The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-15
s. W. EccleS Talks Entertain
ingIy of Mineral District of
Nevada and Alaska.
LARGELY INTERESTED
IN BOTH SECTIONS
While Nevada Is Rich in Cop
per, Alaska Has Gold Mines
of the World.

While the wonder tales that few
years ago came from the gold fields
OF Alaska have been almost forgotten
in the excitement created by the booms
in the Nevada camps, yet the far North
has by no means lost its hold either
on the minds or pocketbooks of the
moneyed interests of the country.
Saturday S. w. EccIes, president of.
the Nevada Northern railway, and Gug-
genheim property, reached Salt Lake
City IN his private car, Oceanic, and
Kenyon. Mr. Eccles came direct from
Seattle, and is en- route 10 Ely to look
over certain Guggenheim property
there.
On the subject of that particular Ne
yada camp. Mr.. Eccles is most enthusi-
nstic, "Ely,' he said last night, sis
bound to be the best camp in Nevada.
dance long after the other Nevada
camps, now operating, are pretty much
played out The two big mines there,
the Cumberland Ely and the Nevada
Consolidated, are pregnant with rich
ness and those interested have the
greatest faith in their steady produc-
ing power
mas 5lCl IN SeaCCle
But Mr.. EccIes, who comes direct
from Seattle, is strong in his faith of
the Northwest Seattle, in my opiu
ion,' is the way he puts it. sis the
most promising city on the Pacific
coast. Why? Because of her business
with the Orient and her closeness to
Alaska and above everything, the open
ing of Alaska.
And this brought Mr., Eccles down
10 the topic he is most interested in,
the opening of the gold and copper
fields of Alaska and the immensity of
what they still mean. Richer and bet
ter than ever, he declares them. Neva-
da. because of her railroad facilities,
attracts the prospector at present, but
the transportation problem of Alaska
has been solved and that by the Copper
River and Northwestern railroad that,
in two years, will connect the remotest
claim in the gold and copper fields of
the frozen country, with civilization.
The Importance of this railroad to
Alaska is almost enough to make one
gasp. The hardy adventurer who sets
forth on quest for gold must pursue
the following lt,nery: Steamboat from
Seattle to Valdez. the port, six days;
from Valdez by pack train. for there
is no other means of reaching the gold
fields.
The railroad which, in q year from
next fall, will run along the banks of
the Copper river will mean that the
prospec tor or traveller can go from Sc
attic to Kstslla in four days, and in
twenty-four hours reach the very heart
of the gold fields. Only the man who
has packed his horses over the weary
trails can apprecite this revolutioniz-
ing. 1t will mean hveday trip IN
stead of one month.
"The Copper river flows through q
most PERCEPTIONS canyon, explained
Mr. Eccles, land is not navigable while
coursing through this canyon. Above
the canyon, boats of light draughts
can be operated during the summer
months. The railroad means the solu-
tion of the transportation problem of
Alaska and every man up there is anx
ious for its completion.
"Sooner than one thinks. smelters
will be operated In Alaska and then the
world Will again be astonished by the
news from there. a s it is now, the
ore must be taken to Everett or Ia
coma, 1900 miles by sea and 800 by
railroad, distance of $500 miles. The
veriest ignoramus can easily see what
smelters in Alaska will mean, for the
ore is superlatively rich and absolute
ly steady, no sudden wealth of pock
cts or caves. Placer mining is only be
gun in Alaska and after we are all
dead, the camps there will be sending
out their wealth of the yellow metal