The San Francisco call., 1896-06-27

He arrived from Alaska yesterday with
his wife and P. Marine, miner who has
come to San Francisco for special treat
ment for his eyes, which were seriously in
jured in an explosion in the Mexican
mine on April that killed one man and
injured four others.
The accident was caused by a miner
striking with his pick stick of dynamite
that had failed to explode along with a
number of others grouped for blast set
off short time before.
"During all the years l have lived in
juneau" said Mr.. Valentine yesterday at
the Grand, 81 never had a miner ask me
for anything to eat. 1t is wrong to sup
pose that they have suffered. With two
exceptions, do not think / ever saw a
man return to Juneau from beyond the
divide with less than $50. And / have
seen miners come in with dust worth from
that amount all the way up to $4,000 or
$4,000.
1.-THE two men that came out broke were
couple of fellows / staked. They hao
bad luck. Their water-wheels were car
ried away in a freshet and they lost what
they had.
1.-THE fact that the miners always go
back again speaks well for the Yukon
region. All of them do better than they
W
'Only four men have perished on that
trip since / have been in the country
Two were old men in party of four.
They became exhausted and lay down
and died. That was on the Hooteiinka
river, about five years ago. Their sons
came out from Kansas some time after to
collect the bones, and buried them to sat
isfy the widows. The other two perished
early in February of this year, up near
Lake Teslin. The two Indian guides had
to abandon the white men in order to save
themselves, and as it was they killed and
ate their dogs before they were overtaken
by another party. One of the unfortunate
men was journalist, formerly employed
on the Alaska News,
Twelve hundred people have gone
through Juneau in the last year bound for
the Yukon region. There must be 1000 or
1000 miners up there now. AT the Forty
mile Camp there are sixty women. They
are getting modern conVenlences up
billiard tables and such things.
Joe Cooper of Forty-mile Camp was
down here little while ago and bought a
saloon outfit. He said it would be worth
$40, 900 when he got it home. He probably
paid about $500 for it here.
"a man came into Juneau the other day
with seventv-six pounds OF gold dust, the
result of two seasons in the Yukon region.
''Mail-carriers get 81 apiece for carving
mines. They usually make up a package
of about 500 letters for trip.
1.-THE miners that will stay in the region
can work up till the middle of October, but
those that are coming out will have to
quit work month earlier in order to cross
the divide before the heavy SHOWS.
Juneau is just as good country as I
want to live in. l like it as well as any
place l have ever seen. 1t rains a good
deal. The average rainfall is nine feet a
year. There is a fine miners hospital
there conducted by Sisters of Charity.
The population is 3000 although most of
the men are away just now at Sundum,
mining region sixty miles south of Juneau,
and at Berner's Bay, forty miles to the
north.
1.-THE Basin mine, about four miles back
from Juneau, is a good-paying invest
ment. There are four stamp mills there,
and good deal OF placer mining is done.
''On an island mile across the channel
from Juneau is the great Treadwell mine
that pays $3.50, 900 in dividends each year."
Mr.. Valentine owns the steamer ]. r.
Roberts, conducts the Peoples wharf is a
mem Der of the merchandise firm of Mat
thews, Valentine & Co., owns a jewelry
store and is treasurer of the Juneau Fire
Department. He will probably remain
here a month, as this is his first visit to
San Francisco.