Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
RETURNS HOME FROM ALASKA
c. B. HEIzER DESCRIBES SCENES
IN FROZEN NORTH.
Two Railroads in Operation-New
"Strike" This Season-Dogs
Employed Hauling Boats.

Interesting facts and figures concerning
far-away Alaska were related last even
ing by c. B.HeiZer, q former Washing
tonian. who has returned to this city after
five months trip in. the frozen north.
He spent most of the time on the prop
erty of the Oxide Gold Mining Company.
Washington corporation, near Council
City, Alaska. Mr.. A. c. Moses Of W. B.
Moses & Sons, president of the company.
spent several weeks on the claim last
summer. He was accompanied by E. X.
Fox, and together they went to British
Columbia on an extended hunting. expedi-
ton.
Mr.. Heller. who was accompanied north
by Bob Jameson, formerly of the Wash
ngton navy yard, is enthusiastic regard
ing the mining outlook in the northern
gold fields. The output for the present
season, he says, will be up to the usual
miners continue good. the prevailing rate
being SIS per day and board in summer.
and 81 and board in the winter months.
There are now two railroads along the
coast Of northwestern Alaska. One is
known as the Seward Peninsula railroad.
and runs from Nome to the various creeks
and camps adjacent to that place. There
are nearly 100 miles Of trackage, narow-
gauge. Cabell Whitehead. a former as
sayer in the United States Treasury De-
partment, is general manager of this RAN
road. He is also president Of the Alaska
Bank at Nome.
Down the coast. thirty-five miles cas-.
Of Nome. is the starting point Of the
Council City ana Solomon River railroad.
This is the first standard-gauge road ever
built in Alaska, and 1t runs along Solo
mon river for twenty miles, and will
eventually be built as far as Council City.
it is said.
There was a new strike made near
Council City this season, on a stream
known as Mystery creek. It Is said about
$50. 600 was taken out Of the creek by
crude methods of mining since its dis
covery. Mr.. Heller brought with him some
pretty nuggets and coarse gold taken
from the creek. The location OF the
stream OF mystery" is said to be an
ideal one, being surrounded by mountains
and heavy timber.
Considerable interest Is being taken in
the probabilities of Alaska as a coal
producing locality. About 5000 twenty
acre coal land claims have already been
staked, Mr.. Heller said. but the govern
ment has shut down on any further coal
prospecting and claims because Of the
alleged attempted monopoly Of Alaska
coal by. certain big companies me
5000 claims already staked are being
prospected and developed.
There is said to be coal in great Quanti-
ties, especially in southeastern Alaska.
and Mr.. Heller claims 1t Is as good In
quality as the Pennsylvania article. re
cent heavy finds Of coal have revived the
statement of biologists that Alaska once
possessed a tropical climate.
Mr.. Heller. speaking of get-rich-quaek
schemes in the states, said there was a
dredge carried to Alaska which paid the
company owning 1t $4,000 in dividends in
ninety days for service on the Solomon
Friver.
Mr.. Heller gave q graphic account of
how travel was impeded on the narrow
gauge road in summer by the piling up
of snow. He also told of a new wrinkle
in which the faithful Alaskan dogs are
made to haul canoes along the creeks and
rivers, canal-boat fashion.