The Conquest Mine Strikes a Twelve-Foot Vein—and Newport's Mining District Wakes Up

What is said to be the richest strike and most important strike ever made in the Newport mining district has been made on the Conquest, located two miles inland from Conquest Landing on the Pend Oreille, six miles north of Newport. A twelve-foot north-and-south contact ledge has been struck, the ore in which carries values as follows: gold $20, copper $38.

About six weeks ago there was a rumor of a strike on the Conquest, which was denied by those in charge of the work, and efforts have also been made to keep quiet this latest discovery. That the latest report is correct both as to extent and assay reports can be stated on the best authority.

The Conquest property consists of 16 claims, on which considerable work has been done in years past, although for the past three years only the assessment work has been kept up. In the neighborhood of $100,000 has been spent on this property in making openings of 1,500 feet, of which about 2,000 feet is in drifts. The machinery equipment includes a boiler, hoist, six-drill compressor and machine drill.

Oscar DeCamp, who has been doing assessment work the past winter, left for Spokane Wednesday carrying to the stockholders in the city a report of the recent strike. Mr. DeCamp is quoted as saying that the Conquest is now in shape to make a dividend payer and undoubtedly there will be considerable work done this year as the result of the strike. He states that the mine can furnish 25 tons of concentrating ore per day.

Several other properties in the neighborhood of the Conquest will profit by reason of having work resumed through the encouragement offered by the Conquest strike. The Comstock, a patented property in the same vicinity, has a fine body of galena exposed; work will be resumed in the Lone Star, Last Chance, and several others.

At the Bead Lake mine about four miles further inland, and on the shores of Bead Lake, there is a crew of men at work driving another 100 feet of tunnel, taking up the work that was dropped a few months ago. They are in about 25 feet on the contract.

At the Blue Jim mine at the lower end of Box Canyon the energies of the owners will be directed this year to the installation of a water power plant to furnish power for an air compressor. The plant will cost $5,000 and a stream to furnish the power is located on the claim.

Fred N. Davis, president and manager of the Oriole Mining Co., was at Metaline last week directing the plans for the installment of machinery at the Oriole. It will be 10 days before the machinery will be at the mine, owing to the poor condition of the roads, but by April 20 it will be ready for operation if the weather permits. Thirty days from that time the manager expects to be shipping regularly two cars of ore per month.

The Metaline Mines, Limited, have let a contract for 300 feet of tunnel and are pushing the work rapidly ahead.