The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-07-03
THE MIDNIGHT sun
A Cold Land of Gold, Silver
and Copper.
IN FAR AWAY ALASKA.
They Use Canoes Instead of
White-eyed Cayuses.
IN FAR AWAY ALASKA.


six weeks later than usual, as it is all
over the Pacific Northwest, and rs the
winter was quite severe, the coldest
known in the past Is years, there is some
complaint of slow progress in the way of
prospecting and Of prosecuting work on
the mines already developed and pro-
ducing. The snow ls still very deep in
the gulches, canyons and along the
slopes OF the mountains subject to the
least exposure of sun or melting warm
winds. The crowds that have gone to
the Yukon and Cooks inlet have had TO
encounter these deep snow drifts, and
many have discovered that it would have
been much better to start month or six
weeks later, thus saving provisions, as
we'll as time.
There Ia an air of prosperity about the
country that is refreshing to people who
have heard nothing but complaint of hard
times for several years past. Juneau es.
pecially has been greatly benefited, and
it reminds one of the early days OF Butte,
when it first felt the impulse of capital
in the development of the great silver
and copper ledges underlying it. Juneau
is the distributing center for large ex-
tent Of country, and in way is the
Seattle of Alaska. There are numerous
mining camps in the near vicinity and at
remote points, and as communication is
mainly by water, small steamers, schoon-
ers and sloops make Juneau their hailing
port. In this way it has become the
natural trade center, and by reason of it
the merchants are doing good business
in the way of Quitting miners and pros
pectors. They are familiar with the
wants of the country and they carry
large stocks Of goods adapted to these
wants.
The country, like all mining countries,
is hard to prospect, and it is 30 immense
that the ground has as yet been scarcely
scratched with pick While much is
apparently done along the waterways,
the interior and the mountain ranges are
yet unexplored. In Alaska, the prospec-
tor must be provided with boat instead
of a csyuse, and this water horse is ab-
solutely indispensable. The entire
country is covered with moss, but it is
not so densely timbered as the country
alone the western slope OF the Cascades,
neither is the underbrush SO dense or
troublesome. Prospecting has been
confined mainly to the water courses, up
creeks and canyons, and in the most ac-
cessible places reached by canoes. The
easiest places are bad enough sometimes,
but the hope of reward is very strong.
At Cooks inlet those who went in for
the purpose of trading and town build
ing remained along the coast, started
their stores and are building up quite a
business. An important trade center
will be founded on these waters, while a
number of smaller trading poets will be
sustained at convenient points. The
placer mines, however, were the attrac-
ton for the great majority, and every
creek and river, however small or great,
is being prospected as far up as the snow
will permit. Reports of new discoveries
are numerous, and those who had been
in before and taken up claims are doing
we'll Cooks inlet, while it may be dis
appointing to many, will surprise in
very agreeable manner many who have
gone there in search of fortunes A
casual glance at tie map conveys but an
inadequate idea of the country or its ex.
tent. 1t is in reality country as large
as Puget Sound, and it's resources are
almost as varied. 1t will be better
known as the months roll by, and the
miners get in their work.
1.-The Yukon will more than hold its
own THE year, but it is too early to hear
much from that section of Alaska. A
crowd left Juneau on Wednesday last for
the Yukon, embracing among its num-
ber half dozen women, some OF whom
were clothed in miners suits. and bad
evidently worn pants before.
The Treadwell mine and mill have
been in successful operation since 1882.
This is -astricsly low-grade mining pro
position, snd is fair example OF what
can be accomplished in working gold ore
that carries percentage of that metal
ton OF 81 35 for milling and mining.
The mill is at present reducing about
500 tons day With its 240 stamps, ana
mine and mill are giving employment 10
325 men in various capacities. The ore
is mined, or quarried rather, through
open pits, and in the daily bombardments
that never cease, only on the Fourth of
July and Christmas, two ship loads of
giant powder are used annually. The
company is capitalized for So 900, 900, the
par value of the stock being $25 share,
and on this capitalization the property is
paying per cent. per annum. There is
ore sufficient in eight to pay these divi-
dends during the natural life OF an aver
age man, and If it is wanted TO extend
beyond that period there are extensions
on the south, without apparent limit,
that can supply any deficiency.
The Mexican, controlled by the Tread
well management, is on the same ledge
as the Treadwell, and ia operating an So
stamp mill, to which they are adding so
stamps more, to be in operation in few
months. This will give the Treadwell 8
total Of 480 stamps. The Mexican is
opened more Systematically than the
Treadwell, and can be mined to better
advantage.
Douglas is an island of gigantic ledges,
and within mile Of the Tresdwell, be-
side the Mexican, Ready Bullion, Jumbo,
Reed, ETC., there are others equally as
large as the Treadwell, containing the
same class Of low.grade sulphuret ores,
that ran he worked with eOual profit bv