The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-01
MOUNTAIN OF SILVER.
Vast Mineral Wealth on Copper River,
Alaska.

on the headwaters of the Copper river.
about DO miles from the sea coast where
but one white man has ever succeeded in
reaching. dwells a strange and peculiarly
mysterious race OF Indians. in recent
years. through some traders. they have
acquired possession Of a few guns, and
now when they come down 10 the trading
posts on kueek river. at the head Of
Cooks inlet, they often bring buEets
nodded out of silver and other metals.
The Alaska Commercial Company's agen.
three years ago obtained several of these
bullets and sent them to San Francisco
TO be asssayed. and the returns indicated
that 81 per cent was silver. the remainder
being copper and lead, with a slight trace
Of gold
The Indians have a great many print
tive weapons and cooking utensils, all OF
which are rudely though skllfuhy made
out Of pure copper. They have frequent
~ Informed the white traders that silver
and copper abound In immense quantities
at the base Of peak back Of Spirit noun
tain. which Is now reckoned as being the
highest mountain in North America by
surveyors and engineers who have viewed
Il from a distance. II is known that these
Indians have no means or knowledge Of
reducing ore, and II seems almost certain
that they must he telling true story
about silver and copper being found in
The winter is the only time the Indians
visit the coast for trading purposes. In
the summer the post on the Kueek river
Is abandoned on account of the rapac ious
appetite OF the mosquitoes, IL being I'M
possible for n human being TO survive
their attacks. Several instances are
known where they have killed and de-
voured Indian dogs. The natives for that
reason give the coast a wide berth in the
summer
The only reason. apparently. why some
of those typical American prospectors,
those who have seemingly prospected from
infancy and have panned out gold in every
camp OF importance from California 10
Cariboo and the Cassiar. have not visited
the upper Copper river country is its al
most completes inaccessEbihty. Several
parties have attempted to ascend the
river but from the nature OF the stream.
being excessively swift and turbulent. one
might as we'll try TO climb Niagara falls.
The river is lined on each side for miles
and miles with nothing but glaciers
whose walls are perpendicular from the
summit TO an unknown depth below the
water and whose every side Is scanned
with crevices so deep as to be almost
fathomless But one white man has ever
succeeded in reaching the forks where
the Chi;tyna puts off 10 the cast, and
that was Lieut. Allen. who a number Of
unusual severity, assembled the river
about 200 miles.
From F. T. Howard than whom there
ia no better prospector nor more thor
oughly posted man In Alaska on the
mines. mining camps. and all prospects OF
the territory, the Juneau Mining Record
learns that a party VIII try TO find this
new Eldorado this fan. and viii attempt
TO reach the destination over a hitherto
untraveled route.
4 believe" said Mr.. Howard. land base
my belief on conversations / have had
with Indians from near that section and
my knowledge Of the coast along the
mouth If Copper river and the general
trend OF the country, that the most feas-
| ible ana easiest way TO get into that coun-
| ty is by way Of Prince Williams sound At
| the northern extremity Of the sound Is an
inlet some eighty or 100 miles In length
4 river flows into this fnset which has is
| source on the western divide OF range
| OF mountains from the eastern side OF
wlSch flows the Chuttiniyina, which is y
| tributary Of the Copper river ana flows
into the latter stream short distance
| below the locality where che vast depos-
it's OF native copper are supposed 20 eX-
ist There are hut few glaciers al the
| head Of Prince Williams sound and tho
| country does not appear TO be as rough
| ard precipstous as Il IS near the mouth
| - Copper river The portage I do not
think would be over fifty miles In eX-
| tNnt'
Tho general opinion prevails that If an
easy way Of access so that section Is dis
| covered mines ~ immense value viii he
1 found - reward the hardy and intrepid
/ explorers who shall first penetrate that
| portion - Alaska which has 80 far proven