VOL. 4 SBWAHI). ALASKA, WEDNESDAY EVENING. JUNES. !!>()<> -NO. 253
MAGAZINE WRITER TELLS OF
RICH REGION OF WHICH SEWARD
IS THE NATURAL ENTREPOT
I have been asked by the Gateway to
write a short account of the country
that will eventually be tapped from
Seward. In the first place, l would
have the reader distinctly understand
that l am in no way financially in
terested in the development of the
town of Seward, neither am 1 the for
tunate possessor of a local real estate
office, or a bunch ot town lot>. but
whatever l may write regarding this
section is the result of unprejudiced ob
servation.
To my mind, the most marvelous fact
regarding the country, that will event
ually look upon Seward as a means ot
outlet to salt water, is the vast extent
of territory that will be opened as soon
as the proper means of transportation
and development are completed.
A glance at the map will serve to
show the boundaries of this district.
On the west the country stretches
a wav to the Kuskokwin and Bering
*
sea: to the north, there is tlie \ukon
river: to the east Seward will join
in competition with \ aide/ and c or
dova. The field for development is so
vast that even if tlie country was in
tersected with railroads, it would take
a lifetime to even scratch the vast
mineral deposits that will eventually
be uncovered.
To properly appreciate the vast ex
tent of territory it is only necessary
to mention a few of the districts. Ly
ing close to Seward is the mineral
field in the Kenai peninsula. As far
as l could observe, the placer deposits
of this section, together with that ot
the Sunrise district, will never be
much of a factor in the building up of
the country, so long as they are
worked by old fashioned methods.
The placer deposits, although large in
area, are more suitable for hydraulic,
and dredging propositions. Placer
deposits however, are not so impor
tant as might be imagined, in the
development of a country. The life of
a placer camp is short, and the history
of most placer camps may he summed
up in three words—discovery, boom,
collapse. Seward however is not de
pendent on the placer fields for its
future prosperity. There are, within
a few miles of the town, sufficient indi
cations of quartz, that alone will
guarantee a steady, but permanent
growth, more substantial, and savor
ing less of the gambling spirit, were
the growth the result of placer min
ing.
I must confess, that to me it is a
matter of surprise, that prospectors
will take long and arduous trips into
the interior in search of mineral wealth
traveling in districts where food is
high priced, and often scarce, when
such a large field is open so close to
Seward, where food is cheap, and easi
]v obtainable, and where opportunities
V 7 1
are so plentiful.
Another district that will aid in the
upbuilding of Seward is the Knik Arm
district. Not only has it been clearly
demonstrated that large bodies of high
grade ore are only waiting for the
means of transportation but what to my
mind is still more important is the iin
i’mense wealth of the Matanuska coal
i fields. If the Alaska Central railroad
can only be extended to tap these coal
j deposits, the road will soon be a paying
proposition, and the docks of Seward
will soon resound to the clang of
loaded coal trucks, music, which
though it may not appeal to the ears
| of the aesthetic, will nevertheless
spell prosperity to the merchants and
citizens of Seward.
Farther alield, and yet depending
upon Seward as its outlet, is the Susit
na mining district. Not only is this
section tieh in placer and quartz, but
! sufficient coal is already in sight, to
supply all the mills and stamps that
may he erected for some years to come.
In connection with the coal deposits of
this section, it is an interesting fact
tirat the Alaska Commercial Company
is already at work operating a coal
! mine on the Yentna river, about six
miles above Susitna. It is the inten
■ tion of the company, not only to supply
. local demand, but also to use the fuel
for their steamers.
Regarding the placer deposits of this
district, brief mention may be made of
Lake creek, C ache creek and the Ka
hiltna river. On Cache creek alone
about sixty men are employed by one
concern, and in the immediate neigh
borhood there are abont one hundred
and fifty men at work. This district,
together with the well known Valdez
creek, will only serve to show what
possibilities are open when the country
is made more accessible to the prospec
tor. In connection with Valdez creek
it is worthy of note that handsome
revenues are being extracted from
that creek, despite the fact that food
is worth one dollar a pound. This is
owing to the primitive means of trans
! portation.
There are, in the Susitna district,
hundreds of creeks that have never
been prospected and he would indeed
! be a courageous man, who would en
! deavor to form an estimate of the vast
wealth that still remains to be uncov
; ered by the pick and shovel of the
prospector. It is no exaggeration to
say that up to the present, the country
has only been scratched.
Extending to the northward, is the
largest and richest field of all. This is
the Alaska range, a vast chain of
mountains, not only being the backbone
| of Alaska but at the same time being
i one of the richest mineral belts in the
(Continued on page 2)
BENCH Or TlfKD DIVISION
Washington, I). C., June 2--Silas
II. Reid has resigned as judge of the
Third judicial of Alaska. The depart
ment of justice refuses to discuss the
resignation, as to whether it was
called furor voluntary.
PORTLAND HAS "”|
MANY MINERS
Seattle, June 1- Steamer Portland
sailed for Seward and way ports yes
i terday afternoon with 200 passengers.
| among whom tire many mining men
bound for the Cook inlet country,
j A. N. Cray of New York is aboard,
; enroute for Seward. The Portland
! was compelled to leave much freight
' behind. _
Rioting Continues in Philadelphia
Philadelphia. June 2 — The street
car strike gives no evidence of reach
| ing a crisis. Practically till the lines
| tire tied up. Rioting continues, and
I the mayor has sworn in 10,000 deputies
! and many arrests have been made.
Pierce Thomas, one of the best
known mining men in Alaska, and for
vears the head man for the Alaska Ex
I ploration Company, is in Seward. In
company with .J. E. Chiiberg and oth
ers he lias large mining interests in
Southeastern Alaska and in the
Iliamna country. He is now enroute
to the latter place.
_ I
The Sargent geological survey party
is enroute to the Willow creek region
to pursue geological and togographical
investigations on behalf of the govern
ment.
- -— - ■ ■■■■
Fred Bryant, superintendent for the
Kenai Mining & Milling Company,
operating extensively on Cooper creek,
Came in this morning.
H. H. Hildreth and E. T. Jeter
departed on the Santa Clara, enroute
to the Matanuska coal fields.
T. D. Corlew and Mrs. Corlew sailed
from Seattle enroute to Seward yester
day on the Portland.
___
— *
Bert Higgins and A. Totten de
parted this morning for the Moose
Pass country.
C. P. Overton and Mrs. Overton
are in Seward, enroute to the west.
Schillings Best coffees and teas.
* Seward Commercial Co.
Wall Paper at Hofman’s *
Swell line of Ladies’ Waists just ar
rived.—Seward Commercial Co. *
Meet me at the Branch.
George Walker of Oklahoma and
P. 1). Overfield, a Nome lawyer, are
the leading candidates for Reid’s posi
tion, with chances favoring the Alaska
man. lie is a \oung man, noted as an
athlete when in college.
MANY ATTEND
EXPOSITION
Seattle, .Iune 1 — Eighty-nine thous
and t wo hundred and sixteen persons
attended the opening of the exposition
yesterday. This is double the number
that attended the opening at the last
two world’s fairs. The weather was
perfect, but it began to rain at 8
o’clock last night. It cleared oil today.
The Arctic Brotherhood dedicated its
building today
Bandits Made Small Haul
Omaha, June 2—Government offi
cials say that the bandits who held up
the Union Pacific train near Omaha
secured only $200.
Otto Belau. of the Bay View Land
Company in San Francisco, was a
through passenger on the Santa ( lara,
enroute to Willow creek. He has an
option on placer ground and intends to
install a hydraulic plant.
The baseball suits arrived on the
Santa Clara. They present a vary
nobby appearance, being a combina
tion of grey and green.
Marcia Melovidoff, who has been at
tending the Carlisle in Pennsylvania,
arrived on the Santa Clara, enroute to .
Unalaska.
R. C. Miller, the traveling man, is
in Seward, making the rounds of
Southern Alaska towns.
J. Frank Warner, in charge of gov
ernment surveys, came here on the
Santa Clara, enroute west.
Jerome Hatchey and Ed. Crawford
came in from the Cooper creek region
this morning.
At Carstens butcher shop you will
find the choicest meats ever brought
to Seward. Freshly killed no cold
storage. Beef, mutton and pork.
The McKinley House, Fifth avenue,
board and lodging $1.00 per day.
l '
Just received, a new line of matting,
latest patterns at the Elite.
Goods and Prices always right.
Seward Commercial Co.
Linoleum at Hofman’s. *