• ' ’
AN ALL
ALASKA
NEWSPAPER
-
HYDER WEEKLY HERALD
DEVOTED TO THE DEVELO PMENT OF ALASKA AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT.
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VOL 4, NO. 6
IHYDER, ALASKA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1,1927
FIFTY rCNTC A MONTI!
ACQUISITION BIG
MISSOURI OFFICIALLY
ANNOUNCED
Official announcement of the
completion of negotiations be
tween the Big Missouri Mining
Co. and Consolidated Mining
and Smelting Co. for the tak
ing over by the latter company
of the Big Missouri property,
was made in Victoria late last
week by J. J. Warren, of Tor
onto, president of the Consoli
dated. Although reports of
the acquisition of the noted
local by the great Trail smelt
ing and mining concern have
been current for several weeks
the Warren announcement is
the first official statement re
garding the deal made up to
this time.
Mr. Warren, according to
press reports, said that his
company had made arrange
ments whereby the Big Mis
souri “had been brought into
the Consolidated family.” Mr.
Warren also stated that engi
neers are engaged in laying
out the development work con
templated by the company.
The engineering party re
ferred to arrived here last
week and is made up of J. H.
Kilburn, field engineer, M. M
O’Brien, mine manager, and J.
A. McKay, J. Warren, M.|
Findland and C. Hughes of the
Consolidated engineering staff.
The party has been working
on the Big Missouri throughout
the succeeding interval.
lilt; suueuieiiL was given uui
following a conference in Vic
toria between Mr. Warren and
W. M. Archibald, director and
chief mine operator of the Con
solidated company, who re
cently visited the Big Missouri
and also the George Coppei
on Bear River, which was tak
en over by the Consolidated
early last spring and has been
the scene of a vigorous dia
mond drilling campaign for
some weeks.
Referringto the company act
ivities on the latter property,
Mr. Wwren is quoted is say
ing that double crews sent up
from Trail are now operating
day and night and plans have
been completed for the main
tunnel, which is to go in from
near the Bear River level.
The announcement was also
made that the company has
located a townsite along the
Bear river for the contemplat
ed mill and other plants and
for dwellings for the men wjio
will operate the mine.
■o
Arrivals from the upper Sal
mon report that work on the
newly authorized Big Missouri
road is making good progress
under the direction of S. A.
Knowles, superintendent of
the Big Missouri mine.
The construction crew in
cludes most of the available
labor of the district and num
bered more than 75 men last
week.
-—o
Major C. B. North, B. C. Sil
ver superintendent, returned
Sunday from a trip to Vancouv
er.
-o
Thos. H. Evans, resident rep
resentative of the Bureau of
Public Roads, returned Wed
nesdayfrom a visit to various
points on the west coast.
PORTER IDAHO
.INSTALLING TRAM
SHIP ALL WINTER
Transportation improvements
which are expected to not pnly
reduce the cost of ore shipping
from $50 to $12 per ton but
also permit ore shipments
throughout the winter period
are now being intsalled on the
noted Porter Idaho property
in the Marmot section.
The main unit of the new
transportation system is a 2,
000-foot aerial tramway, ex
tending from the mine to the
glacier. From this point the
ore will be transported by
sled over a snow road down
the canyon to the Marmot
River and thence to the beach.
This will permit daily trans
portation of double or treble
the amount of ore handled at
present by pack train over a
circuitous mountain trail.
The tram will be of the single
line type and operated by
means of a large engine. Con
struction of the tram towers
and power plant is now in
progress under the direction
of Angus McLeod.
Another highly important
feature of the new transport
ation system is that it will en
able the shipment of all the
/arious grades of ore on which
drifting is now being done in
he main tunnel, thereby add
ing considerably to the mine
revenues. A considerable sav
ng in the cost of transporting
supplies to the mine will also
be effected through the tram
installation.
will be possible under the new
will be possible hnder the new
system indicate an amount
which will approximate the
total profits of many successful
small mines.
A seven foot vein of ore re
cently encountei-ed in the main
working tunnel at a distance
of 690 feet from the portal and
at a vertical depth of 450 feet
has further proven the down
ward continuity of the Porter
Idaho vein system and added
a large tonnage to the known
ore resources Drifting is now
pi'oceeding both ways on the
vein and the ore is being piled
up for winter shipment Smelt
er returns from the second 40
ton car load of ore shipped
this season disclose a yield of
$12,000, according to company
officials The first carload sent
south gave returns of $14,000.
Two additonal shipments are
now in transit to the smelter.
o
The motorship Norco arrived
from Seattle and Ketchikan
Tuesday night.
In addition to several passen
gers, the vessel landed about
90 tons of general cargo, made
up of merchandise for local
business houses and a quantity
of heavy steel rods for use in
the construction of the new
Texas Creek bridge bjf the
Brueau of Public Roads next
spring.
-o
Rev. S. V. Warren, pastor of
Hyder M. E. Church, returned
Sunday from a visit of several
weeks in the south, where he
attended the annual M. E.
Church conference. Rev. War
ren was accompanied by Mrs.
Warren, who has been in the
south for an extended period.
ROAD SURVEY TO
HEAD OF TEXAS
CREEK ORDERED
Fred J. Hughes, supervising
engineer of local Bureau of
Roads activities, has been in
structed by the JUneau head
quarters of the Bureau to sur
vey a route for a wagon road
from the end of the road now
under constructon to the head
of Texas Creek and the Chick
amin.
This probably means that the
road officials are contemplat
ing extending the road at no
far distant time until it shall
ultimately cover the entire
length of the Texas Creek val
ley, thereby making that rich
ly mineralized district access
ible for commercial exploitat
ion from one end to the other.
News that the survey had
been authorized was received
with rejoicing by local mining
and business interests.
TRAM WORKER INJURED
George Dillon, a member of
the Premier tram crew, sus
tained severe injuries Sunday
morning at 9-Mile when caught
by the hurtling end of a brok
en tram cable, which wrapped
itself tightly around his body.
Dillon’s injuries included sev
eral broken ribs, numerous
bruises, and injuries in the pel
vic regions.
The injured man was taken
to Stewart hospital, where he
is progressing favorably undep
care of Dr. J. H. Carson, Pre
mier mine physician.
■o
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TO HOLD ANNUAL
ELECTION TUESDAY
The annual general meeting
of the Hyder Chamber of
Commerce, Inc., will be held
in Chamber of. Commerce Hall
next Tuesday evening, Oct.
4th, commencing at 8:30 p. m.,
according to an announcement
issued this week by Sherman
V. Warren, secretary of the
organization.
The meeting will also include
the annual election of trustees
for the ensuing year. All mem
bers in good standing are el
igible for election to the board
of trustees.
The chamber has enjoyed an
active and prosperous year
and its activities in several di
rections have been of mark
ed benefit to the community.
The new Texas Creek wagon
road construction is probably
the most important result of
the Chamber’s activities so
far achieved, and illustrates in
most effective manner the ben
efits which can be gained by
persistent organized effort.
Several other important pro
jects launched by the organi
zation are also progressing
favorably toward early reali
zation.
All members of the organizat
ion are requested to attend
the general meeting Tuesday
evening.
-o
The Dunwell mill was closed
down Monday evening follow
ing a machinery breakdown,
which necessitated sending the
broken parts to Rupert for re
pairs.
WOODBINE DRIFT
STILL IN ORE
The main drift running from
the lower tunnel at the Wood
bine is now in a distance of
178 feet and still shows a full
face of ore.
Samples taken during the
week show generous quantities
of argentite and galena in a
white quartz matrix, in addit
ion to the highly mineralized
porphyry composing the bulk
of the ore body so far as pene
trated.
With the southerly limits of
the huge ore zone still unde
termined by the drifting oper
ations, Supt. Malcolm McKen
zie has started a new cross
drift from a point in the main
drift about 135 feet from its
junction with the lower tunnel.
The new bore will run east,
paralleling the cross cut tun
nel and is expected to prove
up an immense block of all
commercial ore in the rec
tangle formed by the main
tunnel, main drift and the new
cross drift, each of which runs
at right angles to the other.
•o
I TALK LOCAL RAILROADS
Messrs. H. W. M. Rolston and
G. W. Smith, representing the
railways committee of the
Stewart Board, of Trade, and
Messrs. J. A. Hall, Ernest
Blue and Chas. F. Sandford,
representing a similar commit
tee of the Hyder Chamber of
Commerce, discussed the possi
bilities of local rail transport
ation development with J. G.
Sullivan, at a meeting held in
Hyder last week.
The discussion centered chief
ly around the possibilities of
local railroad construction as
a means of serving the dis
trict’s transportation needs and
the furtherance of local min
eral development.
-o
SAYS DISTRICT IS
GOOD FIELD FOR
COMMERCIAL AVIATOR
That this section offers a very
promising field for commercial
aviation operations, is the
view of Col. Wm. T. Perkins,
Puget Sound banker and prom
inent figure in the affairs of
the Vancouver Mines, Ltd., lo
cal holdings of which are sit
uated in the upper Bear Riv
er valley adjacent to the Ter
minus group.
Col. Perkins’ views on this
interesting subject are set
forth in a letter to the Alaska
Weekly and published recent
ly by that well known journal.
The letter says:
Alaska Weekly.
Gentlemen:—Last week Lin
dy came and was welcomed.
He has gone on his way, but
he left this message. “Commer
cial Aviation is on the Way.”
Interested as you are in the
mining development of Alaska
you are familiar with the part
aviation is and has been play
ing in the interior of Alaska
in mining work and transport
ation and may I through your
wide circulation call the at
tention of some commercially
inclined aviator to the field on
the coast in the Portland Canal
District of Alaska and British
Columbia as one I think
worthy of most careful investi
gation for the operation of a
Hydroplane for hire for local
transportation and communi
cation between town and mine.
SAY MEZIADIN LAKE
POWER POSSIBILITIES
OF VAST EXTENT
Almost unlimited electrical
power is obtainable by harnes
sing the waters of Meziadin
Lake near the point where it
empties into the Nass River,
according to members of the
party headed by W. T. Batch
eller, Seattle hydro-electric en
gineer, who conducted an ex
tensive investigation of the
lake’s power development
possibilities during the past
week.
The party, which included
Mr. Batcheller, R. G. Mellin,
superintendent of the River
side mine and E. D. Haddon,
representative of the E. E. Hall
interests, in whose behalf the
survey was made, returned to
town Friday.
Owing to the late inclement
weather, the trip was far from
a pleasure jaunt and was
further complicated by the
party running short of grub
and smokes.
The survey revealed immense
power potentialities and con
ditions for development were
also found extremely favor
able ; although transportation
conditions in the Bear Pass
section will necessitate con
struction of a dozen or so miles
of road before heavy machin
ery and construction supplies
can be transported to the
site of the proposed power
plant without excessive cost.
Although definite figures are
no.t available at this time, it
appears that the proposed
development is entirely feas
ible.
-o
ATTENTION MOOSE
Celebration of anniversary of
Portland Canal lodge next
Tuesday, Oct. 4th, by clean-up
at Moose Lake. Bring rubber
boots if available; if not come
anyway. Plenty of dry work to
be done. Report at Traversy’s
10 a. m. Tuesday. Transport
ation provided.
With headquarters at Hyder
and Stewart they would com
mand the local field as well
as be in close call for trips in
and about Alice Arm, Ketchi
kan and Prince Rupert and
other points.
All of these places have num
erous lakes in the back coun
try with tributary mines being
developed and with mineral
showings and prospects worthy
of immediate and extensive
work and yet held back by
lack of roads and in many
places even trails.
This territory furnishes a dis
trict for many short trip
flights and capable of quick
development under the spon
sorship of the right flyer with
proper equipment.
Time and experience would
no doubt evolve a machine
which could also safely land
on some of the higher sur
rounding glacier snow fields
as well as in the larger lakes,
lying at lower altitudes.
Based on my personal knowl
edge of this section I believe it
offers a fine as well as profit
able field for the starting of
a commercial aviation operat
ion in a small way.
Sincerely,
Wm. T. Perkins.
CONFIRMATION OF BIG
MISSOURI REPORTS
PLEASES
Official confirmation of the
reports of the taking over of
the Big Missouri by the Con
solidated- Mining & Smelting
Co. was received in local min
ing and business circles with
a satisfaction amounting al
most to rejoicing. Scarcely a
person in the district but con
siders the entrance of the Con
solidated, into the local field
as portending the inaugurat
ion of a new era in local min
ing development. The Consol
idated Company is conceded
to be one of the most power
ful mining organizations in
existence and possessing every
requisite in mining money and
mining knowledge to place
the Big Missouri on a commer
cial basis with the least poss
ible delay. Backed by re
sources of such magnitude,
there appears every reason
able expectation that the mine
will be brought into product
ion as soon as it can be done.
Consideration of the great ore
resources known ,to exist on
the Big Missouri also suggests
the possibility that the prop
erty may speedily become the
district’s leading producer and
one of the world’s greatest
mines.
a development oi sucn char
acter will not only tend to at
tract additional capital to the
district but will also result in
a marked increase in labor em
ployment and resultant en
larged fields for business en
terprise. Construction of a rail
transportation system between
Hyder and the upper Salmon
basin is also a not improbable
eventuality if the company’s
operations prove as successful
as present evidences indicate
they will be.
o
Preliminary improvements of
the Moose swimming pool and
picnic ground near the north
end of the town will be launch
ed Tuesday with a big clean
up of the fine public play
ground by members of the
Moose order.
Representatives of the lodge
will drain the lake Sunday, in
readiness for the Tuesday
cleanup, which will include
cleaning out the lake bed and
improving the grounds by the
removal of brush and timber.
A trail will also be cut thru
the timber from the Salmon
River highway to the lake.
The lake and a considerable
area of surrounding ground,
was recently turned over to
the Moose by the Forest Ser
vice for use as a public park
at the request of the local
lodge and will be converted
into a splendid outdoor resort
for the public. The work to be
done this fall will be prelimi
nary to extensive improve
ments contemplated next year.
As the park and swimming
pool are in the nature of a
community benefit, anyone not
a Moose may volunteer their
aid at the cleanup Tuesday
and their assistance will be
welcomed and appreciated.
The cleanup party will leave
for the lake from the Mala
mute at 10 a. m Tuesday,
transportation being provided
by the lodge. All who can are
requested to bring rubber
boots.