DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OP ALASKA AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT.
, .«
SUBSCRIPTIONS
$5.00 PER YEAP
IN ADVANCE
VOL 4, NO. 21
RYDER. ALASKA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1928.
FIFTY CENTS A MONTH I
8 MILE EXTENSION
TEXAS CREEK WAGON
ROAD PLANNED
That the Forest Service roads
bureau is planning to extend
the present Texas Creek wag
on road eight miles up the west
fork of Texas Creek is definite
ly announced in a communicat- j
ion from Alaska delegate Dan.
Sutherland received by the
Hyder Chamber of Commerce
and read at the last monthly
meeting of that organization
Tuesday evening.
In response to requests made
by the Chamber of Commerce,
Mr. Sutherland stated he had
personaly interviewed the For
estry officials and was assur
ed that an 8-mile extension of
the road was included in the
department’s plans.
As the present uncompleted
Texas roadway reaches a point
about one mile above the
mouth of Texas Creek, the pro
posed extension will cover al- j
most the entire length of the ;
Texas valley and will provide
wagon transportation for prac
tically every important mining;
property in that area.
The announcement is the cul
mination of long continued ef
forts on the part of the Cham
ber of Commerce to obtain
governmental assistance in the
opening up of the richly min
eralized Texas Creek section |
by wagon road construction'
and is a most gratifying re
ward for the time and money
expended, as the' projected
road will open to early and
economical exploitation what
promises to become the most j
prolific mineral producing
section of the entire Hyder
mining district.
The Chamber of Commerce
is justly entitled to the thanks
of the entire community for se
curing this much needed aid to
the mining industry, on which
every individual in the camp
is dependent for such prosper
ity as they may enjoy..
NEW COMPANY TO
WORK INDEPENDENCE
Recent rumors to the effect
that a new deal for the Inde
pendence property was being
negotiated in the south were
confirmed by reports from the
south last week stating that the
Revenue Mining Company, a
British Columbia corporation,
with whom are associated east
ern United States interests, has
undertaken to further develop
the Independence property
with a view to its acquisition
if results are sufficiently en
couraging.
The agreement is said to pro
vide for 600 feet of tunneling
and 200 feet of upraise during
the coming season.
The Independence company
is said to have received an in
itial payment of $5,000 on the
deal. A second payment of a
similar amount is also to be
made during the latter days of
March.
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The motorship Norco is ex
pected to arrive from Seattle,
via Ketchikan, some time to
day.
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R. E. Lundvall, manager of
the Marlund Mines, Ltd., op
erating the former Washington
Group on Marmot River, left
Thursday on a short visit in
the States.
-0--—
Ray Snyder left Thursday on
an extended business trip in
the states.
WINNIPEG INTERESTS
BOND VIRGINIA
AND BORDER GROUPS
The most important mining:
deal developing in the Hyder
mining district in several years
was consummated Wednesday
with the taking over of the
Virginia and Border groups by
Winnipeg interests represented
by Messrs. Norman Tobias and
E. W. L. George, both of Win
nipeg. No information could
be obtained regarding the
amounts involved in the indi
vidual transactions but the
total amount is reliably re
ported to approximate $200,
000.
Messrs. George and Tobias ar
rived Monday evening, mak
ing the long trip for the ex
press purpose of securing the
properties, and concluded their
bonding arrangements in time
to leave for the east Thursday.
In a statement to the Herald
prior to departure, Mr. Tobias
said that the purchasing inter
ests contemplate starting an
active campaign of develop
ment activities on both proper
ties as soon as climatic condit
ions permit, which will be car
ried on under the direction of
Wm. Bunting, pioneer mining
man of the district.
Mr. F. J. Crossland, eminent
Canadian mining engineer,
who also arrived Monday, has
been engaged as consulting en
gineer and will render a report
on the properties to the pur
chasers, Mr. Tobias said.
Both Mr. George and Mr. To
bias expressed the greatest
confidence in the future of the
Portland Canal district and
are confident that the pur
chased properties will become
producing mines under devel
opment.
Mr. George said that Eastern
Canada mining interests are
becoming much impressed vrith
the mineral possibilities of this
section and further local in
vestments from that section are
not improbable eventualities of
the future.
xne properties mvoivea in
the new deal are among the
oldest and most prominent
mineral holdings on the Alas
ka side of the International
boundary line. Both are locat
ed in the upper Salmon River
valley 13 miles north of Hyder.
They are also situated in close
proximity to the great Premier
mine, the Border being separ
ated from that famous proper
ty only by the 120-foot inter
nationalized strip of land
which forms the boundary line.
The latter property comprises
three claims, on which consid
erable work has been done by
the owner and locator, L. R.
Doggett, with results indicat
ing that the ground contains
the western extensions of the
i Premier ore zone.
The Virginia group is situat
ed west of the Border group
and is also close to the Pre
mier. The group is made up of
four claims, which display a
large number of mineral ex
posures of high grade char
t acter. Considerable develop
| ment work has also been done
‘ on this property.
Title to the Virginia Group is
held by Mrs. Wm. Bunting, of
Hyder, J. A. Hall, of Vancouv
er, and Chas. Finzel, of Ket
chikan. Proceedings looking
to the acquisition of U. S. pat
ents pn both the Border and
Virginia properties are now
pending and will be concluded
RIVER PROTECTION BILL
NOW BEFORE CONGRESS
A bill providing government
al assistance in protecting Hy
der from the encroachments
of the turbulent and dangerous
Salmon River has been intro
duced in the lower house of
Congress by Alaska delegate
Sutherland, according to a
communication from the dele
gate received by the Hyder
Chamber, of Commerce and
made public at Tuesday night's
meeting of that body.
The full provisions of the
measure will be published as
soon as a copy is available.
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MUNRO GROUP IS
REPORTED FINANCED
Additional evidence of in
creasing interest on the part of
big investors in the mineral
development possibilities of the
Portland Canal district is dis
closed by- reliable reports from
Vancouver that a deal has been
made with a London banking
group whereby the prominentj
Munro group, on the west side
of Salmon glacipr in the upper
Salmon River basin, will be ad
equately financed for a contimi
uation of development operat
ions during the coming sum
mer. No details are available,
aside from the announcement
that the sum raised approxi
mates $70,000.
The property includes a large
group of claims with extensive
mineral showings of highj
grade character and is owned
by J. E. Munro and A. N. Mc
Donald. *
■o
CROSSLAND VISITS CAMP.
F. J. Crossland, eminent Can
adian mining engineer, and
consulting engineer for the
Woodbine Gold Mining Com
pany, was an arrival from Van
couver Monday evening.
Mr. Crossland informed the
Herald that he is here solely
for the purpose of examining
the results of recent develop
ment activities on the Wood
bine property and primarily to
determine the extent of the
ore bodies so far blocked out.
With reference to the recent
acquisition of a large block of
Woodbine shares by Winnipeg
interests, Mr. Crossland said
the transaction has placed that
company in a position to fully
complete its development pro
gram and is a splendid evi
dence of the interest and faith
of the eastern investors in the
development possibilities of
this district.
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L. & L. LOOKING BETTER
Reliable reports from the L.
& L. Consolidated property on
Bear River annaunce that late
development activities in the
main tunnel have opened a
strongly mineralized zone
around ten feet in width and
carrying between five and six
feet of good ore. Samples are
said to have ranged as high as
$116 per ton. The tunnel has
been extended on the ore to
aibout 140 feet from the portal,
and has reached a vertical
depth of slightly over 100 feet.
' "...T~' "■ .. ~
this year.
Messrs. George and Tobias
are to be congratulated over
their acquisition of such ex
cellently located and highly
promising properties as the
1 Virginia and Border Groups.
PREMIER OPERATIONS
LITTLE HINDERED
BY BIG FIRE
Reports from Premier during
the past week indicate no di
minuation in the normal activi
ties of the camp as a result of
the big fire which destroyed
a majority of the most import
ant buildings last week. Aside
from the loss of a few hfturs
time when the mine crew
was called out to combat the
conflagration, mine production
has continued as usual and is
even said to have shown a con
siderable increase.
Additional details of the big
fire disclose that the blaze
apparently originated in the
garbage incinerator, situated
in the basement of the mess
house, which is believed to
have exploded, probably from
gases collecting within th^ de
vice. Eyewitnesses of the con
flagration are unanimous m
praising the splendid efforts
of the mine crew in combat
ing the raging flames. Handi
capped by the scanty water
supply, the crew worked with
heroic spirit, employing every
means available to check the
rushing fire demon. Reports
from all sources agree that
the destruction of the mill,
compressor plant, machine
Shop and tram head was avert
ed by the battle put up by the
men against overwhelming
odds to keep the flames from
attacking the small bunkhouse.
Had this building caught fire,
the destruction of the remain
ing mine buildings could hard
ly have been averted, accord
ing to all accounts.
jjynamite is said to have
been placed in the threatened
structure in the hope of pre
venting the flames reaching the
mill and adjacent buildings.
The explosive was not needed,
however, thanks to the cour
ageous efforts of members of
the crew. With the large bunk
house, less than a score of pac
es away, a raging inferno of
smoke and flame, the men,
using wet mattresses as shelter,
edged their way between the
buildings, burrowed into the
snow and directed the avail
able streams of water onto the
threatened structure until the
walls of the big bunkhouse
fell in and the danger was ov
er. Some of the men are said
to have remained under their
improvised shelters until the
matresses burst into flame.
During the height of the con
flagration the heat became so
intense that the general man
ager’s residence, the apart
ment house and other build
ings situated a considerable
distance away, were scorched
and barely escaped being in
volved in the general destruct
ion.
In addition to the heavy loss
sustained by the company, the
losses of the workers will run
into thousands of dollars. A
considerable number of the oc-;
cupants of the big bunkhouse |
are said to have last sums of j
money ranging from a few dol
lars to five or six hundred, in
addition to other valuable ef
fects, and many are reported
| to have lost substantial sums
in mining stocks, which in a
majority of instances were still
registered in the names of pre
vious owners and cannot be re
placed.
Assistant manager Bert. L.
Smith is praised for his master
ly handling of the situation,
WINNIPEG PEOPLE
' BOND CREST GROUP
Included in the series of deals
for local mining properties
consummated during the past
week by Messrs. Norman To
bias and E. W. L. George, on
behalf of Winnipeg interests,
was the taking over of the
well known Crest Group in the
upper Fish Creek area. An
nouncement of the deal was
made by the two visitors late
Thursday morning before their
departure on the return journ
ey to Winnipeg. As in the case
of the transactions consummat
ed by the same parties earlier
in the week and involving the
Virginia and Border Groups,
the Crest deal was made on be
half of Winnipeg financial in
terests, who are reported to
have formed a syndicate for
the purpose of securing prom
ising local properties for de
velopment.
Beyond the statement that de
velopment activities will be
started as soon as practicable.
Messrs. Tobias and George
could give no details regarding
the bond holders’ future in
tentions.
The price to be paid for the
group is reported to approxi
mate $150,000.
The Crest property comprises
a total of 8 claims and is situ
ated near the head of Fish
Creek in the heart of the lower
Salmon River mineral area on
the Alaska side of the Inter
national boundary. Title to the
property is vested in Morris D.
Ickis, of Seattle, and Arthur
Moa and Oren F. Hill, of Hy
der.
NATL. SILVER PLANS
WORK ON GEORGIA RIV.
The Georgia River district, a
few miles south of Hyder will
be given increased prominence
during the coming summer by
the entrance into that field oi
the National Silver Company.
The company acquired last
year an extensive block of
ground in the vicinity of the
Georgia River Mines company
holdings, on which ere carry
ing high gold values was locat
ed late last summer, and plans
to start active development op
erations as soon as climatic
conditions permit, according to
late reports from the south.
—--o
The Hyder Dock Company,
Inc., is constructing a new of
fice building on its dock, to
replace the office quarters de
troyed in the recent fire. The
new structure, which is locat
ed on the site of the burned
warehouse, will" be 16 feet
wide by 22 feet long and will
be ready for occupancy in
about a week.
-c
General manager Dale L. Pitt
of the Premier Gold Mining
Co. returned Thursday from a
business trip to the south.
especially with respect to the
serious housing problem creat
ed by the destruction of the
big, 6-story bunkhouse. By con
verting the large salvage ware
house, formerly used for stor
ing old machinery, into a bunk
house, Mr. Smith speedily
created excellent quarters for
about 150 men, in addition to
the fifty or so lodged in the
small bunkhouse. As a result
there has been no delay or loss
of time in the conduct of min
ing activities.
NEW DEVELOPMENT
FOR THE BAYVIEW
A Vancouver group known
as the General Exploration
Company, Limited, has taken
hold of the well known Bay
view property on the east slope
of Mt. Dolly, overlooking the
town of Stewart, and will in
augurate a vigorous program
of development activities dur
ing the coming summer, ac
cording to Western Canada
Mining News, of Vancouver.
The Bayview has been con
sidered for years as one of the
most promising properties in
the lower Bear River section
and includes a group of four
teen claims on which consider
able development work was
done in, earlier periods and
particularly in 1925, with de
cidedly promising results. A
test shipment of ore sent out in
that year is said to have as
sayed 1.40 in gold, 171 ounces
in silver, 16.5 per cent lead and
21.5 per cent in zinc to the eon.
A
GEORGIA RIVER
FULLY FINANCED
The Georgia River Mining
Company, has been fully fi
nanced during the past six
months and has upward of
$225,000 in the treasury with
which to prosecute develop
ment on its Georgia River
properties, according to a re
cent announcement by presi
dent Wellington Beaton. In ad
dition to this splendid cash re
source, the company also pos
sesses a good sized block of its
treasury shares.
The discovery of unusually
high gold values on the proper
ty last fall indicate a possibili
ty that it may become a gold
producer of the first magni
tude with continued develop
ment.
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CANADIAN M. P.
WANTS ALL OF
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA
Notice of a motion asking the
Canadian government to open
negotiations with the United
States with the object of ac
quiring for Canada the Alaska
“panhandle,” was filed recent
ly in the British Columbia legis
lature by H. F. Kergin, liberal
leader, according to Victoria
press reports.
Mr. Kergin’s motion asserts
the section indicated, which
includes all of southeastern
Alaska from Hyder to Skag
way, acts as a barrier and is
detrimental to the develop
ment of the northern half of
British Columbia.
The motion asks that the B. C.
Legislature place itself on rec
ord as of the opinion that the
Dominion government should
open negotiations with Wash
ington, having in view the re
adjustment of the internation
al boundary in the interests of
both Canada and the United
States.
Mr. Kergin’s proposal would
not only place Hyder in Can
ada but also remove from the
jurisdiction of the United
States Ketchikan, Juneau, Pet
ersburg, Wrangell, Skagway
and other important centers.
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P. H. Abbott, Alaska repre
sentative of the Dupont Pow
der Company, arrived Wednes
day from Juneau, on one of his
! periodical visits.