AN ALL
ALASKA
NEWSPAPER
DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT.
-jUBSCRIPTiOWd
$5.00 PER YEAR
*N_ADVANCE
VOL 1, NO. 26
i--—-—
HYDER, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4,1925
1
FIFTY CENTS A KCKTH
AMPLE POWER FOR
BIG HYDRO-ELECTRIC
PLANT ASSURED
4 .
F That even under such ex
treme conditions as have pre
vailed during the present win
der, the volume of water avail
table for power purposes in the
Soule Glacier River is suffici
ents supply all the power
Jneeds of the district for a long
time to come, is the outstand
ing feature of an investigation
conducted during the past few
days by Messrs. Ernest Blue
and Noel Traversy, holders of
the power use permit, which
^orms the basis of the big hy
dro-electric project recently
proposed by N. F. Helmers,
representative of the Seims,
Helmers and Schaffner Com
pany of St. Paul.
Although numerous measure
ments of the volume of water
available during the winter
months have been made by
Messrs. Blue and Traversy
during the past three years, |
the present winter has been
one of the coldest in the hist-1
ory of the camp, hence the fig
ures obtained this winter may
be considered as furnishing
conclusive data regarding the
minimum o.utflow of the stream
under exceptional conditions.
According tp a report ren
dered by P. R. Backus, C. E.,
who conducted the recent in
vestigation, assisted by Jack
Davis, Mr. Traversy and sev
eral others, the survey showed
the survey disclosed a mini
mum average flow of 80 sec
ond feet, at a point at the up
per end of a deep canyon
which debouches on the beach
and forms the lower dam site
and also the probable location
of the proposed power plant.
Somewhat larger figures were
obtained below the canyon,
but owing to the swift rush of
water at this point accurate
figures could not be obtained
at the time. This gorge or can
yon forms an ideal storage
place, the channel being about
40 feet wide at the bottom for
approximately a mile from the
mouth, with the walls rising
abruptly fbr 70 feet and with
the tops overhanging the river.
According to the figures ob
tained by the party the aver
age flow at this point under
the extreme conditions pre
vailing at the time assure not
less than 3,500 available horse
power. Careful measurements
taken at close intervals at the
same point last summer dis
closed an average flow of 3000
second feet. The figures are
considered somewhat doubtful
as the great rush of water at
that time makes accurate
measurements very difficult.
This however was the lowest
average obtainable.
The measurements taken this
winter, however, must form
the basis of all computations
and from these it will be seen
that close to 3,500 horsepower
may be considered certain un
der the most rigorous winter
conditions .known to this sect
ion. The upper canyon and
dam site, which is the most im
portant of the two, lies about
two miles above, at an elevat
ion of 370 feet. This is describ
ed as almost a box canyon,
BUNTING BONDS
HOBO GROUP
As a result of a deal complet
ed during the present week,
the Ilobo Group, owned by
; Marius Pederson and Albert
Johnson, has been taken over
under bond by William Bunt
ing who arrived from the South
Monday and left for Vancouv
er Thursday. The price involv
jed is said to be in the neighbor
hood of $16,000.
Mr. Bunting declined-, tp dis
cuss the deal before leaving,
and nothing could be learned
regarding hi3 contemplations.
The properties invplved com
prise a total of six claims and
are located a short distance
north of the head of Fish
Creek and in close proximity
to the McGrew-Femald prop
erties.
The group was bonded early
last fall by Messrs. Chaffee
and Fraser, of Vancouver, but
was later released without any
attempt at exploration on the
part of the bondholders. Con
siderable development work
carried on by the owners has
opened up a number of prom
ising surface showings. Assays
of the ore are said to have
yielded high values, with an
unusually large gold content, j
about 60 feet across the bot
tom and not over 250 feet
across the top, with walls
about 120 feet high. It* is es
timated that a 100 foot dam
at this point would flood about
60,000 acre feet of the upper
river valley, backing the water
up at least 2 and probably ov
er 3 miles. It is estimated that
the dam would have a storage
i capacity to furnish at least 200
second feet for a period of 3
months. This it is believed
should give a minimum flow of
300 feet, with an effective
minimum head of better than
400 feet. About pules of
pipe line would be required to
connect this huge reservoir di
rectly with the power plant
site. There is a rise of about
170 feet between the two can
yons.
Situated some distance above
the upper canyon is a third
reservoir in the shape of a lake
which is fed largely from
Soule Glacier, an arm of the
Chickamin Glacied. Owing to
winter conditions no accurate
data could be obtained by the
party regarding thfe volume of
water or the extent of the sur
face area. The lake is said to
i about lVfc miles long and about
one mile wide and should pro
vide considerable additional
storage.
i Glacier Fork, a small stream
which joins the main river
near the upper dam site, would
also provide considerable ad
ditional storage capacity.
Basing their estimates on the
extremely low figures obtain
ed, the engineers assert that
the project would undoubtedly
I develop more power than pres
ent qeeda warrant.
Compared to measurements
itakeh by' Messrs. Blue and
Traversy last year, the volume
'of water at the timg pf the sur
vey was less than naif the min
imum amount registered last*
year, the minimum flow dis
closed by weekly measure
ments taken during December,
1924, the coldest month of the
winter, was 250 second feet.
GOOD PROGRESS
ON INDEPENDENCE
Averaging about 41/2 feet to
the round and with the com
pressor working in fine shape,
development work on the In
dependence is proceeding in a
most satisfactory manner, ac
cording to Jack Fitzgerald,
manager of mine operations,
who visited Hyder during the
week.
Work on the property is now
directed to extending a cross
cut tunnel from the No.2 main
tunnel to intersect a series of
four veins which parallel the
two main leads a short dis
tance northwest of the present
workings. Mr. Fitzgerald says
that recent operations on the
No. 2 vein have opened up a
shoot of ore of nice milling
quality on which a 32 foot
cross cut has been run with ore
practically throughout its
length. The shoot was encount
ered at a depth of about 400
!feet and at an equal distance
from the portal of the tunnel
on No. 1 vein. Samples of the
ore show chalcopyrite and
galena in generous quantities
in a quartz gangue. Part of the
vein is sufficiently high grade
to sort. Mr. Fitzgerald states
that the extension of the new
cross cut to its ultimate limit
will cynen up the entire veift
system as disclosed by the out
crops.
Surveys have recently been
made of the various tunnels
and cross cuts which indicate
that the workings are pene
trating the main ore zone and
the opening of & large ora
body in the near future is a
likely eventuality.
A shipment of powder, steel,
gasoline and other supplies
sufficient to last the summer
will arrive on the next boats,
in addition to other mine
equipment.
--u-—
Advices given out by the
Grand Trunk Pacific Steam
ship Company recently indi
cate a prospective change of
the company name with the in
auguration of its new steam
ship service to southeastern
Alaska points with the steam
ers Prince Rupert and Prince
| George. Whether the change
| of name will involve fhe entire
system or apply merely to the
new Alaska service is not clear.
The new designation will be
the Canadian National Steam
ships and the service will ex
tend from Vancouver to Jun
|eau Skagway and intermediate
points and may be arranged
later to include Cordova, Val
dez and other westward points
on the Alaska coast.
Although no definite an
nouncement has been made re
garding the schedule it is indi
cated that the vessels will clear
I from this port for the more
northerly Alaska points.
-o
An up to date steam laundry
will be added to the list of
Stewart enterprises about the
first of May, according to re
ports from the active little
community across the bound
ary line. J. P. Hawkinson, well
known Stewart business man,
.is the father of the new pro
ject. Mr. Hawkinson contract
ed for the machinery and other
equipment while on a recent
visit to the south and expects
the plant to arrive within a
rbrief season. A new building
i will be built to house the pro
gressive venture, which will be
'in charge of an experienced
; laundry man.
MCGRE W—FERN ALD
PROPERTIES BONDED
, Arrivals from the South dur
jing the week report that the
jMcGrew-Fernald Hobo Group,
,situated on the east slope of
I Salmon River valley about
J half way between the River
jslde mine and Nine Mile, has
jbeen taken over by a group
! composed of Jesse Kahn, Ed
die Hambleton and others, all
of whom are said to be inter
ested in the Daly-Alaska. De
rails of the transaction could
not be obtained, save that the
deal was made by Wm. Me
I Grew.
I-o
Reports from Stewart during
the week say a second blind
lead has been encountered in
I the lower tunnel on the Lake
i view property on Glacier creek.
!The new ore body, although
apparently of no considerable
jsize is given added import-j
lance by its close proximity to
‘another lead of the same char
acter encountered in the cross
cut a short time ago and which
is said to carry good values.
The ore in both leads is appar
ently of the same character,
showing galena, chalcopyrite
and iron pyrite. in a gangue of
light colored quartz. Neither
of the two leads shows on the
surface, the nearest surface
showing being the main lead,
located some distance beyond
and forming the main object
ive of the tunnel now being run j
on the third level.
The new engine and com
pressor which were added to
the mine equipment recently
are now installed on the prop
erty.
n
With an initial enrollment in
cluding practically every Mas
on residing in the community,
a Masonic Club was formally
organized at a meeting held in
the Provinse hall Wednesday
evening. Merl F. Thomas, who
is a past master Mason, was
elected president, John Hov
land was chosen for vice
and Rev. C. T. Hatten for sec
retary.
The new organization aims to
take an active part in the life
of the community. The next
meeting will take-place the
evening of the first Wednes
day in April.
-o
The Carmen replaced the
Prince of Wales on the Hyder
j Ketchikan run this week and
remained here from Thursday
morning until Friday after
noon while waiting for the tide
to release an oil barge lying
on the tide flat below the
docks. On arrival the vessel
brought a quantity of gen
eral cargo, the mails and sev
eral passengers, including
Messrs. II. C. Strong and J. C.
Barber of the Riverside mine.
On her departure the vessel
carried a good sized list of pas
sengers, including Mrs. Oren
F. Hill, II. C. Strong, J. C. Bar
ber, J. Black, Frank W. Fish
er, Carl Johnson, Ole Twedt,
Jake Johnson George Stewart
and Edward Burry.
Lon. Doggett, widely known
old timer of the North, return
ed during the week from a vis
it of several months in sunny
California, Mr. Doggett plans
to undertake an active season
of projecting on his promis- ■
ing mining properties near the
>oundai> line in the vicinity of
the boundary line at 13 Mile.
| MO PARTY HOLDS POWER
IN TERRITORIAL SENATE
; The political complexion of
I the present Alaska legislature,
which convened in Juneau last
Monday, is the most varied in
several terms, acording to an
interesting analysis of the var
ious elements composing it
made by the Juneau Empire,
from which.we quote the fol
lowing :
| The Senate has four members
elected as Republicans, two as
Independents, and two as Dem
ocrats. Senator John W. Dunn,
| senior member from tne
Fourth Division, formerly held
membership in the House as a
Democrat but was elected two
years ago as an Independent.
Charles W. Brown, the second
Independent member of the
upper House, and junior sena
tor from the Second Division,
was elected to the 1920 Legis
lature as a 'Republican. The
members elected as Republi
cans are Hunt and Aldrich,
First Division; Bartley How
ard, Third Division, and Fred
Ayer, Second Division. Demo
cratic members are: A. J. Di
mond, Valdez, and Harry E.
Pratt, Faii’banks.
All except two have had
former legislative experience
in Alaska. The two without
former service are Mr. How-1
ard and Mr. Pratt.
There are only two mem
bers in the lower House with i
previous legislative service in
Alaska—J. W. Murray, Third
Division, and H. H. Ross, j
Fourth Division. Both are Re- j
publicans. Others elected as
Republicans are: W. D. Grant, j
C. B. Ferguson and W. L. Paul ;
First Division; Ben A. Grier,:
Third Division; George o. i
Moody, Fourth Division. Dem-1
ocratic members are: N. O
Hardy, First Division, C. H.
Wilson and William Sherman
Third Division. R. E. Sheldon
and H. G. Watson, Fourth
Division members, were elect
ed as Independents. Both were
formerly affiliated with the
Democratic party in Fair
banks. Andy Nylen, Second j
Division, is the remaining In-:
dependent member.
It is not improbable that a
contest will be initiated
against the seating of Paul
who had a small margin over
J. J. Connors. It is claimed
that there were enough irreg
ularities in the November
election which can be proven
to unseat him. Attorneys for
Mr. Connors who appeared be
fore the Territorial Canvassing
Board indicated a possible
contest. Lately nothing has
been made public regarding
what steps will be taken.
-o
Gustave Sciffert, manager of
(the North and South Syndi
cate, operating on the North
and South Line group in the
Glacier Creek section, is ex
pected to return from the south
during the coming week to re
new activities on that promis
ing property. Recent reports
from Vancouver indicate that
the North and South is attract
ing much interest among the
mining investors of that sect
ion and sales of the syndicate
shares have netted enough to
carry on for some time to come.
A break-down of the Premier
power plant at 13 Mile during
last week put that important
adjunct of the power system
out of commission for several
days. According to reports of
the accident reaching town,
the main drive shaft of the en
gine became badly bent and
thrown a half inch out of line,
Four days were required to
restore the plant to commiss
ion. The cause of the accident
could not be ascertained.
iNEW COMPANY FOR
BEAR RIVER SECTION
| -
The Vancouver Mines, Ltd.
is the name of the latest mining
organization to enter the local
I field. The new concern was re
cently incorporated in Vancou
ver with Chas. E. Heron as
: president, Col. W. T. Perkins,
j vice-president. Sam Des
j champs, of Stewart, will be in
charge of the company operat
ions on ground formerly own
ed by himself, and known
as the Hope and Noonday,
which are located in the vicin
ity of the Terminus. A large
amount of development work
has been done, including about
200 feet of tunneling. Good
surface showings are said to ex
ist on the ground. Mr. Des
cbaihps expects to commence
active development work with
in a short time.
-o
Frank W. Fisher, foreman of
the tramway maintenance
forces of the Premier mine, left
Thursday for Ketchikan to
spend a few weeks vacation
with his family.
-o
C. A. Banks, manager of the
B. C. Silver, was an arrival
from Vancouver Thursday, ac
companied by Mrs. Banks.
-o
Yael Rozenstain, local mer h
ant prince, is back from an ex
tended visit in the States, dur
ing which he spent some time
;in the East.
-o
W. C. Cameron. Stewart
postmaster and hclder of sev
eral other official positions,
was a south-bound \passenger
on the Prince Rupert enroute
to Vancouver.
J. G. Shepard, of Juneau ""
rived on the Carmen Thur d
for the purpose of look:ng ve
the camp. Mr. Shepard is co
nected with the Bureau o'
Mines at Fairbanks.
He will remain in the cam -
for a week or so before return
ing north.
-c
Arrivals f”om the Premier re
port that the has fit
off all overtime work in the
mine and mill «ave when it is
absolutely essential to onerat
ion. The new ruling became ef
fective March 1st.
; Mr. and Mrs. Vvr. B. George,
iwell known residents of Stew
i art, left on the Ruoert on a bus
iness trip to Vancouver.
-o
I Carl Johnson, traveling repre
sentative of the House of Tr
iving, widely known Seattle
| tailoring establishment, was
la visitor during the week.
-o
Bill Ward, well known mem
ber of the Premier staff, was
■» visitor ’o town for several
days during the week.
-o
i Jack Smith, of the Premier
| mill forces, left for Victoria on
the Prince Rupert.
-o
Rev. Hulgarth Svenboegen is
the leader and spokesman of a
party of Norwegian workmen
which arrived on the Rupert
from Christiania, Norway, in
search of employment. With
the exception of Rev Svenboe
gen none of the party speak
English.
-o
Arrivals from the south re
port that Arthur Moa, man
age of the Mountainview Gold
Mining Company, operating on
the Hovland properties on
Fish Creek, may be expected
to return to Hvder at any time.
Mr. Moa is sa:d to have se
cured an up to date equipment
ror the "ro’-'rrty wh‘ h w'll
y ro ’ al ly °rnve on the steam
er Bellingham.