AN ALL
ALASKA
NEWSPAPER
mgi#
DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
$5.00 PER YEAR
IN ADVANCE
VOL i; NO. 15
HYDER, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17,1924
FIFTY CENTS A MONTH ^
SAYS OMINECA BEST
PLACER DISTRICT
ON CONTINENT
After years of following the
gold lure in practically every
placer district in the North,
Robert H. Fleming, widely
known sourdough mining and
lumber man, is emphatic in de
claring that in his opinion the
Omineca district is destined to
become the greatest placer
country on the continent.
In a statement to the Herald
last week, Mr. Fleming said:
"I have mined and prospected
in almost every part of Alaska
and Northern Canada.” I have
prospected the gold creeks of
the Nome country, Fairbanks,
the Yukon and also Northwest
ern Canada from the Caribou
to Atliri, but from what I have
seen of the Omineca, it is the
greatest placer country on the
American continent.
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VUlt (LTV IVUIIIU
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almost every stream in the
region north and northeast of
Takla Lake, he says. The Om
ineca. the Mesalinka, Asilmika
and Ingfenika and their trib
utaries are all gold bearing
streams and gold can be found
along the rims on all of them.
Conditions are such, however,
that prospecting the streams is
difficult owing to water and
so far as he could learn in two
extensive prospecting trips, no
one had ever reached bedrock
in any of the creek channels.
Drill prospecting, he said, is
the «mly means by which the
creek and river beds can be
reached but up to the time he
left, a few weeks ago, no one
had attempted that form of
prospecting.
"As a matter of fact,” he said
"there are very few miners
and prospectors in the district.
There are only two genuine
prospectors there, although
there are a number of trap
pers who do a little prospect
ing on the side when the fur
season is slack. The deepest
holes sunk in the country, on
benches, do not exceed 30 feet.
Some mining has been going
on along the head of the In
ginika for a long time and al
so at a few other points, but
the country has not even been
touched except in the districts
that can be reached the eas
iest. But turn a few real pros
pecors loose with hand drills
and I believe it will become a
bonanza district. Mr. Fleming
said one of the main reasons
why the country has not been
opened up to a greater extent
is the lack of transportation.
Freight charges are ten cents
per pound between Port St.
James and Manson Creek, a
few miles below the Omineca.
- When informed of the recent
TO OUR PATRONS
..The undersigned requests
that patrons discontinue use of
electric heaters & appliances
until such time as new unit at
Barney’s Gulch is completed.
WT Will a iso appreciate your
economy in use., of electric
lights. Barney’s Gulch plant
is nearly completed and will
Ls in operation as soon as cer
tain extra parts arrive. Thank
ing you for your cooperation
International Electric Co.
FINISHING TOUCHES
ON RIVERSIDE MILL
Work on the construction of
Riverside mill has now reach
ed the stage where construct
or Otto Trdjanowski can see
the end of his labors, after
many delays and difficulties,
| due to transportation- delays
and other adverse conditions.
The machinery is all in place
and the piping for the water
supply system and the electric
wiring are now being Installed.
When this work is finished
the mill will be practically
completed and in shape to com
imence grinding out its daily
grist of ore. Manager J. D.
Littlepage has a large reserve
j of ore stored up in readiness
for the commencement of mill
ing operations, every old work
ing and tunnel being filled to
capacity.
Work on the fourth level is
proceeding satisfactory and
with pleasing results. -Al
though not officially stated, it
is understood that the ore on
.this level is of bpttei; grade,
jthan in the higher levels and
insures a good margin of prof
it over operation costs.
action of the Chamber of Com
merce in getting behind the ef
j fort now being-made by the
citizens of British Columbia
and Alberta to secure con
struction of a branch of one of
the transcontinental rail road
lines to Stewart and Hyder. Mr
Fleming expressed hearty ap
proval, stating that the pro
ject would open up this great
placer region to exploitation
as well as the great coal and
agricultural resources of the
Peace River and Alberta sec
tions. The construction of a
railroad would undoubtedly
result in a great influx of set
tlers into Alberta and Peace
River countries,, he said, while
the Omineca would attract
from all parts of the North
miners and prospectors, who
are disinclined to go there at
present owing to tlie difficul
ties of traveling and trans
porting supplies over wide dis
tances. According to Mr. Flem
ing, the route of the proposed
railroad is one that presents
no difficulties aijd would open
up an immense area filled with
a wide variety of resources,
irom grain to coal and gold.
The Ground Hog section, he
says, has some of the finest
coal so far found in. the North,
the quality being much super
ior to that of the Alaska fields.
“With all these resources to
feed it and with the added
prospect of securing a large
portion of the trade of Alaska
through a terminal at Hyder,
there appears to be little doubt
that a railroad would not only
be f great benefit in the devel
opment of Western Canada
and Alaska, but would also
yield big returns on the invest
ment Within a very few years.
Jack Fitzgerald, mine fore
man of the Independence, re
turned on the Cardena forrp a
short visit in the South.
Meet me at the Hospital Dance
New Years Eve.
ANOTHER RICH STRIKE
MADE ON DALY ALASKA
A second strike of high grade
ore, exceeding both in extent
and importance that of several
weeks ago, has been made on
the Daly-Alaska. The new dis
covery was made under con
ditions which leave no doubt
.that the property is destined
to become not only a real mine
but also_ a prolific producer.
According to Manager Wm.
Sloan, under whose direction
' the property has been raised
from the status of a good pros
pect to a property of high val
ue, the strike was made in the
extension of the cross cut tun
nel started last year, which
has now penetrated the fourth
of the large ore bodies ooiri
prising the surface showings.
The width of mineralization
in the ore zone is over 35 fefet.
Eight feet of the zone, which
carries splendid values in gold
and silver, is now being drift
ed on to determine its extent?.
The ore oody is a clearly ds
fined vein, the structure • L
vhich is an exact duplicate of
that found on the surface Mr.
Sloan states that the strike was
made at a vertical depth of
300 feet below the outcrop, a
depth on the ore attained on
few properties in the district,
A streak of ore some twenty
inches in thickness along the
hanging wall of the drift
shows considerable quantities
of ruby and native silver, while
the balance of the eight feet
of ore on'winch the drift fs be
ing run is strongly mineralized.
Tests of the ore in the twenty
inch streak give average val
ues $53 per ton, in gold and
silver, while samples taken
across the remainder of the
face show an average value of
$18 per ton. Mr. Sloan states
that the samples from which
these values were obtained
were made after the high
grade had been elimniated as
far as possible, in order to ob
tain an accurate index to the
average values. The drift has
now been extended a distance
of twenty five feet or so from
the tunnel, with the ore hold
ing up both in character and
values carried. The tunnel in
tersects the ore body at a dis
tance of 650 from the portal.
Mr. Sloan states that it is the
intention to thoroughly ex
plore the vein by drifting for a
hundred feet or so, after which
he plans to raise to the sur
face. A cross cut will also be
started from the tunnel which
is expected to tap the vein at a
distance of 15(Jt feet from the
present drift. An interesting
and highly significant feature
of the new discovery is that,
the ore, like that found sever
al weeks ago, lies in similar for
mation and under the same
conditions as the Premier ores
a close contact of the Premier
porphry and greenstone tuche
being the predominating feat
ure.
In response to a question re
garding the company’s future
contemplations , Mr. Sloan said
that work is being continued
on the large body of ore found
several weeks ago and he also,
expects to install a diamond
drill and a 75 horse-power
plant to hasten development
in anticipation of placing the
property on a producing basis
during the coming year. It is
also very possible, he says,
that Ore shipments will be
made during the winter. Two
shifts are now at work and
will be increased as occasion
demands.
Large samples of the ore from
No. 4 vein seen by the Herald
representative were thickly im
pregnated with ruby and nat
ive silver, the former showing
in large sized bands or streaks,
with the native showing in con
siderable quantities over a
large part of the surface.
NEW TUNNEL CONTRACT
LET-VICTORIA MINES
Robt. W. Martin, head of the
Victoria Mines, Ltd., has let
a new contract for a 350 foot
extension of the present work
ing tunnel on the company
properties on Glacier Creek,
according to late information
from Stewart. An interesting
feature of the contract is that
the contractors, Jack Howse,
Tom Williams, Angus McKen
zie, James Donald and two or
three others whose names
were not learned, think so
favorably of this property that
they arranged to take one half
of the contract price in Vic
toria Mines stock. Mr. Howse
and others concerned in the
new contract were interested
in an earlier contract under
which most of the develop
ment work now in progress
was done.
-o
A bad break on the Premier
tram line occurred Wednesday
last in the vicinity of 7 Mile.
The break involved both the
stationary cable, on which the
ore buckets run, and the run
ning cable to which they are
attached. A crew of close to
40 men were rushed to the
break and repairs were speed
ily effected.
---o
Shop Early
PRUDENCE PRONOUNCED
SPLENDID PERFORMANCE
A considerable number of
Hyderites made the trip to
Stewart last week to witness
Ifcht performance of the mus
ical comedy “Prudence,” writ
ten by Miss Mamie Frazer and
produced under her direction
at the Stewart Opera House.
One and all are of the opinion
that it was easily the best
theatrical performance ever
seen in the 'Portland Canal
District and it is understood
that some of them are discuss
ing the feasibility of having it
repeated in Hyder, if arrange
ments can be made to that end.
The cast included 18 persons
with Miss Fraser in the title
role of “Prudence,” and a
chorus of seven female and
five male voices. Lively dia
logue was intei'spersed with
tuneful lyrics throughout the
two acts, the first of which
was laid in an English garden
and the second in a ball room.
A sprightly song specialty en
titled: “Gee! I wish I was a
kid,” featuring Miss Fraser
and a chorus, formed an inter
mediate act. The cast was com
posed of the following: W. S.
Orr, P. S. Jack, S. P. Silverman
H. G. Marvin, J. D. McDonald
and Mamie Fraser. Chorus:
Ida Watson, Muriel Crawford,1
Mabel Mellor, Helen Hall,
Daphne Workman, Bertha
Stickney, Cherry Campbell,'
J. W. Wilson, H. Wake, J.
Harper, A. Cardan and V.
Zeiffert.
EXPLOSION WRECKS
SILVER GRILL—STEWART
TWO ARE INJURED
Victims of a terrific explosion
of the cooking*, range in the
kitchen of the Silver Grill in
the Hotel King Edward, early
Monday morning, J. S. Stick
ney, proprietor of that well
known Stewart establishment,
and his kitchen assistant,
known generally as the“Blime
Kid,” are in the Stewart Gen
eral Hospital suffering from a
variety of severe lacerations
and bruises about the head and
face, caused by their being
struck by fragments of iron
from the exploding range. The
explosion occurred shortly
after the fire was lighted and
is believed to have been due to
the water pipes having frozen
during the night. The force of
(he explosion was so great that
not only the range but almost
every article of furniture in
the kitchen was wrecked and
every window in the restaurant
was blown out. That the two
men escaped without mortal
injury seems almost a miracle,
as broken pieces of iron from
the shattered range were hurl
ed in all directions by the
force of the blast. Fire from
the range was scattered about
the room and caused a hasty
call for the fire department to
avert destruction of the hotel
building. Mr. Stickney’s in
iuries are of a character to
keep him confined for some
time, but those of his assistant,
are reported mending so rapid
ly that he is expected to leave
the hospital in a few days.
—--- - n
Christmas services will be
held at the Methodist Episco
pal Church Sunday evening
commencing at 8 p. m. An ap
propriate program ha3 been
prepared, comprising special
Christmas selections by the
choir, tableaus by the Sunday
school children and Christmas
stories by Mrs. Hatten. The
services are planned to pro
vide entertainment for adults!
as well as the youngsters. Fol
lowing the services there will
be a business meeting of the
church officers. Members of j
the Annual Christmas Tree;
committees are requested to
attend the meeting.
-o
One of largest mail consign
ments of the year, thirty sacks
in all, arrived from the States
on the Admiral Watson last I
week. The dispatch included j
mail of all classes, the bulk of j
it being made up of Christmas I
packages.
Combined with the mails ar-!
riving and departing on the j
Grand Trunk and the Wales, j
the quantity handled during
the week was probably the
largest in the history of the lo
cal office.
-o
Ifyder Igloo No. 20, Pioneers
of Alaska has announced its
annual New Years Dance to 1
take place at Pioneer Hall
New Years Eve. Details of the
program have not been com
pleted and will be announced
later.
Annual New Year Ball
Pioneer Hall, December 31
SUDDEN COLD SNAP
A sudden cold snap Saturday
jevening sent the mercury down
to the vicinity of the zero
mark. The cold was accom
panied by a stiff breeze from
[the north that sent the chiUs
skurrying up the backbones of
pedestrians who ventured out
without their overcoats and
kept householders bailing coal
at a most unusual rate for this
section of Alaska. During Sat
urday night and Sunday the
temperature fell steadily until
4 degrees below zero was re
corded on the Weather Bureau
thermometer at the postoffice
Sunday evening.
During Monday and Tuesday
low temperatures continued.
Eleven degrees below zero \va3
registered Tuesday evening.
According to the old timers,
the temperatures reached
were the lowest in years.
-o
The annual Hospital Dan:e,
for the benefit of the General
Hospital will be held in the
Hotel Stewart hall New Years
Feve. The program will com
prise an interesting dance pro
gram, good music, a good sup
per and a variety of entertain
ment stunts. Tickets are for
sale at the stores with a red
cross in the window. The price'1
of admission is $1, for gen 1 -
men, ladie3 50 cents, supper
extra.
rne proceeds wm go to main
tain the hospital, a most be
neficent Institution and en
titled to all the assistance that
can be given it. Just at this
time, the hospital needs assist
ance and all who can should
lend a helping hand. Without
help rho hospital will be
torced to suspend. This would
be little short of a calamity
and should be prevented at
any cost. The dance affords
an opportunity to help the
hospital and at the same time
enjoy a pleasant entertain
ment.
-o-—
“ Bubbles” and Harry Lyon,
were the hosts at a pleasant
birthday party at the J. O. Ly
on home on Premier Avenue
Friday afternoon, the occasion
being the fifth birthday of l't
tle Miss “Bubbles,” although
her brother, aged 3, also cele
brated his birthday which oc
curred last month. Eleven juv
enile friends of the pair at
tended and enjoyed them
selves greatly at games and
other amusements, followed by
a dandy luncheon, with “B
bles” presiding at the head of
one table and her brother at
the other. Each had a birthday
cake decorated with candles
representing the number of
their respective years. Both
were the recipients of numer
ous birthday gifts from their
many friends. Those attend
ing were: “Buster” Scott, Har
ry Cochran, Bobby Thomas,
Earl Haughn, June and Mona
Mehlfeld, Betty and Jack Hov
tand and Betty, Dave and Lau
ra Mahood.
CHRISTMAS SUGGESTIONS
TOILET GOODS
HIGH GRADE CIGARS
BOXED CANDIES
SUPERFINE STATIONERY
CUT GLASS - CAMERAS
FOUNTAIN PENS
AT
THE MIDGET EMPORIUM .