Evening star., 1901-10-05
PAYS $4,000 A DAY
The Greatest Quartz Producer in the
World.
ALASKRS WOULD-BE CAPITALS
Enterprsing Juneau, Where Bank
Has Never Failed.
RESOURCES AND. OUTLOOK
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
JUNEAU, Alaska, =, -.
Juneau is the center of the white popula-
tion of Alaska, and the metropolis of the
largest gold-bearing quartz belt in the
world. This district comprises 40 miles of
territory and extends from Windham bay
on the southeast to Seward on the north
west. The total output of gold from the
Juneau district up to January l, 1901, was
s1J, 80 600 OF this amount 100000 was
placer gold and the remainder was crushed
from quartz by the operation of 1,005
stamps. Nearly 100 stamps have been put
in since the LIST of January, 1901, and prob
ably as many more will be installed by
January l, 1902. Twenty companies are
actively engaged in taking the treasure
from this rich field. and there is enough ore
in sight to keep them busy for many years
to come.
The worlds greatest quartz mine-the ia
nous Treadwell-is located on Douglas
Island opposite Juneau. The controlling
interest in this wonderful wealth-producer
is owned by the Rothschilds of London.
Although they have millions of dollars In
vested in the property, it is paying them
the handsome profit of $4,000 day This
mine produces a very low grade of ore, the
average being only s2S5 per ton, but
there are such quantities of 1t, and it is
being mined on such economical basis,
that the owners are enabled to realize about
S1.5O per ton.
There are at present $50 stamps in opera
tion at the Treadwell, and to keep this pom
derous machinery IN motion one hundred
tons of coal are consumed every twenty
four hours. The TreadwelI vein, DIT the
depth of several hundred feet. is about 100
feet thick between the walls. TheE are
now working in what is called the glory
hole" from which remarkable pit enough
treasure has been taken to ransom a
nation
Surrounded by such wealth of resources,
1t is small wonder that Juneau has come
to be a town of no mean pretensions With
Its population OF 1900 souls, it has its daily
newspaper and the only national bank in
Alaska. 1t has six hotels to feed the hun
CRY and fifteen saloons to relieve the
thirsty. Over 100000 have been expended
on an electric light plant to dispel the
gloom Of the long arctic night. 1t has its
hospital fO~ the physical and churches for
the spiritual welfare of its citizens. 1t has
sewage, waterwOrks and telephone sys
TENS The rates charged for these modern
cOnyeniences are not eXorbitant; one SIX
teen-candle-pOwer incaHdescent light may
be had for dollar a month"; the flat rate
for use of water to private customers is
e per month, and the telephone rate 50 so
per month. A six-room cottage may be
rented for $35 a month. When it is con-
sIdered that Juneau Is nearly thousand
miles from the nearest base of supplies
the foregoing quotation of rates is remark
able.
4 Commercial Center.
II is doubtful if there is any city In the
United States having the same number of
Inhabitants as Juneau where such large
and high-grade stocks of merchandise are
carried. The merchants of Juneau ship
goods to all parts of Alaska, a number of
them having important branch stores in the
different towns of the territory, which draw
their stocks from the main stores at Ju-
neau. Merchandise can be bought here at
nearly the cost 2 O.
Pacific coast. The principal merchants buy
their goods in person in the eastern mar
kets. The capital invested in stocks of
merchandise in Juneau and Douglas Island