Look For Platinum in Alaska.
Prospectors Should Study Up On This Valuable
Metal Which Is Known To Exist In
This Section.
From the Literary Digest of Feb.
28. 1903, we take the following:
“Platinum is the only precious
metal that is really of industrial
use. Gold and silver are valuable
lor decorative puri<oses, but plati- j
num is almost indispensable in i
certain brandies of industry. The'
fact, for instance, that its coefficient
of expansion is almost exactly the
same as that of glass, and tluit it
can therefore lie embedded in glass
without danger of cracking, has
made it of importance in elec
tricity; but this is only one of the
numerous ]>oints in its favor. Un
fortunately thl« metal is very rare;
it cannot, of course, compete in this
regard with such rare metals as
are only chemical curiosities, like
radium, of which it is estimated
that the whole earth contains only
two pounds; but the rarity of these
substances is hardly felt as an in-;
dustrial stringency. Says a writer j
in the Revue Scientifique, (Jan-!
Uary 27):
“ ‘Platinum is a metal tlmt was j
unkown until relatively* recent!
times. The ancient did not have,
it; the alchemist of the Middle 1
Ages, Infidel or Christian, did not j
discover it in their crucibles and i
alembics. It was not discovered
until toward the middle of the
eighteenth century. But the curi
ous thing about it* history is that |
while all other metals, as the need '
for them made itself more strongly.'
were found in greater quantities,
platinum, although greatly apprec
iated and much in demand, re
mains very rare. The places where
it is found are few. Thus platinum I
never falls in price, although its
value often varies much. In 1822
it brought 10,000 francs a kilogram
[9909 a jmuntl]; in 1H70, after the
discovery of the deposit* in the
Urals, it was 1,500 francs (9136 a
pound). But in 1895 it was worth
al**ut 3,000 francs (9273 a pound),
and in December, 1901, more still.
Platinum was first discovered in
Bouth America; it was regarded as
a form of silver, whence its name
—plata, being the Spanish word
for silver. It is now found also in
Colombia, Brazil, Haiti, aud Bor
neo. but it is much more abundant
in the Ural mountains. The Ural
mines furnish yearly about 4,000
kilograms (8,800 pounds); the rest
of the world hardly a thousand.
Thus Russia controls the produc
tion and sale of platinum. It
would appear that the Russians
had a plan to demonetize their sil
ver pieces coined l»efore 1850, in
order that the platinum in them
might he extracted; but these
pieces have become very rare—the
idea had occurred to individual
chemists before it was suggested to
the authorities. And platinum
remains rare—very rare; there is a
platinum famine, and industry
demands loudly the new discovery
of new deposits of the precious
metals.’ ”
_ i • at a
J'litwiiuui CAimc 111
there is no doubt, for two years
ago, and also last season, some of
the Slate creek black sand
from which the gold had been ex
tracted and which had been east
aside, was afterwards taken up and
carefully treated for platinum with
the result that from about a panful
of sand about half an ounce of I
platinum was secured,
As nothing is sought for hut gold,
this black sand, with its wealth of
platinum, is constantly being
thrown away, and that is largely
due to the fact that so few kuow
anything about platinum 01 how
to save it.
Knowing of itB existence on Hate
creek, it is well to assume that it
exists elsewhere in Alaska, and it
behooves the prosjicctor to study
the subject, learn what it looks
like and then kceji a lookout for it
when j>rosj>ectiiig, as it will pay
well to tind it and work it.
In 1898-99 there was a great rush
lo the neighborhood of Mt. Drum,
ibout twenty miles from Copjwr
L’enter. and the ground was staked ,
lor miles. A peculiar sand was
Found there along the streams that
was supjHised to contain platinum.
Houses were huilt. holes were sunk .
to get lieilrock,sawmill and mining'
machinery was taken in and the
greatest activity prevailed there for
two years, but the whole affair died !
a natural death and nothing is
now heard of it, though there are
some who still believe that plati
num exists about Mt. Drum.
Vilde* The Pivotal Point.
In an interview at Dawson. Judge
\\ ickersham has the following to
say in regard to the great future of
Alaska:
“Around the great sweep of the
southeastern panhandle, the Uulf
of Alaska and the Aleutians are
countless valleys, blessed with the
richest of soil and a temperate
climate. Crops of all kinds which
thrive in temperate climes can l»e
grown there, and rattle and other
domestic animals raised with ease.
I know this to l»e a fact. I have
cruised along this coast line and
watched the early settlers in their
undertakings.
“The new land law recently en
acted by congress will be a Ixxm to
Alaska. It provides for large
farms, and is the first provision,
with the exception of that
of using soldiers’ additional scrip,
made for acquirement of land in
Alaska. Prior to the enactment of
the land law it was practical'}- im
possible to get title to land in the
district. A peculiarity a)tout the
present provision is that farms will
have to lie staked the same as a
miner stakes a claim.
“The government has never sur
veyed the lands of Alaska, and
probably will not do so for a great
many years, so the staking process
promises to lie in vogue for a long
time. Xo doubt the homestead act
will prove of great benefit to the
district. The Xortli in time will
he thickly jiopulated and it would
not surprise me to see it as vigorous
and prosperous as Scandinavia.
“Abundant capital is ever seek
ing investment in Alaska; new en
terprises of inqiortance are being
constantly projected for the benefit
of all parts of the district. 1 be
lieve one of the Valdez railroads
will be built, and that Valdez will
be the pivotal jxirt for the big in
terior section of Alaska. Back of
the Resurrection bay countrv
is also an attractive country. It
would not surprise me to see the
copper district up the Copper river
prove productive and a new Mon
tana 0{>ened there. In Valdez,
where I lately held a term of court,
the chief business and mining in
terests are up the Copper river and
in its immediate vicinity. Much
activity has also been occasioned
in preparation for working the
Xizina placers, up the Copper."
Nome Notes.
Nome had a $12,000 fire recently,
in which the Dexter, Bodega and
Warwick building* were entirely
destroyed. The thermometer was
down to 40 below at the time and
it was only by hard fighting that
the fire was confined to the three
buildings,
The gamblers of Nome who were
ordered to stop their games decided
to fight the matter and on February
3, all the houses were re-opened.
The same day warrants were
served on five of the dealers bv
the U. S. Attorney and these arrests
were followed up by many more.
The cases were tried before juries
and the gamblers were convicted
and given tines rauging from $5 to
$300. The business element of
Nome arc decidedly in favor of
the continuance of the gambling,
"'"me of the merchants claim that
once the stopping of gambling,
business has reached the low water
mark in the history of tho city.
To Visit Alaska.
The slowly increasing interest in
Alaska affairs appears in the fact
that several senators and meml«crs
of congress will visit the territory
during the coming summer, gays
the l’.-I. Not only will a suh-com
mittee of the senate committee on
territories go to Alaska, hut a num
lier of other statesmen will make
journeys to the North on their own
account, partly for pleasure, for
they have learned that there is
something really worth seeing
there, and partly for the purpose
of informing themselves as to the
needs of the territoritv.
Many senators and representa
tives are really awakening to the
fact that there is an appalling lack
lack of knowledge regarding con
ditions in the far north. Some of
them are ojK*n to conviction, and ;
want to know more. When they
get hack they will Ik* aide to s|H-ak
with authority, and to sjieak with
authority on a subject regarding
which the rank and file arc un
familiar is always pleasant.
Senator Dietrich, in this connec
tion. has proved himself to Ik* a
rare man. He has conceived the
notion, so uncommon among sena
tors and mcmliers of congress, that
there is really something to see in
Alaska farther north than Juneau
or Sitka or Valdez. Mr. Deitrich
is going to see the whole country.
o mi ms iiaugnicr lie proposes to
go to Valdez. Sitka and Juneau,
and thence to Skagwav; from there
to Dawson, and then down the
river to St. Michael; over to Nome;
thence on the revenue cutter Bear
to Point Barrow. So far as known,
no national legislator has ever been
as far north as Point Barrow, at
least during his term of office.
Senator Deitrich is a mender of
the senate committee on public
lands, and while he is in southern
Alaska wants to find out some
thing about the capabilities of the
soil and the outlook for settlement.
He knows how to talk, and when
he gets back he will probably do
some talking in the senate and to
his fellow-statesmen in the cloak
rooms and committee rooms about
I his trip.
—
For Relief of Eskimos.
Urgent appeal* have W*en made
to the war department for the relief
of the native Eskimo and Indian
inhabitants of northern Alaska,
who are reported to be in an ex
tremely destitute condition as a
consequence of a strict enforcement
of the laws prohibiting the taking
or killing of fur-bearing animals
in that territory.
There is some doubt as to the
authority of the war department
to issue food supplies in such a
case, in the al>sence of legislative
, enactment, but acting on the ad
vice of Judge Advocate General
Davis, instructions have been sent
to the department commander to
investigate the situation and in his
discretion to distribute rations in
eases of emergency. This action
was taken in the belief that con
gress will sanction whatever outlay
is found necessary to the preserva
tion of life.
British Boundary Commission.
The British embassy at Wash
ington has heen formally advised
of the a)>i»ointment of Lord Chief
Justice Alverstone, of England;
Sir Louis Jett, retired judge of the
supreme court of Qucliec, and Sir
John Douglas Armour, judge of the
supreme court of Canada, as mem
bers of the Alaska boundary com
mission. provided for under the
Hay-Herbert treaty.
Santa Ana Libeled.
The steamer Santa Ana has been
libeled by the Standard Theater
company, of Seattle, for 112,907.1m,
which it claims for damages al
leged to have done to articles owned
by the company during a fire which
occurred on a voyage to Nome three
years ago.
To Continue Business.
Judge Kirkpatrick, of Trenton,
N. J. has made an order allowing
the receivers for the Pacific Pack
ing dr Navigation company to issue
certificates to the amount of f 1.250,
(XX) to continue business.
CHURCHES SOCIETIES ETC.
Kndeavor Cnx«. Ciit'Rf ii—Cor.
[•lacier Avenue and Holmrt
Street. Rev. I>. IV. Crain. Pastor.
Rev. (1. I,. Hosford. acting |»a-*tor.
Services every Sunday at 10:211 > a.
in. and S j». in. Prayer meeting
Wednesday night. Christian Kn
ileuvnr Society meets Sunday even
ing at 7 o’clock. Melvin l>cm|>sey. 1
President.
CiifHrit ok tiie KrtriiAXV—Cor.
(•lacier Avenue and Holmrt
Strict. Services on Sunday at 11
a. m. and X p. ni. Rev. K. S. Tay-,
lor, Rector.
Order ok Alask a Moose. Pioneer
Tent N*o. 1. Meet in their own
Mall on Kf-or
, vat ion Avenue,
every Thur-olay
even in# at H
o’clock. W. H.
Crary. Kalin#
spirit: Clias.(».
Wulff, Ki‘c|ter
of Wa Wa. j
Km<.hts ok Pythias fu n—\V. ‘
A. Rystroni. Pres., W. K. Rouselior.
See. Meets 1st anil 3d Monday of
each month in eluli rooms over
Shaw A Williams.
\ ai.dkz Masonic Cm r
^Meets' every \Vedne«tl;iv ev*
/ » riling al rooms over Mi aw
A'William’s, at s o’elnek. J. W.
liertlv |>ro.-. John Lyons. si*e. j
Biiotukriiooiiok Ai.ask v I’mnkeks
Arthur Kohiral. t’hief, W. J.
Meltonnell. Seeretarv.
Headquarters. Afognak. Alaska.,
Vai.uk/ Ouu Fi i.t.nw’s
(’l.L'B—Meet* every
Friday evening in ehd>
rooms*, a. it. m-nij:, rros.; r. >.:
Hunt. Soc’y.
ORLAN CLYDE CULLEN.
Counsellor-at-Law
t". d.Hu|»n*n»»* «*<mrt. Attorney I*.
S.Patent «>tfi *•*. I'nitcd Matw and Korei#ii I’m!
ent"*, t'aveal*».$Trad«‘ Mark* and <*«»|»yritf)it«.
No. 700 7th St. N. W.,
Of>|i. t*. d. Patent Offlit*.
WASHINGTON, I). ;
VALDEZ «JKT I TITLE (0.
i
Complete abstracts of title
to all mineral and other
claims in the Valdez Min
ing district, including the
Prince William Sound,
Copjier River. Chistuchi
na and the Chisna dis
! tricts.
—
Mads Hell to Yalta
loin lots
■
Valdez, Alaska
WHERE
■a ? Who?
STOP
Everyone From Valdez.
AT THE
FRANKLIN
OF COURSE.
Onlv First Class European Hotel in ^
JUNEAU.
John T. Spickett Proprietor
#
60 YEARS*
EXPERIENCE
y j ^ l J m. ■
™ />■■ ^
*11 ■ k ■ I
4i^H B||HMBflMBH|HHBi
Trade Marks
qRBBir Designs
'ini’* Copyrights Ac.
Anyone tending e sketch end description may
quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an
invention la probably patentable. Coin muti I ra
tion* strictly confidential. Handbook on Patents
sent free. Oldest apency for securingpotent*.
jsassasxeJtBJ^'^
Scientific Hmtrfcan.
A handsomely Illustrated weekly. lauweat sir
rulation of any Aden tide Journal. Term a. $3 a
ISMuSirr<S*tta’,t 8°“ br
Denver Ed. Smith, the noted
pugilist will give lessons in the
manly art at reasonable rates. For
particulars see Denver Eel., or call •
at this office.
Guy F.Cameron, teacher of hanjo, I
mandolin and guitar. Music fur-’
nished for all occasions. For les- j
sons, etc., inquire at Broadway |
Pharmacy.
Vocal and piano instruction,
French or German language classes.
Schneider Sisters. Broadway.
Valdez -House
Newly and Elegantjy Furnished. Firat-Cla^j
in Every Particular. Bc-t Heated llou-e in
Alaska. OITiec. Reading Room and Parlor in Con
nection. I’. P. A X. Co. Office in Building. l\ H.
Telegraph Offiec next door. Half Block from
Po*t-office.
3. H. Fielding, Prop.
The Wayside Inn :
At Foot of Summit on Route to Interior. Host Ac
comodations for Man ami Heast. Freijriitim.' to all
Points Contracted for. Address Valdez.
•_M Miles From Valdez.
WILSON. DAVISON »V LITTLK. P»npK»tnw.
Notice
To Miners and Prospectors.
Oil May 1st Till* XIZINA TK AIM NO COMPANY
will erect a large handsome store in the rich Nizina
Mining Camp, containing a $«'.n.nnn -t«>ck of Ocneral
Merchandise. Hardware, etc., which they will dis
|misc of at the lowest |Hissihle figure. as their
freighting train, consisting of Inn horses and sleds,
will enuhle them to take their goods into the
interior at a very small cost.
For further particulars see M. Hass, at the
Valdez House.
Nazina Trading Co.
Herman Meyer,
General Manager
Seattle’s Great
‘Paper.
THE DART,
SINDAY,
TWICE A WEEK
: |
The
Post-Inti lligencer.
Simple Copies Tree.
*• Write lor one.
Daily Post-Intelligencer. 11 to li Pages.
Publishes the fullest telegraphic
news from all parts of the world.
Ail the state and local news. Daily
and Sunday edition 75c per month.
Sunday Post-intelligencer. 30 to 40 Pages.
The largest and mostcompieteSun
day paper north of San Francisco.
Special departments of literature,
of fashion, of women's news. Sun
day edition $2.00 per year.
Twice a Week Edition tne Seattle Post-ioteiiiren
cer.
All the news or the week In concise
detailed form THE TWICE A
f f WEEK EDI'I ON IS THE BEST
\ I TWICE AWEEK PAPKRPLBLISHKD
▼ ■ ON THE PACIFIC COAST. Write for
i ample copy and be convinced.
Subscription price $1 CO per year.
All POSTMASTERS Will Take SIBStRIPTIOItS.
POST - iltlflLKiIlKIR (G.. SEATTLE, WASH.
S. P WliSTON, Business Manager.
Alaska Forging Ahead.
The development of Alaska on
:i permanent basis is already at
hand says the Minneapolis Journal.
In the current issue of Opfior
(unity, the well known exjioiicnt
d Northwestern development, puli*
I is lied in St. Paul, there is an
advertisement by a Seattle man
which reads as follows:
Homesteads or donation claims,
120 acres «ach. We want fifty
men to take up homesteads iii
Alaska. Extraordinary induce
ments to actual settlers. Very
rich, level land, mild climate.
Handy to transportation.
R I PANS Tabules
Doctors find
A pool prescription
For mankind
;heS-<vut n t uough 1 .r ueitel :
lou. n.r fituiily bottle <£> i^a'-li-vnuiu. ■ <
tor * fetr. All druggi-tm|1 tiKm.
T 51 I Cj'e 11 w ..
6e\d r*»a :».ctfa ;n * *
inventors, Mnnnfctctart r.-*. byi>«r& u* »i t. ra
"J j»a.teui«M| jtriicv *4©fci.alt V :i.ra i t »•*.. i- ^ r*.
Pull*?) l**u .1 l»y u rl i;»* i-ti . .. si ’1» a. ll ?.
becure l-ur;tjer Partu .ilars
OSCAR A MICHEL REGISTERED ATTORNEY.
229 B-OAOWAv NT W vOR*i.
• tha r»+*n to M<x«e t.* n.»
Market Price Uit.
fr|m.l,« i. period
Uas» .. •* 4o*
o"*" BMW “ 100
S"„-. .«.00lo*7 10 “ li»l
Baron aud Uaia *15-00 i„ «17.?«> <• lu
L.fr auosu.- •• ib
Virf'VL*1^1 l’uUlue“ ISio'av •• C*S
. »to 15c •• lb
l£an». email white.. . *' *’ *0 uo **• *5J
Bean.. Lima .. S
Boiled Oate .. *y?
T„- JC lb
•r* . . SO to 75 •• lb
r. baeco, irnnkiu* <* to 7Uc •• b
Tobae.-.., .•hewiu, 50 to Tic “ lb
f;- , fon*l. timothy fear tun
Beat \\ hitman Owla • ioS
Wood IO“
•r.R cor«i
Money advanced on goods stored
with Richards A Co.