fA L A
NEWS
SUBSCRIPTIONS
$5.00 PER YEAP
IN ADVANCE
DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA* AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT
. :-—:
w
• VOL 1, NO.31
t HYDER, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL S, 1925
FIFTY CENTS A MCMH
T
VETERAN AND COMET
GROUPS CAPITALIZED
The B. O. Erickson properties
on upper Bear River have been
incorporated under the title of
Argenta Mines Ltd. and will
be the scene of extensive pros
pecting operations during the
coming season, according to
recent reports from Vancouv
er.
The properties comprise a
total of ten claims. They are
located on the north slope of
Bear River valley about six
miles from the end of the wag
on road and immediately east
of the Rufus group. Consider
able surface work done during
the past three years by Mr.
Erickson and associates has
uncovered a series of unusually
large ore zones, one of which
is from 15 to 40 feet in width,
and is said to carry excellent
Another extensive vein, known
as the Erickson vein, averages
values in gold and silver,
around 20 feet in width and is
traceable for upward of 3,000
feet. There are also a number
of well defined smaller veins.
The veins are advantageously
situated for workinir on a steeD
hillside and at an elevation of
3,000 feet. Assays running as
high as $35 in gold and $1,000
in silver has been obtained.
The company is capitalized
for $1,000,000 divided into one
million shares of $1 par value.
The directorate is composed of
Col. A. L. Jacobs, of Victoria,
Capt, W. G. R. Gordon, of Van
couver, W. M. Higg3, of Vic
toria. and B. O. Erickson, of
Stewart. A. R. Morton, M. E.
will be in charge of the com
pany operations.
-—o
The Admiral line steamer
Curacao arrived from Seattle
direct early Saturday morning,
In addition to 65 tons of gen
eral cargo, consisting mostly of
merchandise, the vessel car
ried a list of five passengers
for this port.
-o
The following message of in
terest to local radio fans was
received by the Herald from
the Seattle Post Intelligencer
a few minutes before going to
press.
Will Alaska newspapers again
kindly cooperate with the Post
Intelligencer radio. Early Fri
day morning tenth between one
and four Seattle time there
will be broadcast a special
round-the-world program. The
BATS will be in session as us
ual ten thirty to twelve Thurs
day night, the ninth, making a
practically continuous all-night
program for Alaska and trans
pacific reception.
-o
Mrs. Walter Barron was host
ess at a delightful party at the
family residence Saturday ev
ening. Dancing furnished the
chief diversion and a delicious
luncheon was served.
Those present included Mi-,
and Mrs. Walter Barron, Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Stewart, Mrs.
Dave Mahood, Hubert Thomas,
Miss Maye Coombs, E. R. Stiv
ers, Owney McFadden, Mr.
and Mrs. Albert J. Mayer,
Earl Hinckley, Dorothy Mehl
feld, Lillian Stewart and John
ny Barron.
.-O
Byron Wilson, a prominent
mining engineer of Los An
geles, arrived Thursday on a
business trip and left for the
South Monday evening.
Mr. Wilson holds the position
of field engineer for the
Woods, Trites-Wilson interests.
-o
Mrs. Albert J. Mayer left on
the Cardena enroute to Seattle
where she will visit for several
weeks.
Mrs. Mayer was accompanied
by Mona Mehlfeld, who will
visit her mother in Seattle.
BAYVIEW & SILVER
SLIPPER ARE SOLD
■ Recent arrivals from the
south report the bonding, of
the Bayview and Silver Slipper
properties in the Bear River
area to* Vancouver interests.
Both are owned by John
Haati commonly known as
“John the Finn,” who is inter
ested in a considerable number
of properties on the Canadian
side of the line.
The terms were not made
public. It is understood, how
ever that the initial payment
was in the vicinity of $3,500.
The bondholders are reported
to have organized a company,
known as the Bay View Min
ing Company to work the
property of that name, which
comprises a number of claims
and is located on the west side
of Bear River opposite and
close to Stewart.
The sale negotiations were
conducted by J. K. Green, act
ing as the agent of the owner,
i _ __
Col. Wm. T. Perkins, of Se
attle, was a visitor in Hyder
and Stewart from Thursday to
Monday evening in connection
with the affairs of the Van
couver Mines Ltd., of B. C., and
the Hyder Jumbo Mining Com
pany, of Alaska, of which he
is a member of the respective
directorates. During his stay
Col. Perkins also made a tenta
tive investigation of the Sal
mon River-Texas Creek rail
road possibilities but asserted
Ithat he was merely looking
jover the situation and has no
definite aims with respect to
that project.
Col. Perkins expressed the
opinion that the district will
witness a wide increase in min
ing development during the
coming season, with a pros
pective large influx of new
capital.
-o
The “Father and Son” Ban
quet held at Hyder M. E.
Church Monday evening was
attended by practically all the
local fathers and their various
young hopefuls and proved a
most interesting event that was
greatly enjoyed by ail. The
1 program embraced songs and
speeches by the “Dads” as well
as some of the older boys, and
the “big feed,” comprising
baked beans, macaroni and
cheese, salad, ice cream, cake
and a variety of relishes. It is
perhaps needless to say that in
every instance the dads afore
said entered into the spirit of
the unique entertainment and
had just as much fun as the
“kids.” An especially pleasing j
feature of the program was'
the reading of Edgar A.
Guest’s well known poem:
“Life’s Hardest Task,” by Rev.
C. T. Hatten, who presided as
toastmaster. Those present in
cluded: Rev. C. T. Hatten and
masters Thobun and Canto’*
>ury Ratten, J n. Lyons am: j
Harry JyonsJV Chas. F«h-1
ring and Wendell Fehring, J.'
A. Hall and Arthur Hall, j
Harry Cochran and Harry Jr.,
Hardy Haughn and Master
Earl Haughn, John Hovland
and John Jr., and Masters
Ellsworth Thurman, David
! Mahood Jr., Eric Lindgaard,
jChas. Schomberg Jr.
i Felix Seppi, of the Salmon
River Stage line was an arrival
on the Curacao, accompanied
by his bride.
Mr. Seppi brought in a new
Dodge car to add to the Com- j
pany fleet of autos and trucks.
-o
Dick Olson, blacksmith at the 1
j Riverside mine, during the j
past year, left on the Wales,
enroute for Portland, Oregon |
i to spend a brief vacation.
PREMIER PAYS FIRST
QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
The Premier Gold Mining
Company has paid its first
quarterly dividend for 1926,
amounting to ¥410,000. The
payment represents an 8 per
cent apportionment on its cap
ital of $6,000,000 and brings
the total amount paid to the
stockholders of the famous
mine to $7,094,125 to date.
This represents qn average
payment of $1,409,826 per
year for the five years in which
this property has been pro
ductive.
The payment is slightly un
der the average of quarterly
dividends for the five previous
years of active production but
is by no means an indication of
a decrease in the productive
possibilities, according to those
in close touch with the affairs
of the company. In fact it is
stated on reliable authority
that production record this
year is confidently expected
to be one of the best in the
mine s msiury.
The annual report of the com
pany recently issued, places
the total production of the
mine during 1924 at $3,857,
328 from 159,014 tons of ore.
Gold production amounted to
139,288 ounces, silver, 3,015,
382 ounces. Lead production
reached a record total of 452,
010 pounds.
The report states in effect
that the total known and prob
able ore reserves at the close
of the past year, amounted to
567,880 tons of an approxi
mate value of $11,936,706, Of,
this huge reserve. 147,880 tons
was broken in stopes, the re
maining 420,000 tons being as
sumed and probable ore. Dia
mond drilling also indicates an
additional ore reserve of 146,
000 tons, averaging $7.80 in
gold and 3.2 oz. of silver,
which, although of consider
ably lower value than the ores
included in the reserve ton
nage mentioned above, may
ultimately become available
for profitable handling.
A regrinding and treatment
plant was added to the mill
equipment during the year
to handle table concentrates
formerly shipped to smelter,
thereby reducing both freight
and smelter costs. A new flo
tation process also effected an
improvement in recoveries.
During the year the mill
treated 61,965 tons of ore, an
increase of 4,169 tons over the
preceding year. Diamond drill
ing aggregating 15,838 feet
was done and drifts and raises
aggregated 7,333 feet, making
a total length of underground
workings of about 5 miles. In
cluded in the underground
work done during the past
year is a raise of 550 feet to
connect the No. 6, or lowest
level, with the No. 4 level. An
increase of the.mill and power
facilities are included in the
company plans for the present
year. Although not stated in
the reports indications point to
the future handling of at least
a large part of the ores ex
tracted through the No. 6 tun
nel.
.. u.
Oren F. Hill, proprietor of
the Hyder Drug Company, re
turned on the Wales from a
business trip to Ketchikan.
--o
Emil Davis, of the Common
wealth Mining Company, with
properties on Cascade River,
arrived on the Curacao from
a winter’s stay in the South.
-Or
Frank Fisher, superintendent
of the Premier ore tram system
returned Thursday on the
Wales from a visit of several
weeks with his family in
Ketchikan.
NEW SCHOOL
BOARD ELECTED
John Hovland, C. T. I-Iatten
and Merl Thomas, were chosen
to direct the destinies of the
Hyder Public School, during
the coming school year at the
annual school election held
Monday in the Ideal Cafe
building.
Mr. Hovland was elected to
the position of director over
J. A. Hall and Holger John
son, receiving 48 out of a total
of 83 votes cast. Mr. Ilatten
was opposed for the clerk
ship by Clyde Hager, H. H.
Howard and Earl Hinckley
and received 49 out of 83 cast.
Mr. Thomas led the ticket with
a vote of G6 out of 83 for the
post of school board traesurer,
his opponents being Robert
Stewart and Edgar Provinse.
The election supervisors were
Harry Tanner, H. H. Howard
and Noel Traversy.
Robert W. Martin, president
and general manager of the
Victorian Mines Ltd., has re
signed and the company has
been reorganized, according to
Vancouver advices. H. J.
Thomey, formerly connected
with the Dunwell and a widely
known local mining man, has
been given the management of
the company operations on
Glacier Creek. Mr. Thomey
has been in charge of develop
mnt work at the mine for sev
eral months.
-o
The Whist drive for the bene
fit of Hyder M. E. Church,
drew a good sized gathering
to Pioneer Hall Friday even
ing and netted a substantial
sum which will be used to de
fray various church expenses.
Seven tables were occupied
by the participants in the
whist tournament, in which the
following carried off the high
honors and the appropriate
prizes hung up by the enter
tainment committee in charge.
Clay Porter, prize for gentle
men. book, (“The Needle’s
Eye”; Mrs. Edgar Provinse,
ladies prize, a box of fine stat
ionary. The consolation prize,
a bottle of “ketchup” was
awarded to E. L. Dale.
A delectable luncheon com
posed of coffee, cookies and
sandwiches donated by the
ladies of the camp was served
during the evening.
Nearly 300 tickets have been
sold for the big Stewart Hos
pital X-Ray fund benefit dance
at Pioneer Hall April 17th,
and the Committee expects to
dispose of fully 100 more.
The public is meeting the call
for funds to pay for the new
X-Ray machine very generous
ly. This is as it should be. The
X-Ray is potentially a benefit
to every one in the community
in case of sickness or accident,
hence all should assist in mak
ing it a fixture in the hospital
equipment.
-:-o
The Friendship Club, a re
cently formed society, compos
ed of feminine members of the'
congregation of Hyder M. E.
Church, will meet April 22 at
the home of Mrs. John Hov
land. The society is preparing
to take an active part in the
work of the church, in addition
to othep activities of a social
and educational character.
The feature of the forthcom
ing meeting will be a discuss
ion of spring gardening, which
should do much to stimulate
interest in that interesting and
beneficial pursuit.
-o
The school children of Hyder
were guests at a pleasant
children’s party given by the
Midget Emporium at the Walt
er Barron residence, Wednes
day evening.
FEW BILLS MARK
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Winning the commendation
of all and sundry by doing
about as little as is possible
for a legislative body to do
and not relapse into 'utter
desuetude, the Territorial leg
islature is continuing to be in
marked contrast with its pred
ecessors, most of which have
jdisplayed an almost apprehen
sive eagerness to cram the
legislative mill with legal en
actmentSj from the opening
j hours of their sessions to the
last moment of grace allowed ]
jby law. m
Up to March 24th, the 22nd j:
day of the session, but 261,
jmeasures, including the defici-!'
ency appropriation bills had ■
been presented in the lower i
house, while less than a dozen
Iliad made their appearance in i
■ the Senate. An interesting
'feature of the limited array i
, of measures is that the great
jer portion are not aimed at the
creation of new laws but rath
er to the modification and im- ;
Iprovement of existing enact
ments. As witness the follow- :
ing:
Repeal of the law enacted by
'the last legislature providing ■
! for a preferential vote for Gov
ernor of Alaska is the aim of a •
House bill by Rep. H. G. Wat- ■
(son, Fairbanks. j
' A senate bill, by Dunn and j
Brown, would abolish the of- j
fice of Territorial Highway j
j Engineer, created by the 1923
session and now held*by-ft. J. ;
Sommers, until such time^'as'i
the Federal Highway Act is (
extended to Alaska.
A Senate bill, by Diamond, i
Valdez, amends the Territorial 1
Board of Accountancy Act in ]
j three minor particulars, cloth- 1
;ing the governor with power ]
| to appoint the board, pre- \
scribess the form of examinat- i
ion and reduces the applicat
ion fee from $100 to $25. \
A Senate bill, presented by (
;Senator Aldrich by request, ,
was prepared by the Ketchi- ]
kan Chamber of Commerce. It .
defines the powers of munici- •
pal governments as to public \
ways, places and sewers; pro- j
vides for local improvement ]
assessments by general ordi
nance, for street improvements <
charging the cost of such im- j
provements against property |
; abutting thereon and the cost (
of street junctions, crossings <
and sewer junctions against j
the city as a whole; requires j(
the making of plans for such I j
proposed improvements and!|
their legal publication with (
hearings to be'made. .
I A House bill, by Paul, Ketch- «
ikan, amends Compiled Laws ,
of Alaska by adding a clause i
; exempting from execution all jj
Ifishing appliances not over|r
i $1,000 in value when habitu-;j
•ally used by a debtor for earn- \
ing his living and also all his j
iboats habitually used for such!,
'purpose of a value not exceed
ing $2,000. These are in addit- j
'ion to the present statutory ,
provisions. ,
i cn. raul, also introduced a
1 to regulate fish traps by
'means of taxation. Tax levies
on various types of fish caught
| in traps are also provided by
the same measure. The bill al
! so requires that a license be |
issued by the Territorial Treaa
lurer before any fish traps can
| be installed, provides a pen
alty of $500 per day for each
day a trap is maintained with
out such license and an addit
ional penalty of 30 days im
prisonment. Trap operators are
also required to keep perma
nent records of traps and make
weekly reports to the Territor
ial Treasurer.
Senate bill by Pratt, Fair
banks, amends Compiled Laws!
of Alaska relating to contracts. I’
A second bill by Pratt relates
to liens upon real estate and
provides for the recording of
payments thereunder.
A House Ways and Means
Committee bill carries $2,000
for a deficiency in the fund
for the support of schools out
side incorporated school dis
tricts or incorporated towns,
rhis bill passed the Senate,
the only measure, aside from
appropriation b 11?, to pass the
upper house up to March 24th.
A House Laws Committee bill
provides for a new probate
"ode. It is understood to have
reen prepared by Attorney
general Rustgard for submis
lion to the legklatue two
^ears ago.
A House bill, by Paul, pro
vides that member? of the
egislature during the fme for
vhich they are elected shall
)e ineligible for any office or
position “for which the salary
>r remuneration is paid out of
funds belonging to the Terri
tory.”
A blouse bill, by klhot, Nome,
imends Compiled Laws of
\laska relating to embez: le
nent and provides p naltic
;herefor.
Pension allowances for Li
lians, reduction o preiem
jensions to both -p and
vomen, and the elimination o.
;he present policy of payin'?
illowances to former AH-,Van
jioneers removed to the state"
ire provided by a Ilouce bill
ntroduced by Paul.
The creation,of an o?£i i'1’
3ure^u of Pif-Pcity 1
)f five member' if-’in
>ne from each division L « o
josed in a House bill bv ^en
jlrier. The bill eootem~Ltes
he resumption of offi-’inl oub
icity on an enlarged sca’e
rhe appointments are to be
nade by th-> governor with
he latter also a member of
he board.
The measure also provides for
he employment of a Dire tor
>f Publicity at a salary not to
“xceed 95,000 per year, w’th
lecessary expenses. Official
jublicity of the same character
is the present measure c"r
emplates was carried on bv
he Territory for several years
>ut was discontinued in 1921.
A House bill by Grier is a;m
sd at strengthening the 19 3
aw for the encouragment »pd
irotection of fur farmers. Rep.
Jrier is also the author of an
•ther bill providing for Terr
torial aid to agricultural, in
lustrial and livestock fairs in
he Territory and doubling the
inancial aid extended under
he present law, which limits
luch assistance to 91,000 for
sach division for any single
rear. It also authorizes the
•Governor to collect and ship
or exhibition outside of the
territory displays of Alaska
iroduce, mining and manu
actui-es, also such other exhib
ts as he may consider advis
ihle.
Two memorial? have been
>assed by both houses; one by
(ensen, of Nome, urging the
istablishment of air mail ser
rice winter and summer on all
irincipal mail routes north and
vest of Fairbanks; the other a
Senate measure by Aldrich
asking for harbor improve
ncnts at the mouth of Ketch
kan Creek.
A bitter fight threatens over
he Paul bills providing for the
ibolition of the Territorial
•'ish Commission and the fish
latcheries. The House has
ummoned the members of the
Commission to appear before
he House committee on fish
ind fisheries.
The House has also request
id President Charles E. Bur«
lell of the Alaska Agricultu
al College and School of
dines to appear in connection
vith the college budget.