing through two or thTf(> ownerships, liiutlly canu" into (he hands of the Kootenay Mining and Smelting Co., who erected a capacious concent r.itoi' and smelter at Pilot Hay, for (he handling of the ore they expected to speedily mine on their pioperty. Hut (here were eienuMils working against (he successful operation of (he smeKei-, the cost of fu<>l, the low grade of the oies and the d^ftlcuKy of obtaining fluxes. These, however, are lai'gely overcomi' by the opening of the Crow's Nest Pass iAilway, delivering a plentiful supply of cheap fuel from l-'ei'iiie. Dry ores are expected in plenty from the Duncan River district to the north-west, and also lime lock, ii'on ores, etc., the chit'f essentials in the successful (:k() rids— Slocan, Springer and utli fuiintry, Ainswcirth crties in the iiuiv, (lioiigh deticioncy in and lowered (ipi'iation of tlie snieltci'. 'I'lionnh tiie ores nf the distiiit. aie low in silver, tiicy are lii^li in lead, and when those of the numerous pt-ospei'ts staked out. on hoth sides of the lake, in easy reach of the smeller, develop their usual quota of mines, there is no reason why the lonj^ idle stueller should not he liu'nod to useful account. In a word all that it wanls is capita) to open up the adjacent prop(>rlies, to make smelting here a. successful venture. THE EUREKA GROUP lias had ei^hl or nine men employed the past year, mostly on development work. .As the locality is suhjeci t.o dangerous snow slides work is cunliiu'd for the most part to the summer seasun and the early winter. During the past year ahout 12.") tons of ore, argentiferous galtMia of more than average gr.ide, have heen taken from the property. There are six cl.aims on the property, the j>rincipal work heing di>n" so f.ii' on three the Kureka, llonu'stake and ^'(lse|nile. .\hout l,r>(N) feet of workings jii'e on the properly, I'onsisting of tumiels in ci'oss-cuts, diifts on the veins, winzes, shafts and upi'aises. the vSlocan. Iiile sooiuing the Indians iinmiuiicated .1 diseoverei', e located in ands of the {ay, for the Ids working he dirtlculty 'ass vailway, the Diuiean le euccessfnl HOT SPRINGS. I'^xcepting the Mine Mcll, this is the oldest camp in the whole Slocan country, many of the claims dating hack as far as ISS;{. As has heen said elsewhere of low-gi'ade oi'cs, the high smi'ilei' rates and «lefeclive shipping have to a I'onsiderahle degr<'e retanlcd progicss. In the old oi'dcr. too, operations weie very expen- sive— haiul drilling, manual windlas- ■ and mule packing. These are giving way in this camp, as well as elsewhere, to air compicsscd drills, tramways, steani hoists and conceiil i;ilors, much reducing the cost of proiluct i(Ui "111 transpoil. In the camp are the following mines: SILVER GLANCE. This property is hut recently on the shipping list, ;ind promises well. it is located two miU's up Woodhury Creek, and was discovered in ISlKi iiy W. I''ranklin, A. McLeod and •''. L. l''ilch. I'sually fioin (Ive to ten men are employed. A Minnel has heen d i'ange in silver. Si. fat aiimii "J.'in tons of ore have heen miin'd. r^ THE TARIFF ts one mile Boiith of the Town of Ainsworth, .ind is ownt'il liy Bi-.iden IJros., of Helena, ^lontana. The ledge runs north and south between schists and (piai'tzites. charactetistie locks of the locality. ft is a long one and has very distinct surface woikings. Some .'lO tons of oie. yielding Sd o/. silvei', 55 lead and a s-mall (luantity of gold, were taken from the surface cuttings in 1S!)7, and hut little work has heen done on the property since. From the principal cut made, an incline of KHI feet was made, which ran Sil feet in 12 to ;i() inches of good galeTia. A very large hed of (|uarl/ite, jirohahly M(l feet thick, foims the footwall and is supposed to cari'y enough ore for concent lat ion. THE RAND. About 15 men are emi)loyed on this propeily as an average and several shipments have heen r.ai ? One of its peculiai' characteristics is surface showings, a wide ledge, showing itself in one instaiue for np\.',;i of SO feet. TWiN. There are live tunnels on the ledge of this mine varying in 'ength fmm liCd to UK) feet .uid upwards. Argentiferous galena is the output of tlie pro|)erty. THE TAMARAC Is houded lo Am rican parties who have driven a tunnel sliiking the vein at ahout 150 feet vertical depth which will he used by the Surprise \n-o\wily close by. A small (|uantil y of faiily good ore has been sliippcd. Usually a dozen men are at work on the property. THE NUMBER ONE \Va.s early woiked by Winds )r. .\.S. pjirties. It consists of two claims and part interests in others and a mill site, it is ih miles by road from the town. The ore body is developed by stopes nearly l(M» feet long and fi'om I to 12 feet wide, is enclosed l)y limestones sboles and slates, its dip is changed by faults. A cross cut tops the ore body in !175 feel, and from it a ilrifi follows a fault wall HiO feet with a '.i'i loot winze The ledge a long one nil a (•inall :ine on the in 1:2 to :m) vail and is lieen i.ui e to the stopes above. The property has a null of 2() tons a day capacity, is run by water and .''cam. and con- centrates 1 to 1 ; these concentrates have given from *:?(K) (o $m) to the ton. The hulk of the output goes through the mill, hut some shipments of galena have been made direct. About '.i:, men are usually employed. THE SKY LINE Is a group of three claims, (i miles by road from Nelson, and is owned by A. W. .McCune, of Salt Lake. The ledge is in a slate and limestone formation, running north and south and occupies fractured zones impregnated with ore. The ore bodies are considerably flattened aiul ten to twelve feet thick often crossing horizontally from wall to wall. An incline 87 feet has been sunk on the ledge and a shaft 'JfMI feet, the two connecting with 12(1 feet of drift and an upr.iise of 10 feet to the incline. The ore is argentite native silver and galena, with some gray coppei^ and iron pyrites, and averages ot I |)er cent. silvei>. All told the shaft is to be extended to JoO feet depth, in dry ''}''^''^^ '^ ^J^, ,,"\er grade ..f n.ineral. energy has been put into the operations of '^e l-l-ty -^ /,,.,p,,.„ u,at in The geological fo.mation is nmch the same as that of other ,^^^\\ ''^^ , ' . ' j,, ^„he,.s they cut across it places much schist is found. In some cases the ledges run w.th the f »''''^;^^^^^^^^^ / e c.untrv roek by ore. !; true fissures, while others again are ^o^^^^fJ^^^^'Z:"^^^ . :;l^'^Z:^l.:^ X^^. suiphides with a quart/, or calcite. The ores va.y from so ul galena '^°/ "^ ' '^ f^ , j„,^^ . g^je,,,, ,^ith gold disseminated through r:;r;,s;::LTn:xr;^ «—• - - --™ and pyrrhatite. (H; ii W .^WHITEWATERS About midway hetwciMi Kaslo and Sandoii dm tlu; K iV: S. H. 1{.. stands tin- little town of Whitewater. It is not large as j'et, and nevei' will he hnt what the surrounding; mines make it; hut as its mines are as far as developed among the hest in the c'ou..lry, and likely to he numerous. Whitewater must become a place of considerable importance. It now has two oi' three sto'-es, as many good hotels, and other necessary accommodations for lesidents and visitors. The most important mine at present is THE WHITEWATER. This property is aliout ono and a-half miles from the town by a good wagon I'oad. For years Mr. T ('. Katon (the locatoi' in ISiU), struggled with it as a pro.^pcct, believing there was wealth in his holding, and he was not ilisjippohited. Associating with him two ov thi'ce Kaslo parties, they made of it one of the most celebrated jjropertics in the count ly. One of its advantages was a yield of ore at every step in development, lessening the drain on the purses of the original owners. ,\s the country rock on both sides of the fissure for several feet is nnuh shatteied, hut little blasting is .reciuiied in opei'ations. This saving is, however, offset to some extent by the heavy timbering reipiircd. This mine made some of the first shipments from the Slocan, when I lu' total chai'ges were .$1110 per ton. The properly has seven tunnels, all on the ore body, of various lengths with the usual winzes and upraises. About a a year ago the original Company sold out to the Whitewater Mines Co., an English syndicate, for a sum running well up to half a million dollars. I'p to that date it had paid ab(>ut ,$2< 1(1,(1(10 in dividends, and has improved on its record ever since. 'The vein has been exposed on the s'.ii'face for well on to S.")0 feet. In the seam and along the foot wall, theie is usually spothic iron of varying thickness, sided with galena and followed by carbonates or oxidized ore. The jiropei'ty has a concentratoi' of l:i(l tons a day capacity, and shoitly will di'ive more tnimels lower down near the mill, and through which all of the ore will be handled. So far but little has been done in the way of sloping, nearly all of the proi'.u'' loming from development work alone. The ore is high grade iirgcntifei'ous galena. The mim* employs a ><■■'. 120 men. The pro|)erty to date has paid well on to HiliOll.dOO in diviilends. An account of its shipnuMitu appe.irs in later p.iges. Its output averages lit oz. silver' and liO lead. i K. \ S. TkAIN at WlUTICUAlKK. . tHE WHITEWATER DEEP. This property embraces the Whitewater Deep, the Wliitewatei' Deep Fraction, Nancy Hanks, Wedge Fraction, the Fresno on the Whitewater lead and other claims, eight in all. They have all been purchased by R. K. L. Brown, who is besides the principal owner of the townsite, including about 150 acres of land all told. The development work consists of an adit tunnel of some fiOO feet that has cross-cut the lead 1,()(K) feet below the apex of the Whitewater mine. This level is said to be deepest in the Slocan, ar.d is anothei" proof wealth is got with depth in this country. A second level is in 7") feet above the first and an upiai.se between them connec'tiiig. In this latter some four feet of solid galena was encountered. Directly opposite the concentrator sire .i cross-cut tunnel has been driven, cutting the vein .")()() feet below the chief workings. The ooiuitry rock of the locality consists of dayslates, across which the vein runs in an easterly and westerly direction, the strike being SO degrees north and the dip south-west about 10 degrees. But little blasting is re(iaired as the gangue is soft and easily broken. The concentrator of the property is close to the R. R. track and has a capacity of 125 tons daily, and at the mouth of the long tunnel, alongside the concentrator, is an air compressor driven by a water wheel at higii pressure. One of the latest discoveries on the property is the tapping of the Whitewater lead in the ujjper trrnnel, which produces the same values as the upper mine. The mine eini)loys usually SO or 90 men. THE CHARLESTON. Above the Whitewater' half a mile is located the ('harleston miire, owi.cd by the Mitchell Bros., of Winnipeg, for the most part. The workings on this ar-e 1,200 feet of tunnel cr-oss-cut with a drift on the vein. Some seven or eight cars of ore have been shipped averaging about $100 a ton net, although from the drift samples assaying over 7IM) oz. silver have been taken, giving assur-ance the property is a very desirable one. A tunnel is being driven on the Keystone, the second claim, which is calculated to tap the vein at considerable depth. THE WELLINGTON. On the same mountain, westerly one arrd orre-half rrriles from the Whitewater-, lies the Wellington gr'oup of seven claims. There are two ledges in the slate for'rnation of the district, one rrmning north-east and south-west, the other a wide crushed zone carrying stringers and pockets of quartz, spothic iron and calspor, running east and west. A 170-foot cross-cul laps one ledge at a depth t)f 40 feet, and an 8(K)-foot (44) iks, Wedge 1 purchased of land (ill d 1,()(X) feet, is another an upraise ;ly opposite f workings, nd westerly- blasting is the R. R. )ncentrator, le property the upper 11 Bros., of rift on the h from the y desirable he vein at Wellington north-east c iron and an 8(M)-foot cross-cut taps the othei ledge at ooO feet depth. All the workings are through this level. The ore is carbon- ates and galena with gray copper and zinc blende. Some 4()0 tons have been taken from the mine a couple of years ago, averaging 17(1 oz. silver and W lead, l)ut of late years but little work has been lone. THE JACKSON MINES Consist ot five claimr, five miles south of Whitewater town, and are reached by a wagon road. Several months ago the property changed hands, but they are known to have been a paying property to both companies. The ledge cuts through the carboniferous shales, slates and limestones. The characteristics are : from the footwall a layer of zinc blende, then about 18 inches of solid ore followed by several feet of milling ore to the other wall. The first or highest tunnel ran into a large mass of decomposed matter and blende, the next is 60 feet below on the ledge, the next is a cross-cut the fourth on the ledge, the fifth is from a string cropping of black Jack and eruptive rock followed by a foot of galena. The ore aveiages some ,$}X) a ton at (iOc. for silver. It is estimated the miue so far has netted over .'iJ.")0,(MH) in profits. THE DARDANELLES. This group of four claims lies between the mines tril)utary to Whitewater and those belonging to iMcGuigan. It is owned chiefly by Vancouver parties. The first work on the property was a 22(l-foot cross- cut and l,:«K)-foot drift on the ledge which cut the slate and poiphyiy dikes at right angles. I<"rom this shipments averaging ^li") oz. silver and 25 lead were freely made a couple of years ago. There are on the property a steam hoist and pumps, and much development has been done on parallel ledges. It is known the mine has made considerable money for the owners, but the amount cannot well be ascertained. In the neighborhood are the Corean, the Lone Stai', the Sunset, the Colorado, the lOldon, the Crown Point, Alameda, Sir Charles -prospects from many of which ore has been taken ; but wo nuist forego a description of them as they are not mines within the meaning of this review. THE HILLSIDE Is another property rapidly coming into prominence, up well, and will shortly be a steady shipper. (45) Under development rapidly pushed it is showing ^McGUIGANuJ 11 ^ \ This is a station on the K. and S. R. R., ftve miles east of Sandon, and the mines tributary to it are described as follows : At a great height and some \,'M) feet south of the R. R. lies the Lucky Jim, with its ore house on the track and ground tram from the mine. The ledge is given as in a fouUed contact between slate and limestone, and galena, large proportions of zinc blende, iron pyrites and carbonates occur in large pockets and side fissui-es. The ore bodies are large but low grade foi' the locality. Its highest grade assays about 75 oz. silver and .")() lead, while its second grade is much lower. It has a concentrator, through which most of the ore produced has been passed. It was rjcently bought by an English Company for the zinc the ore carries. The property is worked by power' drills. THE RED FOX Consists of two claims, the Red Fox and C^entral claims. The property adjoins the Antoine on the north. On the Red Fox there are three tunnels— 8"), Hio and 110 feet respectively, the latter a cross-cut. Al)out $o,C{M) wvirth of ore has been shipped, assaying 2(10 oz. silver' and (iO^e lead. THE WASHINGTON. This is an old property close to the summit of Payne Mountain, on the north side. It consists of two claims wholly, and a major interest in three others. It has the first concentrator built in the Slocan. one of ")() tons a day cap;icity. It is l,4r)() feet from the mine and the distance is covered by a gravity tram of ample proportions. The concentrator is in turn three miles distant from the K. and S. R. R. at MoGuigan. The concentrates are hauled that distance down a "switchbock" wagon road. The property has but one well- defined ledge, and that averages six feet in width with a stroke north-east by south-west. Its gangue inatter is spothic iron and decomposed ore. In the vein are foimd large bodies of clean galena and but (4(5) I i iry to it are )re house on en slate and pockets and about 75 oz. lich most of sine the ore httle carbonates. There are three tunnels on the led^e. i^ivinK a depth of :«() feet. The workings in, ludins upraises, aggregate l.r,r,(. feet in length. Some 2(l.()(K) ions of „re, ron.enlrafed to one-.hiMl, have been shipped. Some (rfJ cars of crude ore shipped in early days yielded )H( ox. .silver and (Id lead. In all JiiKiOIKKi worth of ore has been shipped yielding dividends of some $2."),(M)0. THE TOM MOOR. J. C. Ryan owns the Tom .Moor, a property of one claim adjoiMlng the A.doine. It has a ledge of quite the average width, and a fair-sized paystreak that assays ISH) o/.. silver an.l TS lead. No shinpimr has yet been done. A drift loO feet on the tunnel has been made, giving a vertical d.>ptl, of l.-,(l feet It has every indication of turning out a proHtable mine. THE SOHO AND RED CROSS ome on the a cross-cut. Are well-develoi)ed prospects between the Antoiiie mine and on the ledge large boulders of high-grade galena have been fouiul. THE RAMBLER-CARIBOO. Mc(iiilgan. in an experimental tunnel sists of two )can. one of ty tram of McGuigan. it one well- Its gangue la and but This property of four claims and a f taction, of late is the heaviest shi|.iH'r in the locality. It has two distinct series of ledges, some of them in granite carrying tetrahedrile and .lamesonite with galena a little blende and copper pyrites and a small seam of galena running through the slate and porphyry close to the granite contact in places, three feet and more in the tunnels. In sections in the tunnels gray copper has been found in quantities. As high as 40() oz. silver, $7..-.() in gold and 2" cppei' has been got from smelter returns. The dry ore vein of the Best has been found on this property also, aassaving (5(10 oz. silver Considerable carbonates have also been found, luiining 175 oz. silver and 22" lead. The mine is said to have paid $125,000 in dividends. Its workings consist of cross-cuts, drifts on the veins, raises etc The coir-pany has been reconstructed lately, and the great wealth of th^ mine is to be given considerable attention the coming year. (17) E^i^^i 1 i Ml i i! I ! i ^ t THE BEST. This mine is about four milps from MeGuigdii, by wagon road. It consists of two claims and is owned by A. VV. MeOune, of Malt Lake, G. W. Hup:hes, Scott McDonald and others. It is on the granite ridge separating thi^ Be.st and Dardanelles basins, and which is seamed with qna.rtz ledges from a few inches to >T fefcL in width, running noith-east and south-west. Its ores are for the most part the same as those of the pi'Pceding proppi-ty. The property has an incline shaft, 75 feet, with drifts therefiom in three feet of ore. A lower tunnel struck eciually good ore at a moderate depth. Some years ago considerable shipping was done from the mine, though it has been at a ('omi)arative standstill foi' the last two years. THE ANTOINE. A group of three claims, has been wiirkel cnnside»ai)ly the past two years. The ledge worked carries three feet of excellent oi-c. The pi'operty has paid se%'eral dividends, and exjjerts say it is capable of p.iying many mf)re. THE SURPRISE. The large basin south of .Mc(iuigan, in which so many promising m'nes and prospects are 1' 'd, has given its name to this propeity, owned by .\lex. Smith, of K.islo, atul ,1. ('. Ryan, an extensive o r in that district. A coujjle of yeais ago this mine made regular shipments, paying its way from the . .*rt, on account of the facility with whi^h its high-grade ore is stoped. AH told it is said to have paid its owners over .'jili^OdO. TH : RUBY SILVER. So named from the hiph-tri-ade ore found in its workings. Though usually classed as a McGuigan property, it usually shijjs via Saiidtn, being located directlv north of the Noble Five on the great divide. It has never been a heavy shipper, because its ore bodies .ire small, but its high grade makes up to an extent for its lack of quantity. It has been known to make shipments assaying 25(J oz. silver and (50% lead. On (48) '% ) claims and ia on the granite m a few inches inie as those of n three feet of leiahie shipping ^ears. account of its altitude, baing snow-covered most of the year, it cannot he worked many months at a time, bist it is none the less a desirable property. THE SILVER BELL Is owned by the Silver Bell Co., of Spokane, and is located just below the Red Fox. It usually employs from five to eight men, Mike Sweeney being one of its last foremen. Like most other properties in that district its ore bodies are small, but of a very high grade. ledge worked it is capable of ts are 1' 'd, bensive o i from the . ..*rt, have paid its ts a McGuigan 'eat divide. It p to an extent 06% lead. On (40) ^SLOGAN CITY^ A This Hltle town at the foot of Slocan Lake is one of the prettiest townsites in the whole country. It nestles within tiers of gradually asconding hills covered with heautiful evergreen trees, and has plenty of room for a city of largo proportions. The first settlers located 18i)l, thoiif4:h but little building was done until the following year. The river outlet as well as the lake are well filled wi'u fish and afford an excellent scope for the sportnian. Like all other towns in the Slocan the town has excellent hotels, stores, schools, a record office and all other conveniences for miners and mining men. It is connected by rail with Nelson, and by boat on the lake with all northern points. Springer Creek running through the place furnishes plenty of head for considerable water power and a supply for an ample water system. As early as 1885 prospecting was done in the locality and then followed in »':\pid succession many of the locations that must yet make the place an important mining centre. The formations of the district are of themselves ample e»idence of mineral wealth— granite p>'cdominating. AN'hile most of the properties are g?! ""a with gold vnlues, some of them are gold in-opo.sitions throughout, iiulicating as it were the dividing line • i i\ ;en the gold district to the south and the galena in slate of the .SivK-au district proper. For a numL( ■ jf easi'y exj)lained reasons the distric has not in the j)ast made the i)rogress its wealth fully warrants, yet much development has been dona with such satisfactory results that it is now coming to the front very rapidly. Assays have shown as high as 2,O0<) ounces of silver in some of the properties and considerably over $100 in gold in others. As a rule the original settlers of this district were possessed of no more means than those of other localities, and as they have for the most part conducted the major part of the mining operations so far amongst themselves, it is an assurance capital could accomplish wonders in the district. THE ARLINGTON.. In many respects, so far as work has gone, this is one of the most important mines in the camp. The mine consists of two claims, the Arlington and liuiliiigton. It is on the northern slope of Springer Creek and has a ledge of mineralized granite fro n four to six feet wide, striking Tujrtheast and south-west m lie country. s plenty of done until n excellent , schools, a Nelson, and ihes plenty 111 many of ;he district properties lie dividing er. I'\)r a ealth fully ng to the Jt'i'ties and ssed of no jor part of iers in the across V)oth claims. The ledge is full of stringers o'.' flne-grained galena and zinc blende, with large values in native silver. A 7.'')-f()ot shaft has been sunk in o:e, with considerable drifts at itt and 70 feet respectively. In assays taken lot ounces of silver and 22i % lead have been found. An IH-horse-pcnver boiler and hoist are the machinery. The property had been in luiga^ion for some time, and only recently emerged from it. THE TWO FRIENDS. This iiropecty is some st-ven miles from town on the divide between H.pringor and Lemon ("reeks. It lias a ledge of high-grade galena, striking north-east and south-west. A 25.foot cross-cut taps one ledge at H depth of 21) feet, and show." i', four feet wide with a 12 to 15-inch jiay streak. A long eastern dr'l't shov galena next the foot wall and zinc Meiide on the hanging wall. A 2(K)-foot cross-cut then tapped the leu^ ' ,at a depth of 100 feet, here three feet wide with several inches of hign-grade zinc blende, changing to galena in some of the workings. A drift east shows a pinch out and another important ore chute. Two years ago it shipj)ed considerable ore that realized from .$150 to $2.50 to the ton net. On the eastern vein a shaft and cross cut reached a considerable body of excellent ore also. THE HOWARD GROUP. This property consists of four claims and two fractions and is on the divide referred to in last property. It is owned by local parties. Tiie ledge runs east and west tliiough granite, dipping about 15 degrees north. An incline folk>ws it down over 100 feet, except where f.iults occur, and shows about, a foot and ahalf of honey-comb of argentite quaitz. The mine has shipped considerable ore .".veraging about 100 ounces of silver and $20 in gold. It ia a very promising property. It is owned by a Toronto Company. THE CAMERONION tlie camp, f ypringer south-west Is owned priiunpfdly by Sandon parties. It is a gold propositi*. !' in granite. It has an immense ledge of (piartz, and from the two cars of ore shipped, the returns were the same as the LeRoi at Rossland. On the principle that value increases as depth is reached, under development this property is certain to prove very valuable to the owners. (51) GOLDEN WEDGE. This mine is on the north fork of Lemon (Jreek. It is reached by pack trail from the town. It is also reached from Nelson by sleigh road. It is owned by the British Canadian Gold Fields, There is an upper cross-cut of 50 feet and a .'iOO to l(X)-foot drift on the vein. The vein is tapped lower down by a 175 foot crc, o-cnt, A drift of 150 feet is made on the vein at this point. The ore is free milling quartz in the common granite country rock. The mine is connected by a two-mile wagon ro{»d with a 10-stamp mill at Oro. Altogether about 50 men are employed at the mine and the mill, THE CRUSADER Is near by, has a shaft of some 60 or 80 feet, and has mined several tons of ore very similar in grade to that of the Golden Wedge. It is a group of three claims. It is owned by W. H. Hellyar, of Brandon, Manitoba, and bought for $21,000. THE BANK OF ENGLAND. Is worked to some extent through the first workings of the Two Friends mine. It shows a high-grade body of galena and zinc blende. Lately under better development it is showing up to excellent advantage in the size of its ore body and grade of production. Outside parties are now considerably interested in it. THE METEOR Was originally owned by .John A. Finch and John Sheran. On surface work, at first a 20-inch ledge of diy ore was encountered. It is owned by John A. Finch, of Sjiokane. THE CHAPLEAU Is situated near Dayton Creek. A tuimel has been run about 125 to 150 feet on the (juartz vein, carrying high values of gold and silver in ()yrites of iron. The latest report is the jiroperty is being examined by Toront -arties with a view to purchasing. (52) THE ENTERPRISE. town. It is There is an wn by a 175 quartz in the itanip mill at lilar in grade of Biandon, This property, eight miles up Ifl-mile Creek, or neatly midway between Slocan (Mty and f^ilverton, is a group of two claims and is one of the largest properties on Slocan Lake. .John A. Finch, of Spokane, owned it years ago and sold it to D. M. Hyman, of Colorado, lor .$:«H),(HK). The ledge is in granite and strikes north-easl and south-west. The ore is galena with much zinc blende in (piait/. gangue and generally hugs the foot wall. Four tunnels have been driven in the ore, leaving the ledgi? on one side. The lowest opened a 7-inch chnte continuous a great length, probably KH) feet. The second tuimel is 175 feet above, and at H(HJ feet has an upraise to the surface. At 'A'M) feet a fault was struck, but the ledge was picked up again and carried over a foot of solid ore. The third tunnel is ■.'.■> feet above the second. The foiuth tunnel is iX) feet above the third. All these tiunnels have exposed the longest ore chutes, it is said, in the Slocan. It has shipped the most ore of any mine in the district. It has over IJ.olH) feet of workings all told. The ore runs high in silver and carries some zinc blende, gray cop[)er and steel galena. It has ,a wharf of its own on the lake, on which it often has from olH) to l,(Kl() tons of ore awaiting sbipuient. The property is now owned by the London iV: \i. C. (Jold Fields Co., and is valued at ,$l,OiM),();)(). The shipments have gone 170 ounces of silver and 'H) lead. a high-grade advantage in ;d in it. 2(J-inch ledge THE BONDHOLDER. Uj) the hill from the Knterprise, and presumably on the same ledge, is the Bondholder. I( is so located that much development woi'k can be done at a merely nominal cost. It consists of four claims. The ledge has been traced for 1,(K)() feet by cuts and croppings. In tiu' ledge are found quart/, iron oxides and galena near the siirface. The workings on the l-ioot ledge ai-e cross-cut.*, drifts and shafts. Usually about 20 inches of high-grade ore, (.arrying argi utile galena, antinioni.il silver, assaying from till to HI.') ounces. THE KALISPEL ((uartz vein, ty is being Is a mile from the lake up Ten .Mile Creek It li.'is a ni'iii anil south ledge in (|uarlzile, and is owned by one Lardner, of South D.ikola. A tumiel on the ledge -hows galena, ruby silvir and olhei- silvei' miiierals. It shipped some in lSil7 showing over 2(H) ounces of silver. (68) THE EVENING STAR AND COLUMBIA. One of the youngest and at the same time the most histy properties in the district is '-^e Evening Star No. 8, on Dayton Creek, and this probably becaure capital has been put into it and it has been worked. Hugh Sutherland and associates, of Winnipeg, have recently got hold of it and are putting life into its operations. Last year a trail was built to connect it with Springer Creek wagon road, and a 15-horse-power boiler and hoist were put in. This is the second hoist in the division. The main shaft has been driven about 125 feet on the vein with gratifying results. The natuie of the ore body is (juartz with silver sulphides and pyrites, with small but Vcaryiug values in gold. The Columbia is under the same management and on it is a 2(X)-foot cross-cut tunnel, with drifts on the vein of dry silver'. Shipments have been made from both properties. THE NEEPAWA AND DALHOUSIE Are close to th(> Enterprise. The first mentioned has been worked considerable this season, and so promising are the showings that they are attracting tlie attention of Toronto parties, who are likely to purchase at a round iigure. THE JOKER GROUP Is at the head of Ten Mile Creek The Excelsior Mining Co. have it under bond. The ore body is quartz, carrying good values in gold. Some fifteen men are working on the property lately and a l()l)-foot tunnel under contract is likely to show the property a valuable one. THE TAMARACK Is a new property. About 12."> feet of workings are on the properly, mostly a drift on the lead. The o!e is galena, zinc blende and silver sulphide. It shipped sonu» cars this spring with satisfactory returns. THE REPUBLIC GROUP Of three claims was bonded in 18!)7, for $25,01)0, to Porrish and Lindsay, of Brandon, Man. It hc.i a ledge from 18 to 30 inches wide, carrying galena, iron jjyrites and gold, on which a shaft has been sunk to (■-.I) ^e Evening en worked, fe into its lorse-power een driven r sulphides ; and on it. from both on, and so ! likely to re body is a 101)- foot 1 the lead, ry returns. It hai a en sunk to considerable depth, showing a quantity of ruby and native silver. As depth is reached the property is growing more satisfactory. THE CALUMET AND HECLA. The owners have driven a cross-cut 220 feet which has cut the ledge at a vertical dejith of 170 feet, where they found it 30 feet wide. A drift of considerable length on the ledge, with granite and dark slate contact, shows a dry ore body carrying gold and silver. THE BLACK PRINCE Is a group of three claims. It has a 4-foot ledge of rose (|uar(z traced through it, carrying high-grade galena, with a substantial gold value. From a 20-foot shaft and a diift from a oO-foot cross-cut, ore has been stoped assaying from $75 to $2;«) in gold, silver and lead, 82 :^ of the value being free milling. Lately again, after a long rest, a few men are working the property and shipping. THE RAINBOW. Some 75 teet of a drift on the vein has produced a quantity of the predominating ore of the camp which brought satisfactory returns from the smelter. THE OHIO GROUP Are an extension of the P^ntcrprise to the south. The Enterprise and Arlington leads are supprtsed to pass through the group. Considerable \work has been done in cross cuts and tuimels, and the owners hope to soon reach their reward. THE WHITE SPARROW Is on tiie first north fork of Lt-nion Creek. A cross cut tunnel has lietMi driven loi) feet striking the ledge carrying a large body of pyirhotite, (55) ' n B « gp .ii « i i; ),«* iii > fii W i»i> "f .n-ns fe,-. THE IRON HORSE, UNITED EMPIRE AND ALEXANDRIA Are all supposed to be crossed by the Enterprise lead from their locality. Three hundred feet from the Enterprise line a large body of ore was struck in an open cut on the Iron Horse. A quantity of galena ore has been encountered in an 8() foot shaft on the Alexandria from which a cross cut has been put through to the surface, THE ALPINE Is a group of four claims on the mountain above Summit Creek. It has a strong gold bearing ledge from 2 to 'A feet wide. It is very tiat and tracable through three basins. A considerable amount of work has been done on it but little or no shipping. MONUMENT GROUP. On the divide west of Kootenay Pass, and on the line between the Slocan City and Nelson mining divisions as well stands ib.e Monumejit group of several claims. It is bounded by the Hall Jlines Co. A great deal of development work was done last year and considerable ore has been exposed. The product is a mixture of copper pyrites, pyrrhotite and quartz. THE ALPINE. During 1897 considerable development was done on this property on Lemon Creek. A free milling quartz has been discovered in large quantities in the workings. OTHER PROPERTIES. Among the other properties sufficiently developed to show ore in considerable quantities are : — The Silver Niif/f/etf, on Eight Mile Creek over the summit. A rich silver ore carrying nuggets and wire. Ship- ments were made in 18!)7 though little has been done on the property since.— The Alberta and Kilo and Suddfe llnvk had a few men working in ]S!)7 and ISi'S, and shipped some each year, but for some reason or other they are not handled with eiu^rgy. - The Ilif/hlnnil Lif/ht shipped also in 1S!17 of high grade dry silver and ruby silver, but little work has been doiu> since. The same is true of the Vii'tor. During I.SOH some work was ilone on the Azfee south of the Two FriemLs, Lilji II. Medina, Erin Fraetion, StandnrU (50) d feet from y of galena put through saring ledge nt of work Fraction, Jubilee, Climax, Harnett Grant, St. Lawrence, Lone Dutchman, Hoodoo, Sail Holt, Creole, Hope and several other properties. It will he neticed that while there is a variety of ores in the camp, the dry predominates. It is confidently asserted that with sufficient capital available (and it is coming fast) many of the properties on which but little work has been done will blossom into large shippers and verify the prediction of Dr. Dawson that the district would yet be a hive of mining industry. Uhen it is said that not more than 150 men have in any year been distributed over all these properties it will be ful y understood much progress could not have been expected. AVith development work in strong hands they could at once give employment to three or four times that number and thus at once bring many very profitable mines to the front. Ison mining Jo. A great is a mixture illing quartz are :— Tfie wire. Ship- d Kilo and some reason h grade dry During 1>S0S , Standard (57) ^ NELSON >M Although properly speaking a description of Nelson and its surroundings is not within the task assigned this little book, the woik would scarcely be complete without a reference to theui because of the business relations between Nelson and the Slocan country. The city is situated at the foot of navigation of the west arm of Kootenay Lake. It is well situated as a supply centre for the surrounding country. It is an important point on the Crow's Nest branch of the C.P.R. Has a good boat service with Kaslo and the Lardo-Duncan country at the head of Kootenay lake and connections ; is connected with Spokane by the FoTt Sheppard Railway and with Rossland and Slocan City by branches of the C.P.H. It is the judicial centre for West Kootenaj- ; has several wholesale and jobbing houses, a large ore sampler recently erected and has the Hall Mines smelter, one of the largest institutions of the kind in the country. Business has been very active in the place of late and as a consequence it has grown in population from 1,.500 to 7, (MX) in a little over two years. In size it rivals Rossland, and as a business centre it is considerably more important. The sampling works are the most extensive in the country and have a capacity of 2(XI tons a day. It is the intention of the owners to purchase and handle the ores of the surrounding country as far as possible. The premises are most capacious and the machinery the newest the market. ¥ ' THE SILVER KING. This is one of the oldest mines in the country, and as far as discovery has shown the most impoitant mine in the camp. It is some eight miles south of Nelson by wagon road on (iood Mountain. It is now owned by the Hall Mines Co. of London, England, who also own the smelter in connection with the properly. There are some 18 claims in the property of which 1 are in the silver-copper belt, and the remainder in the gntly formed 20 per cent, of the charge, and the grade of matte under such conditions falls to about 2Ti per cent, coppei'. This matte has been roasted, and after grouting with quick-lime, re-charged to produce a matte of ijO per cent, copper, which is the minimum desirable for reverberatory work. The charge as stated. Silver King ore and limestone, or Silrer King ore. War Eagle ore and limestone, with, occasionally, a sm.all proportion of other custom ores, produces a slag, the composition of which, while it varies slightly in its silica, iion and lime contents, invar- iably carries extremely low values, varying from (t.2(5 to 0.4 per cent, copper and from 1 to 2 ounces of silver, according to the grade of matte producad. " With the installation of a reverberatory plant, consisting of two hand-work calciners, with a hearth 14 by 44 feet and two reverberatories, the shipment of matte ceased, and the practice has been to calcine about one-half of the matter produced, and charge to the first reverberatory about 8,000 pounds of calcined and S,(M)0 pounds of raw matte, and 1,200 to 1,500 pounds of quartz or siiicious material. This, in 12 hours, will tap a good bed of white metal (about 75 per cent, copper) and forms a slag, varying between 1 and U per cent, copper, which retiu-ns to the blast furnace. This white metal is then cri: bed and a portion of it calcined, the second reverberatory taking a charge of about ;{2,(K)0 pounds calcined and 8,000 pounds of raw white metal, with 600 to 800 pounds of siiicious material. ^Vith the furnace in good condition and all things favorable, this will produce in the neighboihood of 15 tons of copper in anode form in 24 hours. This anode copper averages between 07 and 08 per cent, copper, and carries values from 8(X) to 800 oz. of silver and from 5 to 30 oz. of gold to the ton, according to the ore treated. The slag from this second reverber.atory, carrying from 1;^ to 16 per cent, copper and its quota of silver and gold, is charged either to the first reverberatory or to the blast furnace, being particularly desirable in the latter un ler certain conditions. The copper, up to the present, has been refined by the Balbach Smelting and Refining Company, of Newark, N. J. "To retiu'n to the blast furnace: A little further detail will no doubt piove interesting. The plant is provided with ample dust chambers, and a periodical cleaning out of these chambers is made, the dust grouted with lime and charged wet into the furnace. The slag is run to waste through the granulating Hume, and carried to the flats below, making excellent yards for tiie (I. P. R. (60) "''feio " Least year I gave a few statistics, showing capacity of tiie big furnace. Unfortunately, we have rarely been in the position where we could push smelting, but during the week ending 18lh of February, 181)8, the tonnage smelted per day was as follows for seven days :— 277, 288, 297, 301, lUO, 312, 210— a total during the week of 2,030.65 tons, made up as follows :— Silver King ore 1,077.8.^ tons Custom ore, etc 170.22 " Limestone 182.00 " " In two days, the 16th and 17th, we smelted 622 tons, made up as follows :— Silver King ore ol.i'.H tons. Custom ore r)2.08 " Limestone . r)5.!)8 " "This, I think, demonstrates what this furnace is capable of doing, and does away with the suggestion that a tonnage of over 300 may be charged into the furnace and not actually smelted. "It will probably be of interest to state that we have made a test i>f coke from the Crow's Nest Pass ovens, I find that 135 pounds of this coke will, api)arently, go as far as 150 pounds of that from the Coast ovens. A sample of this carload carried 8 per cent. ash. The coke is weH made, and promises to aid very materially the smelting industries of this part of the Province. "During the months of March and April of this year, we made an experimental lun on a lead charge- We attempted to purchase selected ores, carrying below 40 per cent, lead, and preferably of an oxidized nature. We found, however, such ores were difficult to procure, and finally began operations with a calcined mixture, made up of mixed galena. War Eagle ores, and gold concentrates, 403 tons ; of bedded ore, 17() tons ; and dry ore, gold quartz carrying a little galena, zinc blende and pyrites, 75 tons, with 12 tons of low grade lead bullion bought from the Pilot Bay Smelter. This was fluxed with 245 tons of limestone and 'M tons of scrap iron, and the whole 940 tons carried: silver, 75,800 ounces; gold, 432 ounces; copper, 11,054 pounds; lead, 810,000 pounds. The bullion shipped averaged 600 ounces of silver and 4 ounces of gold per ton. (61) " We are now slowly accumulating, as before, lead ores of suitable character and grade, to make another similar run, and, I may say, are in the market at all times and willing to make bids as favorable as possible on ores of any description carrying copper, or on "dry ores," ores carrying a low percentage of lead. We are of the opinion that it is not economical to handle ores with a high percentage of lead, for the reason that the bullion shipped, having a higher railroad classification, pays a heavier freight than ore, and there is an additional duty of ^ of a cent per poimd," Other mines in the vicinity are the Molly Gibson, the Dandy, the Inxpiois, the Athabasca, the Fern, which has declared $10,(X)0 dividends, Porto Rico, Dundee, the Last Chance, California, Venus, Exchequer, Poor Man, and many others, but a description of them, as we have before stated, is not within the range we set out to cover at the outset. THE KOOTENAY POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY. Though not necessarily connected with a work like this, an outline of this industry is not out of place, as it is a factor in the mining development of the district. The wor.ks are situated at Honnington Falls, Kootenay River, about 10 miles below Nelson. The Falls, under a 40-foot head, are capable of developing 2(57,000 h.p., at low water mark. To secure the necessary water supply, a canal (5,50 feet long and 2(5 feet wide has been cut through country rock. Turbine wheels are used— two pairs, 39-inch horizontal, having a joint capacity of 2,900 horse power. Connected with each pair is a. dynamo making 180 revolutions per minute, generating a current with voltage of 1,010. The electricity generated is carried to Rossland, 32 miles away, with a branch to Trail, supplying power and light for the smelter there. At Rossland, the head office of the Company, power and light are distributed to the mines as desired by them. Several of the mines are already using them, and it is said others of them, and many in the Slocan, will adopt them later on. The power at Rossland and Trail is 2'), 10!) volts, but is transformed down to meet the requirements. ((52) f 1 oe THREE FORKS dt This was ti town before Sandon had its birth, and was a place of considerable importance before the railways were built, when all the traffic between the lakes was by wagon or mule tiain. It is still a mining centre of more thaji ordinaiy note, because of the celebrated mines in its vicinity. It has good hotels and accommodation for mining men. THE MONITOR. This property of two claims, owned by Geo. Petty, is on a north-east and south west ledge cutting the slate at right angles near a porphyry dyke. The ledge is of galena and carbonates, and is of varying width. The newest working is a cross-cut to the ledge. Fifteen feet above is a tunnel on the ledge, with a valuable pay streak. Another cross-cut to the west reaches the ledge beyond a fault. A r)()-foot cross-cut KM) feet higher up struck the lodge again. Another cro.ss-cut higher, both ways, struck the ledge, and from it di'ifts were run, extending to the siu'face and in on the ledge. The mine carries pei'haps more gold than any other property in the Slocan proper, shiiJuienls returning from $2 to $14, from 30 to 15() ounces of silver and fi'om H7 to 5.5 per cent. lead. ("aibonates have given $i:? in gold, 1-5 to !525 ounces of silver and l^) per cent. lead. It shipped two or three years ago, though but little the last two years. We understand it has paid >)ifl5,(XK) profits, and a price up in the thousands has been otfered for it. THE IDLER. But little work has been done on this property of late, though in its surface showings and earlier workings it promised exceedingly well. It stands over ."00 feet above the railway. A tunnel cut the ledge 12 feet below the surface, and showed it to be 'M inches wide, with nearly a foot of good galena. It assayed very high, the rest of the vein matter being impregnated carbonates of silver and lead. It has another cross-out 125 feet lower and over 2(H) feet long. A second large ledge, down the hill, has had considerable development work done on it also. (03) THE PALMITA. Adjoining the Queen Bess on the north stands the I'alniita, a galena property of one claim. On it are four tunnels of 12(), 85, o(X) and 380 feet respectively, the third and fourth heing cross-cuts, ending on an extensive ledge with a'l the discoveries characteristic of the locality. The other tunnels are drifts on the ledge. There is but one upraise so far, of (J7 feet. No. 3 cross-cut to the ledge above. There has been no stoping done as yet, bur, consider-.ble ore assaying 175 oz. of silver and 70 per cent, lead has been taken out in the workings. The property is owned by the Pahnita Gold Mining Co., with Mr. A. W. Wright, manager. THE ALAMO. This property was at the outset a group of eight claims, and is believed h\ many to have one of the largest and most jiroductive ore chutes in the Slocan. It strikes east and west across a deep spur from the main riiip.e in the Alamo basin, some three or four miles up llowson Creek. From the vein at times as many as eight or nine feet of solid galena have been stoped, with a slight mixture of grey copper and car- bonates, in the earlier operations a fault of considerable length had been encountered, but a drift of about 125 feet struck the ledge again, beyond the fault the property has fom- tuiniels of tjuite average length, the highest being 240 feet below tht summit, with stoping extended a considerable distance towards the summit. Compressed air drills are installed and working the property, especially in the lower levels. Independent of the large ledge there are several others that are being develojjed with excellent results. There is a concen- trator at the railway of 50 tons a day capacity, operated by water power and having improved machinery. A M-rail tram 340 feet long transports the ore to bins whence it is hauled by teams a distance of liOO miles to the head of another It am 7,000 feet long, which tr.ansports it. to the concentrator, though much of the ore of late has been sent to the smel'.er direct. THE IDAHO. This property, the Cumberland and the Alamo at one time had separate managements, but, as intimated above, all three and other smaller intec^sts are now under the one management, in which the Scottish Colonial Gold Fields Company have a two-thirds interest and Mr. G. W. Hughes the remainder. The mine is worked to a considerable extent by extensi .ns of the Alamo tunnels, some of the ledges of both properties being the same. The upper tunnel is stoped some 30 feet to the surface on peihaps an average of 20 inches of good galena. F\'om this a 60-foot upraise to the su-face is on some 15 inches of solid galena, while on the (Oi) face (if the tunnel u- a luiuh l.iiger hody of com t'lidatint? ore. Aiiothei' ledge runs noi-tli-east. and sonth-wewt aoi'oss Llie Idaho basin, and fi'otn the iippei' cuts and tunnels of this much excellent oi'e has been stoped. The combined propeity is said t,o be a vety valuible one, and is worked by the inanagenient on most economic and edective principles. THE QUEEN BESS. This property was recently li(iu,;hl by the Queen Mess I'roprietaty ( o., of London, Kngland, fiom J. A. Finch, P. Larsen, \\'. Glynn and .1. II. Morgan. It is a group of seven claims on the east slope of llowson Creek. On the property there are four ledges within a width of iVHI feel, but most of the work so far done is on the Queen Boss claitn. A MOO-foot tunnel showed the last vein where struck to be a small one of decomposed matter that carried JWi oz. silver and 71 , lead. Ai; :«HI feel in this tunnel the ledge was cross-cut, 25 ieet between walls showing n tine body of solid galeiui on tie hanging w.iU. Another tiniml :?">(( feet tops the ledge ].")() feet lower encountering .i good grade of ore. The west ledgf runs northeast and south-west. The third vein has been stripi)ed a long distaiue carrying a small value in gold wilh the other minerals. The shii)ments generally run N.'i ounces of silver' and 7.") lead. I'"or the last two yeais a large force of men has »)een employed and heavy shipmenls have been made, the proceeds of which have gone into development work, an excellent bunk-house atul boarding apartments and other improvements. The lompany are laying the foundation for iiu extensive property, and the indications are they will shortly have a huge dividend payer. OTHF' . PROPERTIES. The Hiintlei- has had considerable development woik done and has made a couple of shipments the past year that show the jtroperty to lt)e one of much promise. It is supposed the Cumberland, Idaho and Alamo ledges extend through the property. T/ie H'ild Goose has also had considerable work done on it the past couple of years, and a couple of satisfactory shipments have been made. The Vtnnberlanil is a property of five claims in the Idaho ledge. It has three tunnels and has sloped some very good ore, though but little shipping or work has been done on it of late. Its ore goes through the Alamo mill riid comes down the .\lamo road and train. As it is owned by the Scottish Colonial Gold Fields Co., Limited, its future history will be eii.bodied in the success of this ei\tei prising company, who also have a controlling ii>terest in the Alamo and Idaho mines and concentrator, .Mf. G. W. Hughes owning one-third of all the properties named. (IIG) ^NEW DENVER^ This town, on a promontory extending into Slocan Lalie, is the oldest place in the Slocan conntry As a resnlt it is a government town, and has a Record offi(!e and Court House. Besides, it has a large hospital, fine stores and hotels, good schools and church buildings, and a branch of the Banl< of Montreal. It is very prettily as well as healthily situated. As a lesult it has many fine residences, and many people doing business 't Three Forks, Sandon and other inland places, have sunnner residences here. As yet it has not many developed mines, but it has many prospects under development that promise well. They are all within a semi-circle whose termini rest on tlie lake at the Bosun and MoUie Hughes mines, some four miles apart, with the ht.i.rt of the town about midway between them. THE BOSUN, On the Silvarton, or south side of the town, two miles distant, and half a mile inland from the lake shore, is the principal mine of the locality. A little over a year ago it was a mere prospect, and sold to Mr. .T. O. Harris for a trifle. He in turn sold it to Mr. Sandiford, representing an English Co , for some $7,0(K), we are informed. Ir. Harris has set diligently to work and with shaft and timnel has caught the Fidelity vein and developed a mine of large proportions. In the few months it has been running as a mine it has made heavy shipments [see table on another page], and w.ll very shortly be classed with our dividend payers. Indeed, but for the lajge amount sunk in l)uildings and improvements from the receipts of the l)roperty, it would now be on the dividend paying list. THE MOLLIE HUGHES. This mine is a mile or more to the not lb of the town, and but a few feet from either lake or railway is the oldest propeity in the camp. Its original owner, liugbes by name, used to work it in his own inimital)le way years ago, and sell the proceeds as he needed funds to live on. About a year and a-half ago local parties l)ought it fi'oni him foi- a fraction of what he was at one time offered for it. They, a little over a year ago, bonded it to .Mr. Sandiford for his I'Inglish Co. Tinough a system of open cuts, shafts and timnels, he exposed three parallel ledges, cariying mouerate sized pay-streaks of good galcr.a. A couple of (O'J) cars of ore weie shipped by Mr. Sandiford from surface work, from which about $100 a ton was realized. Some diiferences, however, arose between the owners and himself and he threw up the bond, and but little work has been done on the pioperty since. While it is fr«'»eraliy conceded the ore is of a good quality, it has never been shown the mine will turn out to !)e an extensive one. THE CALIFORNIA. Nelson people own this property about four miles up the hill from town. Operations began on the property about a year ago. The property has two tunnels. The upper one is in some 75 feet and f'<>»> 't ore of good value has been shipped. The second timuel is in over 2(10 feet, with a diift and a winze. Ihe ore is galena with zinc blend and <-oi>per pyrites showing in assay about KiO ounces of silver and ((0 per cent, lead. A shipment has netted about $70 per ton clear. THE MOUNTAIN CHIEF Is near by. In years pa^t (i. W. Hughes, who then owned it, shipped considerable ore averaging m oz. silver and 70 per cent. lead. The ledge was then lost in a fault, and considerable was spent in locatuig it again. When discove -d again it was worke.l as l)efore and with satisfactory results. The last two years considerable development has been done on it though but little stuping. THE ADIRONDACK, THE NEGLECTED, AND MARION Are three other mines recentlv developed from prospects that bid fair to be very profitable holdings. Mr. A. Sproat is owner of the latter pre.perty and Mr. Haker. of the Neglected. All three have nuide .hip ments very satisfactory to the owners, and doubtless will, with extended workings, tiu-n out in results the usual showii gs of the camp. Besides the foregoing mines there are a great many prospects of whom the owners expect good reports under reas.mable working and a n.o.lerate expenditure of capital. Am.mg the number listed an- Sandow. Tiirris Lone Star Kclipse. Mcrrimac, Denver, Lake View. ( N-nvntioii, Cliieft.ain, Queen (ily, Lost 1 iger Kstella and Silver Mell. They are nearly all owned by local parties, and have had more or less experimcntMl work done on them from the dates of their location. (<)7) ^ SILVERTON ^ This snug little town on the lake shore four miles below New Denver, has several very fine buildings inclnding well kept hotels and stores, Win. Hunter carrying one of the largest stocks in the country. In point of number of shippers and volume of shipment, the town ranks next to Sand n in the Slocan. The Matheson Bros, publish The SUicrfo)ii(ni here, a paper very instructive on the mines of the locality. THE FISHER MAIDEN. Some seven miles from town up Kour Mile Creek is the Fisher Maiden, a group of two claims. The ledge running north-east and south-west crops in syenitic granite on both sides of a gulch. The mine is con- nected with the town by a wagon road. The ore is zinc i)lende and galena with some native silver along the seams. It has four tunnels on the ledge aggregating IKK) feet. In 181H its output assayed 180 ounces of silver and 24 per rent, lead constituting it a near approach to dry ore. Later smelter returns give from 220 to HJiO ounces of silver per tt)n. Last fall a valuable strike was made in the tunnel at the 250 foot level and ;j(K) feet fi'om the mouth. A winze was started on the top of an oie chute, exposing a pay streak from 2 to M inches, widening as depth was obtained ' o a foot, with contimiity as far as work has gone. A. A. Webb and .). Pophorn, local men, are principal owners. THE NOONDAY. This grouj) of two ilaini.s, ilu' .Noonday and the L'urley, on the (ialena Faim. one and a half miles from Silveiton is showing up remarkably well under (levelo])ineiit by the 7 men now in the workings. A cross cut of 10 feet towards the ledge was (irst inude out of wiiidi ."i tons of float ore were extriicted. (It iv.ay iiere be remarked that float oi'e is a characteristic of the whole galena fai'ni. similar to that, on 111*^ Wonderful near Sandon, showing there is t-ither a massive ledge in the neighborhood, or one has been broken to pieces in ages after the formation.) The cross cut was abandoned and a tunnel of 100 feet has been driven on a stringer of the piuent ledge which gives a pay streak of from to 18 inches of galena assaying from 100 to (68) K)lt per cent, silver and (JO per cent. lead. T. DutiV. V. McNicol, (L Spencer, and .1. Rockliffe are the owners Mu\ they recently bonded it for $S.").()(Kt. The jtarent ledge was lecently struck and now there are 40 men at work on the mine making it one of the heaviest shippers on the lake, and shipments yielding gratifying returns. THE GALENA MINES. It requires a reporter with the ways of a detective to get anything like satisfactory information about this prupert. ,'. inches of solid galena with calcite lying flat beyond. All surmises are that it is a very extensive property. THE VANCOUVER. Six miles up Four-mile Creek is the Vancouver. It is one of the best developed properties in the camp, and is several months since a shijiper, giving 2(iS ounces of silver and 56% lead. Work of any extent has been done on but two of the claims so far. In the steel and ube galena of the property considerable grey copper, some sulphide of copper and ruby silver are found. Up to tht Pj)riug of this year (1809) the mine shipped 775 t ms of ore, averajring well on to $15t) a ton over all changes for freight, treatment and duty. This, of course, was at great profit to the owners. THE COMSTOCK. On Fennel Creek, 10 miles east of Silverton, is the Comstock mine, with a wagon road to town. Nine tunnels have been diiven on the vein, and all in ore. The timnels, with upraises, etc., give 2,900 feet of woi'king.s, something lai'ge for the camp. The ore bodies are more or less pockety in the vein, but in no place do they wholly disappeai, generally increasing in size and value with depth. Al)out 350 feet of raises and winzes have been driven, all of them in ore. About 'MO tons of ore have been shipped, with much (70) concentrating ore, to pass through the mill now in course of completion, which will have a capacity of 00 tons. The clean ore is mostly steel galena, and runs from 1(X) to I^OO oz. in silver and 50 to 80% lead. The concentrating ore gr)es 5 to 1. THE EMILY EDITH. This mine of several claims has recently come into the hands of an English Company. It is two miles up Four Mile Creek, on Alpha Mountain. Over 700 feet of underground workings have been cut in three tunnels and their belongings. The upper tunnel is in over 300 feet, following the hanging wall of the ledge, which is from 50 to (50 feet in width in slate formation. The ore is a high grade steel galena, carrying some copper, of which some 80 tons have already been shipped. A 200-ton concentrator and tram attachment are contemplated, and will doubtless be completed within a few months. From the upper tunnel two winzes have been sunk 25 and 35 feet respectively. The owners feel they have one of the largest properties in the country. THE ALPHA. About two and a-lialf miles from Silverton, north-easterly, is the Alpha, on a mountain of the same name. It is one of the best developed and best ecjuipped properties on the lake district. It is reached by a wagon road and a l,0(K)-f()ot gravity tramway. The property has over 2,200 feet of development work, with immense ore bodies in sight in all the tunnels. The formation is slate, and the ore steel giUena. In years past the property shipped 1,200 tons of ore running 115 oz. silver and ()5 lead. Of late years owing to differences between the owners but little shipping or other work has been done. It is, however, a very large property, and when internal differences in the management are adjusted it will take a high rank among the shippers of the Slocan. THE CONGO. Is a group of sovetal claims on Red Mountain. A Mr. Byron, of the town, is the owner. The pro- perty is a gold and copper proposition, with an S to 10-foot vein. It is but a young property with but little work done on it except sm-face cuts and strippings to ascertain the character of the ledge. From the bottom of one 10-foot winge a metal giving .$2i in gold and TA copper was obtained. Assays from an iron exposure gave $71 in gold, while one particular specimen ol' golil reached the extraordinary value of $11,1(50. (71) ■ "i^r'/Hi,*™ THE LOS VEGAS Adjoins thf L. H., and is a good proposition. It is owned by Silverton parties, and is stocked. But little work beyond that of an experimental character has been done on it. It is known to have a 3 or 4-foot ledge that carries very high values in the hands of the assayer. THE SURPRISE GROUP Of four claims is crossed by the Alpha ledge on Alpha mountain. The property has all told well on to m} feet of workings, exposing large bodies of clean and concentrating ore. The ledge is in slate formation and at places reaches 20 feet in witdth. The ore is a steel galena carrying grey copper and traces of ruby silver and other iiiv,'-ls. It has not yet shipped, but has a large body of ore on the diunp that assays from 200 to 700 oz. in silver and an average of 70 ;\, lead. THE ESSEX GROUP. This property on Wakefield mountain comprises six claims, which were a year ngo acquired by G. H. Dawson, as mere prospects. On them there are now four tunnels all on the vein and in ore aggregating, with their connections, some 500 feet in length. The ore is a cube galena, from 4 to 12 inches in width, and assaying 2(K) oz. in silver and oO lead to the ton. It is supposed from the character of the ore to have the Wakefield vein. F'rom the lie of the mine great depth of tunnel can be got and cross-cutting be wholly avoided, saving much expenditure. It has not yet shipped, but as it has ore stoped may enter the list of shippers any day. (72) Ore Shipments and Men Employed in the Slocan* SANDON. MINK. Payne Slocan Star Rufch Last Chance .... Reco Sovereign Blue Bird Treasure Vault. . Miller ('reek .... Ajax ('.anadiaii (Jroup Noble. Five Goodenough Madison Sapphire Trade Dollar ... R. E. Lee Coin Ivanhoe Others Total )F MKN SHIPMENT IN TONS 180 14,0(M) 110 2,it:« 15 ;iO(M) 4;-) 1,7(K) 28 51!) 10 100 8 (K) 25 40 (5 40 U MS e ''2 85 21 20 4 20 5 T.) 8 4 i) 2 *" have stoped up to devol,.p,nc.,>t wo,-k. while ..the.s ■ S 'Lv ' /^^ '"T""'- "'''"'" '"'"''■^ '^S'^'» '"'^X total production was 'M^m a,.d the ..u.nbe^ o ,1„ e ,. "J IZl tZ ' ''"'' """^^ ^"'^ "^"'•- ^^ ^^e man, at a gross value of $m per ton, which the vnh li f n ' ! '^^^''^ge ^vas a little over 28 tons per years ..f a ...ine, as is the case in the Sotn at present „^ "T"^" *''"•" P'"" '"""• ^' '^''"••- '" the earlier property into p.-oducing and shipping forn This is' ^ "^' fZi thr""^ - expended on labor getting the ated spent n.nch on labor and sh pped nothing wl^hLT . , e.rcumstance n.any of the .nines enumer- per n.an e.nployed. ' ^ nothing, while the developed .nine, the Payne, shipped nearly 108 to.is (7(i) ^ DIVIDENDS oe We give the dividends declared Ijy the Slocaii propeities to date iierewith, as fully as they can be ascertained. Many of the properties are owned by close corporations, who are not compelled by law U) make their profits public, and as a conseciuence the profits of these can only be ajiproximated, and we give them, therefore, in bulk. It is believed by those in the best position to form opinions on these matters, in the aggregate they will not fall short of half a million do'lars, and we total them accordingly. In this connection it may not be out of place to say the dividends rei)resent profits over and above all running expenses, improvements, buildings, etc. — the actual cash the owners have taken out of the operations for investments in other channels; also that they have accrued from properties that cost but a nominal sum. Hv?nce they represent enormous sums on actual investments, as dividends are usually calcvilated. Foi- instance, tiie Payne cost the company that owned it uj) to .lanuary, 181M), but $1()(I.(HH). On this capital one million dollars had been declared in dividends up to that time. The Hcco cost tlie present owners, when bought five or six years ago, $2, 700, and t.he mine to the 'present ; has made .$.S")(),IKK) ovei' all exjjenses to date. The Slocan Star is owned by the locators for the most part, and has paid SlOO.tMXl on a cost of nut more than a few htmdreil dollars, and so on of all the other mines in the district. Let us I'oi' a moment compare this condition of things with the gold properties of Rossland. The Lelioi has cost the present owners in the neighborhood of six million dollars, and whenever dividends are declared they have to be si)read over that enoiinous amount of money on a rate. The War Eagle also cost its owneis many millions, and the piofits can bi^ b it a small percentage on that amount and so on of the rest of the properties in that locality. The holding, declaring dividends in the Slocan originally cost but little, while the dividends in eveiy case declare enoiti ms percent- ages of pi'ofit. As is intimated in othei- sectit)ns, there is yet an indefinite nuinbei' of yoini- mines and |)rospects in the Slocan that ca. be bought for mere nominal sums, t.hat under development \v..l become as large dividend payers as those cited in the list below. It is to these opportunities we especially call tbc attention of eastern capitalists. (77) MINES. Piiyno . . , Slocan Star Roco Ruth Iclaho li.iHl, ('liaiice W'liittnvater Raiiihlci- Noble I-'ive The Hesl I)ai(hinelles .lacIvHoii Slocati Hoy ( Joodenoiifjfh \\'ashiMjj;loii Monitoi' Ant oiiK' 'I'lital of other Dividends 1)1 V $1, lOKNUS. ,250,()(IO :i")(),o()() HO(),(XX) 27r),(K)() 2r)(),()<)() 210.(100 7ri,()(K) r)0,(Hio JO.dOO r)(),()(K) 40,000 35,(K)0 .S2,(K)0 :«I,(KH) 2i\(HH) 20,(H)0 500,000 (li'and Total $3,072,000 Ci'^i ^FAILURES IN MINING.* THE CAUSES. Tliat there have been taihu-es in niiniiij; as well as in other branches of business ^oes wiihout saying, and the causes generally aie not hard to find. As is thc> ease in most, other ]iursuils failures can he traced most >i;eneraUy to lack of capital and experience. Some say mining is a gamble, and it is in the sense tl*at most other callings are a gamble. The farmer vt'iiti-res with his ciop of wheat not knowing whether he is going to have S bushels of wheit to the acre or HO at $1.(0 until the harvest is ovei-. The real estate man buys town and farm property, pays taxes on it for years, and often sells below cost, an-ss in this countr'V, but it is a case o: the ttnexpected tur'ning lip. It is also a fai't that merr possessed of jill the j'ssr-ntials for' success in rroih ,>r'ospeclirrg arrd minitrg do not sircceed, brrt t-he percentage in failirr'cs of such is not greater' than that in other callings whore the (lualillcaliotrs for the business were known to pi'«'vail. (7t») In this connection it may be added it is not enough for the prospector' to know that coal is never associated with granite, the first rock formed, nor to he aware tiiat the precious metals are never found among (he unaltered sedimentary rocks of the piairie. It is always necessary for him to have a knowledge of the geology of his locality, such as the different kinds of minerals, their values, the kinds of places in which they are found, and the peculiar rocks with which they are associated, their appearance on the surface after ages of exposuie and the chemical opeiations to which they have lieen in consetpience subjected. When the prospector is a man who has worked in the mines of the district for a time and made himself familiar with all these circumstances and conditions he should be ((ualified lo expect the largest share of success in that particular btanch of the business. The causes of failure in UMuing are much 1 he same as those in any other industrial enterprise. The investor may have bought "stock in a mine" on the representation of some silver-tongued interested party, that was never known to have even the ordinary indications of the presence of mineral, he may have invested in a [)roducing mine much beyond the actual value of his jiurchase, or he may have bought from indications that were not characteristic of the entire propei'ty. .'Mistakes like these, which will be more fully dealt with it) the next section, would bring failure in any industry, and mining is no exceiition. (Sd) ^ Silver vs. Gold Mines* .jc That th.. preponderating preferencf^ is in favor oC k"1" prnpertics will b.- r.-a.lily adniilted, hut. wliy it is HO is most difflrulL to understand. The whole principle of <■ ,nmierce is l.ase.l „n proliis on investments. The Trail (^reeli or Kossland Canin of West Kootenay is ((nite as old as the Sjocan : and because of the booming of the i'ormer from the Hrst discovery of gold, by interested parties, it is reasonable to say two or llHce times the capital has been invested in gold properties that is sunk in the silv.M-lea.l mines of the Shicai-, and yet nn, table shows more than three times the dividends have been d,.clared by Slocan propertied than are coming to the owners of Rossland mines in the same period. We will ilhistrate f,u' better proo,". In two years in the West Fvootenay division, the gold or sulphide division of I lie district produced .".7(i,S tons of ore at an average price of $;il.l7 per ton. In the same period the Slocan produced with less men, 27,8(11 tons at an average of .filKMU per ton. A computation explain.s the rest. Of course operations Inu- n..| been .ontinued long enough in either camp to make comparisons as to permanency, but .Mr. ( arlylc. the late provn:cial mineralogist .says -'the finding of rich veins of ore in either of the series, (g.-ological areas of granite and slate) points sti'ongly to the fact that as depth is obtained in the Slocan the (..ntinnily of the pay chutes i.s assured. Almost invariably as depth of tunnel and e.Ktension on the veins is obtained, richness of ore is the result, fieology then and actual uiscoveiy .is far as gone go to prove the permanency in the Wlocan that capital is in search of. («!) .*HOW TO INVEST oe Advice under this head may be considered by some as walking on dangerous ground ; but experience and <)l)servat.ion, the great educators in business undertakings, teach h>ssons in mining purchases as well. We believe it is a statement no one accjuainted with the circumstances will attempt to deny, that for money and lal)or expended, there have been fewer failures and more successes in lode mining in the Slocan than in any other portion of the woild. With this fact assured one strong ground is taken in the way of advice and recommendation. To i)ut the matter in better business form, it may be stated more dividends have be(Mi declared t)y Hlocan properties than by any other lode mines in the woi-ld, investments made and labor expended duly considered. The men or companies having unlimited capital may purchase as they like they may pur(!hasc their LeKois and their Paynes at will— at $(i,(HM),()00 and $4,r)(IO,(M)() respectively; but it is a • lui'stion alter all if such large j)urchases are the best investments from a business point of view. They will, of course, declaie their dividends foi- many years; but it takes a lot of successful mining to make substantial dividends on these amounts and pay the original purchase prices besides. A mine is not like a farm it cannot when its veins are once exhausted be made pi'oductive again by artificial means. Ome the metals aie all extracted from its seams it l)econu\s valueless foi' all time. Nor may it be the best to invest in shares oi stocks of established mines, after they are run above reasonable figures by iinjiortant strikes on the j)roi)ei'ly, as the latter may not be a permanency. For obvious reasons it is not wisdom to invest in stocks of new companies, of whose properties there are not substantial certificates, something more geiuiine than the repiesentat ions of interested irresponsible owners iiiid the represent.itions of ciub- stone brokers. Hefore buying stocks the value of the mine shoidd be ascertained by indisputable evidence, the iissiuances of responsible disinterested parties, smelter returns, evidences of shipment, or other such reliable information. tirenei'ally speaking, tiie softest investments, or those from which the largest margin of profits may be expected, ai'C young properties on which oie has just been reached, and before extensive development work has b' en done, when the first tunnel or shaft has disclosed the ore body. The pioperty can then be bought at a low pi-ice. It is known to have mineral, an estimate of whose value can be considered, and (82) ivhole value of the property is in the hands of the piirchiiser. Kvery such pt-ospect is not suce to turn out a wealthy mine, e\en though they he on the leads of well-known wealthy mines, as mineral is -not always continuous ii. ^eams— nature often confines its wealth to localities. Properties like these in tii(! Slocan can always be got at moderate prices, from a fmv liundreil dollars and upwards. To men of means purchasing properties is always cheaper than prospecting for thex;. \Vlu'ie men or com|>iiiiies have means enough to purchase and develop prospects on which mineral has been found, under ciirefid management failure is absolutely out of the question in the Slocan. Ea'jh prosivect on which an ort body has l)een discovered may not tiuii out a valuable mine, for the reasons- the ore body may not be coniinuovis, it may be small in (pxantity or it m.iy i)e low in values; but where a numbi-r have been purchased under reason- able development some of them are sure to realize the di sired results. It might not be the safest thing for any one to invest hi'J all even in a prospect of imich promise, in the initial stages of o])eration, as it is still pia'-ing "all the eggs in one basket," which is condemned by general consent. There is always a large number of such promising prospects for sale in every portion of the district, for the reason there are so many prospectors and others without the necessary means to work properties after they secure them. It is at this point the prospector and the capitalist may jom hands in making wealth for both. It is in such cases always better for the capitalist before puichasing to heave the properties examined by competent mining engineers, or other capable experienced men, of whom the:'e aie several in every town and village in the district. As there is at the present no boom in the district, owing for the most |)art to the fact the mining distrii'ts of the country are very extensive, and mining interests are, tlierefor'', con- siderably distracteil. This makes the present a most opportune season for investing. (h:i) acre fi ^DOMINION LANDS a: Coal Lands, if Surveyed, can })e purchased by one individual up to 320 acres, price 810 per or soft coal, S20 per acre for anthracite. No royalty, nor compulsion to work. RIGHT TO EXPLORE FOR COAL. On staking out, boundaries N. and 8., E. and W. lines, marking on each post the name of indi- vidual staking saine and date ; then apply to Minister of Interior, who for a fee of §10 will grant right to explore for OO days, on expenditure of at least $2 per day. At expiration of 00 days a further extension may l)e obtained. QUARTZ CLAIMS. Persons of IS years and over, and joint stock companies holding a Free Miner's Certificate, may obtain entry for a nuning location. A Fvee Miner's Certificate (imn-tran:■>" »"'P«t public w^;L'rd%;;;;„?e:r.fTr„:::;ir>i:T„t"';:,j,r'' "'■ ^'"^ -"'■'• '-'•"■ ^'^^'"»"' '--'' "-' •■"- Leasks ro D,«D,i,: roi. M,»,«als ,» ■,,,« B«m op Hiveps ,» ,•„„ District op Y, kon, i.. 'avo.-^ofl?i,!J!™i„rL.tr:;:rVelH;\"e',;^,:i'toor,; i.^^- -"- °' " '^- """-• » »'^ '--» Term of lease 20 years, renewable in the discretion of tl.e Minister of ^lie Tnt,.r;,>.. Ti, i ' • , for each five miles. ^ '''' "^ '"'"'"■ ^^">'*^'^>' ^^ P«'' <^^"t. on output over $15,000 Leases subject to Phicer Mining entries, existing or to be made. Placku Minin<;, Yuko\ Distkict. . wit„i^'r -L-tXS:;xs.r°:SerJ thv Intrruir. (87) The Mining Review SI IS PUBLISHED AT SANDON, In the center of the silver-lead district of British Columbia. It is regarded as an authority on all mining matters in that district, and is always replete with information on the industry. Subscription price $2.00 a year in advance. All kinds of blanks and printing required in min- ing operations done in the Job Department in the best of finish,. The editor is ever ready to answer correspon- dence relating to all mining operations in the district. I fl I GENERAL MERCHANTS riining Supplies a Specialty i 1. \\m LIMITED. Storei At 8ILVERTON ALAMO ANP THREE FORKS. All kinds of Mining Supplies, in- cluding Provisions, Clothing and Hardware supplies kept constantly at each store at moderate prices. SAUL ITHIINQ^ JFOW M^f- g*BOF»LE 8 ■a. s 1 General imrcbMiu. Miners' Outfits and Supplies, Giant Powder, Cap and Fuse, GroctiiSf Provisions, etc. Men's Furnishings, Hats, Boots and Siioes., We make a specialty of conttactinz to furniih aU kind* of »oppUe» needed in or about mines and outfitting prospectors. THE QUALITY IS EQUAL TO THE VARIETY. OufsbckisselUairamt^^ ^^^^^^ & KA8L0,B.0. id Supplies, ip and Fuse, 9ns, etc. 5, Hats, Y. I every department.