The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-09
THE new Land OF COLD
1t No Longer is California; 1t is Far
Alaska.
THERE MILLIONS NOW BECKON
nut the Worst of 1t is They're Already
Prc.Emptcd-Lassoiug IceberGs in
Mid.Oceuu-SceneryO of Cn-
spcakabic Grandeur.
Written for The Tribune.

Written for The Tribune.
We arrived at Juneau at p. M on
schedule time. giving us nearly fVe
hours of daylight and twilight to per-
ambulate and investigate this typical
mining town. Juneau, in the last dec
ade, has grown from an insignificant
group of Indian huts of the AUX tribe
into a wide-awake and bustling town.
Every building here, every white in
habitant. indicates activity and pros
perity peculiar to live mining camps.
Juneau more nearly resembles some or
our toughest towns in the frontier west
than any other place in Alaska. JG-
neau is the largest town in the terri
tory and the center of great mining
operations. now in their comparative
infancy. Its location is on the north
or mainland shore of Gastineau Cham
nel, ten miles above its entrance. The
town site is at the base of Juneau noun
tain. which rises almost perpendicular
5000 feet above and is covered with
snow to within 300 feet of the streets or
the, town. THE slope rs separated from
Baid mounfafh fsyfGold creek, so called
from it's gold mines, which are located
some three or four miles up the raVine.
The surroundings of the town are very
picturesque; both shores are densely
wooded, and ii is amazing to see how
tenacious of life are the frs and cedarS
which find root on slopes almost per-
pendicular. Here, as elsewhere, Is a
rich and tangled mass of underground.
A few miles back of Juneau up the mar
row and picturesque raVine, or gulch,
lies the famous Silver Bow mining
basin These mines were the first ones
discovered. In the winter of 1879 the
Indians revealed the existence of gold,
showing some specimens to Captain
Beardslee. of the United States steam
shin jamestown. then lying off Sitka
harbor: but the first white man to dis
cover and develop them was one Jo-
seph Juneau. a year later, and after
working them at great profit, sold them
at a fabulous price and spent the pro-
Serus IN rio,oHS ,s,t INK, nIve.ses ~ oa al
emplovment in the same mines as an
ordinary Iaborer. He is now at Yukon
river irving to retrieve his wasted for.
tune.
urN,Nc ,I1cropv
iii'
Juneau mas peen honored WIN nIe
difterent names, the iast IN hohor OF tnlS
pold pioneer, ana thls region Is now
called the Juneau Dlstrict,
The Juneau mines We're purchased by
+. >. NOVEL; Boston capitalist. IN
1891, at which time the NoWeli dold
Mining company was organized, COM
prlsing this tract, together with ad-
Joining territory ana nearly miiiior
uoliars mas peeh expended III the pur
cnase ana equipments anu oeEeiopileht
OF the same. Ihe ore deposit Is very
large, ana II Is predicted that III the
near 1uture several huhdred more
stamps VIII be USED IN reducing the
ores OF these l1ch mines.
juneau owes its prosperity 10 the NO
Wen Mining company, tnrouSh its
presiuent " .. NoWei) VINO mas cy
tnis iiuustrS' KEPT the toWn awe aiiiiu
,he depressing tunes, ana IL promises
10 become the metropolis OF the terrl-
tory
juneau mas population OF l,noo
WhiteS ASIDE from INDIANS ana hail-
preeus. VINO huniper oyo. IN tne WIN VIII
'.l ms ~ I''oie tiii uoupieu us !,iii-
eis, VINO aIe ,iapie tu prosecute tneir
"orhS tiiu reh''eHVouS mere uiti, sprlhs
opehs, anu lurtncr augmented III sum
lhel ny touiists anu ,raueIs' rros-
pectorS make juneau their headquart-
ers. Her chiel chahiels OF trade are In
supplying mining companies ana MN
ers with general supplies, ana trading
IN furs with the Indians who come
from far ana near with their skins and
blankets to exchange for necessary
supplies, etc. There are some pleasant
homes, public buildings, and few
shops and stores which would be cred
table to a town in the states. Here
are three newspapers, a native Pres
byterian mission, Presbyterian
church now used by the white people OF
the Christian denominations, a Roman
catholic church, and a Sisters school
"a government school, two day schools
a hospital, several small hotels-no pal
ace hotels. thirty saloons, an opera
house, Il brass band, a private bank, q
court house and Jail combined. Here
too, are the Federal officers for the
United States commissioner marshal
collector insnector etc
oro,,,,>,c, c,,,
no,
nu.i' u,iu.l ,lie coHtrol vi congress
Nv .aHes a!e ,e.ieu u2oli .Ie people lot
% w. Nv .i.'e W ia.a mas peeil sruhteo
Wy 'he government, althoush one Is