The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-31
THE COLD NORTHWEST.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
ALASKA.
A Gentleman Who Spent Three Years
There-PIenty of Gold and Silver,
But It's Very, Very Cold-He
Thinks Buffalo Beats Alaska
"A Prohihition Town.

Prohibition Town.
The following article is taken from the
Buffalo, New York, Daily Commercial, of
March 10Th, and will no doubt be pc
rused with interest by our readers in
Virginia and North Carolina to many of
whom the gentleman referred to is we'll
known. Since leaving us some weeks ago
and after making a stop in Washington
City, Mr.. Manning has been paying a
visit to his friend Maj. A. NJ. Wheeler,
Assistant Postmaster OF Buffalo, who
was formerly Postmaster at Danville,
Va. The article in question is as follows:
| There are not many people down here
who know much about the great North
/ west district; and perhaps fewer can give
pointers on that neighbor of Siberia,
/ that Frigid Zone which takes in one of
the possessions OF the United States,
| Alaska, so when Commercial representa-
| tive this morning met a gentleman just
returned from Alaska, he awaited himself
! of the opportunity to, in some small de-
gree, enlighten the BuffalOnians.
/ Mr.. w. T. Manning, an old North Caro-
! linz newspaper man, after spending
years in the employment of the Govern
ment in the Department OF Justice IN
that zeroic country, is now il. Buffalo on
a visit to his old friend, Major Wheeler,
and by the way he is so much struck
with Buffalo that he seriously thinks OF
making it his resting place for some time
to come He tells some very interesting
things about the regions from whence he
came.
"The territory" said he, sis very rich
in minerals of all kinds-gold, silver, and
even coal, but all only very slightly de-
veloped. This no doubt is due to the
distance at which we are situated from
the United States proper. You know it
is about q thousand miles up there, and
we only get two mails month. How
ever, there is considerable wealth there,
and [ expect to see that country devel-
oped to a very large extent within the
next ten years.
what are the principal mining com
/ panes there, Mr.. Manning?" queried the
reporter.
I well, the Treadwell Gold Mining Com
pany, owned by D. 0. Mills, the New
York millionaire and Senator Jones, Of
| Nevada. These are the principal owners
! ado they turn out much gold?'
| Eyes, the Treadwell mine, which, seven
years ago, sold for 500, is now stocked
/ for 81 100000. They turn about $780,
600 a month. 1t is the largest gold mine
in the world under one cover. 1t has 24O
| stamps
| Chow is the district inhabited?"
"Oh, there are very few people there,
and the white people are mostly miners
and fishermen"
"What size are the towns there?'
Juneau is the metropolis, named
after an old Frenchman who discovered
the first placer gold there about eleven
Years ago. 1t has a population of about
200 whites, and some l 500 native In
dams who are all very friendly. It's a
prohibition country tOo," added Mr..
Manning "There's no liquor allowed in
there at all, but, said he, smiling, there
are % saloons in town OF POO inhab-
itants. 1t just shows you that people
are going to have liquor as long as it is
made. | don't think you ought to pub
fish that for it is not very creditable to
u.s."
The reporter, while agreeing that the
fact is not one to be proud of, thought it
might be somewhat interesting to pro-
hibitionists.
at is great fur country, is it not,
Mr.. Manning?'
! "Yes, but that interest loses itself al
most in the mines, but still know of one
firm there that last year did a business
OF $4,000 in furs alone, in addition
to their other business"
"Do you suffer much with cold?'
"Well, said he, Gin Juneau the weather
is almost as mild as it is in Maryland on
account of the sweep the Gulf Stream
makes along the coast, but in the inte-
riOr it goes down as far as 60 and 20
degrees below zero. In the Yukon cOun-
try they can only work at most 90 days
in the year, but frequently men take out
from ST 900 to 81 500 in thse 80 or 100
days.
"WhO are your rulers out there?'
"Governor Knapp, of Vermont, is at
the head of the State Department and
the Marshal is O. 7. Porter, of Oregon,
an old newspaper man. In nearly all the
cases with regard to the Boring Sea
troubles the vessels are taken to Juneau
and have trial there before the United
States District Court
"You say the country is developing,
Mr.. Manning?'
"Why, yes, we have there company
owned by Thomas H. Newell which has
already expended 100000 in develop
ing this. placer gold. They have operated
| but short time but they expect to real
ize 81 100000 at least and probably
$2,OOO,OOO."
is there much trouble there?"
"Oh, no, rything goes on quietly.
At Sltka we have marine barracks with
| about 60 men and officers statatiOned
there, and there is a revenue cutter kept
in the harbOr all the time. She can 90
up the river and quell any trouble that
arises
Mr.. Manning, as has been stated, has
an idea of making Buffalo his home. He
says:
1--WE hear very little about Buffalo in
| the West or South, and 1 was surprised
when l came here to see such an enOr-
nous and very prosperous city. If it was
properly known l have no doubt that
thousands of dollars would come pour
! ing in here. know said he, 4" intend
to advise friends of mine who have
money to invest to bring it on here
Producing a small phial Mr.. Manning
showed the reporter about $50 worth of
the placer gold from Alaska. 1t is in the
rough state as taken from the sand and
gravel but seems to be of excellent quail
ity. He also has brick of solid gold,
and he doesn't want to be taken as a
confidence man on that account. His
brick is from the quartz and is Is carat
solid gold not by any means the best
that Alaska can produce. Concluding he
said.
Its fine place and there's lots OF
money to be made there, but should
like to be little more in civilization for
a while now and prefer Buffalo to it.
We are booming when they're coming
from Alaska to US
II. Thomson has a few Seed Oats
still on hand. Now is the time to sup
ply yourself if you have not done so
already.
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