The Alaska daily empire., 1920-08-27
CH|LKAT VALLEY
 REAL PARADISE
 SAYS ENGINEER
Cot. Gotwals Enthusiastic in Praise of Haines Country
 New Bridge Planned.

the Rainy Hollow district along the I Chilkat and Klunini rivers is the
 paradise of Alaska, according to Col. J. c. Gotwals, engineer of the
 Alaska Road Commission. who re- gently returned from a trip into that
 country.
 The gardens of the farms there
 are flourishing. The forests are
 abundant with spruce and hemlock
 such as is seen in no other part of
 the Territory The trees are high
 and three. or four feet in diameter.
 He slikened them to those in the 1 forests of Washington great col
 umns reaching to the sky Road Work Progressing Excellent progress is being made
 along the twenty five mile road from Haines to Wells. Col. Gotwals said.
 Fifty men have been working | there all summer and it is now in
 excellent condition. While I was there I investigated carefully the bridge crossing on the Chilkat and have decided to construct 450 foot pile bridge across the Chilkat to the north bank of the Kluhini river. to
 replace the old bridge, now unsafe for traffic The construction of this
 bridge can be accomplished this year.
 Extension Bruised Out Beyond Wells, new line on the north bank of the Kluhini river has been cruised out to connect with
 tho existing road on the south bank. 4 bridge across the Kluhini river
 $ necessary and will be included in next years work The further con struction of the road into this coun- try will depend upon the develop ment of the Rainy Hollow district and the presence of settlers on the
 north bank of the river. Visits Rainy Hollow '"I rode out along the Kluhini val lev from Wells 10 Rainy Hollow. 10 miles beyond the boundary in Can adian territory and visited the mine ! being developed on the old Maid of 1 llt III plOltI i|. anu lOOktu IliAO iIit
 mining claims in general being de- i veloped whereabouts. The company l developing the. Maid of Erin claim ! has two camps established and a | small force of men engaged in a i thorough exploration of its mining veins.
 The supplies for the company are 1 being received now over the road | from Haines with considerable diff ficulty. Our work will relieve this 1 situation and the Canadians are projecting our work on the Canadian
 side From the foot of the mountain
 10 the mine the supplies are drawn
 by a tractor over the road built by | the mining company.
 Large Body of Ore "An excellent water power site
 exists near the mine and it is the
 company's plan to develop it. The l mineral being taken out is copper ore 1 bornite and evidence exists that there is a large body of the ore.
 Besides the mining development. the
 timber land along the Chilkat and
 Kluhni rivers is very notable. The | spruce and hemlock are heavy 1 through the entire valley. As 10 the old mining development in this 1 country no operations beyond as
 sessment work is in progress in the | Porcupine but plans are being made
 to open up these mines" Col Got Wals said.
 Sees MoIybdenum Mine After leaving Haines. Col. Gotwals went 10 Skagway There he visited
 the Clifton molybdenum mine being
 developed along the White Pass Rail-
 road eight and one half miles from ] Skagway.
 1 A small force of men is engaged
 on this work. and a shallow shaft ] has been sunk. The officials of the ! company stated 10 Col GOtwals that 1 extensive development work has been
 planned fer the mine. A road from l Skagway 10 the mine site has been proposed. but will probably not be 1 built until more extensive work is
 carried out by the mining company.
 At present t is having no difficulty ! in receiving its supplies by the rail l road