The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-28
COLD At VALDEZ
BRINGS CHANCE
Old Camp Reyiying as the Re-
suit of Recent Yellow
Metal Finds.
WAS ONCE SCENE
OF COPPER BOOM
Rush in Spring Expected and
Town Is Preparing for
Arrivals.
peciai Ia The Tribune.


ALDEZ. Alaska Nov 27.-The Wild
scramble for claims continues here.
With the near approach Of cold weather.
the amateur as we'll as the seasoned
prospector IS making use of every min
ute OF daylight to place his monuments
on UnstaEed ground. The snowfall along
the coast range in this section is very
heavy and once the white blanket COW
ing will be at an end. Realizing the
necessity Of quick action. those who
have not placed their names on loca-
tion monuments arc securing the hills
in search of paying lodes.
Those who got in earlier in the sea
son have had time TO prospect their
claims and arc about town displaying
specimens Of their rock and forming
4 score OF sales have been made In the
last two weeks. ranging from a few
thousands TO as high as $50 900. the
claim owners taking a small payment
stipulated periods. number of people
attracted by the reports sent TO the out
side have arrived on late boats and have
bought up some Of The more promising
prospects. The prospector. usual is
willing 10 give UP his chances for a
small cash payment and a bunch of
stock. AS consequence il is not an
uncommon sight 10 see man who has
been broke" for the past few years
appear in saloon with roll OF bills
amounting TO few thousand dollars.
difference. order the drinks for the house.
He is surrounded by crowd of his less
fortunate cronies who Immediately tap"
him for amounts ranging according to
their former degrees Of intimacy Some
of the prospectors after making sales
have taken boats for the outside where
they will he able to spend the winter
in more congenial surroundings
Valdez is known the farthest north
ice-free port in the world. and has had
several incipient booms which died IN
the borning. Copper was the basis OF
these fliInsy bubbles. but this is the
first time in her history that gold Is
known TO oyist in paying quantities In
her hills. II seems. strange to a new
conner that prospectors could have been
blind for so long time. hut the EVIL
denoe of the old timers Indifference is
here IN plenty When copper wHs around
the lwo-hi' mark, great ledges of II
expended in development work Some
| Of them Will prove dividend makers
some day. but most OF them arc held by
poor men. who end that a copper mine
of money for preliminary developme n I
l5efore II is placed on u producing basis.
| The discovery Of rich gold leads has
given Valdez new lease on life, which
| tivity and assurance that pervsdes the
atmosphere. Tho real estate man finds
himself figure OF Importance these
days bis chief occupation being to find
houses for tenants who will spend the
winter here waiting for the coming OF
sprng. when the looked-for rush will
| arrive. This has caused houses which
could he bought for p SIS note TWO years
ago to rent for four times that amount
monthly. Rentals are soaring and dwell
| ngs that have been idle for years are
being renovated and placed in condition
for the use Of prospective tenants
Mayor Boyle has won his fight for
I A city wharf and cheaper coal and soon
| the public will be able 10 purchase fuel
I for t.o1f Int IN he
| ton. The city will he able 10 sell a
better class Of coal for about $3.50
| II Is estimated that this reduction i7
price viii lower the cost Of tunnel worl,
in the mines from s. to 80 per running
foot.