Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-26
GARDNER COMING HOME.
MAKES RICH FIND WITH ASSOCIATES.
And Writes a Circular Letter 10 Twin City
Friends Stating That He has Held Out
Claims For Them.

friends Stating nat He has Held Out
Claims For Them.
Evidently W. S. Gardner of Centra-
liza, who went to the Klondike a year
ago, later returned to Seattle and
again Joined party of capitalists on
a cruise for 500 miles up the Alaskan
coast, has met success in his search
for gold. He addressed letters to a
few of his friends at home, which
were received this week, one Of which
was handed to us for publication. 1t
is seIf-explanatory and reads as
follows:
On Board Steamer Queen, Monday,
May II, 1898. ..
Dear Friend: | am on board the big
steamer Queen, ell route from Juneau
to Seattle, AS I will be very busy from
the time | land In Seattle until 1 start
for Cent? ALA, shave decided to hur
riedly write you while on board the
steamer. [ expect to reach Seattle with
our party within fortv-eig ght hours and
will mail this letter immediately upon
reaching that city. Will also wire my
folks upon my arrival there.
| have at last succeeded, in company
with my associates, Messrs. Blakemore,
Savage & Co., in locating what is now
generally conceded in Alaska to be the
largest area of rich gravel and sand
placer mines yet discovered. We have
located 1000 acres af rich claims, all Of
which can, and Will be, easily worked
an abundance Of water for hydraulic
purposes and located on the same
ground. We have also timber enough
for ali requirements, and could easily
supply the whole Pacific coast with
lumber in addition to our own needs, if
We wanted to erect mill. In other
words, AID to make a long story as brief
as possible, / have been allowed the
same privilege which my associates
claim, namely, to reserve for my friends
and relations a certain number of claims
which will enable them to get in on the
ground floor; that is, they are to pay
81 10000 for a claim of twenty acres,
said claims to be turned in to our com
pany and stock issued for same on a
capitalization of $1,000, 10000, Certain
portion of such stock to be retained by
the company as treasury stock, and
worcestershire The exact percentage
of stock retained by the company will
not be large, and will be definitely
ascertalned when we organize in San
Jose, which will probably be in about
ten days from now.
| am writing my father very full par
ticulars, and if there is any further
information desired, he can, no doubt,
explain to you. My advice to you is
the same as | am giving my father:
Don't hesitate to put in your money
now while you have chance to get in
on the ground floor. Big dividends will
be declared next season. [ will locate
there permanently. The rich gravel is
right in sight, and there is no risk. We
c
as both Mr.. Blakemore and Mr.. Savage
have received letters, which | have
seen, from bankers in San Jose, saying
that half a million dollars is now ready
to invest in the development of our
placer mines by parties in San Jose,
where these gentlemen live. Now
remember, have only short time in
which to hear from you. If [ do not
hear from you in say two weeks, I can
not hold the claims any longer for you
unless my associates give me a further
right 20 do so. My address for the next
two weeks will be No. II North First
street, San Jose, California, so write or
wire me there, care 0. H. Savage. Be
prepared to wire me promptly when
reach California.
We have already sold to one of the
richest Wholesale merchants in Seattle,
Mr.. Goldstein, an undivided Goth inter-
est, for spot cash, in capitalization of
$4,000, 10000. Mr.. Goldstein is now IN
juneau; he will be in Seattle on the
next steamer. We have already IN
sight, thoroughly prospected and ex-
ported, enough valuable placer ground
on our property 10 pay handsome divi-
dends for the next fifty years on capi.
talization of $1,000, 10000.
I expect 10 return to Centralia in
about thirty days to remain but short
time. As my time is so taken up with
the business pertaining to the develop
ment Of our fropelty, am compelled
to have this letter typewriter and sent
in duplicate 10 all my friends and rela-
tives for whom l have succeeded in
holding out claim.
Very truly yours,
w. S. GARDNER.
IN THE OATH nE A TORNADO