The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-30
IT'S an Island on tho Alaska Coast
Rioh In Placer
Gold.
Armstrong Believes tho Results
Will surpass the Output
OF Alder.
The Auaconda shut-Down Throws 1900
Mon Out Of E~mploylnent on the
West Side.

IL 10 q fnct not very widely known, Dut q
fact nevertheless, that in close proximity to
Uncle SAINTS extreme northwestern coast,
and within the limit established by inter-
national law as the marine boundary line,
there lies an island which will at no distant
day become an important contribution to
the wealth Of the world in general and this
gold-pr0ducing nation in particular. The
island 10 situated on the skirts of Yaketa
Bay. ON the Alaska coast, and is nearly two
miles in length, with an average width OF
seven-elghths Of = mile. Its base ia a solid
rock. covered with auriferons sand varying
in depth from twenty to over one hundred
feet. This sand is thoroughly ~impregnated-
with fine gold, in quantities which insure
handsome fortunes to the enterprising ad
vcnturers who undertake its development
and working. II was discovered in 1886 by
Noah Armstrong. Esq, the ~well-known
Montana turfman, during a trip which he,
in company with Mr.. John A.
Van Brocklin made in that year to Sitks
and the Yukon mines in Alaska. The re-
suits of their prospecting were so salts
factory that they determined on their re-
turn to more thoroughly explore their find.
Accordingly in the following year MI.
Van Brocklin took two men equipped with
necessary tools n a six months supply Of
provisions and spent the summer aud fall
In making a complete investigation of the
extent and value Of the property. Neces-
sarily the appliances with which the work
Was carried on were Of the most crude and
primitive character. Several shafts were
sunk In different parts of the island, how
ever, and two or three Thousand cubic yards
of the sand was washed through the
~sluices, the yield from which, notwith-
~ - 1Svn~ kIn sod vn0AIn~N. ~~o-1~-AI unr
sufficient to pay q good percentage over Ok
penses, and encourage the prospectors to
take steps toward the introduction of
more approved gold saving appara
tus and machinery. On the return
Of the party in the winter. Messrs.
Armstrong. y Co. were SO deeply
.engrossed in their other extensive opera
tions in Seattle and other towns on the
sound that they were compelled to postpone
further work on the island till a more con-
venient season. Two years ago, however, a
company consisting Of Messrs. Armstrong,
Van Brocklin and 4 third party was formed
to prosecute the work with a capital Of
electric plates, screens, and other machin-
cry at a cost Of $4,000, charter a schooner,
and ship men and supplies sufficient to
work the diggings on an extensive scale
and them most approved principles; but just
as the plans we're bou completed the third
parry ktoCAM0 uu6uClAlAy 0luUNTIAS66u d0U
failed to come up with his share of the
funds, SO the enterprise was perforce tenn
porarily abandoned. Last year Mr.. Arm
strong was again SO busy with his interests
on Puget sound and his stables in the east
that he was unable to devote any attention
to the project. When passing through
Helena last Friday, on his way
east, he told an INDEPENDENT re-
porter that Mr.. Van Brocklin, who
is one of the pioneer placer miners Of
Montana, and was for several years one of
the superintendents of the Hecla Consoli-
dated Mining company at Glendale, is rear
ranging to work the island for all it is
worth. He is very enthusiastic on the sub
jeot, and sanguine that fabulous wealth
will reward the systematic working of the
mines. i
As above stated, the island is off the
Alaska coast, directly in the course of the
warm ocean current which tempers our
chinook winds, and the wash of which has
deposited the gold bearing sand upon the
rock. This current also creates a tempera-
ture that admits of working the mines the
year through, Mr.. Van Brocklin saying that
he was able to sluice the ground in Febru-
airy as easily az in any month in the year.
The distribution of the gold particles
through the sand is SO uniform that equally
good results are obtainable in all parts Of
the island, and at all stages of depth. Mr..
Armstrong is equally confident that the re-
suits to be achieved will fully come up to,
if not surpass, those obtained in even the
palmiest days of Alder's gnlch.