The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-09

Retracing our steps northward our
steamer passes between Douglass and
Admiralty Islands and through Favor
ite Channel, in Lynn Canal, the most
sublimely beautiful and spacious of all
mountain walled channels we have yet
passed. The scenery surpasses I'm gran
deur all that has been seen in more
southern ATTITUDES. This IS Il remark
allie ford of 43O fathoms depth. ex-
tending for sixty miles directly north
into the mountains, there terminating
into two forks, one becoming the Chill
koot inlet and the other the outlet OF
Chilcat river. which Is another pass
over the mountain, many hundred miles
to the headquarters of the great Yukon
riN er. This river is not only one of the
largest on this continent, but one of the
largest in the world and from the point
at which miners strike 1t to its mouth
Is over 1000 miles, of which fact l will
speak later.
With each day and each hour of the
day, our trip becomes more and more
fascinating. Vegetation almost ceases.
High mountains line the shores, pro-
ducing wonderful cloud effects, and no
less than nineteen great glaciers pour
their icy floods down their sides.
SEWARD VILLAGE.
was Seward. near Berner's Bay, so
named in honor of the late Secretary
Seward. Here are rich gold mines. A
wharf has been constructed at this
point by the Berners Bay Mining and
Milling company, who own extensive
mines that are located three to four
miles back of the landing plainly in
view. Alaskan steamers land here.
This group of mines We're purchased
by II. $. Novel; some six years ago
and q large amount of development
work was done on the properties by Mr..
Novel; in order to determine the value
and permanency of this group before
organizing this company. The develop
ment work produced such valuable ore
that in November, 1892, he organized
the above named company, of which
Mr. Novel; Is president and his son,
Willis Novel;. is superintendent. This
group of mines consists of thirty loca-
tions. The formation Is regarded as
the most favorable in the district of
Alaska. They have been developed to
the 800 feet level at the present time
and a forty y-stamp mill is now i'm full
operation. producing from $4,000 to
100000 month in gold bullion. 1t is
predicted by the best judges who have
examined this group that they promise
ducers in the country since the great
Comstock, that made so many multi
millionaires.
This company is now employing from
$50 to 175 men. Not liquor saloon is
allowed on the camp, nor a gambling
den nor houses Of ill-repute The re-
suit is that men are constant at their
work, save their earnings, and have a
deposit with their employers, many of
them of hundreds Of dollars, which they
have accumulated in this camp. The
stockholders of this company are
among the wealthy men of New York
and Boston, as well as that of the No
well Gold Mining company of Juneau
There are private corporations; the
stocks have never been listed on the
stock exchange and PROBABLY never will
be under the present management, as
these gentlemen are determined to
demonstrate to the financial world that
the same wise business methods can he
inaugurated in the management of
mining companies as in banking or in
the manufacturing industries.
Leaving Seward. a couple of hours
sail brings us to the Davidson Glacier.
and the entrance of Chilcat Inlet. the
most northerly point of the voyage.
lat. 50 degrees and II minutes, some.
1,eO0 miles north of Tacoma. It matters
not how unimpressionable the tourist
may naturally be, Il mysterious sense
of awe is almost sure To take posses
sion of him when the steam is eXplor-
ing the two inlets of Chilcat and Chill
koo;. the northern terminus of Lynn
canal. Coming to the great length of
this letter, further description of the
midnight twilight and the closing scenes
VI this. our fifth days itinerary, viii,
appear next week.
John e. Richmond.