The San Francisco call., 1897-08-17
The Departure of the North
Fork Postponed Until
To-day.
WAITING FOR SOME REPAIRS
A Story of Suffering and Privation
From the Icefelds of the
Far North.

The most stupendous project in connec-
tion with investment in Alaska mining
property that has yet been conceived is
now in process of enaction. The scheme
is that Of wealthy citizens of Denver, Los
Angeles and San Francisco, and may in
clude the spending OF millions of dollars.
The men behind the scheme are II. A.
Dickel and Max Nebelung of Los Angeles,
George Kroger of Denver. ]. A. Hartlung
of Riverside and q Mr.. Goldwater of this
City.
The man selected to brave the rigors OF
the arctic winters and do the actual work
of investment Is Charles A. Rogers, min
ing man of vast experience in Nevada,
Colorado and Montana. Rogers is min
ing engineer, and was chosen TO perform
the arduous and finical duties required
of him on account of the TACT that be is
n OF only man of experience, man who
has roughed it all his life, but because he
is one whom the principal protector Of he
scheme knows WELL and is assured that
he can be trusted with the expenditure of
an unlimited sum OF money, practically
speaking.
When the North Fork sails this morn
ing Rogers will be aboard her. He has
had TO make his preparations very quick
ly, and his experience has stood him we'll
in hand. for he will make the trip COM
pletely prepared for all that he will have
to endure. From him the details of the
plan were learned anu they are on scale
so large that the adjective magnificent is
no mtsnomer when used descrlptIvely In
this instance.
In the first place it develops that all the
men concerned in the undertaking are
friends, but have not yet com bined in The
form OF any company or syndicate. This
shows that they are In earnest, for the in
tent!on is to get man in the field and
buy all the property he can as soon as
possible. Time TO form syndicate will
exist IN plenty in the future, and although
Rogers says he knows not whethersuch
thing will be done the facts themselves in
all their nakedness show pretty conclu-
sively that such is the intention.
Dickei is man OF great wealth. and is
largely interested in properties situated
in the southern part of the State. He is
also inteIe ted in several large brewery
concerns II ST. Louis. Kroger is an
opulent mining man of Colorado. Ali
that Rogers knows of Nebeiung and Hart
lung is that they are men well off so far
as laying up treasure where mold is found
and the moth doth corrupt is concerned.
Although the time at their command
was limited, Rogers was started off with a
cash capital of $25 900 in the way of ex-
change. The matter of Investment was
left entirely to himself, but with a work
ing capital OF that sum as a starter, he
feels confident that he can make invest
ments that will am ply repay his employ
ers for the confidence they have reposed
in him. But Rogers is not limited to
$25, 900 or any other sum. tor that matter.
He was told before he started that he
could have any sum he thought desirab bic
to invest.
The cash capital benin the idea is esti-
mated to be about S. 600, 900. That is
enough if iudiciously expended. and. by
man whose knowledge OF the subject is
keen. to make some few people the Roth
schilds of the whole Alaskan region. That
that IS the very idea the projectors of the
scheme ha inmind is shown by Rogers
statement
II am personal friend of Mr.. Dlckei,"
he said, land know of the others con-
cerned only in formal way. The subject
was broached to me so short a time ago
that had to hustle to get away on the
trip as soon as l have. | went to Los
Angeles for my health and had about
given over the idea of engaging any longer
in the mining business when this PROPOSE
ton was made to me. AS soon as it was
broached l saw that it would impose on
me great burden of responsibility, but
toned were very acceptable. Besides
have some capital of my own and think
can do well myself, in addition to looking
out for the interests of the Others"
With Rogers goes another mining en-
giheer, Olaf Winningstad. Winningstad
was for some time in the employ of the
Southern Pacific as q railroad construc-
ton engineer, and is well known 10 all
the officials OF that company. He will
travel with Rogers on account of the fact
that the two men are bosom friends, hav-
ing been engaged in the mining business
in Wyoming.
Winnjngstad is on an errand similar to
that OF Rogers, but on much smaller
scale. He taxes q cash capital to make in
vestment for G. II. Phillips of San Jose,
who is interested in the Chino ranch
property, and distant reration Of Phillips,
an EngIishman of the name of Vachel.
Vachel is wealthy man, and belongs in
the class called Capitalists or gentle
men of leisure"
Both Rogers and Winningstad regis
tered at the Palace Hotel when they ar
rived here a few days ago, but shortly re-
moved to the Grand, from which place
they will remove the last OF their effec is
to the holo OF the steamer North Fork
this morning.