*»•' —.
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.
/—.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
$3.00 PER YEAR
IN ADVANCE
VOL 6, NO. 44
HYDER, ALASKA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9,1930.
PRICE TEN CENTS
PROSPERITY NET
EARNINGS NOV, 1 TO
JUNE 30, $150,310
A report by the Premier Gold
Mining Company relative to
the operations of that company
on the Prosperity group dis
closes returns indicating a
probable net return of a quart
er million dollars or more for
the first year of operation.
The gross smelter value of
ore produced between Novem
ber 1, 1929. the first month of
production, to June 80, 1930,
was $343,556. Ore product
ion during the period totaled
10,612 dry tons, with an aver
age value of $25.86 per ton.
Assay returns from the ore av
eraged .02 ounces gold and 79.
81 ounces silver. Production
costs for the period are placed
by the report at $191,697, leav
ing a net profit from mining
operations amounting to $151,
859, or an average net profit
of $14.31 per ton. Miscellane
ous losses and gains during the
eight months reduced the net
profits from mining by $1,
643, to $150,216, or an average
net profit of $14.16 per ton.
Production during June is
given as 1,760 dry tons of ore,
assaying .02 oz. gold, 84.51 oz
silver, with a net smelter value
of $41,427, an average of 23.
54 per ton.
Gross smelter value of pro
duction during the month is
placed at $54,972, an average
of $31.24 per ton. Production
costs during the period were
$29,605, an average cost of
$16.82 per ton.
Profit from mining operat
ion during the month totaled
$25,367, an average net re
return from mining of $14.42
a ton. Miscellaneous losses and
gains reduced by $280 the net
profit for the period to $25,
647, or an average of $14,58 a
ton.
The report indicates that op
erations in June were quite
satisfactory, especially in view
of the low prices of metals.
■o
Power Company Engineers
Visiting Meziadin Lake
George H. Kohl, location en
gineer for the Power Corpora
tion of Canda, left Wednesday
morning with two other engin
eers and W. D. Smith, local
manager for the company, on
a trip into the Meziadin Lake
section. Pete Lowe accompan
ied the party as guide and
packer.
Nothing definite could be
learned regarding the object of
the excursion, which apparent
ly has to do with the reported
power development plans of
the corporation in that section.
-o-■—
Alaska Juneau Cleared
$98,500 In June
Operating profits of the Alas
ka Juneau mine in June were
$96,500, with a net surplus
of $83,100. Ore mined, amount
ed to 316,770 tons, averaged
83.81 cents per ton in gold, sil
ver and lead, and gave total
returns of $265,500. Operat-'
ing expenses amounted to
$169,000 leaving a profit of
$96,500, or 30.46 cents per ton
of ore handled.
Chamber of Commerce
Holds Monthly Meeting
The monthly meeting of the
Hyder Chamber of Commerce
was held in Chamber of Com
merce Hall Tuesday evening
with president E. D. Haddon
presiding.
Included among various mat
ters considered the passage of
a resolution endorsing a petit
ion of the Fairbanks Commerc
ial Club asking the Postmaster
General to extend air mail ser
vice to all parts of Alaska, sup
plementing the regular boat
and dog-team service.
In response to an invitation
from the Cordova Daily Time-s,
the Chamber also voted to con
tribute an article to be pub
lished in the forthcoming an
nual All-Alaska edition of that
journal for advertising purpos
es. Chas. F. Sandford was del
egated to prepare the write-up.
The question of maintaining
the street lights during the
j coming fall and winter re
| vealed that maintenance funds
i are exhausted and resulted in
a decision to hold a dance for
; the purpose of purchasing an
adequate supply of lamps..
Any overplus of funds is to be
devoted to paying for mater
| ials used in repairing the road
bridge on International Way
and to repairing sidewalks.
Oren F. Hill was named as
chairman of a committee to
handle the entertainment, with
power to select his assistants.
The dance will be held some
time next month.
Care of a recently arrived in
digent was also discussed, fol
lowing a statement by Deputy
U. S. Marshal D. E. Martin re
garding the individual’s phys
ical and financial status. It
was decided to take the matter
up with Governor Geo. A.
Parks with a view to financial
relief or admission to the Pion
eers’ Home at Sitka. A com*
mittee composed of Marshal
Martin, D. J. Mulcare and C.
F. Sandford was named to take
care of the case.
The Chamber also decided to
forward a number of airplane
views of the Salmon River di
version project to various of
ficials, including Gov. Parks.
Territorial Highway Engineer
R. J. Sommers, Cash Cole, Ter
ritorial Auditor, Grover C.
Winn and A. H. Zeigler, Terri
torial legislators, all of whom
were instrumental in securing
the flood protection appropri
ation from the last legislature.
M. C. Butler, consulting min
ing engineer, who is associated
with C. L. Hibbard in the de
velopment of the Metcalf and
Fendley group in the Chicka
min district, returned to town
Monday after spending the
greater part of the past two
weeks on that property. Mr.
Butler reported that the work
of tracing out and examining
the surface showings is prog
ressing favorably, although
under difficulties in which
dense undergrowth and diffi
cult transportation conditions
are prominent factors. From
the work so far accomplished,
Mr. Butler is more than ever
convinced that the property
has an-excellent chance for be
coming a valuable gold pro
ducer.
-e
Wm. Ross was an arrival
from the south last Saturday.
YUKON-ALASKAROAO
SURVEY STARTEI
Still another step toward th
realization of the great Pacific
Yukon-Alaska highway prc
posal was disclosed this wee]
in a press announcement fror
Hazelton, B. C., stating that :
Canadian survey party headei
by Lt. Col. J. M. Rolston ar
rived there recently from Van
couver and has started a recon
naisance survey to determin
the most feasible route for th
highway north from Hazelton
The statement said an air
plane was being employed t(
assist the ground party to se
lect the best route.
With the United States high
way commission formed anc
ready to cooperate, and witl
the Canadians actively at worl
surveying for the highway, th<
project is now taking a con
Crete form that should result ii
important developments be
fore long.
•o
Few Idle Men In Camp
With the exception of a very
few men, most of whom are
either waiting for a particulai
place or gravitating from one
job to another, there are prac
tically no idle men in camp al
; present. The Texas Creek
highway construction and oth
er road work, annual assess
ment work, the lumber mill
and activities in connection
with the projected Big Missou
ri mill construction have ab
sorbed practically all unem
ployed workers in the Hyder
section during the past two or
three weeks. With unprece
dented unemployment every
where in the outside world,
the local labor situation is as
suredly most gratifying. Fur
thermore, there is every pros
pect that the present activity
will continue until close to the
end of the year at least.
There is no occasion, how
ever, for an influx* of outside
labor, as there is no room for
additional men.
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.. Plans Work on Ben Bolt.
The Stewart News reports
that W. G. Clark, an associate
of D. D. Mann in the owner
ship of the Ben Bolt group in
the Glacier Creek area, is pre
paring to institute develop
ment activities on that proper
ty. The exact character of
the proposed operations is un
decided until Mr Clark has had
time to look the ground over.
The Ben Bolt is one of the
oldest locations in the district
and has an interesting history.
Considerable work was done
on the property by Sir Donald
Mann during the period of his
activity in this district.
-o
Local friends of Paul H. Ab
bott, former Alaska agent of
the Dupont company, will be
pleased to learn that he has
been discharged from the
Mayo Brothers institution at
Rochester, Minn., as fully
cured of the throat cancer with
which he was afflicted two
years or so ago: He expects to
resume his employment with
the Dupont company during
the present month.
MEXICO WES LEAD
)j TO REVIVE SUE
!
e The first definite step in s
- j world-wide campaign to resur
-! rect the silver market has been
i taken by the president of Mex
i ico, who has issued an invitat
i ion for an international silver
1 congress to be held in Mexico
-1 City, probably during the com
-1 ing fall. Government officials.
. j bankers and silver producers
j I of the leading silver producing
j: countries will be invited to par
. | ticipate.
Among the subjects to be
> discussed in relation to the
-1 stabilization of the silver mar
| ket will be the project of
. | standardizing the monetary
1 systems of the world. The
i | Mexican president, who is
: ! sounding out foreign govern
■ i ments on the subject, plans to
: get them all out in the open re
i\ garding their objections to sil
. ver in order to ascertain what
is to be met before preparing
the metal rehabilitation pro
gram.
i Alaska Census Shews
Population Increase
The 1930 census will show the
: population of Alaska to be
close to 59,000, as against 55,
036 in 1920, acording to re
cent announcements from the
Census Bureau at Washington,
D. C.
Th^ gain will be slightly ov
i er 7 per cent. .
All but 24 districts enumer
ated checked prior to July 31,
totaled 57,347. The check
showed that twelve of the re
maining districts were sure to
add at least 1,300 and the oth -
er 12 are expected to bring the
total within 100 or 200 of 59,
000.
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} The ore now being milled at
the Premier is said on reliable
authority to be the lowest
grade so far handled and av
erages only about $8 or $8.50
a ton, although some of the ore
is reported to range much low
i er. As the basis of reduction is
around 12 to 1, the concen
trates produced from these
(ores have a value of close to
$100 per ton.
The remarkable mine is re
ported still maintaining a pro
duction of around 24,000 tons
of ore per month, of which
about 500 tons is milled daily.
The company is said to be en
gaged in extensive investigat
ions of hitherto unexplored ar
eas of the property.
o
i Body of Ancient Baby
Found Near Petersburg
An anthropological discovery
of peculiar interest was made
recently near Petersburg, Alas
when prospectors found the
perfectly mummified body of
j an 18-months old baby in a
cave near Thomas Bay. The
mummy was partially covered
by an animal hide and is be
i lieved to be over 1,000 years
; old. An old village is believed
j to have been located pt the
spot but was covered by a glac
ier years ago.
-o
Former Senator Frank Al
drich was taken down recent
ly while-working on his mining
property at Yakutat, but was
expected to recover, as his con
dition was not dangerous.
Will Investigate The
Alaska Railroa
I The congressional pcnchan
for investigating things ha
been once more directed t
Alaska by Senator Robt. F
Ilowell, Nebraska, and a com
mittee composed of the Ne
braska solon and Senator
Thomas, Idaho, and Kendrick
Wyoming, is scheduled to ar
rive in the Territory this montl
to investigate the Alaska Rail
road. The investigation will in
elude the operation, economi*
situation and prospects of th<
government owned line run
ning from Seward to interio!
Alaska. The Resolution auth
orizing the committee providec
$5,000 for their expenses ant
designated that they should re
port to congress as soon as pos
sible.
—--o
| Mcose Lodge Plans Dance
The Moose lodge will hold a
public dance in Pioneer Hall
the evening of August 30 for
the purpose of raising funds
to purchase the Fernald lot,
adjoining the school house, for
the use of the school, and also
to assist the annual Christmas
tree fund, it was announced
this week. •
The lot in question intrudes
into the northeast corner oi
the school yard and will be
turned over to the school, en
larging and greatly improv
ing the grounds and also pro
viding increased fire protect
ion for the schoolhouse, which
is not insured. Efforts were
made to induce the territorial
school authorities to purchase
the lot but failed owing to the
fact that the Territory of Alas
ka cannot own school proper
ty, all lands used for such pur
poses being donated to the
school districts in which locat
ed. Realizing that the school
needs the extra space and ap
preciating the advantages to
the community of the reduced
fire hazard, the Moose gener
ously undertook the task of
securing the ground with the
cooperation of the public.
Any residue of funds after
the purchase of the lot will be
divided between Hyder and
Stewart in financing the Moose
Christmas tree entertainments
in each camp.
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Star Shower Due
One of the finest of the met
eor showers that visit the earth
annually is scheduled to reach
its maximum display about
August 11 or 12, according to
astronomical calculations. The
shower is known as the Perse
ids because the point in the sky
from which the so-called
“shooting stars” all seem to
come lies apparently in the
constellation Perseus, which at
this time is visible in the heav
ens a short distance northeast
of Polaris, the North Star. The
meteors, however, have no
connection with the constell
ation, being in most cases mere
ly rocky particles of' various
sizes, usually very small, ancl
of unknown origin which move
through space at terrific speed
and are usually consumed by
friction with earth’s atmos
phere.
■ GEORGIA RIVER
,| DEVELOPMENT IS
VERT ENCOURAGING
Official reports of develop
3 ment progress on the Georgia
, River properties of Georgia
- River Gold Mines, published
i recently in the south, disclose
results that are distinctly en
couraging.
Since the time of the last re
port, published in these col
umns some weeks ago, the
course of tunneling work has
been shifted, owing to certain
1 expected contacts not being re
j vealed. In crosscutting, how
ever, a small intermediary new
vein was encountered and fol
lowed for a considerable dist
ance to within 200 feet of the
important Bullion vein, from
which point crosscutting was
continued to contact with the
Bullion vein. According to the
report, immediately after con
tact was made a good grade of
ore, running $9 to $10 in gold,
was encountered. Drifting
done on the Bullion vein con
tinued to disclose better show
ings, the mineralization widen
ing to the full width of the
vein, five feet or more, the
grade of the ore found being
good.
Drifting will be continued
along the Bullion vein until the
tunnel has been brought under
the winze in the present work
ings. The report says it may
reasonably be considered that
the results of the work done
indicate a most encouraging
tonnage of mineable ore.
-o
Government Plans
Stocking Alaska
With Musk Oxen
Stocking of Alaska with musk
oxen as a source of future meat
supply for the Territory and
! the Outside world is a possible
eventuality of the recent pass
age of the Department of Agr
culture supply bill carrying an
appropriation of $40,000 for
experimentation with musk ox
propagation in Alaska under
the direction of the U. S. Bio
logical Survey. The measure
has been approved by the pres
ident.
It is planned by the Survey to
bring a herd of the animals
from Greenland and the exper
iment will be conducted by R.
L. Palmer, in charge of the
reindeer experiment station of
the Biological Survey at the
Alaska Agricultural College
and School of Mines at Fair
banks. It is believed with the
funds appropriated a herd of
30 or 40 of the animals can be
purchased. Some action is ex
pected to be taken this year.
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Gilbert Flies To Arctic Coast
Pilot W. E. Gilbert of West
ern Canada Aii-ways, who op
erated a plane in this district
last year, taking prospecting
parties into the interior, re
cently made the first commer
cial air trip to Herschel Island
on the Arctic coast of Canada.
Gilbert’s flight was made with
6 passengers from Edmonton,
appx-oximat e 1 y 2,000 mile's
south of the island.
-o
H. L. Coleman, Ketchikan
merchant, was a visitor during
the stay of the Fail-banks this