Douglas Island news., 1915-09-01
Alaska Gold Belt Mining Co.

Active development work began this summer on what has been formerly known as the Lott-Nelson group of claims situated in the upper Sheep creek basin. The claims in this group have been located from time to time during the past four years by Captain Harry Lott and R. P. Nelson. The prop. erty consists of a group of thirty lode claims, situated on the mountains bor- dering the upper Sheep creek basin, and are on the extension of the Juneau gold belt, on which are located the ope- rating companies of the Alaska-Gasti- neau, Alaska-Juneau, Hallum, Ebner and others.
 Development work on these claims is now in the hands of Engineer A. B. Dodd, superintendent in charge for Ma keever Bros., New York capitalists, who are reported to have taken over the property and will finance development and future construction. Superinten- dent Dodd states that he is authorized to dispose of a quarter of a million dollars for preliminary development work, and if the ore bodies show up as is expected, unlimited capital is ready for further development and the con- structiou of a large reduction plant. The ultimate plans of the new com pany call for the construction of re duction plant on the beach south of Thane, or the operating plant of the Alaska Gastineau Go. at Sheep creek, and to be equally as large, or even have a greater capacity than that of the Al aska-Gastineau Co., The plant is to be connected with the ore body by tun- nel driven from above the beach for a distance of about two miles through Sheep creek mountain and under the upper basin 10 tue claims. An elevation of from 1900 to 4O00 above sea level is obtainable by driving tunnels from the level of the Sheep creek basin to tap the ore bodies. The tonnage of ore ob- taiuabe from present indications can not be estimated, but conservative es- inmates claim a greater tonnage from this group of claims, or at any rate as great as the other large producers in the Juneau district.
 A crew of men started in the early summer to build roads, construct build iugs and necessary camp work, after which a com pressor was installed and active tunnel driving is now under way with a progress of about GOO ft. a month. A development tunnel is to be driven for a distance of approximately 5000 feet into the hill, cross cutting the veins, and drifts will be driven from this tunnel and a diamond drill used in fully prospecting the ore bodies. The compressor which was installed by the Ingersoll Rand Co.,, was originally purchased by the Jualin and has a ca pacity of GOO cubic f.. per minute. It is driven by a 100 h. p. electric motor on a short belt drive.
 We'll known mining men who have recently examined the property, speak highly of it's future, and the develop ments already under way under the su- pervision of Mir. Dodd. As soon as the necessary development work is done to show values and warrant further eX penditure, it is very probable that au- other huge reduction plant, rivaling Treadwella and Tbane will be established in the upper Sheep creek basin, thus making another of the largest low grade producing properties in the world, all of which are within 10 mile radius in the Juneau mining belt and surround ing the town of Juneau.-The Alaska and Northwest Mining Journal.