New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-07
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
MEN AEsD AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL
~ CAPITAL.

Washington Jan. Gone of the great areu-
vn.rts in favor OF giving Alaska a form Of terri
toral government is on account OF her raplulH "'-
oloning riches 1t is said that lei mines alone en-
>,ls her 20 consideration. Gold mining In AiasKa
is rapidly being developed, but until there are
better communications established through eAPiol,
alton and settlement of the interior mining Will
have TO he confined to the coast Inc Nalne 81
mines depends TO a great extent upon the general
DEVELOPMENT of the country where they are si'-
uated. For instance, in California there are many
mines now being worked upon margins so narrow
that only few years ago they were conSideIcu
worthless There is one mine now being worked
in that State whose ore will not clear over ~
cents Of silver on a ton. Under ordinary clrcum-
stances the cost of reduction would he more than
this But with The reduction OF the cost OF NV
ing and Of labor, the increase OF laoor-savlng ma
chirery and the facilities given for transportation
the ore is reduced at an average price Of 30 cents
a ton leaving a handsome margin of profit. Cap
tain Carroll who is in Washington seeking to he
admitted to Congress Delegate from Alaska,
is one of the successful miners of this newly de-
veloped country lie has been a Spectator in
lands in the State of Washington and in mines
in Alaska. One of his most successful ventures
was the sale of gold mine in Alaska 10 an Eng
Iish syndicate for 81 600. OOo $4,000 of which
through Canadian information, have become much
excited about the mining prospects in Alaska and
the possible riches of this Territory.
Captain Carroll Is tall broad.sheulCered
sod-ooking man, with a face brOnzed by long
exposure to the sea. He is slightly bald. His
forehead is broad. and his ewes light blue gray.
His nose is large Roman. A thin dark mustache
shades the firm nncs o" his mouth. He is man
of great physical viear and lion strength Of char
acter. He is one of the pioneers of tie develop
ment of this Territory, and according 20 all re-
ports has made large fortune as a result Of his
speculations in Washington and Alaska. lie has
made for himself a GOOD deal of notorioty by
offering S14, 600 for the outright purchase o;
Alaska Territory. He saws With magnificent en-
phasis that this is cash offer, but at the same
time the magnifcence of the offer Is dimmed by
a consideration of the fact that under TO ccnsidcra
ton would the Government consider any offer for
the purchase OF this Territory. The Captain is
indignant over the course of the Canadians
and the English in the matter Of the seal fisheries
lie hopes to see most vigorous policy carried
on by our Government. lie says that the seals
all have their homes the islands or shores of
the Territory. They swim out sometimes 10 sea,
and are no more justifable subjects for capture
than would he the domestic animals of a priv
individual which should ny chance stray outside
the lines OF the owners ioclosure. He says that
if necessary in tho event of trouble, he would
he glad TO fiji out privateer and make il pleasant
for British merchantmen. He does not fear wal
with Great Britain, and thinks that in the event
of struggle we could do them quite much
damage by capturing Canada as they could in
attacking ports.
I a Montana silver miner yesterday, who
said that it not true that the silver producers
If fba West oil for mill mi
age of silver He said there may be few specu
lative men who think that it would he good
thing but as mine-owner and large silver pro-
Queer he thinks differently. Said he I" /
satisfied with the situation it stands
There is handsome profit in the production of
silver when the market price is over 81. | also
know very well that If the Government should
attempt to create n fictitious market for silver
the other silver countries of the world would send
silver here in such volume 10 reduce mate
rally the price. Unlimited coinage of silver
would also drive out gold and put us on a silver
basis This would be great disadvantage 10
business and would hurt all in the end Silver
is in good position now. and the only way I see
by which its value could be increased would be
through some international agreement between the
leading nations"
He said further that he thought that Montana
would be the great silver mining country of the
future. There were more mines now being de
velopcd in that section than anywhere else Some
of them were exceedingly rich. mine which
he and his partner had bought control Of two
years ago for 81, 600 was now turning out
which nets S17j ton.
Something of the lottery Of mining he
planned TO me in an account he gave of one Of the
greatest mines in Montana. This mine first
reached by series OF tunnels, beginning at the
peak of high elevation among the hills The
first tunnel discovered a perpendicular vein Of
silver ore. This VEN was narrow. and the
quality Of the not particularly good,
second tunnel mace further down the hill, 50
as 10 hit the same vein, II still found 10
lie narrow and poor. Some five or six tunnels
were made, each lower down than the other, but
all aimed with skill at the vertically descending
vein If the vein had branched they might have
lost it entirely Some eight ten tunnels were
made at great expense The last tunnel went in
but short distance, and disclosed the fact that
this narrow vein in descending suddenly widened
into great bed Of ore, so that the happy
prOspectOrs found uncovered with a few feet
Of tunnelling, an ore bed which has yielded up
to the present time over million dollars net
production.
The mines of Montana now largely worked
by private speculation There are few mines
which are brought 10 the East and sold in the
form Of stock companies. There has been so
much swindling in this direction that one miner
told me that he had heard that in New-York
when man entered brokers' Office and men
toned 10 him silver mine the police call was al
once rung up 10 remove a dangerous intruder.
The favorite customers for mines now English
men. The mythical English syndicate which is
always buying this or shat kind Of business prop
erty is largely represented in Montana. The
English syndcatcs, however, DO not buy unde-
veloped mines They have taken in within the
last two years a number Of the richest mines in
Montana. They were obliged TO pay roand prices
for them, but in some instances they have been
able to declare extraordinary dividends through the
rich development of the mines This has led some Of