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VOL 6, NO. 41
HYDER, ALASKA, SATURDAY, JULY 19,1930.
PRICE TEN CENTS I
BIG MISSOURI MILL
WORKTOSTARTSOON
Recent press reports announc-1
ing the intention of the Buena
Vista Mining Company to in
stall a mill on the Big Missou
ri property were fully con
firmed this week with the ar
rival of M. M. O’Brien, Pacific
Coast mines manager of the
Consolidated Mining & Smelt
ing Co., accompanied try Mr.
S. Gray and H. Scharmer, con
struction engineers for the big
mining company.
Although making no de.
tailed statement regarding the
company’s intentions, Mr. O’
Brien let it be known that the
projected mill will probably be
started within a comparatively
short period. Construction un
der the company’s new plans
will be directed first to build
ing a new permanent bunk
house, after which work on the
mill is scheduled to start The j
company is now engaged on i
the construction of a large |
temporary tent camp to house !
the men engaged on the other j
construction work. Six tents j
with accomodations for 10 men ■
each have been erected and are |
to be followed by others. Lum- j
ber was sent up the valley dur- j
ing the week from the Hyder!
Lumber Co. mill. It is under- i
stood that the latter company is
to supply the lumber for all
the contemplated construction
work.
It is also understood that it |
will be the policy of the Buena
Vista company to employ local
labor as far as possible.
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60RST PLANE WRECKED
NEAR YAKATAT BAY
The Gorst Air Transport sea- j
plane piloted by C. L. Scott, i
which visited Hyder on two oc-1
casions this summer , w a «|
wrecked last week near Yaku-i
tat Bay on the south coast of j
Alaska while returning to Jun- j
eau from Cordova, according •
to information received by O.
F. Hill, local representative of
the company.
From the details received it
appears that the plane was i
forced down on the sea by en- j
gine trouble after leaving Cor
dova with passengers. A strong
wind blowing on shore at the
time soon forced the ship up j
on the beach where it was ;
wrecked, apparently by the j
surf. Pilot Scott and his pass- j
engers were marooned for sev-1
era! days before being found
safe and sound last Sunday !
night by searchers sent out af- ;
ter the plane was several days •
overdue.
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Argentine Syndicate Active
The Argentine Mining Syndi
cate, of which Clay Porter, not
ed local mining man, is the
guiding spirit, has commenced
work on its highly promising
holdings, the former Mobile
group, in the Bear River sect
ion north of Barney’s Gulch.
This property is considered
by experienced mining men to
be one of exceptional promise
and presents a variety of unus
ual geological aspects.
B.C. SILVER MILL
REPORTS UNVERIFIED
Recent rumors to the effect
that the Selukwe Gold Mining
and Finance Company plans to
commence compiercial pro
duction on the B. C. Silver and
had taken an option on the
Dunwell mill are entirely un
supported by any form of con
firmation obtainable this week.
So far as can be learned, the
mill story had its origin in a
recent visit of B. C. Silver peo
ple to the Dunwell mill. They
are said to have been in search
of certain machine parts need
ed at the mine in connection
with the regular activities.
As the interest of the com
munity is so greatly centered
on the early opening up of the
B. C. Silver property, the Her
ald is sincerely regretful that
it cannot trace the reports to
any unqestionable source or to
any person claiming know
ledge of the alleged proposals
who is willing to offer any
verification for their state
ments.
THREE FINED FOR
BREAKING SPEED LAW
Efforts of the law authorities
to put a stop to speed law vio
lations in the Hyder district re
sulted in the arrest of three
car drivers late last week. All
were found exceeding the
limit of 25 miles per hour by a
substantial margin on the Sal
mon River road a short dist
ance north of town. Deputy
U. S. Marshal Donald E. Mar
tin and Immigration inspector
D. J. Mulcare followed the ar
rested drivers in a car, noting
their speed on the speedometer
of their car. In all three instan
ces the culprits were travel
ing around curves and straita
ways at speeds ranging from
30 to 35 miles per hour.
Haled before U. S.Commiss
ioner Chas. F. Sandford, the
speeders, all but-one of whom
admitted th e i r culpability,
were fined and given a lecture
on the evils of speeding, in
which the Commissioner deliv
ered a warning to all car driv
ers that, in view of the failure
of drivers to observe the pub
lished and posted notices in the
past, future infractions of the
law will be dealt with in dras
tic manner.
The territorial speed law pro
vides a limit of 25 miles per
hour for all cars except trucks.
Trucks of 1 ton or less are con
fined to not over 20 miles per
hour, while a speed of 15 miles
per hour is the limit for larger
trucks. It is also unlawful to
drive any type of car around a
curve or pass another vehicle
going in the opposite direction
at a greater speed than 12
miles per hour. Any point on
a highway where the road can
not be seen distinctly for a dis
tance of 100-yards is a curve in
the purview of the law. The act
provides a maximum fine of
$50 for the first offense, $100
for the second and $200 for the
third and subsequent offenses.
Third offenders may also be
imprisoned for not more than
30 days, in addition to paying
the fine.
9
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ELECTS OFFICERS
Further completing the pro
cesses which will convert the
Hyder Public Library into a
joint stock company, the Asso
ciation members at a special
meeting held last Tuesday
adopted the articles of incor
poration of the projected com
pany and elected the following
officers, who will serve until
the end of the present year:
Ernest Blue, president; Har
old Johnson, vice-president; |
Mrs. D. E. Martin, secretary;
T. H. Evans, treasurer; Rev. H.
R. Cross, librarian. Messrs Ev
ans and D. J. Mulcare were al
so elected members of the gov
erning board. A.J.Jacksbn was
authorized to submit sample
forms for the company stock
certificates at the next meet
ing August 15th.
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Cemetery Association
. Plans Regulations
Systematic improvement of
the Hyder cemetery and in the
present system of burials is
planned by the Riverview Cem
etery Association, which was
reorganized and restored to ac
tivity at a meeting in Chamber
of Commerce Hall last week.
Oren F. Hill was elected pres
ident; E. L. Dale, secretary,
and Messrs. J. A. Hall, E. JE. |
Charleton and N. M. Traversy
were named trustees for the'
ensuing year.
Included among the improve
ments in present methods;
planned by the Association are
systematic allotment of grave
sites and the temporary mark- j
ing of graves with crosses of
uniform size and type pending
installation of more permanent
markings or monuments. The
Association also plans to fur
ther beautify the grounds as
fast as circumstances permit.
■o.
Stewart B. of T. Elects Officers
Mr. R. E. Haack, manager of
the Stewart branch of the Bank
of Montreal, was elected presi
dent of the Stewart Board of j
Trade at a meeting of that or-'
ganization Tuesday evening.
Other officers chosen for the
ensuing year were Howard
Campbell, vice-president, and
P. S. Jack, secretary. Council
members elected were W. D.'
Smith, D. J. MacLean, H. W.
M. Rolston, Hector Stewart, M.
P. Murphy, Geo. Hills, W. R.
Tooth, A. B. Armstrong, Jas.
Morrice and E. J Applewhaite.
Boundary Monument
In New Dress
The keen interest displayed
by tourists in the international
boundary monument on Eagle
Point will doubtless be greatly
increased this summer as a re
sult of the application of a
coating of gold paint by Hu
bert Thomas, proprietor of the
nearby Boundary Gift Shop.
The formerly dull and incon
spicuous brojize monument,
shaped like the Washington
monument, now shines in pris
tine splendor on its cement and
granite base and presents not
only an interesting attraction
for visitors but is also distinct
ly emblematic of the “Land of
Gold" in which it stands.
FLOOD CONTROL
PLANS OUTLINED
Report and recommendations
of Board of Engineers, U. S.
War Department, for control
of Salmon River Floods.
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(Continued from last week)
An intangible interest of the
United States is the security
that flood protection will give
to its existing investment in the
Salmon River Highway by
preservation of the seaport and
terminus thereof. This invest
ment is increasing anually, and
to date amounts to $330,429.
65, in addition to the $50,000
shown above.
In addition toThe above is the
imponderable matter of policy
to protect the prestige arid in
terests of the United States and
the property of its citizens es
pecially in an international
border town with a rival for
eign town immediately adjac
ent thereto and ready to take
any and all possible economic
advantages to avoid customs
duties and the like. It is mani
festly impracticable to evalu
ate this in terms of money. In
this connection, it should be
noted that the British Colum
bia provincial government'has
already spent $14,560 and ex
pects to spend $18,000 addit
ional to protect their town, 2
miles distant, which is-subject
to similar flood conditions on
another river.
It is desirable that the Fede
r a 1 Government undertake
this survey for the following
reasons:
The United States is directly
interested in protection to the
extent of $5,000 per year.
Some of the local interests
wish control of low-water con
ditions while others wish con
trol of high-water conditions.
The Federal Government by
reason of its greater authority,
is in the best position to devise
a plan that will coordinate all
interests.
The War Department, in the ■
Alaska Road Commission and j
the Juneau engineer district,
possesses probably the only
skilled engineering force in the
locality that has had experi
ence in this type of work. A
plan that would be prepared
by either of these two offices
would probably better coordi
nate the needs and wishes of
local interests, receive more
generally favorable consider
ation, and include a better and
more effective design of struct
ure than would a plan locally
prepared.
It is estimated that a suit
able survey of this locality
could be made in 20 days by a :
junior engineer and two assist
ants. All information would :
be obtained in the field to en-'
able the cost, character, and
amount of work involved in the
proposed improvement to be
closely estimated. This would
cost, including salaries, wages,
transportation, subsiste n c e, |
and necessary materials and j
equipment about $800, of j
which it is recommended that
the United States contribute
the entire amount. * * * *
*.. * In compliance with the
law I have to state that bene
fits to be expected from the
proposed improvement would
be bqth national and local or
KET3HKAN PLANE TAKES
LOCAL PASSENGERS
The seaplane Skagvvay of the
Alaska - Washington Airways,
piloted by R. O. Renahan and
with Frank Wadman as mech
anician, arrived from Ketchi
kan Monday on a special trip
to pick up Dr. W. E. Peterson,
Ketchikan dentist, and James
Freeburn, prominent mining
engineer, who spent most of
the preceding week in the dist
rict looking over the Mountain
view Gold Mining Co. property
on Fish Creek.
The plane, a sister ship o!
the Juneau, which visited the
district seve'ral times last sum
mer, returned to its home port
after a short stay, with Dr
Peterson and Mr. Freeburn and
Frances Sandford, 7-year old
daughter of the Herald pub
lisher, as passengers. Little
Frances, who, in spite of her
tender years, is distinctly “air
minded,” voluntarily chose the
plane in preference to the
boats as a means of transit to
the First City, where she will
visit her sister, Mrs. Charles E.
Smith.
territorial in scope in approx
imately the following propor
tion: National, 80 per cent;
local or territorial, 20 per
cent; and that cooperation
should be required in this pro
portion for both new construct
ion and maintenance.
Local interests have already
expended $24,500 for flood
control work in the vicinity..
Approximately $17,500 of this
sum has been expended for
works lying along the location
of the proposed works. It is es
timated that this part of these
works will have a remaining
value of 60 per cent, or $10,
000, by the time that construct
ion would be initiated upon
this project, if approved.
It would appear equitable to
allow local interests a credit in
this amount in their contribut
ion. This would mean a fur
ther contribution of $8,000 by
local interests and a federal
appropriation of $72,000 * * *.
(evaluating total cost as $90,
000).
In compliance with the law
I have to state that there is no
possibility of coordinating the
proposed improvement with
water power or other general
improvements other than as
stated above, that 100 acres of
ground suitable for extension
of Hyder townsite, would be
reclaimed from the area sub
ject to floods, and navigation
interests would benefit by the
shifting of present deposit of
detritus and silt farther away
from the docks and into deep
water.
Advantages of improvement
are: Annual savings, relief
from hazard, increase of bus
iness, protection of Govern
ment and private property, in
surance of permanence of the
only American port offering
entry into this rich American
territory, and maintenance of
United States prestige.
Disadvantages: High cost of
improvement.
Recommendation:— In view
of the foregoing I recommend
that I be authorized to* make a
survey of Salmon River and an
estimate of the cost of control
ling its floods.
Malcolm Elliott
I
I
MUCH BELOW PAR
Marked reductions in the val
uJ of practically all commidi
ties except furs and lumber,
brought the total value of
Alaska exports in June, exclu
sive of gold and silver, to the
lowest figures for that month
in nearly a decade.
Shipments of merchandise
from the Territory to the Unit
ed States during the month at
tained a value of only $1,767,
526, according to the monthly
fatement of Collector of Cus
oms J. C. McBride. This was
$734,446 below the figures for
June, 1929 and over two mill
ion dollars lower than those
for June, 1928.
The loss was due primarily
to extensive decreases in the
value of copper and salmon
shipments, figures for the for
mer product being lower than
for any month since August,
1929. Copper and lead to
gether totaled $357,175, as
compared to $747,893 for the
same month last year.
Following is the list of ex
ported commodities and their
value:
Animals . 300
Curios . 320
Fish: (Fresh and froz
en except shell-fish) -
Halibut... 79,390
Salmon ..;. 64,128
All other.. 4,212
Canned (except shell
fish )
Salmon . 601,748
Cured or preserved (ex
cept shell-fish)
Cod . 6,319
Salmon .„. 326,728
Shell-fish:
Clams. 66,593
Shrimps . 19,436
Fish Meal . 5,760
Fish Oil .. 568
Furs and fui’-skins:
Seal skins .>... _ 800
Blue fox . 12,790
Silver or black fox .. 500'-,
Red fox . 13,605
White fox . 1,235
Mink . 1,690
Muskrat . 5,799
Beaver. 300
All other . 9,108
Manufactured furs .. 1,500
Oil: Whale. 35,000
Ore, matte, regulus:
Copper. 335,993
Leod . 16,182
Stone, marble . 15,509
Trophies, specimens 1,250
Wood, limber, lumber 27,9p8
All other articles. 3,718
Total value of prod
ucts of Alaska. 1,658,609
Products of United
States returned . 103,807
Total value of foreign
products. 5,110
Total value of ship
ments of mdse. $1,767,526
Items included in “All Other
Articles:”
50 tons whale fertilizer .. 3,360
811 lbs. Wool. 183
1 Painting . 175
Major, Corps of Engineers,
District Engineer.
As reported earlier, the rec
ommendations of the district
engineer set forth in the above
report were approved by Con
gress last May and an appro
priation of $800 for the pro
posed survey was authorized.
(The End)