The Tungsten Under the Schoolhouse: Stevens County's Buried Fortune
A state geologist confirms the richest tungsten deposits in the Northwest lie beneath state school lands north of Deer Park — and the state must decide whether to lock in 30-year leases or keep the mineral wealth for its school fund.
What is regarded by State Geologist Henry Landes as the richest deposits of tungsten existing in the Northwest has been partially developed on state lands in Stevens county, 12 miles north of Deer Park. Prof. Landes was sent by State Land Commissioner Ross to investigate and make report on these lands, and he passed through Spokane Sunday night on his return from a thorough inspection of all the prospects now under lease from the state, and in discussing the investigations he has made expressed himself very enthusiastically over his discoveries.
The state has been leasing these lands for two-year periods in 80-acre tracts to various parties in the vicinity of Deer Park, and some of them have proceeded to an extent where it is necessary for them to secure longer leases in order to secure capital to conduct successful and profitable operations. Already a few leases have been extended for a period of 30 years, and Commissioner Ross concluded before making any more extensions to have the state geologist make a thorough inspection of the properties in order that he might the better be able to act in accordance with the best interests of the state.
The lessees on some of the properties have a mill for concentrating the ore practically completed and ready for operations, while others have been delaying further investments pending action on their applications for 30-year extensions. The state, by a law enacted in 1907, is precluded from the sale of any of its mineral lands and receives 3 per cent of the gross returns from all mining operations.
The deposits of tungsten are found in pure white quartz, and while it is very rich, in order to make shipments of ore profitable about eight tons of ore must be concentrated into one. The returns from the leases go directly into the state school funds, and if the development work is continued along the lines it has been undertaken it is the opinion of Prof. Landes that the state will derive a considerable revenue from this source.
“The state, by a law enacted in 1907, is precluded from the sale of any of its mineral lands and receives 3 per cent of the gross returns from all mining operations.”
Washington still holds millions of acres of trust lands whose mineral and timber revenue funds public schools — the same bargain struck here in 1910. The question of whether to grant long leases to extractive industry or hold out for the public's full share is exactly the fight that plays out today over state timber sales and mineral rights.
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