Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-01-05
GOLDEN JUNEAU.
OPINION OF MINING ENGINEER
AND ASSAYER.

OPINION OF MINING ENGINEER
AND ASSAYER.
He Gives Some Interesting Information Regard.
ine the Silver Bow Basin-The Famou,
Alaska Lode-Prospects Bright for Future
Development-Advice to Prospectors.
C. NJ. Thorndyke. a we'll known
mining engineer, who has made the
resources of the Alaskan country an
object of considerable investigation the
past three years, with an office in
Juneau, came down with Mr.. Israel
on visit combining recreation and
business. En- PEASANT, it may be OF
interest to pioneers to know that Mr..
TBS father was a member OF the first
Legislature of the Territory of Wash.
ington. He reports wonderful i'm
provement in all the conditions relat.
ing to mining development, building
and business interests, within the past
year. This is mainly owing to the
impetus given all tributary enterprises
by the cross.cut in the Alaska lode, in
Silver Bow Basin, three miles from
Juneau. The first mining of any i'm
portance was developed there, and the
district has yielded from S3, OO0, 900 to
81 100000 in ore since its opening
eighteen years ago. 1t was discovered
by 10. Juneau and Dick Harris, the
latter name being given to the dis
trict and the former to the city. Not
outstanding some attention has been
given to quartz development, it has
never taken practical turn from a
mining standpoint. Possibly the out
put from quartz has reached from
three .fourths to q million dollars in
value.
Some three years ago . party Of
English capitalists undertook to cross
cut the mineralized zone before re-
ferred to as the Alaska lode, some 81
600 feet in width. The result has de-
veloped four ore bodies, one OF which
is much wider than the famous Tread
we'll lode and OF much higher grade.
Under the influence of such develop
ment the country tributary to Juneau
has taken over new life. A year ago,
Juneau presented q very dilspidated
appearance, with empty house. and
public utilities neglected, while now,
new, modern buildings are under pro-
cess OF erection all over town, electric
car lines contemplated, and franchises
are under consideration for an electric
light plant and water system. Real
estate has appreciated as least 200 per
cent. within the last twelve months.
In fact the improvement has been
very marked in the increase OF stocks
carried by her merchants, a sure index
of progress.
During the past summer railroad
survey WAS made connecting Silver
Bow Basin with Juneau. and con.
struction will begin soon as weather
conditions may permit. As an illus
tration of how realty values have i'm
proved, / can state that the lot on
which my Office stands went begging
two years ago for So, 500; three months
ago an offer OF 81 500 was refused and
$4,000 was the price asked.
The Alaska lode, that l have re-.
ferred to, is very extensive mineral
lied zone, somewhat OF the nature OF
the Mother lode OF California, but
much more distinctly defined, from .
geological standpoint. Its general
width is 5000 feet, and known to cross
from Lamduno Bay. on the south, to
Berner's Bay, on the north, q distance
of about 40 miles. Naturally, from
the knowledge acquired and the very
favorable results from the first. practi-
cal prospecting on this lode. will invite
further development along these lines
wherever surface values appear, all of
which will mean the expenditure OF
much money and create q prosperous
community. The trade with south
east Alaska has hitherto been wildcat
mining. conducted by stock promoters
and jobbers, who lacked the experience
and judgment necessary to determine
q legitimate mining venture, and the
result was, and always will be q fiat
failure.
Some seven years ago, within two
miles of Juneau, there was an So
stamp mill erected, that cost $4,000.
It ran twenty.four hours, cleaned up
IS cents. and il stands there to-day,
going to pieces, an impressive but
melancholy monument TO impractical
methods, and I might mention quite a
number more not quito 30 large per-
haps, within . radius OF SO miles, that
servo only to recall the folly of incon-
siderate methods. It is ever thus in
mining ventures, and the trouble is
that people are unable to determine
the difference between q purely wild.
cat and . legitimate undertaking.
To people who may be considering
q prospecting trip. I would advise that
the country Immediately tributary to
juneau offers, by far. the best field,
and feel confident in asserting that
the 300 stamp mill now under erection
on the Perseverance property will ex.
coed in output the famous Treadwell
mill OF the same capacity.