The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-02-19

BuUettn, furnishes that Journal with
the following interesting account of
the Alaska gold fields:
The gold in Alaska is still in the
ground, all save few thousand ounces
gathered here and there from the more
accessible veins and gravel beds of the
islands and mountains along the coast
But the cause of the seeming barren
ness of the rocks of this northern re-
gion is not far to seek, for in the first
place, even the coast mountains have
not been explored to any appreciable
extent. Probably not one vein or
placer in Il thousand has yet been
touched by the prospector's pick,
while the interior region is still vir-
gin wilderness-all its mineral wealth
about as darkly hidden as when it was
covered by the ice mantle of the gla-
cial period. But light sooner or later
is sure to come. Thousands of sturdy
miners, graduating from the ledges
and gulches of California and Nevada,
will push their way over the whole
Territory and make it tell its wealth.
What the developments are likely to
be we can only guess. For in our
present state of knowledge of the ways
of gold, the quantity contained in any
formation, however laborously eX-
plored by the geologist, can never be
|surcly counted. We have reason,
however, to warrant the opinion that
Alaska will be found at least modcr-
ately rich in the precious metals, and
that gold mining, notwithstanding
the disadvantages of climate, heavy
vegetation and beds of glacial drift,
will come to be regarded as one of the
most important and reliable of her re-
sources.
Turning attention to developments
made in Alaska, we find that the most
noteworthy of the placers yet discov-
cred in the Territory are located on a
glacial stream on the mainland, about
- miles up the coast from Fort Wran
gel, at Il place called "Schucks'
Thirty or forty miners are said to have
made fair wages here fora year or two.
These mines are still being protitably
worked. The coast region of south
eastern Alaska has the advantage of a
mild climatc-so mild that gold wash
ing and prospecting may be carried on
nearly all winter, while water Is
everywhere abundant and provisions
cheap. On my return voyage in Il
canoe from the glaciers of Lynn Canal
and Gross Sound last November, met
Il party of twelve miners in H0ikan
Bay, who had discovered gold on the
outlet of one of the glaciers, and We're
building IA cabin, intending to remain
there during the winter. How bright
their prospects were they Were unwill-
ing to tell. Small quantities have
also been washed from the Nasse,
Stickcen, Takoo and Chilcat rivers,
and the ''colorn of gold may be found
in every stream of considerable size in
the Territory, ~ faras they have been
examined. have just returned from
a visit 10 Il quartz ledge on Baranotf
Island, about nine miles from here,
and only from one to two miles from
deep tide water II is being vigor-
ously tested by the owners-the
Alaska Gold and Silver Mining Com
pany-and is attracting much attcn-
ton. \ ten stamp mill has been run
ming for Il few weeks, and the returns
thus far, though not very exciting,
are decidedly good. The vein is from
about three to four feet wide, exposed
on steep hillside, and will he easily
worked all the year. The rock taken
out from three different Levels on the
ledge is said to yield on the average
from $40 to SIS IA ton. The supply of
rock seems practically incNhaustiblc.
The mine is particularly interesting as
being the nOrthmost of its kind on the
gold belt, and, for aught | know, on
the continent. We hear also of prom
ising quartz from other portions OF
Baranoir Island, and from near Ton