SPECIALIZING IN
MINING NEWS OF 'HE
PORTLAND CANAL
DISTRICT
HYDER WEEKLY HERALD
DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
$5.00 PER YEAR
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VOL 6, NO. 13
HYDER, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4,1930.
PRICE TEN CENTS
ALASKA NUMERAL
PRODUCTIOM1929
SHOWS INCREASE
Advance statements prepared
by the Alaskan branch of the
U. S. Geological Survey an
nounce that mines in Alaska
are estimated to have pro
duced minerals valued at $16,
105.000 in 1929, as agains'.
$14,061,000 in 1928 and $14,
404.000 in 1927. The total
value of the mineral output oi
Alaska since 1880 is approxi
mately $616,000,000. The fig
ures for 1929 are preliminary
estimates and subject to revis
ion. They indicate the source
of this mineral wealth approx
imately as follows:
1929 (est.)
Gold $7,748,001
Copper 7,233,00(
Silver 240,00(
Coal 496,00(
Other minerals (lead,
petroleum, tin, mar
ble, platinum) 388,000
$16,105,00C
1928
$6,845,000
5,965,000
266.000 j
662.000 |
323,000 |
Gold
Copper
Silver
Coal
Other minerals
$14,061,000
Total production of gold from
Alaska mines in 1929 is esti
mated at $7,748,000. Thu
marks a noteworthy increase
over the production of the pre
ceding year, attributable to in- i
creased output by both lode
and placer mines. The greatest
increase appears to have come
from the placer mines, where
as in the preceding year more
gold was recovered from lodes
than placers. The large in
crease in gold production from
placer mines is attributable
mainly to the greater output
from properties of the Ham
mon Consolidated Gold Fields
in the Nome region and the
Fairbanks Exploration Co. in
the Fairbanks region. Weather
conditions affecting mining,
such as plentiful water supply
and length of season, were es-j
pecially good in 1929 and con-!
tributed in no small measure j
to an increased production |
from many of the smaller
camps. All of the larger dredg
es in operation during the last
few years were again active
and most of them showed an !
increased gold output. Other
dredges lately idle were oper
ated and two new ones were
built. Apparently about 70 per
cent of all placer gold re
covered in Alaska during 1929 !
was mined by these machines.
The ratio in 1928 was 65 per
cent. The amount of gold pro
duced from placers by other
methods seems to have been
approximately the same or a
little more than in 1928. No
new finds of placer ground
that yielded any considerable
amount of gold mere made
during the year. Prospecting
for new deposits appears to be
somewhat more active than in
the recent past, and persons
with funds appear to be taking
WANTS TO CHANGE
TERRITORIAL FLOWER
Loo P. Bolt, Jr., a widely
known publicity man, of Little
Rock, Arkansas, who has given
;o Alaska much valuable pub
licity, following four visits to
.he Territory, is urging that
.he flaming Fireweed be ex
changed for the forget-me-not
is the Territorial flower and
suggests that the name of the
t'ormer be changed to “Fire
'lower.”
In support of his motion Mr.
3ott writes:
“On every trip to Alaska I
lave been especially impressed
with the beautiful Fireweed,
jut have seen but few forget
me-nots. It’s true that the Fire
veed grows in British Colum
bia, and in parts of the States,
but so does the Forget-me-not.
[ have never seen Fireweed
anywhere that could equal the
beauty in color, size and form
is this exquisite flower in Alas
ka, and I feel that tourists par
icularly are impressed with
his glorious and beautiful
lower growing in such profus
ion. The name, however,
hould be termed. “Fireflower”
nstead of “Fireweed.”
l growing interest in prospect
ive mining properties. The
increase in production of lode
gold is attributable largely to
the output from the properties
of the Alaska Juneau Gold
Mining Co., which was both
greater in quantity than in the
preceding year and of a some
what higher gold tenor. No
noteworthy ne<w developments
were reported at the other
gold lode mines, but most of
he properties active during the
last few years continued oper
ations. Gold lode mines in the
Willow Creek district yielded
a somewhat larger output than
in 1928, though considerably
less than formerly. Most of the
gold lode mines in the Fair
banks district had a successful
eason. It is estimated their
gold output was somewhat
larger than in 1928. Several
other small lode mines through
the Territory, but especially in
Kenai Peninsula, near Nuka
Bay and aj Crow Creek, and in
the Kuskokwim region near
Nixon Fork, report some gold
production and prospecting
was active at other places.
The value of copper produced
from Alaska mines in 1929 is
estimated to have been $7,233,
000. This marks an increase of
about $1,268,000 over the cor
responding value in 1928,
though the quantity produced
showed a decrease amounting
to more than 1,000,000 pounds.
The increase in value is ac
counted for by the fact that the
average selling price of copper
as computed by the Bureau of
Mines, was 17.9 cents in 1929,
against 14.4 cents in 1928. In
1929, as in former years, prac
tically all of the copper came
from two mines near Kenne
cott. These mines have yielded
copper worth more than $200,
000,000 in the 19 years or so
that they have been actively
developed, according to pub
lished records of the Geologic
al Survey.
Search for new ore bodies and
extensions of known ore bodies
'dividends or
I Today, January 4th, the Pre
mier Gold Mining Co., owher
I of the famous Premier mine, a
short distance north of Hvder,
j will present to its sharehold
ers a New Year gift in the
; shape of $300,000 in dividends.
The indicated sum represents
I six cents per share on the five
million shares of capital stock
i and is the fourth dividend of
| the same size paid to share
holders during the past year,
or a total of $1,200,000 during
Ihe annual period.
With the disbursement of this ]
dividend, the remarkable mine ‘
will have paid to its share- 1
holders a grand total of $14,- <
350,497 during the eight years 1
of its commercial exploitation. (
This is a lecord equaled by <
but few mining properties. 1
was continued at all producing ,
mines, 'and development was ‘
carried on at several others not (
yet producing. Active pros- (
pecting was carried on at the j
Nelson property, on Glacier (
Creek, a tributary of the Chiti- <
stone River, in the Nizina Val- r
ley, where several hundred
feet of tunnel has been driven r
to prospect outcroppings of
high-grade copper ore found
there. This work is being done t
by the Kennecott Copper Cor- ,
poration under option. Several (
long dormant copper proper- (
ties on Knight Island were un
der investigation by a Canad- (
ian mining company, which
plans to drill the area thor
oughly. t
Most of the silver produced in j
Alaska in recent years was re-1
covered from the copper ores, j
In 1928 over three-quarters of
the silver came from that
source. With the reduction in
the copper output in 1929 the |
quantity of silver naturally |
shows a corresponding de- c
crease. Furthermore, the aver
age selling price of silver was ^
only 53.4 cents an ounce,, j
against 58.5 cents in 1928. Ow-; ^
ing to the greater output of |
gold from both lodes and plac- j
ers there was some increase in
the output of silver associated (
with the gold. The quantity of
silver contained in ordinary
lode or placer gold is, however, ^
relatively so small, and silver |;
is so low in price, that the in- .
crease of nearly a million dol
lars in the gold output means i
an increase of only a few j
thousand dollars in the value c
of the silver recovered from *
these sources. j
..Some silver v/as also recov- r
ered from ores that are prin- ^
cipally valuable for the lead •
and silver they contain. Most of
the ere of this sort is mined in -
the Hyder district, in south
eastern Alaska, and is shipped ,
to smelters in the States for |
treatment.
Silver - lead ores are, howev- t
er, known in widely separated c
parts of the Territory, and 1
some prospecting is in prog- <
gress at several places for ores t
of this type. (
GOVERNOR'S REPORT
SHOWS PROGRESS
PAST FISCAL YEAR
Declaring that increased pros
perity was experienced in
Alaska during the fiscal year
ending June 30 last, Governor
George A. Parks, in one of the
most comprehensive reports
overwritten by an Alaska gov
ornor to the the department of
:he interior, points out in evi
dence that the bank deposits
)t the Territory increased from
*12,196,500 to $12,754,500
during the year, a gain of
*558,000; that the assessed
7aIllation of property in incor
jorated towns jumped to $23,
144,751, a gain of $753,885
)ver the previous year; that
he Territorial treasury’s cash
talance at the close of the fis
al year was $1,059,153.31,
>ne ot the largest in its history;
hat the total value of exports
vas $74,849,918, or $17,288,
!71 more than the previous
■ear, and thaf imports, al
hough slightly less than for
he preceding year, were val
led at $32,636,833 and that
he balance of trade in favor
if Alaska amounted to $42,
113,085, as compared to $20,
66,605 for 1927.
Included in the numerous
ecommendations made by the
;overnor are:
More adequate protection for
he halibut resources and a
urvey to determine the extent
f the fisheries; investigation
t the herring fisheries; an in
lustrial school for tubercular
atives; combination of agen
ies for enforcement of crimi
al laws; federal aid in preda
ory animal control; another
evenue cutter for Alaska pat
ol service; consolidation of
rmy and navy communication j
ystems under Signal Corps ;j
stablishment of army airports
nd squadron of planes in in
erior Alaska and naval plane
ase on coast; extension of re
ent aerial survey of Alaska
oast and construction of new
ederal buildings at Ketchikan,
’airbanks and Anchorage, the
irst two to be of fireproof con
tiuction.
Of particular local interest is
recommendation that gov
rnment geologists and engin
ers be statibned in Alaska
uiing the entire year to assist
he mining industry. Comment
rig on this recommendation,
he report says:
“It will be of inestimable val
e in stimulating development
f a geologist can be sent to the
cene of a new mineral discov
ry as soon as it is reported,
lis report should be printed
nd distributed immediately,
his cannot be done unless he
3 stationed in the Territory'.”
The production of coal from
Uaska mines is estimated to
lave been somewhat less in
929 than in 1928. As usual,
he greater part of the output
ame from the Matanuska and
lealy River fields. The prin
ipal producing mines were
hose of the Evan Jones Coal
:o. and the Alaska Matanpska
I PREMIER GARDEN
PARTY ENJOYABLE
ENTERTAINMENT
An entertainment and dance
in the form of a garden party,
given at Premier on New
Year’s Eve, was one of the
prettiest and most enjoyable
events of the winter season and
was attended by a large num
ber from both Hyder and Stew
art.
Excellent music featured the
program and skillful decorat
ive effects converted the hall
into a most realistic semblance
of a garden.
Coal Co., in the Matanuska
field, and the Suntrana mine of
the Healy River Coal Corpor
ation, in the Healy River field.
No notable new developments
were reported during the year
at either of these fields.
Some development work was
done on coal deposits on Ad
miralty Island, in suthwestern
Alaska, by the Admiralty Is
land Coal Co., and a small
amount of coal was shipped to
Juneau^o supply part of the
| local market.
All the petroleum produced
in Alaska in 1929 continued
to come from the wells of the
Chilkat Oil Co., near Katalla,
where, in addition to the oi'J
wells, the company also oper
ates a small refinery. The gas
oline and distillate produced
from this petroleum are much
in demand in the local market,
as they are said to be of better
quality than the usual commer
cial brands.
During the year a drill rig
was shipped into the region
near Katalla by the Alaska
Consolidated Oil Co.,but the
equipment did not reach the
ground until August, so that
the most of the work accomp
lished was preparatory rather
rather than actual drilling.
The only other place in Alaska
where drilling for oil was in
progress during the year was
in the Matanuska valley a
short distance west of Chicka
loon, where the Peterson Oil
Association continued work
throughout most of the open
season. A depth of between
1300 and 1400 feet was at
tained.
Alaska also produced during
1929 some lead, marble, tin,
limestone, quicksilver, and
platinum. The aggregate value
of these minerals in 1929, to
gether with that of petroleum
is estimated to have been $388,
000. Most of the lead was ob
tained as a by-product from
the gold ores of the Alaska
Juneau mine, and the in
creased production of these
ores resulted in the recovery of
a greater amount of lead.
Some lead was also, recov
ered from the silver-lead ores
of the Hyder district. . .
The marble output in 1929
came, as heretofore, entirely
from .the quarries of the Ver
mont Marble Co., on Prince of
Wales Island. Mining of cert
ain limestone deposits on Dali
Island, in southeastern Alaska,
by the Pacific Coast Cement
Co., as a source of one of the
constituents of its cement, was
successfully continued thru
out the year. The tin ore was
derived principally from $lac
!UM BLUE BOOK
WILL ENROLL OLD
TIMERS OF NORTH
! In an effort to compile a ros
i ter of those who have lived in
I the North, the executive com
I mittee of the Alaska-Yukon
I Sourdough Stampede Associat
| ion, promoters of the big Sour
j dough Stampede field in Seat
j tie last year, has issued a call
to all who have ever entered
Alaska or the Yukon to join in
'the production of a Blue Book
of the North. The volume, ac
cording to the committee plans,
will present a great deal of
historical data of the early
days of Alaska and the Yukon,
bringing to light many interest- ,
ing incidents, and will also con
tain short biographies of many
of the noted early-day charac
ters, in addition to as complete
a list of those who have ever
been in the Yukon and Alaska
as can be compiled. The book
will thus be not only a direct
ory of the North but also a val
uable reference work.
The Blue Book is not a profit
making enterprise and those
associated in its preparation
are giving their services with
out hope of reward beyond the j
satisfaction of compiling a \
work which will be not only
one of the most unique volumes
in the world, but also one that
will be handed down to poster
ity and in time become a part
of the history of Alaska and
the Yukon.
To assist in defraying the
expense of publication, the |
committee is charging $1.50
for registering each name and
each person registering will re- ;
ceive a copy of the book. Pict
ures of the registrants will al- ^
so be included if desired at a 1
charge of $10 each, and a '
wrrite-up and picture together 'i
will cost $20.
Persons desiring to have
their names included in the
register can obtain application
forms at the Herald office.
ers near York, in Seward Pen
insula, but small amounts were
recovered from placers in the
Hot Springs district of the Yu- I
kon-Tanana region. |
The platinum metals came 1^
principally from placers in the
Goodnews Bay district, at the Vi
mouth of the Kuskokwim Riv- j
er, and in the eastern part of
Seward Peninsula. The finds 1
in the Goodnews Bay district |j
continue to be encouraging but "
not such as to justify any rush
of prospectors. I
The motorship Norco arrived j
from Seattle Friday evening
with forty tons of local cargo, ,
made up principally of merch
andise for local business hous
es.
The trip North was described
by members of the crew as the
worst in four years, owing to j
stormy weather.
T. H. Evans, local represent
ative of the Bureau of Public
Roads, left on the Norco for
a visit in Ketchikan and Jun
eau.