Arizona republican., 1898-04-30


 Retchikan, Alaska, April 1S.-This is little place of about 300 inhabi- tants, some sixty of whom are whites and the balance Tklinkit Indians. It has been, therefore, merely a fishing and canning station. But recently ledges of highly mineralized quartz have been discovered in the vicinity. As the steamer only made short stop here l shall be unable to visit any of these discoveries. But many sam pies, evidently picked, have been shown me. Most of them were almost solid Jumps of sulphurets. One or two specimens of galena ore, and some rich looking copper ore completed the list. It is evidently very rebellious, for the most part. I have been told of one free milling ledge, but saw no specimens of milling rock One or two sample shipments of ton or two each have been made to smelters, and returns obtained of from $9.50 to S17.5O a. ton. As smelting ores these are certainly out of the race, unless they find rock of much higher grade A company with eastern capital is. am told, about to erect a concentrating plant here which may make 1t pos sible to work these claims to a profit. About sixty claims have been located but practically no development work done. The lodges range up to twenty five feet in width, should think, from all can gather, that it may be good district for mining men with means to look into. But while much money may be made out of it, it will be by close figuring and careful work. I do not believe that it is a poor mans country. The deposits are evidently extensive, but costly plants must be erected to work them to a profit.
 The timber here-fir and yellow ce- dar-is magnificent. It is very clean, and the trees are of large size. cover ing the hills like grass.
 I was fortunate enough to meet here the Rev. A. J. Campbell, M. A., M. D., archdeacon of the missionary dio- l cese of Alaska, and from him obtained very interesting and important news from Skaguay. Dr. Campbell left Skaguay but two days ago, and re- turns tonight. He is making a flying visit to the mission station here. cannot do bettr than to quote him verbatim.
 'Skaguay is a place of 10, ,000 inhabi- tants and is but seven months old. l | is wide-awake, progressive, pushing 1 It's business men have taken hold ot i the road problem, and are following i up the receding snow with a magnifi cent road. As the snow melts the road advances, plank by plank, SC | that now wagons are working regular, ly between the town and a point about
 twelve miles up the canyon. Beyond this to the summit, pack trains mus
 be used and from the summit to Lake Bonnet the work is carried on by one
 horse sleds. The snow is gradual.
 melting and disappearing, but ths
 trail, packed down by the constant
 traffic, is as hard as icet Packing prices from Skaguay to Lake Benne are at 15 cents now, with an upward i tendency"
 MT. Campbell says that the mill. tary authorities at Dyea have stopped traffic over the Chilcoot pass on ac. count Of avalanches- So Skaguay seems to have won the race. The road is building and if she steadily carries out this programme she car have no competitors.
 It is interesting to find, too, thai the influences of civilization are mak. ing themselves felt in Skaguay.
 The Rt. Rev. P. T. Rome, bishop o1 Alaska arrived in Skaguay some few days ago and on Dr. Campbel's sug- gestion the Citizens hospital with all appurtenances was turned over tc the Episcopal church in the person oI the bishop. The hospital contains nineteen beds and the salaries of the three nurses and two male attendants I were paid to date; while the hospital | bank book showed balance of $115 The building is now being enlarged and the United States army surgeon stationed at Skaguay is for the pres ent in charge, pending arrangements with the mission board for a supply of trained nurses and the appointment of regular physicians. Dr. Campbeli organized church at Skaguay with a satisfactory membership and thereby succeeded in pleasantly surprising his. superior, the bishop, on the lat ter's arrival.
 This mission movement in Alaska is a good one. The missionaries are earnest men and their influence is on the side of law and order. And as they are nearly all doctors of medi- cine the sight Of a mission station will be very welcome to the eyes of many poor fellow who is ill and alone. Dr. Campbell is justly proud of having already established three flourishing missions in AIaska-the third one be- ing on Douglas island-for the life is 8 hard one, requiring courage and much self denial, and devotion to a high principle.
 Wrangel, Alaska, April 18.-The great town of Wrangel! The hottest town on the Pacific coast! The para disc of bunco steerers! The miserable aggregation of novels and tents, set on a foundation ot piles, tree stumps and reeking muck! Filled up with dis gusted and undecided Klondykers, and as tame and quiet as household cat! The failure Of the railway franchise bill in the Canadian parliament seems | to have effectually broken the boom here. The Stickeen river is not ye1