The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-04
I. H, ALDR|CH TALKS
 OF ALASKAN TRIP American Institute of Mining Engineers Delighted With It ENTERT AIMED EVERYWHERE Most Interesting Account of the klen- dyke-The Place and the People.
 Nothing There, However,
 to Equal Alabama.
ENTERTAINED EVERYWHERE

nent industrial leaders In Alabama, and a forceful personality in the states soc cial and political life, returned Wednes- day from two fnonths' trip to Alaska and British Columbia. When seen yester- day Mir. Aldrioh talked most interesting ly of the outing which was made by the American Institute of Mining En- gtneers. Though he praised highly the res sources of the points he visited, MT Ald- rich returned to Birmingham convinced there is no section of the North Ameri- can continent that excels the state of Ala bama In opportunities for industrial de- velopement.
 Members of the American Institute of Mining Engineers" said MT. Aldrlch, "ev- cry two or three years take a trip either to the far west or to some of the adjoin- ing countries for the purpose of stim- ulating the growth of their society and Investigating the mineral resources of the countries visited. Three years ago the in- stitute had very successful trip to Mexico, and this year determined to have a meeting in Victoria, the capital of the Province of British Columbia, because this province Is the greatest mineral bear ing province of the Canadian confeder- 9tion.
 "We had delightful train all to our selves. about one hundred in the party over one-third of whom were ladies, the wives and daughters of the members.
 Trip Throughout Delightful.
 ''The trip throughout was most de- lightful one, and we had the finest sort of weather and happened to strike the different points just at the right time When our train reached Spokane in the state of Washington, we viewed the im- provements at the falls at this point, where the immense amount of water power is developed and used by the city both for lighting and power purposes. This enterprising town is said to be bet ter lighted and better equipped cleo trlcally than any other town in the Uni ted States
 We went north from there into Brit ish Columbia, and visited Nelson, where there was a smelter ana near which point were some copper mines, and then to Rossland, and also went up to the great LeRoy and War Eagle mines, and visited the smelters attached to them. We also went to the Granby mines at Phoenix, B. c. Everywhere we were delightfully."- entertained with luncheons and banquets. and every industry was thrown wide open to the association.
 'sThis district is called the Boundary country, because the mines are all along the boundary between the United States and British Columbia, and the railroads
 nfx1fa and as one of the Canadians said, the boundary was once cut out and plainly marked, but it has grown up to such an extent, that you couldn't tell the differ ence between Americans and Canadians.
 Tn this vicinity they have what are called the Crows Nest Pass Coal mines, and this coal makes very fair article of coke. I found people from Birmingham working in these mines.
 Water Power Plentiful.
 ''Ihe general reliance for power how ever, is upon the numerous water talis and streams coming down from the moun- tains all over this district. Electricity is carried for power purposes over sixty miles, and they are arranging to carry II over 100 miles. The climate is much more salubrious than one would expect in a locality so far north. Fruits grow there, and a good many people from the United States are going into this country start ing fruit farms
 "The famous LeRoy mine was one of those properties that the infamous Whit taker Wright managed and speculated on upon the London market. It has lately taken on new life and at depth of something like 1900 feet they have disoov- cred first-class ore again. The great mine at Phoenix, belonging to the Granby com pany. has an immense vein of low grade copper ore with little gold and silver in 1t. At one point on this property we saw an open cut about 100 feet wide with a face 100 feet high, where they were blasting down the ore and loading 1t with a steam shovel in the cars. was in- : formed that the average amount of copper l in this ore was less than per cent, vel they are working 1t successfully. Tn. l railroads climb the mountains and does not hesitate to use four or five per cent grades, and seems to go anywhere. even to the tops of the highest mountains. The energy displayed in this respect Is fai greater than anyone would expect in such an inaccessible country. so sparsely popu- |, lated. There are one or two gold mines , in this region, but In this whole terri- tory nearly all of the gold obtained is now taken out of copper mines in which there is little gold in the ore along with , the copper They try to get mines in which the gold and silver is enough to pay the expenses and then they have the copper free.
 8 Market for Americans. 'The region is a beautiful one, abund 3 antly watered, full of long, narrow lakes and destined to be one of the greatest 8 mining camps of the western world. Most r of the fire brick used here comes from England, and it seemed to me that this would be market for some of our Ameri- can products.
 After leaving this interesting region we came back through Spokane again and crossed the Sellxirks landing at Seattle al , night. We at once took steamer to Vic toria and stayed there several days We { were entertained with banquets, recep- tions, and We were taken to copper mine and also to copper smelter, and held our meetings in the government building, which Is one of the most beau tiful in the country. We were royalty entertained by all parties.
 We then took steamer over to Van