*■ 1 •1 " “ ’ ..'
SPECIALIZING IN
MINING NEWS OF THE
PORTLAND CANAL
DISTRICT
i *
HYDER WEEKLY HERALD
DEVOTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA AND THE PORTLAND CANAL MINING DISTRICT.
t
SUBSCRIPTIONS
$3.00 PER YEAR
IN ADVANCE
V
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VOL 6, NO. 39
RYDER, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1930.
PRICE TEN CENTS
GOVERNMENT AID FOR
SILVER IS PLANNED
Negotiations by President
Hoover with other countries to
determine the feasibility of
calling an international confer
ence to discuss stabilization of
the price of silver is proposed
in a resolution introduced in
the Senate by Senator Bratton,
New Mexico, on behalf of Sen
ator King, of Utah, according
to Washington, D. C., press re
ports.
The conference would be
called, the resolution said, “to
consider and devise plans to In
crease the use of silver for
monetary and other purposes
and to bring about the stabih
ization of the price of silver.”
The resolution is the mos*
important and far-reaching
move so far attempted in the
United States or elsewhere to
restore silver to its former
state of monetary usefulness
and if successful will have a
most important effect on world,
finances. Senator King’s pro
posal is also in line with the
present view of economists
and financial experts that the
remonitization of silver is ne
cessitated by the growing scar
city of gold.
The Senate is also reported tc
have appointed a committee to
inquire into conditions ii
China which have seriously af
fected imports into that coun
try of food-stuffs and manu
factured products of the Unit
ed States. It is pointed out
that the wealth of the Orient
is in silver, hence the depreci
ation in the value of that met
al has greatly reduced th.
purchasing power of those
nations, with a resultant cur
tailment of their normally vas:
trade with this country. Bank
ers, manufacturers and export
ers are at last coming to a re
alization that the depreciation
of silver is not merely a matter
of the welfare of an national
industry but, through reducing
the purchasing power of many
of their most important custom
ers is striking directly at their
own prosperity.
Mountain Boy Is
Again Operating
Work was resumed last week
on the Mountain Boy property
on American Creek, following
the arrival from the south ol
W. H. Tolin, managing direct
or.
A crew of five men was sent
up to the property to get things
in shape for the season’s activ
ities and will be increased by
eight or ten men within a short
period. Activities will be un
der the direction of Mr. Mc
Donald, mine engineer.
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Mel. C. Butler, prominent
Seattle mining engineer and
C. L. Hibbard, Seattle capital
ist, both of whom are interest
ed in the Metcalf and Findley
property on Banded Mountain,
were arrivals from the south
this morning. Mr. Butler is now
well recovered from his recent
illness and is feeling and look
ing well.
Mr. Hibbard informed the
Herald that operations will
not be resumed for the present
on the Outland Silver Bar, in
whicji h? is heavily interested,
WILL OPEN UP
MARIETTA GROUP
Walker Havens, one of the
San Francisco participants in
the deal concluded last fall for
the Marietta property, was an
arrival from the south today.
Mr. Havens plans to leave
for the Marietta Tuesday to
start development work on the
property and expects to contin
ue activities until close to
Christmas.
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I Independence Day Celebration
The Independence Day cele
bration Friday was a distinct
j success in every particular, al
though somewhat abbreviated
in scope as compared to earli
er years, and was greatly en
joyed by residents of the dist
rict from both sides of the in
ternational boundary line. In
fact the crowd of celebrants in
cluded almost as many of our
Canadian cousins as Ameri
cans.
The program, carried out on
the baseball grounds, included
field sports for children and
adults, a baseball game be
tween Hyder and Stewart, a
balloon ascension and para
chute drop, and a dance in the
evening under the auspices of
the Pioneers of Alaska that
drew a very large crowd and
was most enjoyable.
The streets and business!
houses were gaily decorated i
with the national colors and i
presented a decidely-pretty ap-!
pearance and the festive small j
boy and his firecrackers pro- j
vided ample enthusiasm of the
noisy type.
Hyder won the ball game, 7
to 5, with Sam. McNeill, crack
flinger of the Stewart team in
the box to equalize the dispar
ity between the picked-up lo
cal aggregation and the wrell j
organized Stewart club. The I
game was closely contested j
and decidedly interesting thru- j
out.
Following are the winners of
the field sports, for which cash
prizes were given.
Tots’ race Marjorie Iladdon 1; ;
Tommy Jadroe 2: 50 cent prize to all. j
Hoys 100-yds. open: A. Sobieralski X, j
John Thomey 2.
Boys’ 50 yds.. 6-8 years: Harry Ly- |
ons 1: Dennis Heinekey 2.
Boys 50 yards.. 8-12 years: B. Big-j
ham, 1; John Thomey, 2.
Boys 75 yds., 12-14 years: A. Sobier- I
alski, 1; John Thomey, 2.
Boys 3-legged race: G. Smith and j
H. Smith, 1; J. Thomey and and J Ob- j
uchina, 2.
Boys sack race (handicap): D. Hei-1
nekey, 1; Walter Hanson, 2.
Girls 75 yards open: Pearl Lyons, 1;
Jean Mathesou. 2.
Girls 25 yards G-8 years: A Obtielii
; na. 1; Olah Matheson, 2.
Girls 50 yards, 8-12 years: Pearl Ly
! ons, 1; Margaret Powell, 2.
Girls 75 yards, 12-14 years: Pearl
| Lyons, 1; Mickey Casey. 2.
Girls 3-legged handicap: Pearl Ly
| ons and Margaret Powell, 1; Mickey
I Casey and Jewel Rice, 2.
i Mens 100 yard open: L. Fisher, 1;
I T. Walters, 2:
Mens 3-legged race: Smith and Mc
1 Intyre, 1; Fisher and Walters, 2.
! Childrens Mixed open 50 yards:
! Shirley Young, 1; Billy Bigham, 2;
Mickey Casey, 3
-o . .
The Hunter brothers in the
airplane Spirit of Chicago con
cluded their refueling endur
ance flight last evening, after
being in the air 23 days, 17
hours and some minutes, ac
cording to a radio news flash
picked up by the Hyder Drug
Co. on their Victor radio.
owing to a prospect that the
control of the property may be
taken over by other interests.
DIRECTORS PLAN
RE-FINANCING OF
MARMOT ENGINEEI
Substantial evidence of th<
confidence of shareholders ii
the develqpment possibility
of the Marmot Engineer prop
erty is displayed in the an
nouncement that shareholder
of the company decided at tH<
annual meeting held at Pre
mier a few days ago to financ<
further development by in
creasing their stock holdings.
It is understood that the ad
ditional share subscriptions ar»
to be supplied from the allot
ment of vendor’s shares helc
by Mr. George Bunn, managei
and original locator of the En
gineer group, leaving the treas
ury stock intact for public salt
as conditions warrant. The
agreement with Mr. Bunn is
said to provide that presenl
shareholders increasing theii
holdings will be allotted addit
ional shares on the basis of 2V-;
cents per share and that the en
tire proceeds from subscript
ions will be devoted to develop,
ment.
Mr. Bunn’s report as mana
ger disclosed that 305 feet oi
crosscut tunnel was run during
the past year. Owing to loose
formation it was necessary to
abandon 45 feet of the drift,
leaving the present length of
the tunnel 260 feet from port
al to face. Seventy-five feet is
well timbered. At 160 feet a
12-foot dike resembling feld
spatic porphyry was encount
ered running across the forma
tion and at 230 feet the rock
became hard and silicious, with
considerable pyrite. At the
face, conditions appear to be
those of a shear zone
Stripping and drifting was
also done on a lead abotit 90
feet above the tunnel and
which forms an objective of
the main drive. This has a
width of about 11 feet at the
upper workings and carries
2Yi feet of ore some of which
is of shipping grade and the
remainder of good milling
grade.
Substantial buildings were
also erected and a 220 cubic
feet compressor was installed,
in addition to blacksmithing
equipment. The report said
there is ample gasoline, oil and
coal on hand to run an addit
ional 300 feet of tunnel, also
pipe and rails.
Georgia River Gold Co.
Increasing Activities
In preparation for increasing
activities during the summer,
the Georgia River Gold Mines,
Ltd., is forwarding lumber,
pipe and other supplies and
other equipment to its promis
ing gold properties on Georgia
River. Pack horses were also
sent down to transport the sup
plies from the beach to tht
mine, several miles back fron:
the coast. Freighting to tht
property is scheduled to starl
as soon as a bridge on the road
opened up last year is repaired
-o
Deputy Customs Collector J
L. Abrams has moved the Cus
toms office from the former lo
cation on Volunteer Drive tc
the) Campbell building.
PROSPERITY NET
EARNINGS OVER
I $1,000 PER DAV
With total net earnings of
1 $124,682.69 for the seven
5 months of its commercial oper
ation, the Prosperity mine is
now earning a net profit of
$1,000 a day, according to the
May production report issued
a few days ago by the Premier
Gold Mining Company,owners
I of the controlling interest in
the noted local property.
The report discloses ore ship
ments to the Tacoma smelter
in May of a gross value of
$60,498.32, which, after the
deduction of mining, transport
ation and other cost charges,
yielded a net return of $31,
386.29, or an average of $1,
012.46 for every day of the
month. Net earnings for Ap
ril were but slightly lower,
with a total for the month of
$29,112.55.
Late reports from the Mar
mot indicate that the mine is j
still in process of being opened
up and will probably yield an
even larger production when
operated at full capacity.
Radio Expert Investigates
Lo c a 1 Interference
That the greater part of lo
cal radio interference ema
nates from the electric power
plant and possibly can be eas
ily remedied, is the opinion of
A. L. Gray, representative of
' the radio division of the Can
adian Department of Marine
and Fisheries, who visited
Stewart last week to investi
gate reception in this locality,
according t o the Stewart
News.
Owing to lack of time, Mr.
Gray was unable to make an
extended study of conditions,
and it so happened that recept
ion was at its best during his
stay, making still more diffi
cult a complete diagnosis of lo
cal radio troubles. He con
cluded, however, that certain
suggested changes at the pow
er plant would go a long way
in bettering reception. Mr.
Gray also left with the power
company officials condensing
apparatus to be attached to the
generating machinery. Mr. W.
D. Smith, local manager, prim
ised to attach the condensors
and also to carry out the other
recommendations as soon as
expedient. j
Mr. Gray also pointed out
that improperly wired electric
fixtures in homes are respon
ible for a large portion of rad
io interferences; instancing
light sockets and switches in
which odd strands of wire
were not securely fastened un
der the screw heads and ceil
ing fixtures having1 loose or
swinging metal parts.
As a result of Mr. Gray’s vis-1
it the “troub]p shooting” com
mittee of the Stewart Radio
Association learned many new
wrinkles relative to locating
interference, the News states,
and it is to be hoped that when
all his recommendations are
put into effect, much ofthe an
noyance caused radio owners
will disappear.
FLOOD CONTROL
PUNS OUTLINE!
Report &nd recommendation:
J cf Board of Engineers, U. S
War Department, for contrc
of Salmon River Floods.
(Continued from last week)
A log and plank revetmenl
constructed by private inter
ests is located south of the saw
mill to prevent further en
croachments by the river upor
sawmill property. This struct
ure is of poor design and re
quires continual maintenance
and additional brush work at
exposed points.
Additional works of a tempo
rary character have recently
been completed by the Terri
tory at a cost of $7,500. These
consist of an extension of Dike
No. 2, the clearing of a partial
floodway and the creation of a
low stage diversion channel
through the floodway.
Estimated cost of all the
above works: Dike No. 1, $8,
000; Dikes Nos. 2 and 3, $10,
000; Revetment, $7,000; 1929
work, 7,500: Total, $32,500.
Using 300 as the number of
acres protected or partially
protected by the above, an ex
penditure of $108.33 per acre
has already been made, of
which $81.67 has been contrib
uaed by local interests and
$26.66 by the United States.
These works are considered in
adequate for the permanent
protection of the town from
floods ,and it is believed that
Dike No. 2 is the only work
other than the 1929 diversion
channel that could economic
ally be used in any comprehen
sive scheme of protection.
Impounding or regulating
works are impracticable in
this case because there is no
suitable economical location
for same. The excessive length
of dam required, the apparent
ly unstable foundation condit
ions, and the flashy nature of
the floods would necessitate a
structure, the cost of which
would be excessive; also, the
pool, which would be of inade
quate section unless a high
dam were constructed, would
tend to fill up rapidly due to
large amount of detritus car
ried in floods of this river.
Channel enlargement is im
practicable on account of the
fact that low water conditions
would so choke up such a
channel that it would be use
less during floods. Due also to
the great difference between
low water and flood stages, the
amount of excavation required
would make the cost of such
works excessive.
A combination ot levees,
channels rectification, and di
version into flood ways will
give adequate protection
against 15-year floods at min
imum cost. As shown on map
herewith, the rehabilitation of
Dike No. 2 and the 700-foot
temporary extension thereto
would carry both low and flood
stages away from the road and
the town toward the higher
part of the bar. Clearing of
floodways through the ,woods,
as shown, would permit the
greater part of the flood dis
charge to thence pass over to
the low ground on the south
side of the valley, and a levee
3,000 feet long down the crest
of the valley floor from the
SILVERADO MINER
I FALLSJO DEATH
i. The first fatality in the hist
ory of the noted Silverado
! property, one of the oldest lo
cations in the district, occurred
Tuesday night, when Peter
Hestwick, miner, fell 140 feet
down the raise extending from
the main tunnel to the present
working level.
Details of the tragedy given
to a Hei’ald representative by
Andreas Strand, working part
ner and half brother of the de
ceased, were to the effect that
Hestwick and himself were
working at the mouth of the
shaft when it was found that
the skip used in lifting tools
and supplies from the main
level had become jammed,
leaving the skip floor about 6
inches below the landing. Hest
wick attempted to raise the
skip by means of a crowbar
while standing close to the
mouth of the shaft. His posit
ion was precarious and he was
warned by Strand to be care
ful a moment or two before
the fatality. After uttering his
admonition, Strand says he
turned away and was startled
a few moments later by hear
ing Hestwick call his name as
he plunged down the shaft.
Strand is of the opinion that
the bar used by Hestwick to
pry up the skip slipped in some
| manner, throwing him off bal
ance and into the open mouth
of the raise.
Strand hastily made his way
down the shaft and found the
crushed and bleeding body of
hie late companion. Hestwick
was still alive, but unconscious
and bleeding badly from the
head. Strand hurred out of
the tunnel and summoned help
but nothing could be done for
the unfortunate man, who
passed away about twenty
minutes after the fall.
The deceased miner was
was an old-timer in the dist
rict, having resided here since
1918, and bore an excellent
reputation. He was about 51
years of age and is survived by
a widow in Norway, his native
land, a married daughter who
lives in Anyox, and a second
brother who is in the Slocan
country.
A coroner’s jury in Stewart
returned a verdict of accident
al death. The remains were in
terred in the Stewart cemetery
Friday afternoon.
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Operating profits of the Alas
ka Juneau in April were $90,
000, with a net of $71,000,
Ore mined was 334,200 tons
average recovery being 80.19
cents per ton, with a gross re
j covery of $178,000, values be
| ing mostly in gold.
■o
Frank Nagle returned Mon
day after wintering in Minne
sota.
i end of the dike extension
would keep the water away
from town and gradually work
it all into additional floodways
farther down the valley until
all waters would be drawn off
and discharged into Portland
Canal on the south side of the
valley and well away from the
town.
Continued Next Week