Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-12-15
GOLD IN ALASKA.

Recent explorations In N0rtnern anu
Central Alaska have revealed bodies OF
ore, but in such remote regions as to be
unavailable. The few claims near
Sitka have proved of but little value.
None of the ore exists in large pockets.
1t is scattered and rather of low grade.
II may be said that no properties will
pay being worked when there is not at
best q great abundance Of ore. The
Tread we'll mine is valuable only be-
cause there is so much quartz. A ton
of it will not yield any considerable
amount of gold, but there are millions
of tons. Mines must also be near the
coast TO pay, unless they are unusuaily
rich. Alaska 10 not an easy country 10
travel over, and the cost OF tfansporta
ton is an important item to be con-
sidered.
Every section of the country has Its
upholders. but sitting facts from theo-
ries, the truth seems to be that the pay
ing mineral must be on or near Douglas
Island. Owing TO the abundance OF
moss and forests, Alaska Is an extreme
lly difficult country to prospect There
are no surface indications and leads
can only be d iscovered by first finding
float ore, and then laboriously tracing
up the streams to find the main body.
Every mine 30 far discovered has been
found in this manner. 1t Is absolutely
useless trying to find out-croppings by
pursuipg the methods adopted in Colo.
| rado and other barren countries.
| Alaska's other natural riches are cop.
pe-, marble, coal and silver. Coal has
been found In many places, but sually
too far iuland to pay for shipment.
| Marble quarries are more or less abun'
ldapt. but do not seem to contain large
blocks. Copper is found principally In
the region that Is penetrated by the
lChilcat fiver. Many of the native
household implements and pipes con
tain copper rims and ends, and the
Ind ians claim that they know OF large
copper mines. So far, however, nc
valuable properties have been discover
ed. though there is undoubtedly a large
lauantity of the metal in the country
Silver has been found in the far north
but no mines have been discovered that
are valuable enough to pay for working
A lust conclusion then seems to bt
that our Northwestern Territory hal
yet no claim for prominence as a miner
al country. That it contains many IL
dications OF having large bodies of orr
must be admitted, and we will acknowl
edge that development has been retard
ed ty the presence of forests aud the ab
Isepce of proper laws by which title'
could be bad to lands. Bot still thu
'ionly tangible evidence is in the Juneau
properties, and they are too untried Il
warrant conclusions being drawn
Judging from the past, it will be year
before Alaska can hope for fame createt
by its mines. What the future viii
prove remains to be seen.
what the Republican womb Aik'
TO Know.
How a red. headed woman can hav'
black eyebrows without having II
borrow them.
l Why so many men make pigs o
themselves when riding In the stree
cars.
| Why our young lawyers do not fol
low in the steps of their preceptors.
II Who the Democrats are going TO rui
for Mayor next June.
How Council il going to carry thu
Icity through until next July en- thu
money in bank to Its credit.
Il How soon the Pennsy Is going Il
fence in Water street.
Why men will insist in walking OF
the railroad track, when we have sucl
elegant pavements.
Why the parents of young boys AM
girls permit them to parade on Marke
street on Saturday night long after bet
time.
II Why 90 many Wilmington merchant I
, ad vertise in the REPUBLICAN, II IL
not because of its large circulation.
| So many of our merchants grnmbl
lab0ut hard times, and advertise s
little.
What your next door neiRhbor know
about your financial standing.
Why our city 10 30 full OF fresh younl
, men.
Why the bald. beaded men will insis
lin sitting up In the front row during TN
per rformance of the Seven Ravens.
The receipt for making some OF thos
pies Of which we received q sample OF
Saturday. =,
The time when the Bland dollar vii
buy four pounds of good butter.
Why the New Castle jail Is not stronl
! enough and we'll guarded to keep tn
: robber Blake from getting out. He ha
walked cut twice since his imprison
= ment.
why boys in the shape Of men Ar
|, Iallowed 20 ride in the street cars.
Il why well-brought-up young mel
| will associate with ballet dancers tina
,, frequent our city with travelling
,. troupes.
Why our business men should not d
|. q larger business every year. The cit!
is growing larger slowly.
over Sd and I1fh street Bridges
Kesidsnts, for drugs and prescriptions, E
n Ia g. .,.tk o., akr a q d