The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-06-08
KETCHIkAN AREA
MININGA(TIvITYI5
UNDERGOING BOOM
Associate Engineer Roehm
Reports Interest at
High Pitch

Greater activity in mining is being
shown in the Ketchikan district this
season than at any time in recent
years, according to j. c. Roehm,
Associate Mining Engineer of the
Territorial Department of Mines,
who returned recently from work in
the Ketchikan district. Many factors
have contributed to building up this
interest, and with the present ac-
tivity at prospects that have passed
the promotional stage and are now
on more serious and active work
ing basis, this interest seems des-
tined for continued growth
This is the fourth season that
representative of the Territorial De-
partment of Mines has spent from
one to two months in the district
each year. AS a result nearly all
the old and new prospects have
been examined. Numerous persons
have been advised regarding stalking
and working on the most favorable
prospects Considerable assistance
has also been given the mine oper-
atorS.
The Territorial Highway Commits
sion and the Forest Service have
contributed to the building of roads
and trails which have been i'm
portant factors in helping the in
dustry in this district.
Assay Work
The Territorial Assay Office at
Ketchikan has been of great assist
ance in furnishing free assays and
mineral identifications that have
enabled the prospectors and oper-
ators to confine their efforts to the
better properties and eliminate the
lower grade prospects.
The University of Alaska mining
extension courses have stimulated
general interest in mining and as a
result of these courses many new
faces are to be seen in the mining
areas of this district.
The Ketchikan Chamber of Com
merce and Rotary Club have both
been doing much to aid the industry
and individuals. The transportation
companies are also doing their bit
by furnishing free transportation on
ore samples shipped to the assay
office.
The most promising developments
within the last year have been on
the Kasaan Gold Mining Company
holdings, under lease to Wendell
Dawson. two and one-half miles
west of Hollis on Prince of Wales
Island. Here 16-ton mill has been
in operation internationally for three
years and recent underground de-
velopments have proven large ton
mage of ore far beyond the mill ca
pacity.
New Ball Mill
Next in Importance is the installa-
ton of a 25-ton ball mill at the
Blue Jay Mine at Helm Bay on
Cleveland Peninsula. This mine is
owned by Bert Libe who, with his
own capital and under his direction,
has proven a stable orebody with
in the last year. He has just COM
pleted a new tramway, bunk and
cook houses and various other build
ings consisting of cottages and stor-
age rooms This ore showing is the
best in the Helm Bay area and con-
siderably credit is due Mr.. Libe for
this development.
The Alaska Gold Mountain Mines,
Ltd, has resumed active develop
ment on its gold property in Snug
gler Cove. A test mill of small ca
pacity is to be installed this season.
The operations of this company are
managed by Homer Bradford, very
capable engineer from Colorado. In
the go days since operations began,
the old machinery was dug out of
the mud from under slide, put in
order, new camp buildings built, and
a good underground footage COM
pleted. This work has assisted in
creating general interest in Helm
Bay as a mining area.
The Gold Standard, also in Helm
Bay, is under lease and the mill is
operating at low capacity. Other
new ventures have sprung up in
this area within the last year.
Last, but not least, is the Flagstaff
mine, the crew of which is now en-
gagged in building the last two miles
of road from Karta Lake to the