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VOL. 8, NO. 14
HYDER, ALASKA, JANUARY 16, 1932
BY THE YEAR ?3.<K
SENATE MEASURE
TO *10 SHEER
A bill to create a United
States Monetary Conference
Committee and providing for
the calling by the United
States of an international mon
etary conference to discuss
among other matters, the es-'
tablishment of silver as a basis
of currency and world ex
change has been introduced
in the upper house of Congress
by Senator Dill, of Washing
ton.
Senator Wheeler, of Mon
tana, has also introduced a bill
to remonetize silver and pro
viding for the free coinage of
silver on the basis of 16 tol of
gold. A companion bill has al
so been intordueed in the
house by Representative Ev
ans, of Montana. The spon
sors of the three measures are
all Democi’ats.
The Dill bill, which has been
referred to the Senate finance
committee, creates a monetary
conference committee of nine
members, three of each to be
named by the president, sen
ate and house, to meet with
representatives of other gov
ernments which the United
States may invite for the pur
pose of agreeing upon silver at
a monetary basis, its use in
world exchange, and for the
payment of debts in silver so
long as those countries con
tinue to retain silver as i.
standard of value for money.
These measures represent
constructive steps of the first
magnitude with l’espect to sil
ver, as they bring the silver
issue squarely up to Congress,
as well as to the administra
tion.
Senator Smoot, of Utah, has
also introduced a bill to permit
foreign governments to pay
their debts in silver at the cur
rent market price. This meas
ure, however, does not aim at
increasing the monetary value
of silver. On the contrary, it
would maintain the white met
al on a purely commodity bas
is by making it worth only
“the current market price.’’
As a result the bill is being
widely protested by exponents
of silver remonetization.
Senator Dill has also offer
ed a suggestion that President
Hoover propose at the Hague
conference that other powers
agree to place silver on a mon
etary and world exchange bas
is to help them pay their bills.
Opposition to directly inflat
ing the value of silver or peg
ging it at a fixed monetary lev
el was expressed by Dill in
urging the use of silver at its
commodity value in trade.
This, he believed, would raise
the value of silver of its own
accord.
-O
Theodore H. Pearson, Stew
art resident,, was sentenced by
Magistrate J. P. Scarlett to
serve six months in Okalla
prison, following his conviction
last week of having obtained
food from the B. C. Govern
ment by false pretenses. Pear
son was found to have a sub
stantial sum of money in his
possession after having made
an affidavit to the effect thal
he was destitute in making an
application for government
Unemployment relief.
Senate Bill Proposes
Abolition of Gold Standard
Among the several measures
introduced in the present Con
gress bearing on monetary is
sues, the most drastic so far
proposed is one by Senator
Brookhart, (Rep.) of Iowa, to
abolish the gold standard and
base the standard of value
in the United States on 1-360
billionth of the national wealth
as of July 1, 1931. The meas
ure has been referred to the
Senate committee on banking.
This measure is in accord
with a view held by many ec
onomic experts that the Unit
ed States may be forced to
forego the gold standard to
maintain her trade with for
eign countries. Twenty-four
nations have now abandoned
the gold standard, Portugal
being the latest to announce
her suspension of gold pay
ments in international deali
ngs. As an example of the
manner in which the United
States is losing out in the mat
.er of world trade, it was point
ed out by Senator Dill a few
lays ago that the Pacific
Coast should be getting trade
from China because of the
boycott against Japanese
.roods. Instead, China’s trade is
now going to England and
ether European countries be
cause of their cheaper money.
-O
Moves To Get New Doctor
The Stewart Board of Trade,
; it the semi-monthly meeting
last week, took definite steps
looking to securing a resident
| ohysician for the district, to
| replace Dr. II. A. Whillans,
j who left recently for the south,
i The Board decided to write
! .he Provincial Secretary, out
| lining local conditions and re
i piesting his assistance in se
: curing a doctor for the camp.
As an inducement to some
I doctor to locate here, the
■ouncil decided to create the
! jffice of Health Officer, with
j in attached salary of $25 per
month.
Grant Mahood Active
Grant Mahood, former local
resident and later a promoter
if local mining development,
Is said to have an unusually
promising prospect in the Red
Lake district of northern On
tario, near the Howey Gold
property.
The ground was discovered
i last spring and is said to con
1 tain a large gold-bearing dike
| carrying spots of high-grade,
1 which has been traced for
1G00 feet and uncovered by
! surface trenching for 450 feet.
Old Timer Stricken
R. J. (“Black Jack”) Mc
Donnell, widely known former
i Stewart resident, was stricken
with paralysis at his home in
j Smithers, B. C., last Monday,
according to word received in
j Stewart.
-o
' The Wills Navigation Com
pany motorship Zapora ar
rived from Seattle Wednesday
j morning with a quantity oi
local merchandise. The vessel
remained here for several
hours before leaving for Ket
chikan with two passenger:
from this port. The next sail.
' ing from Seattle for Hyder is
scheduled for January 30.
ALASKA MINERAL
OUTPUT IN 1931
GREATEST IN TEARS
The Department of the In
terior has issued some interest
ing statements regarding the
mineral production in Alaska
during the year 1931, which
[show a total value of over
$12,000,000. The total pro
duction of gold is estimated at
$9,342,000,000 about $866,
000 more than in 1930, and is
greater than any year since
1919. The total value of gold
produced since the early days
amounts to almost $400,000,
000.
The gold recovered last year
from placers totaled $4,706,
000, and about 79 per cent <rf
this was produced by dredges,
of which there were 27 in op
eration.
By far the largest amount of
| placer gold came from the Yu
i kon region, with the Seward
; Peninsula region second. The
I other placer mining regions to
! gether contributed less than
one-tenth of the entire placer
gold output of the territory,
and in the order of their plac
| er production stood as follows:
Kuskokwim, Copper River,
! Cook Inlet-Susitna, Northwest
i ern Alaska, and Southeastern
| Alaska. The largest producer
in ine maun region was me
! Fairbanks Exploration Co.,
' and the largest one in the Sew
ard Peninsula region was the
Hammon Consolidated Gold
Fields at Nome. The bulk of
the lode gold continued to
come from Southeastern Alas
ka, especially from the prop
' erties of the Alaska Juneau
| Gold Mining Co. in the Juneau
| district.
The following table shows
the sources of all minerals
produced in 1931, as compared
: to similar production in 1930.
Value of Mineral Output of
Alaska in 1931 and 1930
1931 (estimated 1930
Gold. S9.342.000 *8.476.000
Copper .... 1,712 000 4.244.600
Silver. 99.000 157.300
j Coal. 567.000 631,000
Other minerals
(lead, petroleum,
j marble, tin. plat
inum, etc.) . 290,000 303.100
S12.010.000 S13.S12.000
The value of the copper pro
duced from Alaska in 1931 is
estimated to have been $1,
| 712,000. This marks a decrease
i in value of more than $2,500,
000 from the corresponding
value in 1930. Nearly $1,00,
000 of this decrease in value
may be attributed directly to
the lower average price of
copper in 1931 than in 1930.
The low price not only had
its direct effect in the value
; of the output but also acted to
1 restrict operations, so that the
quantity produced fell off by
an amount estimated as in ex
cess of 12,000,000 pounds. The
average selling pree of copper
during the year, as computed
by the Bureau of Mines, was
8.3 cents against 13 cents in
1930. In 1931, as in former
years, practically all the cop
per came from two mines near
Kennecott, in the Copper Riv
er region.
The value of the silver pro
duction in 1931 was only $99,
! 000, as against $157,300 in the
previous year. Two-thirds of
* the silver comes from the cop
BILL WOULD SUSPEND
ASSESSMENT WORK
DURING YEARS 1932-3
Suspension of the annual as
sessment work on mining
claims for the assessment years
1932 and 1933 is sought in a
measure introduced in the
House of Representatives at
Washington by Representative
John M. Evans of Montana.
The measure, known as
House Resolution 269, has
been referred to the House
committee on mines and min
ing.
-o
Signs Of The Times
In a letter received at Pet
ersburg recently from Minne
sota, it was stated that wages
in town there had been cut to
$25 per month for experienced
salesladies. They work 8 hours
a day except Saturdays when
they work until 11 at night. A
dressed hog can be bought for
$3 and a half a hog for $1.50,
and everything else in propor
tion.
-o
Hyder Hospital Assn.
Helds Annual Meeting
The Hyder General Hospital
Association, organized last
year to help in the upkeep of
the local hospital and assist
in providing adequate care for
local unfortunates who are un
able to pay for hospitalization,
held their first annual meeting
in the Chamber of Commerce
Hall last Tuesday evening. As
the hospital is now closed as
a result of present unfortu
nate conditions, the meeting
was confined principally to
routine matters, including the
annual election of officers and
trustees. The elections resulted
in the return of the full roster
of former officers, including
O. F. Hill, president; Ernest
Blue, vice-president; E. D.
Haddon, secretary - treasurer;
B. B. Smith, Chas. F. Sand
ford, trustees.
Although the hospital is clos
ed, the need for maintaining a
fund for caring for those who
may become ill and without
funds is imperative and it was
decided to solicit the member
ship by mail to pay up their
annual dues.
per ore, and with the reduction
of that output and silver aver
aging but 29 cents an ounce,
the decline of the total value
can be understood. Silver-bear
ing lead ores are but little
worked, because of their low
value. Other minerals, like
lead, tin, platinum, petroleum,
marble, limestone, etc.amount
ed in value to $290,000.
The 108,000 tons of coal
produced in 1930 amounted to
$567,000. As usual, practically
all of the output came from
the Matanuska and Healy Riv
er fields. The principal pro
ducing mines were those of the
Evans Jones Coal Co., and the
Alaska Matanuska Coal Co., in
the Matanuska Field, and the
Suntrana mine of the Healy
River Coal Corp., in the Healy
River field.
■ Present Depression
Not The Worst
That the present depression
is not the worst the United
States has experienced is
! claimed by the head of a large
' life insurance company. In
j fact he claims the present sit
( nation is far from being as
bad as during the depression
of 1839.
“in 1839,” he declared in a
iecent statement to a writer of
the Wall Street Journal “ev
1 ery single bank in the United
^Stales outside of New England
closed its doors. On May 10 of
that year every bank in New
York City was closed. In 1873
there were 3,000,000 men out
of work with a population of
only 40.000,000 in the United
States; 89 railroads went into
the hands of receivers and 300
out of 307 iron mills and steel
plants shut absolutely down. I
remember it distinctly and I
want to tell you that as a na
tion we are at ease compared
to what we went through
then.”
-O
Stewart Hospital Board
Elects New Officers
Kj. i . neuueitey is presiuem
and K. H. Grey is secretary
treasurer of the Stewart Gen
ei'al Hospital Board as a result
of the elections held in Stew
art this week. Mr. Grey, L. S.
Davidson, and C. M.
Adam were elected to fill va
cancies caused by the retire
ment of O. J. Hutchings, J. H.
Wilson and W. D. Smith.
The Board for the ensuing
year will consist of Messrs.
Heinekey, president; Adam,
vice-president; Grey, secre
tary-treasurer; L. S. Davidson;
E. T. Applewhaite; Oren F.
Hill. H.vder representative, and
J. P. Scarlett, B. C. Govern
ment representative.
A report of finances present
ed by the retiring secretary, J.
H. Wilson, showed a surplus of
$225.90 cash over and above i
all liabilities.
The hospital has been placed
in charge of Miss Roselle Bil
lott.
Big Missouri Suspends Work
Diamond drilling activities
of the Buena Vista Mining
Company on the Big Missouri
property were suspended j
Thursday and the property is
now idle, alter several years
of continuous exploration. Or
ders for the discontinuance
came from the south.
Although no official an-!
nouncement has been made
! regarding the shut-down, it is
understood that the suspension
is of temporary character and
j work will be resumed later
i when mining conditions are
1 more favorable. This is the
1 view of the mine officials, ac
cording to those in a position
j to know. It has also been
know for some time that the
company was not definitely
committed to a program of
winter work.
1 Mine superintendent Douglas
[Campbell is to remain here and
[will be in charge of the mine.
M. M. O’Brien, mines rnan
1 ager for the Consolidated M.
! and S. Company, which con
trols the Buena Vista com
pany, and the mine crew of 10
men left Friday night for
Prince Rupert on a special
boat.
ALASKA SECOND IN
U.S.GOLD PRODUCTION
Alaska’s gold production in
1931 was exceeded by that of
only one state, according to a
statement issued January 7 by
the director of the mint.
California alone surpassed
the Territory in the value of
its gold production for the
year, the amount reported for
that state being 510,235 ounc
es, worth $10,547,500, as
against 451,126 ounces, worth
$9,325,600, for Alaska.
Total gold production in the
United States in 1931 amount
ed to 2,365,881 ounces, worth
$48,907 100. This was an in
crease of $2,755,300, compar
ed with 1930.
Silver production of the na
tion totaled 30,967,618 ounc
es, worth $8,980,609, a drop
of 17,670,180 ounces as com
pared to 1930. The 1931 silver
production was valued on the
basis of 29 cents per ounce,
the average New York price
of bar silver.
Utah led in silver product
ion with 8,173,203 ounces
valued at $2,370,229. Idaho
was second with 7,389,633
ounces worth $2,142,994.
-o
Jack Russel Killed
By Rock Fall
While working in one of the
ore chambers at the Alaska
Juneau mine during the night
of December 29, John W.
Russel, 24 years of age, was
fatally injured when a large
rock struck him in the head,
according to Juneau reports.
Russel, who was well known
here and in Stewart, where he
formerly resided, died while
being taken out of the mine
after the accident.
Mr. Russel prospected in the
Taku section last summer.
Jack was highly esteemed
and very popular with the
young folks of the community.
He is survived by his mother.
Mrs. Annie Russel, who re
sides in Portlee, County, An
trim, Ireland.
-o
Fatal Stabbing At Chicagof
Herman C. (Lisle) Davis,
well known gas boat and fish
trap operator of the Juneau
section, was fatally stabbed
by Walter Gamble, also a
boatman, at Chicagof on De
cember 22.
The tragedy, according to
Gamble, was the result of a
violent quarrel between the
two men, the cause of which
was not stated. Davis was
rushed to Juneau and survived
five days after the affray.
Gamble is in jail in Juneau
facing murder charges.
Davis is survived by his par
ents, a widow, and six broth
ers and sisters.
-o
Masons Visit
A party of high Masons en
route to Anyox to open a new
Masonic temple there, were
visitors here during the stay of
the S. S. Prince Rupert Thurs
day. The party was headed by
H. B. Morley, grand master
of the Masonic Lodge of B. C
and incbHor) a-~<- •
Prince Rupert,