The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-10-10


form those large seas of ice which
are such characteristic features of
this coast line. The Malaspina gla-
cier, which is west of Yukatat bay,
presents a front of over 40 miles, and
is a good example of the type. Be
sides these Piedmont glaciers, there
are many of the Alpine type, which
do not reach the coastal plain. Those
of the inland slope of the st. Elias
range are of the Alpine type and sell
dom even reach the floors of the larg-
err valleys.
The Ketchikan mining district en-
braces an area of about 1900 square
miles. The district includes Prince
of Wales, Revillagigedo, and many
smaller islands, as well as part of
the mainland. 1t lies between lati-
tude so degrees 40 minutes and Sc de-
grees 20 minutes, and longitude 1923
degrees so minutes and 1874 degrees.
The international boundary marks it's
southern and eastern limits. The
northern boundary of the district fol-
lows Sumner strait, Clarence strait,
Ernest sound the Eastern passage,
and Bradfield canal to it's head, from
which latter point it runs due east
to the international boundary. To
the west the district is bounded by
the Pacific ocean, and includes all of
the small islands lying adjacent to
I,.i, g oil ic1n A
than a third of the area of the dis
trict is mainland, the rest being in
Guided in the islands.
In southeastern Alaska four rivers
of considerable size, the Alsek, the
Chilkat, the Taku, and the Stikine
river have their sources in the inter
ior plateau region, and reach the sea
after traversing the coastal ranges.
Gold is said to have been discover
ed on the Stikine river in 1861. In
1865, Prof w. P. Blake noted the
presence of placer gold on the Silk
inc river. During the early seventies
many miners went to the newly dis
covered Cassiar gold district of Brit
ish Columbia, and at that time lit
tie prospecting was done in south
eastern Alaska. 1t is said that pros
pectors visited Prince of Wales isl
and during the years 1870 to 1874
and discovered valuable deposits OF
copper.
During the succeeding years, while
| hp 6.ni1o n
opened, the Ketchikan district was
entirely neglected. 1t was the men
who were engaged in salmon fishing
who were next to interest themselves
in the presence of ore bodies in the
Ketchikan region. Some of these mer
were led to do little prospecting
They met with favorable results anC
were encouraged to continue. Promi
nent among them in 1892 was James
Bowden, who discovered what he be
lieved to be workable gold deposits
on the eastern side of Annette island
In 1897 discoveries were made on the
Gravina island and near Boca de
Quadra. In 1898 a number of import
ant locations were made, notably the
Gold Standard property on Cleveland
peninsula and some of the coppeI
prospects at the northern end of Ora
vina island. During the Klondike ex
element of 1897 and 1898, Wrangel
became an important trans-shipmen
point, the Stikine river as durins
the Casiar rush many years before
; being used as one of the routes int
the interior. A party of disappointed
prospectors, having landed in John
f son inlet, on Prince of Wales island
learned of the discovery of gold il
the vicinity through Paul Johnson
an Indian boy, and began some pre-
! liminary developments.
5 During this period exploitation wa
going actively on at Helen bay an
: on the Sea Level property, near tn
+ head of Thorne arm. Some prelim
: nary work was also done at severs
, localities on Tongass narrows, and a
0 Sea bay and Dali head, both at tn
n southern end of Gravina island. l
+ 1898 prospecting was begun at Col
per mountain, on Hetta inlet, and a
= Mount Andrew and Copper Queen, o
Kasaan bay, and in the followin
n year discoveries were made at Holli!
h on Niblack anchorage, and on Skov
: arm. The last two years have see
e great activity in the Ketchikan di'
S trict; some hundreds of claims hav
l. been staked; and at a number OF Il
8 calities systematic mining has bee
II undertaken. The mineral product
IS of the district which have thus ia
l. been marketed are gold, silver an
e copper. Although hardly a singl