Douglas Island news., 1903-12-30

Speaking of the probability of Alaska being granted delegate in congress, the Washington Star says: "It will be no small honor to be Alaska's first del egate, and incidentally the mileage to and from Alaska to Washington each session of Congress during the term Sometimes there are three seSsions) will make the Alaskan delegate the. best paid man in congress, with the possible exception of Prince Cupid, of Honolulu, Hawaiian Island"
 J.H. Chapman, au old Yukoner, re- turned from two.year stay in the Koy- ukuk diggings the past week. Chapman will not return, but will make Ram. part his home for future miuing. He says that the prices charged by the company in the Koyukuk are prohibit i've. This fact has compelled most of the miners to leave. He thinks that not more than forty men will winter there this season. The past summer has been most ia, orable for sluiciug, there being plenty of water. As re- suit several hundred thousand dollars was taken outside this fall.-Rampart Forum.
 The entertainment com mittee of the Arctic Brotherhood are arranging for anovel affair on New Years eve, says the Valdez News. They will give red barn dance-a regular old fashioned hoe-down. The interior of Mckinley hall will be appropriately decorated with harnesses, pitchforks, etc., and bales of hay will be used as seats. In fact everything will be arranged to re- mind you of childhood days down on the farm when the new barn was opened by giving dance. Refreshments will consist of apple cider and pumpkin pies. Overalls and calico gowns will be the proper form of dress, and any "city fellers" who appear in boiled shirts or split-tailed coats will be posit- lively barred.
 The big steam shovels operated on Hunker creek in the Klondike have proved decided success. The plants were operated all last summer and were only shut down when the freezing of the ground prevented further opera tions. These plants are somewhat in the nature of an experiment, and the decided success made in the profit able handling of great amounts of low grade gravel will result in the installa tion of more plants of like character next season. The same methods will apply to the vast areas of low grade gravels in the Rampant district, and the discovery of few more deposits as easy of access and as rich as What Cheer bar will be what will bring them here.-Rampart Forum.
 The outlook for tin mining in Alaska is improving. Lode tin has been found in the Lost River district. about 30 miles east of Cape Prince of Wales. | The tin occurs in a dike of granite traversing limestone. Prospecting is now going on in this locality, and the output appears to be good. The recon naissance work of the United States Geological Survey indicates that the distribution of tin in the Seward Pen insula is wider than supposed, although the occurrence of placer tin has only been proved in the creeks at York, and in the valley of the Snake river, 100 miles east of York and about 20 miles inland from Nome. The cassiterite is grayish brown to black, and is more often confused with magnetic than with garnet. Even tourmaline has been mistaken for tinstone by pros pectors unfamiliar with the mineral. With better knowledge and more ex- tended search, it is likely that the United States may again include tin among its important metallic products. Engineering & Mining Journal.
 The Canadian Pacific Navigation Company's steamship Amur grounded on submerged reef near the entrance to Port Simpson harbor, at o'clock on Tuesday morning last, says the Ketchi- kan Journal of the 18th inst. The ac- cident occurred at half tide, and al though the vessel was running at only half speed, she piled upon the rocks with such force that she could not be fioated until nearly full tide. A large section of her, forward keel was carried