Amador ledger., 1900-06-08
FROM JUNEAU.
Gold Mining In the Mountains Around
Juneau, Alaska.


Juneau, Alaska.
Juneau, Alaska, May IA, 1900
Dear LEDGER:
Juneau is the central point of
southeastern Alaska at present, for
mining or trade Silver Bow Creek
empties into the channel just north of
the town and from its mouth to it's
source, about six miles, has been rich
in placer diggings. Near the head a
successful hydraulic plant is now in
full operation, also three forty and
sixty stamp quartz mills and number
OF prospect holes all showing gold A
ledge that does not show considerable
gold in the groupings is not followed.
Douglas Island lies just across the
channel from Juneau. The Treadwell
gold mines here are the largest in the
world. The top of the mine is an open
cut about 300 feet across and nearly as
deep and one-fourth of a mile in length.
The ledge is more than 200. feet wide
and of unknown length and depth.
The excavation is called the ''glory
hole" probably because many poor
fellow has gone to glory from here as
accidents are quite frequent. The 400
and 500 foot levels are reached by tun-
nels. Railroads run from the stamp
mills to the levels. The trains consist
of six cars having crew of two men
with engineer and car man. The cars
hold about two and One-half tons each
and single shift consists of sixty trips.
Mr.. Detert's mule at the Zeila would
look sick and discouraged could it sec
the pile of ore this steam mule"
handles. The Treadwell mines have
been partially developed for more than
mile and have enough ore in sight to
last hundred years. There are six
mills in the works but the largest is es-
pecially worth mentioning. It has 300
stamps under one roof arranged like an
ordinary mill doubled and heightened,
loo stamps on each side. The noun
tain is so steep that the train runs
down hill from the 500 level to the top
of the mill. The ore runs from $l.50
to S. per ton. The concentrates are
sent to the smelters at Tacoma. They
were formerly treated here, but as
men were steadily working the tailings
on the beach below the mill, the COM
pany concluded it was worth while to
send their product to the smelter.
About 800 men are employed here.
Men without families are required to
board at the company boarding houses.
An immense store is another feature of
this great plant Employees are not
required to patronize this store but as
it's prices are lower than any in the
vicinity no one kicks except the local
merchants. Besides all this the COM
pany has its own hospital and grave
yard, and the controlling interest of all
is held by the Rothschilds.
Directly across the channel, little
south of Juneau, are the NOVEL; mines.
They are simply in the development
stage, the magnitude of which nearly
takes ones breath. At the mouth of
the creek is the landing and warehouse.
Half mile up the ravine is an electric
plant supplying light and power. Just
above is a forty stamp mill ''for de-
velopment' which incidentally pays
all expenses. From here a railroad,
similar to the one on Douglas Island,
runs mile and a quarter to the foot of
the mountain which is nearly 1000 feet
high and so steep that ladders and
stairs are frequently needed. At the
base of this mountain tunnel has been
run in and tapped the ledge. Five
hundred feet farther up another tunnel
has done the same thing. Then
climb of 1000 feet reaches third tunnel
which proved the ledge to be still rich,
and fourth tunnel enters the noun
tain 2500 feet above the valley. From
all these tunnels, except the first,
tramways take the ore to the railroad
and bring back supplies. One day,
when full of ambition, | climbed the
mountain and the foreman at theupper
tunnel invited me to dinner. The
meal consisted of clam chowder, roast
beef, vegetables, tea and coffee, bread
and butter, pie and pudding. 1t was
like dining in an eagles nest and the
view of the glories of nature well re-
paid the climb. Sumdum Bay, forty
miles distant, seemed within hail and
the wonders of Alaskan scenery ap-
peared to best advantage. From the
pinnacle of the mountain, more than
1000 feet higher, looked down on the
other side to the hydraulic and quartz
works mentioned in the first OF the
letter, and wondered what would be de-
veloped here in the next five years.
Truly this is country of immense
possibilities. Yours as ever,
G. H.G.