183

(Norz. For the results of the development mentioned above, with assays,
See under descriptions of the respective properties.)

The St. Lawrence Company ran a cut across the eastern extension
of the Big Bonanza ledge.!

The Pinkerton ledge, believed to be a western extension of the Bonanza,
has been opened up to a depth of 150 feet in the Victoria Company’s
ground?

The Foster mine, Chisholm creek, has a shaft 18 feet deep with prom-
ising indications.®

1878. “There has been a complete suspension of work on all claims located on the
Bonanza lode. The B.C. Milling and Mining Company, after expending nearly $100,000 in
the purchasing and importation of a 20-stamp mill, the grading and tunnelling of their
mine (Bonanza lode), suddenly suspended all operations,”

“Among the companies at present working, the Enterprise is perhaps taking the lead
in the development of their mines. Having purchased Mr. Samuel Walker’s location
on Island mountain, near Mosquito creek, they employed some six or seven men during
the last three months in taking out ore, and at present they have 300 or 400 tons on their
dump ready for hauling to the mill. They have also procured the use of ten stamps with
their appliances from the B.C. Milling and Mining Company and have placed them in
the old Lane and Kurtz shaft house on Williams Creek meadows where they have ample
facilities for working the mill either by steam or waterpower.

“Mr. J. C. Beedy of Lightning creek is also erecting a small quartz mill, having a
capacity equal to five ordinary stamps...... The flattering result obtained from 14 tons
of ore brought from his location on Burns mountain (Perkin’s ledge) and crushed at Rich-
field, had induced Mr. Beedy to erect this mill. At present, there are over 200 tons of
rock ready for hauling to the mill, and some twelve men are employed in connexion with
this enterprise.

“The Forrest Company, whose mine is situated on the mountain (Proserpine) about
one mile east of Richfield, have been working until quite recently. They have now
suspended all operations, .pending the result of negotiations with Mr. Edwin Russell of
San Francisco, with a view of placing a mill of the capacity of 10 stamps on the mine.

“The Proserpine Company are sinking on their claim, which is situated near the
Forrest mine. This location is most favourably situated, being, it is supposed, where
the Wilkinson and Montgomery lodes join.”

1879. With the exception of J. C. Beedy’s location on Burns mountain all companies
have suspended operations.

“Mr. Beedy keeps his small mill at Van Winkle running, crushing ore from his mine
on Burns mountain which is, I understand, paying about wages.”

; 1880. Quartz mining was entirely suspended, with the exception of a small amount of
work done by the Enterprise Company upon their Island Mountain location. The Beedy
quartz mine on Burns mountain was purchased by Jas. Reid of Quesnellemouth.

1881. No operations except the driving of a 600-foot tunnel, by the Fallis Company,
on Burns mountain, strike their ledge (Perkins?) at a lower level.

1882. “With the exception of some tunnel work on Burns mountain, no prospecting for
quartz was done. Samples of quartz taken from a ledge found on one of the tributaries
of Willow river by Foster and Paris, assayed at the Government Assay office 15-07 per
ton of 2,000 pounds, with traces of silver.”

1883. “The Burns Mountain Quartz Mining Company are prosecuting work on their
tunnel with vigour. The tunnel, when completed, will be 600 or 700 in length”........
jw __ “We crossed over Willow river to the east side of it, a short distance above the junction
of,Valley creek with Willow river, and continuing down stream we camped at night on a
small stream, which we subsequently named Beaver creek........ The next day we
found a large quartz ledge, supposed to be the one discovered by Foster and Paris last
season.

1From letter by R. B. Harper to Minister of Mines, contained in Ann. Rept., Minister of Mines, B.C., 1877.
2From letter by R. B. Harper to Minister of Mines, contained in Ann. Rept., Minister of Mines, B.C., 1877.
3From letter of Messrs. Schuyler Pearce and Shepherd to the Gold Commissioner, Richfield, Oct. 25, 1883.