Letter to the editor Touting the Rossland mines

I have been an ardent reader of The Northern Miner since 1933, the days of Sidney Norman. I enjoyed the 75th anniversary issue very much, but was disappointed in your reference to the Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co., now called Cominco. No mention was made of the great mines of Rossland, B.C. This area was the greatest gold-copper mining camp in Western Canada. Such names as the Le Roi, War Eagle, Centre Star and Josie mines were known the world over by mining men of the early 1890s.

From 1892 to 1935, the Rossland mines produced gold, silver and copper to the value of $3 billion, at today’s metal prices. These mines were previously owned by various companies, and the ore was shipped to the smelter in Butte, Mont.

The Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co. was formed in 1905, as a mining arm of the C.P.R. They purchased the War Eagle and Centre Star mines in 1906. In 1907, the Iron Mask and Idaho claims were purchased, followed by the famous Le Roi mine, along with the Josie and Black Bear mines, being purchased in 1911. In that same year the giant Sullivan mine and fractions at Kimberley, B.C., were purchased for the sum of $200,000.

W.K. Archibald was superintendent of the Rossland mines for many years, and in 1930 was made superintendent of all outside exploration. He was known as Mr. Yellowknife in this area, as he was responsible in the staking of the Con, Ruth and Tarmagon mines. Archibald learned to fly at the age of 60, and was aided by First World War pilots in his staking of the Yellowknife properties in the Northwest Territories. Tom Eccles Rossland, B.C.