Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1886)
216 THE WEST SHORE. AN IMPOSING MONUMENT. THE OKANAGAN MINES. Standing on a commanding site in River View ceme tery, tlio lieautiful home of the doad occupying a high jxHtition on the west bank of the Willamette, juiit above the City of Portland, in an imposing monument of white bronzo, rocently erected by Mr. George 0. Sears, on his family burial lot. It in elngnut in design, commanding in size and lieautiful in the execution of its various de tailed features. The monument propor, including the statue, ia fourteen and one-lialf foot in hoight, and rests uiMtn a rough ashlar base twelve iuchcs high and forty-eight Hanaro. It woighs two thousand six hundred and sixty pounds, and cost one thousand dollars as it Bland. Tlio four aides bear various inscriptions and emblems of tlio sevoral orders to which Mr. Soars be longH, viz.: Masonic, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, and Grand Army of the Republic; also, the Woman's Itolief Corps, of which Mrs. Hoars was a worthy mem ber. Inscrilxtd ujmiii 0110 side of the shaft is the follow ing: "Jennie M. Soars, wife of Goorgo C. Sears. Born November 7, 181(5; died October 3, 1885. Agod 38 years, 11 months," lteneath which is the sentiment " In after time we will moot her." On the oposite sido appears the inscription " Little Tine Hoars, son of George C. and Jennie M. Hears. Horn Hoptoiubur 2, 1871; died March 21, 1878. Agod 7 years and G months," followed by tho quotation " lie carries his lambs in his bosom." Almve tho inscription is tho figure of a dove, and below that of a lamb. Upon tho plinth of tho column appear several appropriate mottoes. The shield, lielmot, G. A. H. bodge, monogram men, etc., are all clear cut and woll executed. The outlines are sharp and of more artistio proortion and execution than is seen in even the best work in marble. All the work is iu relief and presents an extremely attractive appearance. Standing upon the top of tho shaft is a vory graceful life-size statue of Faith. In hor loft hand she holds an oien bible, while with tho right arm slio points toward hoaven, her eyes turned upward and an expression of trust upon her countenance. Tho material from which this elegant monument is constructed is known as "white bron.e," a substance which is rapidly coining into xpular favor for monu ments, statue, medallions, fountains, etc White bronze is simply refined tine, which may be oast in moulds to any jxitU-rn. After casting they are put nndor a sand blast, by which the surface is out sufficiently to make it sparkle in the sunlight On the surface a thin film of oxide is formed, which protect the niotal from corro sion and renders it practically indestructible, so far as the elements are concerned. It neither becomes stained like marble, nor does it throw off verdigris like copjwr and bronze, Doing cast in a mould, the inscriptions and emblems ran be made as varied and artistic as the modeler's art is capable. Whatever the sculptor can do in clay can lie reproduced in tho niotal Artistio skill of the highest order can be brought into play to produoe the most beautiful result. The Moses reservation, recently thrown open to set tlement by proclamation of President Cleveland, lies north and west of the Columbia river, and embraces two million two hundred and forty-three thousand acres of laud. It lies in the western part of Stevens county, and extends from the Okanagan river to the Cascades, and from Fort Chelan to within fifteen miles of the British line. A portion of the country immediately south of it was thrown open in February, 1883, and those who pros pected here have been long and eagerly awaiting the ex ecutive order, which would permit them to enter this promised land, from which they have been too long de barred. A gentleman whose name we could not learn, but who has for several years past been attached to the res ervation in the capacity of farmer, had kept himself thoroughly posted on the topography of the reservation, and quietly explored it for mines, which he dared not then undor the law and the circumstances locate, was the first to drive his stakes on a mining claim. Being ab sent from the reservation at the time it was declared open, as soon as he heard that such was the case he rode day and night from a point in the vicinity of Colville till he reached it The last night's ride was a weary and fatiguing one, but without resting he proceeded to the spot, woll known to himself, and as he thought, to no others, began stepping off his fifteen hundred foot, and had scarcely finished driving his stakes, when, as day light began peoring through the half-sleepy eyelids of the morning, he discerned five horsemen approaching him. He was surprised to loam that their errand was to locate the same claim which he had just allotted to himself. Disappointed, but not aggrieved, the five breathless pronators immediately sot out to locate sev eral mines near by, whose existence they had a year pre viously ascertained. Since then several parties have gone to the Okanagan, and have returned or sent back glowing reports of that country's mineral promise. Among thorn hi Mr. A. E. Beuoist, one of the discover ers of the Old Dominion, near Colville. Mr. Philip Pierce, of Colville, returned from the new district some two weeks ago, and he reports that the country is pleas autly accessible to tho prospector, that lodges have been discovered which measure from eight to thirty feet face, and which assay ten dollars in gold and fifty to ninety dollars in silver. As was to be expected, a moderate stampede of min ers from the South Fork and Colville districts set in, and it is safe to say that at present writing there are one hundred prosjiectors striking heavy blows, bidding the treasures of Okanagan oome forth from their lurking places. Thus it will be seen that another mining camp of great possibilities has been added to the list of those either surrounding or not far distant from Spokane Falls. This vast region has also many fertile valleys and large areas of splendid grazing land. Sokane Falls Miner.