, 1889-02-21
GOLD IN ALASKA.
BOundless Wealth i'm the Snow.
Capped Mountains.
Magnificent Opportunities for
Investment.
An Enthusiastic Writer'S Able Defense Of
"ths Mineral Zone OF = America"--Its
Resources and Climate.

A writer in the Sitka Alaskan discourcea
as follows concerningsthe mineral wealth
OF Alaska:
l noticed in your issue for December 29
on earnest defense OF the climate of Alas
ka, its mines and matters pertaining
thereto, all of which, from observation, q,
based upon an experience OF many years
in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico,
AN inclined to indorse. do not 20 go
tar as the writer does when he gives il as
his opinion that Alaska possesses more 6s.
sures than the balance of America, al.
though in the main agree with him.
America is large country-so is Alaska,
! admit. There are wonderful properties
here, far greater than any other place in
my experience with anything like the
same amount Of development. And what
the future will develop depends upon the
work done, as am satisfied that the
| underlying mineral wealth is enormous
| vast indeed. That the open weather,
| abundance Of rainfall and the contiguity
OF the mines to deep water enable them to
Ie worked more cheaply than at other
places have seen in the course Of my
lengthy experience, there is no doubt--not
the slightest. In Colorado the cold was
and always is 10 intense as to permit
mining to be carried on not more than
ADVANTAGES OVER ARIZONA.
There. as in Arizona, Il refer to silver)
are refractory, rebellious, and require ex.
tensive smelling works. In Arizona the
mines are not only remote from water and
railroads, but the excessively dry climate,
lasting as long as eight months out of the
twelve, make them practically valuless.
Imagine the madness, il you can, of a
man or company of men, Undertaking
to work, as in the case of the
Treadwell 81 ore. either in Ari.
zona or Colorado, in fact any.
where but Alaska. Why, there are mum.
bers Of mines in those two territories
which will run $40 to $50 to the ton, that
cannot be handled. There is no doubt
about the future of Alaska; it is simply a
question of inteligen. understanding,
which sooner or later will come. in my
| opinion, az soon as night follows day.
Capital is very sensitive, particularly so
as pertains to mining Investments, all of
which sensitiveness was born of an ex.
perieuce coating many millions. expended
through misrepresentation and fraud.
GRAND OPENINGS FOR CAPITAL.
There are lying idle at this moment
millions of money. the owners of which
would as readily invest in mining as in
any other branch OF industry. had they a
reasonable assurance of fair percentage
of profit. Az | understand the matter,
capital hesitates to invest in Alaska
mines for the same reason that once upon
q time governed me in my belief about
the true status of affairs in the territory.
Alaska is synonymous, in the opinion
Of the large majority, with the North
being understood day by day. The
climate of this portion Of the territory,
from October to March /, will
not average a lower temperature than 40
degrees. or 8 degrees above freezing, while
in the minds of millions Of people the
thermometer descends to 40 degrees below
zero, or q difference Of opinion, in contra
distinction of the facts, of 80 degrees. Is
it not surprising that an Intelligent, read
ing and travelling people can be so iguor.
ant Of the truth? But a, we are acquir.
ing knowledge day by day, the truth will
shine forth and one Of the plague spots
which is working so much inquiry upon
US will have been dispelled. Another
thing affecting capital is the misrepre.
seutations made by parties owning mipes
in other localities than Alaska.
TRApUCERs OF ALASKA.
Every dollar invested iu this territory is
diverted from some other mining country,
ana the cuptd1ty or the average mine own
or 10 so great as not only to impel him TO
say cf his property the most favorable that
he can, but, in many instances, enlarge
upon the climate of Alaska and decry the
value of its mines, such representations to
the sentative ear of capital sving an uu-
just and damaging effect. But, notwith.
stauding all that the traducers of Alaska
can say. concoct or do. they can.
not change the temperature or
the value of the mines; both exist
~ living monument to put
TO shame oil detractors. [ have cast my
lot with the mining interests of Alaska
for the reason that consider it to be the
best mining country by far that | have
yet seen. The open climated, the mines
lying right alongside Uf deep water, suf.
ficient rainfall for all purposes. the size of
the ledRes. the quality and friability OF
the ore. together With wood in abundance,
and cheapness Of transportation from deep
water to the mines, form u combination Of
advantages to the practical unequalled and
when understood. opportunity presenting
irresistible know of many parties own.
ing mines who will be only too glad to
submit them to the test of any expert; ss