” ~ ■ ' '
AN ALL
ALASKA
NEWSPAPER
f
HYDER WEEKLY HERALD
DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OP ALASKA AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
$5.00 PER YEAR
IN ADVANCE
VOL 3, NO. 26
HYDER, ALASKA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21,1927
FIFTY CENTS A MONTH ■
HYDER 6TH IN FIRST
DIVISION IMPORTS 1926
The growing importance ol
Hyder as a commercial centei
was evidenced during the
past year by an increase ol
$122,778 over 1925, in the
volume of merchandise import
er: from the United States, ac
cording to the annual state
ment of Customs Collector J
C. McBride.
The statement also discloses
that the imports of Hydei
were excelled by only five
towns in the First Division.
Ketchikan led the list with
imports valued at $5,608,230:
Juneau was second with $2,
704,359; Petersburg, third
with $772,224; Wrangell 4th
with $664,002, Sitka fifth with
$385,511; Hyder sixth with
$352,763. Compared with im
ports valued at $229,985 ir
1925, Hyder’s total last year
represents a clean gain ol
slightly more than 53 percent
Comparison of the figures foi
the various towns in the dis
trict in 1925 also discloses
that the value of Hyder’s im
ports during that year were
excelled by those of eight oth
er points, including three nol
included in the above mention
ed list.
The value of merchandise
imports for the entire Firsl
Division was $16,301,776, e
gain of $744,540 over 1925.
The report discloses furthei
that there were relatively
few towns throughout AlaskE
which imported greater quan
tities of merchandise than
Hyder. In the Second Division
local imports were exceeded
by those of only one town
Nome, which received mer
chandise valued at $530,114
Of the numerous towns in
the Third Division, only seven
established greater importat
ion records than Hyder. Cor
dova led the list of these
towns with an import valuat
ion of $1,487,428, the re
maining six showing the fol
lowing totals: Anchorage $1,
280,664; Seward, $651,542:
Bristol Bay, $466,130; La
touche, $414,784; Kennecott
$409,043; Kodiak, $399,918.
Fairbanks, with merchandise
receipts valued at $1,848,470
was the only town in the
Fourth Division to excell the
local record. Chatanika, the
second largest importer in thal
division received.jgoods valuer
at $237,635, with Nenam
next with $221,506.
From the above it will be
noted that Hyder was not only
the sixth largest importer ol
merchandise in this divisior
but also occupies fourteentt
place among all the towns ir
the Territory. It must also be
recalled that Hyder merchant:
also import considerable quan
tities of goods from Canada
the value of whic is not in
eluded in the above figures
which apply solely to mer
chandise received from the
United States.
-o
Merl F. Thomas left on the
Taku II last week on a busines
trip to Ketchikan,
KIRKLAND LAKE CO.
PURCHASES SHARES
IN LOCAL MINES
Kirkland Lake Proprietory,
Ltd., operating in the Northern
Ontario district, has acquired
! close to a half-million shares
’ in four local mines during the
past year, according to a state
ment published in the last is
sue of the Western Canada
Mining News, of Vancouver.
The News’ statement is based
on an announcement made by
the Kirkland Lake company
officials following the annual
meeting, to the effect that the
company had bought in ex
change f or Kirkland Lake
Proprietory shares, 323,000
shares in the Forty-Nine Min
ing Co., 19,800 shares in Se
bakwe and District Mines, 90
000 shares in Bush Mines and
119,102 shares in Daly-Alaska
Mines.
While the indicated transact
ions are probably of no im
mediate financial benefit to
the local companies, they are
of marked importance to the
district, as they indicate that
' the larger mining interests of
; Eastern Canada, few of whom
have heretofore displayed
more than passing interest in
the Portland Canal district, are
at last awakening to the possi
1 bilities of local mining devel
opment. The Kirkland Lake
company is known as one of
the strongest companies oper
i ating in North Ontario, and it
is not improbable that its act
i ion in trading its own for lo
cal shares may become an ex
ample to other concerns in
Eastern Canada.
-o
Coyotes and wolves are becom
; ing increasingly frequent in
the Salmon River valley, prob
ably as a result of the recent
severe weather conditions.
Sveral coyotes have been seen
in town and a number ol
wolves have been prowling
at night along the river banks
during the past week.
A coyote was killed one ev
ening last .week by I. Findlay
-’ay near No. 1 Angle station
>£, the Premier tram, after
come one had taken a shot at
the same or another animal
while it was roaming along
’h hillside near the Chamber
)f Commerce Hall. Roy Mc
Leod also took a shot at a
wolf which was prowling
along the river bank near the
edge of town a few nights
ago. Unfortunately he failed to
bring the animal down. A
number of wolves are also said
to have been seen at intervals
along the Salmon road near
11 the Daly Alaska mine.
There is a bounty of $15 on
; wolves, which should induce
:he speedy extermination of
those in this locality.
-o
The steamer Border Queen
! of the Border Line Transport
ation Co., is scheduled to
leave Seattle for Hyder direct
; February 28, according to ad
i vices received by the Hyder
Dock Co.,' local agents.
MORE MARMOT
PROPERTIES BONDED
Another transaction in Mar
mot River mining properties
was consummated last week
with the bonding by Hugh B.
McGuire of a group of claims
in the vicinity of the Porter
Idaho property belonging to
L. E. Bigham.
The deal is said to involve tot
al payments of $75,000, to be
made within a period of th^e
years, in addition to a substant
ial cash payment. Mr. Mc
Guire, is said to have bonded
the properties for Eastern
people, whose identity, has
not been disclosed.
The group which includes
several claims, is said to be
favorably located a short dis
tance north of the Porter
Idaho group.
o
WILD GOAT
CAPTURED IN TOWN
A mountain goat, of the
variety which makes its habi
tat among the lofty mountain
peaks of this district and at
times provides most delectable
mutton for the prospector^
table, was captured last weeV
on the very borders of Hyder
by Noel Traversy, assisted by
several others. The goat was
captured in the snow-covered
river bottom a short distance
below the rock cut, where Mr.
Traversy and E.1 E. Charlton
are engaged in putting up ice.
The animal was in an emaciat
ed and badly exhausted con
dition and barely able to move
in the deep snow, possibly as
as a result of having been
chased by wolves or coyotes,
which are reported unusually
numerous this winter. Weak as
it was, the goat had not lost
the proverbial belligerency of
its breed and gave an heroic
display of fighting spirit be
fore it was finally bound and
| carried to the road. " Holger
jJohnson brought the goat to
town and placed it in the Hy
der Fuel Co. barn. Efforts to
restore it to normal condition
were unavailing, and it finally
passed away several days aft
er its capture.
-o
Stewart’s growing commerce
is to be facilitated by the con
struction of a new government
dock, according to" advices re
ceived by the Stewart Board
of Trade. Public Works engi
neers are now engaged in pre
paring the plans for the pro
posed landing, which will be
located a short distance north
of the present dock and paral
lel to the road, but will be con
nected with the old dock by
means of a piled roadway. The
advices indicate that the
structure will be two hundred
feet or more in length.
-o
Wm. Gray, manager of the
Hyder Lumber Co., returned
Thursday from a visit of, sev
eral months in the States.
-o
T. W. McDonald, left Wed
nesday for Ketchikan, on busi
ness, with the expectation of
returning to Hyder this week.
PROGRESS AT
THE RIVERSIDE
Excellent reports of the prog
ress made under the winter de
velopment program continue
to come down from the River
side mine.
The upper, or No. 4 tunnel
was extended an additional 36
feet during the past week and
continues to display a fine face
of ore. The lead narrowed
slightly during the week but
has averaged three feet of
good milling ore, which also
carries a six-inch vein of
highgrade along one wall.
The number. 3 tunnel, an ex
tension of the old Lindeborg
tunnel, in which good grade
ore was found in earlier oper
ations, was also driven an ad
ditional 27 feet during the
week. While ore in commercial
quantities has not been locat
ed in the recent extensions of
this level, the results of oper
ation ha^e been encouraging
for the development of fresh
ore bodies.
-o
SILVER YIELD
IN DECEMBER
Silver production in United
States in December was 9,519,
000 fine ounces of which 4,
091.000 were domestic and 5,
428.000 foreign. November
output was 10,677,000 fine
ounces with 4,757,000 domes
tic and 5,920,000 foreign ac
cording to American bureau
of metal statistics. Stocks at
end of December were 326,000
fine ounces against 242,000
November 30. Production in
United States for 1926 was
132.302.000 against 124,692,
000 in 1925.
-e
Reports from Stewart an
nounce a prospective change in
the Union Steamship Co. ser
vice to that port, which will
result in the old, familiar Car
dena being transferred to an
other run and her place being
taken by the steamer Catala of
the same line. The date of the
proposed change has not been
announced, the reports indicat
ing only that the Camousum
will remain on the run for sev
eral weeks before being re
lieved by the Catala.
-o
The illustrated lecture on
Java, given by Rev. S. V. War
ren at Hyder M. E. Church
Sunday evening in lieu of the
regular service, proved decid
edly interesting and instruct
ive, and is receiving unquali
fied praise from all who at
tended.
The lecture was the second
in the series to be given by
Dr. Warren at intervals dur
ing coming months. The lec
tures and the finely colored
pictures shown in connection
with the lectures are an at
traction that should be at
tended by all Hyder residents
j who enjoy seeing the strange
I sights of foreign lands.
1926 PROSPEROUS
YEAR FOR ALASKA
With a total commerce of
$113,595,085 for 1926, Alas
ka enjoyed one of the most
prosperous years in its history.
This amount represents an in
crease in trade of $18,172,459
over 1925, according to the
annual report of the U. S.
Customs Service.
The balance in trade in fav
or of Alaska also showed a
marked advance and reached
the sum of $49,273,617, which
was an increase of $20,249,393
over 1925.
Following is a brief summary
of the value of and also the
increases and decreases in the
value of the principal com
modities shipped from Alaska
during 1926, as compared to
similar shipments in 1925.
Salmon, fresh or frozen, val
ue, $699,782, increase ovei
1925, $168,372.
Other fish, fresh or frozen,
value, $2,098,518, increase
$712,540.
Salmon, canned, value- $48,
405,279, increase, $19,559,
458.
L-ou, cured or preserved, val
ue $201,610, decrease, $190,
555.
Herring, cured or preserved,
value $1,512,941, decrease,
$1,769,254.
Salmofi, cured or preserved,
value $1,269,366, decrease,
$38,760.
Meal, fish, value $682,068,
increase, $249,733.
Oil, fish, value $1,350,224,
increase, $334,211.
Fur and seal skins, value
$2,970,409, decrease, $10,431.
Copper ore, value $10,771
799, decrease, $757,568.
Reindeer meat, value, $127,
I 768, increase, $16,316.
j From the above it will be
J noted the greatest single in
! crease was in shipments oi
! canned salmon. This commod
ity reached the highest peak
in the history of the fisheries
of Alaska with a total at
shown of $48,405, 279, or an
! increase of $19,559,458 ove;
! 1925. These shipments exceed
ed the war-time peak of 1918
by 15,137,676 pounds and
$3,485,513 in value. However
in considering the 1926 fig
ures of shipments of canned
salmon the fact must be bornt
in mind that a considerable
part of the tonnage of 192C
represents the salmon pack
of 1925 which was not ship
ped out of the Territory until
the early months of this year
From January up to and in
eluding June. 1926, there was
shipped to the United States
14,705,328 pounds of canned
salmon. This amount must ol
necessity have been of the
1925 pack, as shipments of
the 1926 pack had not yet
commenced. Even with this
deduction a large increase is
noted. The decrease in the
shipments of herring is at
tributed to the poor run in
southwest Alaska, where most
of the herring salteries are
located.
There was but a slight de
I crease in the tonnage of cop
ALASKA THIRD IN
GOLD PRODUCTION
Alaska again gained third
place in the list of gold pro
ducing sections of the United
States in 1926, being exceeded
in the value of its gold output
only by California and Colo
rado, according to statistics of
the treasury department. Of
the 2,228,089 Qunces of gold
produced in the country Cali
fornia yielded auriferotis met
al valued at $11,574,400, far
exceeding the gold output of
any other section. Colorado
I produced $6,859,200, and
Alaska $6,467,300. South Da
kota achieved fourth place in
! gold production, with^arVield
| of $5,932,000.
-o—
•
W. C. Cameron was re-elect
ed president of the Stewart
Board of Trade, at a meeting
of the organization last Tues
day evening. Other members
named were R. W. Kennedy,
vice president; Jas. Morrice,
secretary, and G. W. Smith,
II. P. Gibson, J. P. Hawkinson,
D. J. McLean, W. R. Tooth, W.
L. Newell, E. Love, P. S. Jack,
H. Zeffert and H. D. Rochefort
members of the council.
n.
Wm. Kier, Meziadan Lake
trapper, who recently froze a
foot and was brought to Stew
art for treatment, suffered the
j loss of a great toe and^part of
he foot as a result of the un
fortunate accident. The am
putation operation was suc
cessfully performed by Dr. H.
A. H. Whillans, assisted by Dr.
A. S. Underhill of the Premier
hospital staff. Kier is reported
getting along nicely.
per ore shipped. The decrease
of $757,568 in value wa3
caused by a reduction in the
market price of copper ore
during 1926.
Shipments of domestic gold
( md silver during the year —
! amounted to $6,160,942 or an
increase of $478,100 over the
’shipments of 1925. In spite
of the fact that in many parts
of Alaska placer mining was
badly handicapped by short
age of rain during the first
part of the season, the pro
duction of placer gold show
od a marked increase. The
most noteworthy increases
were shown in the Seward
Peninsula and Fairbanks dis
tricts.
The number of persons ar
riving in Alaska during 1926
were 30,974, representing an
increase of 1,197 over 1925.
Departures totaled 30,934, rep
resenting nearly the total ar
rivals. Total arrivals, how
ever, are known to be in excess
of the figures shown, as a
large number of cannery em
ployees are brought to the
Territory in private vessels be
longing to the canneries, and
are not counted in the arrivals
shown. These employees are
later sent to the States by reg
ular passenger lines and conse
quently are included in out
going figures.