ADVICE TO PROSPECTORS
(By J. P. Wallace in ‘'Ore Deposits for
the Practical Miner.”).
One canot correctly judge the
value of an ore with the eye. The ap
pearance of ores of the same general
character often differ so widely in dif
ferent localities as to defy the most ex
perienced eye. Sometimes the precious
metals occur in such minute particles
and are so generally diffused throughout
the rock as not to be recognized. In
other cases they may be wrapped up or
combined in with other metals or sul
phides, and thus hidden away from view
Whether sulphides carry values or
how much they may carry we can
not tell. The assayer who handles so
many different ores seldom ventures a
prediction as to values. Mining men of
the largest experience have but little
confidence in ocular inspection. Ex
perience has shown that unless one is
familiar with the particular ore in
question his opinion of its value is
not to be trusted. Only the conceited
and self-opinionated will tell you the
values of ores by inspection.
Most good lodes have more barren
than good ground,and there is no good
lode without its barren spots. Hence
it is a wise rule to sink your shaft in
the best ore. Should no outcrop of good
ore be found, it is best for the pros
pector with little means to allow some
one with surnbis mo****** +« do the sink
ing. The notion so often preached that
one has only to sink to get good ore is
a delusion. It is against the experience
of good miners the world over, and is
rarely verified.
When capital comes to your camp,
don’t misrepresent your claims. Deal
fairly. Attempted deception will on
ly drive him from you. Tell him exact
ly what you have, if you know, and if
you don’t, lose no time in employing
a competent man to inform you. Don’t
hang on year in and year out to that
which does not show real merit. Bet
ter sell out for a grubstake or abandon
it.
The prospector should always “stay
with ’ ’ a, vein which pays only a small
profit, because it is reasonably sure that
chimneys or shoots of much richer ore
will be found somewhere in the vein.
No expert, however learned, can fore
tell where or when the chimney may
be encountered. Only development will
reveal this.
The miner should study his vein close
ly and observe every seam however
small that leads off into the wall rock.
If it contains clay, talc, oxidized ore,
fragments of quartz, spar or lime, it
requires atention. Oftentimes large and
valuable bodies are discovered by fol
lowing mineralized seams. The largest'
bonanza in the famous Comstock and
one of the largest in the Copper Queen
of Bisbee were brought to light in this
way. There are many irregularities
and peculiarities in veins that should
be carefully looked into. You cannot
know your own mine too well.
Even with the best of management,
it is an exceptionally good prospect
that will pay the cost of development.
This is not always due to lack of good
or sufficient ore, but generally to lack
of proper facilities for the mining and
reduction of it, and to the fact that all
work is preparatory; it is the blocking
out of ore that costs and the stoping
of it that pays the profits.
The price of a mine should be
largely determined by the showing
made by development. The value of
the ore extracted and sold lessens the
present value of the mine to that am
ount. It is the amount of pay ore yet
remaining that is chiefly important to
the purchaser.
DORA AT SEATTLE
The Alaska Steamship company’s
steamer Dora is now in Seattle, under
going her annual overhauling on the
marine railway. Under command of
Captain ‘‘Jock” Livingstone, the Do
ra. left here nearly ten days ago. Capt.
Livingstone will be back on the steam
r Jefferson as pilot next trip.
MILD WEATHER IS JUNEAU’S
IN PAST THIRTY DAYS
The opinion advanced by some that
Juneau weather is very severe is shat
tered by a glance at the weather re
port of the last thirty days, as ob
served by I. J. Sharick, volunteer U.
S. observer.
December 4 was the warmest day
during thirty days time. The maximum
temperature on that date was 49 above
and the minimum 46.
The coldest day in a month was on
November 21, when the thermometer
fell to 29 degrees above zero. On that
day the maximum temperature was 25
degrees above zero.
With the goose-bone prophets still
studying the elements, however, the
prophecy that Alaska is going to ex
perience a severe winter still holds
good.
LOCAL BACHELOR MAY
BE MARRIED SOON
Having asked for and been granted
an indefinite leave of absence, U. S.
Deputy Marshal Hector McLean, one
of the most popular officials in First
Alaska division judicial arfairs, board
ed the steamer Jefferson Saturday
night and unceremoniously took his
leave of Juneau.
Deputy Marshal McLean s departure
has given rise to the rumor that the
trip has more than a mere objective
point. In short, it is reckoned that
Hector McLean will not return from
Seattle, or whither he went, alone.
To anyone who has not had the
pleasure of really knowing Hector
McLean, his actions for two or three
days prior to the sailing of the Jeffer
son differed little from his accustom
ed habits. But to his friends it vcas ap
parent that Mr. McLean had something
unusual on his mind. A mere leave of
absence from duty at the marshal’s of
fice is not a criterion of marriage, but
failure to get a reservation south by
steamer until the last minute of sail
ing smacks of matrimonial intentions.
Marshal McLean is a conscientious
official and will surely be back at the
coming session of court, wffiich convenes
January 3, where he is needed.
Meanwhile all eyes will be focused
on northbound passenger lists for the
names of Mr. and Mrs. Hector Mc
Lean.
LINDEN AT SEATTLE
Peter Linden, who claims he lost
$800 in the Juneau Hotel fire, who left
for Seattle two weeks ago, is now run
ning a restaurant on Pike street, Seat
tle. Reports are that the business ven
ture is already proving a successful
one.
Linden is remembered here as the
man who refused to identify the body
of a woman who lost her life when the
Juneau Hotel burned, and the authori
ties were forced to seek proper identi
fication from another source.
i i
Paul
BMom
Jeweler
and
Watch
Repairing
Of all descriptions for men women and children
Heavy Wool Underwear, Hosiery, Shirts, Mack
inaw Pants and Coats, Extra Heavy Cloth Pants
leggings, Gloves and Mits. Everything to keep
you warm while the Taku is blowing.
A happy and prosperous New Year to everybody.
STUBBINS
Here’s a Rare
Bargain!
Washington Chicken Ranch of six
Acres within the city limits of a thriv
ing county seat town of 5000 inhabit
ants. . Seven-room house with fine
lawn. Beautiful location overlooking
river.
All cleared and planted in orchard.
One thousand chickens.
Two up-to-date poultry houses.
Eight colony houses.
Large bam. Water piped to all
buildings.
Gasoline engine with bone and feed
mill.
This place cleared $2000 last year.
Only ten minutes walk from the heart
of the city.
Price $8500, $6000 cash and balance
time.
This is a fine home tnat will bring a
permanent income. Owner has a fami
ly of growing boys, and must have a
larger place. Address X, care Sour
dough, Douglas, Alaska.