Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-08-04
s FROM GRANTS PASS TO JUNEAU, ALASKA.
A. NJ Heating Writes an Interesting Description Of His
Trip to the Frozen North.

meroial value as gems, on account
of their opaqueness; ON the docks
were several tons of them, boxed up
ready for shipment to the ST. Louis
exposition.
Junea is built in cove and is pro-
tected ON the north and east by high
mountains. The south and west
facing ON the harbor; 1t is cosmo-
politan town of about 1000 people and
is very husy burg. The stress are
very narrow and almost all planked,
every Saturday afternoon they have
couple of men flood them with water
through hose attached to the
hydrants, and wash the accumulated
dirt of tho week into the harbor, SO
they always present cleanly ap-
pearance, at least on Sundays.
Living is high, compared to Ore
gon. House rent is also elevated,
houses of any size renting from S25
per month uI; coal, which is the
principal fuel, retails at Sl2. so per
ton. ordinary board and room costs
g.. 30 per day and other things in
proportion. They play every new
arrival for sucker and bleed him to
their hearts content, when he, be-
coming wise, retaliates by getting
even on some other and later sucker.
This is, so to speak, the gateway of
Southeastern Alaska; all boats for
Skagway and northern ports stop
here in passing, which leaves con-
siderable money in the place, but the
main source of revenue are th mines,
which surround us on all sides, and
which arc working and being develop
ed. some are very rich and on the
large order, lead that won't keep,
at least, 40 stamps dropping, is looked
upon as insignificant.
Douglas Island, which is separated
from the mainland by narrow
channel, lies southeast of Junea, and
the two towns of Douglas and Tread
well, thereon, distant about and
two miles respectively, are in full
view. likewise the notorious "Glory
Hole" commonly called the Slaughter
house, on account Of the number Of
men that got killed therein, is also
in plain sight, and is more like All
immense stone quarry than mining
lstope. The roar Of the stamps as they
fall can be distinctly heard and at
this distance, sounds like the con
tinuous rumble of distant thunder.
They are at present dropping 900
We have had several sunny days
since arriving here, but Alskan
weather is a subject that it doesn I
pay to dwell on.
Mail steamers from Seattle arrive
here about every four days, so, al
though the news in the papers ID
slightly stale, still, considering where
we are, and the distance, it might be
worse. We also have telegraphic
communication with the outside, and
: the juneau dailies Of which we have
two, publish the associated press dis
pacthes.
, The Jualpa Co.'S placer mining
laims that we are opening, are just
over ridge, that divides Junea from
Gold creek, and are only 10 minutel
walk from the center OF the town
q The company have u basin formed by
: big mountain slide Of about l0t
! acres in area and Of unknown deptl
o as 80 far no one has succeeded II
r reaching bedrock it Is tapped by I
: tunnel 1900 feet long, which tap
, the gravel at 30 feet from the surface
and which is fiumed from mouth 4
upraiso and is the outlet for the. basin
4 We have commenced cleaning tn
I right of way for $500 foot fume
I 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep &
j handle the extra water In the creek
y aud carry it below the digginRs w
are going TO pat in a dam at tho heat
, Of the basin 300 feet long aud % fee
o high, also numerous other improve
. m onts, which will mean the expen
+ diture Of large amount of money a
Is labor and everything else is high J
Is this country. The oommonest labor
g er gets from $500 to $3.50 per da
&c aud skilled mechanics from 81 TO 3
u So 1t will take several yards Of grave
- to pay for opening up the Lai
D Chance. " Besides the placer prof.
q erty, this company have quartz claim
d near the head Of Gold Greek, tht
II we are going to develop as soon as "
II get the plaoers under way.
e We have got our main Office in
is private residence in town, where v
ie II. Hampton rooms, and we use III