Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-01-15
MORE TREASURE.
Veritable Mountains of Gold and
Copper Ore.
Expert Says Alaska's Permanent
Mineral Wealth Is Found.

TACOMA. Wash, Jan. 13-What are pro-
nounced veritable mountains of gold and
copper ores have been found on the Ora
yina, Revilagiquedo. Annettes and Prince
of Wales islands. on the southwestern coast
of Alaska. These immense deposits have
been known to IL few men for some time, but
not until now have their richness and extent
been made public. Wrangcl and juneau
mining men are rushing to them to secure
the best locations. and the excitement has
reached Puget sound. ID. Soils Cohen OF
Wranyel, who spent weeks prospecting
among the islands in small sloop, believes
they contain the permanent mineral wealth
of Alaska. He declares that beyond all
doubt immense fortunes await those who
secure practical and intelligent develop
ment Of the deposits he has seen. Beginnin,
ut tho shore, great lodges of highly mineral
lied rock are found, extending to the base
Of the mountains several miles inland. These
lodges follow the undulutions Of the ground.
being lost here and reappearinS there, in
widths varying from 10 to 80 feet. ut times
rising in fantastic shapes and all carrying
precious metals. Other lodges sharp edged,
extend in layers into the salt water, and are
covered with curious weeds and shells.
Cohcn's party opened number Of these
lodges with powder, and in every
instance fine gold was plainly visible in
the white quartz. Their work was all
mining, they believe the lodges will grow
richer rs depth is attained. This result is
obtained on Gravina island where develop
ment work has been commenced on several
claims. Here the ore contains much copper.
and shows up well In free gold Of fine grade.
On RevillagiquedO island, about Georges in
let, very rich free milling lodges have been
discovered and stamp mills are being shipped
there. Lodges rise up above the average
surface to such an extent, Cohen says, that
hundreds of thousands Of tons Of ore
can be miied or shipped away without
the necessity OF sinking shafts and put
ting in machinery. Besides this the
lodges are easy of access. with the spacious
iandlocked harbors, having seven fathoms
Of water, with ideal sites and numerous
waterfalls sufficient to run 100 stamps at
lowest stage. Yellow cedar Is abundant for
fuel, and Cohen declares that. though Il
Number of rich claims have been located on
Gravina, there is enough territory ON the
islands upon which white mans foot has
never trod to keep 100 prospectors busy for
years. Gravina island lies along Nicholas
passage and Tingas narrows, with Clar-
ence straits on the west. 1t Is 40 miles
long and 16 wide, with mountain ridges
rising to a height of 22O0 feet along both
the eastern and western coasts. A short
distance inland the entire island is Of II
rocky formation. having no soil other than
Il heavy growth OF Alaska moss, yet it Is
tim bered with yellow cedar and oak 1t is
n twin island to Annette, which the United
States set aside two years ago as rescrva-
ton for Duncan's British Columbia Indians.
Since then Duncan has practically been
ruler of a principality. He has proiited
largely by trading. fishing and canning.