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. THE SUXDAY ORKGOXIAX, PORTLAXD, DECE31BER 26. 19Q9. '
tggT MINE IN Tm WCRjMjz'j
pamed Group of Properties at
. readwell, Alaska, Employ
ing 1400 Men Social and Edu
cational jLife of the Great Camp
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c$e iw - " - s-"r:l rfTt , .J . Ml
PT M1N-NIE M. RATXE.
MT first impression as I steamed
into the riouglas port on a bright
Jun evrnins last Summer . was
that I had at last reaohd the country
f the midnight sun. as the sky was
bright and clear, and the horizon still
KlistninB with the rosy reflection of de
parting day. It was ncaring the mid
night hour, vet the wharf was crowded
with people to greet those who arrived
on the beautiful steamer Jefferson, and
other anxious to see tourists, who were
vlaltln Alaska to view the scenic won
ders of this srand country.
The following: clay a visit was made to
thn famous Treadwell gold mines and
mills, which was a trip long to be re
membered. These mines the most ex
tensive in the world are nestled at the
foot of a ranjse of mountains, which rise
to a hcljrht of 2"00 feet, with evergreens
towering high toward their craggy sum
mit, and within a stone's throw of the
salt water of Gastineau Channel, giving
It the most delightful view and pictu
resque location for one of the richest
properties on the globe the Treadwell
group, compos, d of four distinct mines,
owned by different companies, but un
der the same supervision, are known for
the Immense bodies of low-grade ore
which are mined and milled by scientific
methods, to a splendid profit.
First, visiting the tJlory Hole, the
watchword for all tourtsts coming to
Southeastern Alaska, we found a large
pit son feet wide and 1400 fcot long.
Many people think this is the mine prop
er, but it was devoid of any signs of
activity. "We were informed, however,
flint in the future a large force of men
will be engaged to remove the blocks or
ore which are lying in this immense field.
A hurried trip was taken underground,
which gave me h vague idea of what a
mine was like. . We boarded a cage and
with a signal from the foreman, found
ourselves dropping, as it were, through a
dark pace. Now and then we flitted
hurriedly through lighted passageways,
which were the stations of the various
levels. Finally, the 1050-foot level was
reached, where we followed the foreman,
walking through brilliantly lighted arch
ways, the light of our candles casting a
slcum on the quartz ceilings and side
nails, sparkling and glittering, as we
walked- hurriedly onward, through still
broader passageway and arches, cliiub
iug ladders and visiting the different lev
els, now into large hallways or drifts,
then out agHln into huge stopes, at times
lingering long enough to pat the gentre
horse which was drawing ore trains from
tin' chutes to the ore bins.
After three hours of travel in this un
derground world, we again boarded the
cage and were once more above the sur
face, all declaring it was the most in
teresting trip they had ever taken. Paus
ing after visiting the Glory Hole, under
ground mine and outside workings, we
caught a glimpse in the distance of many
beautiful red-painted cottages. which
were situated above the level of the
town, commanding a magnificent view of
Castineau Channel, and in constant sight
of steamers, rowbonts. launches and sail
huats plying back and forth. The homoa
are s'.cam-heated, electric-lighted, and
the occupants enjoying the comforts of
life. A number ot the Treadwell em
ployes live at Oouglas. which is one-half
mile distant from Treadwell.
The open pit. or glory hole, was the
first workings of the Treadwell mine.
The ore was broken by machine drills
operated by compressed aid, loaded into
the cars and taken to the stamp mill.
The pits grew deeper and deeper on ac
count of the extraction of large ore bod
ies, and in order to extend further devel
opment more systematically a shaft waa
sunk on the properly which readied a
depth of 100 feet.
letter on. about 1SS8. another shaft was
started, which at present, ha reached a
depth of IiXiO feet. Heavier hoisting ma
chinery was Installed, and a few years
later the famous "!Ktv Treadwell mill
wan constructed, which is the largest
stamp mill in the world. Ftaur minor
mills assist in thla great ore-crushing
process, with a combined capacity of 8-W
stamps, crushing 6000 tons of ore dally.
The greeting we received on entering
th C0 mill was a deafening roar from
the S00 stamps, and as each stamp weighs
1100 pounds, this reverberating sound Is
carried a long distance. It was aa inter
esting sight to see the heavy-weighted
stampa pounding the ore to a pulp, then
carried by water over the inclined copper-plated
table charged with quicksil
ver, where the free gold is caught, the
refractory gold passing on through
launders to the vanners, or concentra
tors, the heavy material or concentrates
ndherlng to the vanners, the waste ma
terial, which carries practically no value,
passing in the tail race and into Gos
tineau channel.
The quicksilver and gold, which is
River Tunnel Project Most
Desirable, Says T. T. Geer
Would Give Ample Means of Passing From One Side of the Harbor
j to the Other Without
PORTLAND. Dec. 23. (To the Edi
tor. 1 If the present tangle concern
ing the buildinjr of more bridges
tcross the Willamette River cannot be
unraveled, by the construction of a tunnel
under Its channel, then it is to be re
gretted that such is the case. The rea
sons are plentiful and obvious.
Of course, it is of the utmost import
ance that the people of either side of
tho liver should be provided with means
for essy transit to the other, but it
should be remembered that unless a good
harbor u provided and secured there will
not bo many people here who will care
which aide of the river they are on.
feyond all other considerations Portland
4ea bow and will to a greater extent
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L I ' " if 81 t I'll U t -4 4 v ? it JJS531 a?4 a-nr . --r ' -" us.. jts ,s
1V P Jt- J' I V, I I fj I I rifllS: same of checkers. In the south end
ill! t 4 t VT St ' Vi-H- ' 1 fe - 1 1 fe f I -5" IflS - f the butld-nK ls a lare hall, which
k V 1tV 4 tTTT5!5- S'- TS fill Am wl" seat 600 PePle- Amateur per-
lh-.lt IVc, X r-S S w- ' .Cwfuf1: forrnances are very often given bv
111 . 'i' l' l,9(i--C' w. -4 ' J'lMf' members of thisclub, and band concerts
I I Zf ! V -WS""--- fs&S .' iLl Wl I f l l lU take place frequently.
-ll It U ' " A V -eTJT2 I t&PrT"". I I !ll !V Dancin-r parties occur every two
I y 1 . U ' lrS 5 . & ? l "- 1 UH weeks at the club, and large crowds
II fi' - il jt'Ctr -t4 I - i If, -4i lii assemble on those occasions to dance to
-1U I !l , T --Si II I -3' "F5 music furnished by the dub orchestra.
EiU I 1 Tir V4i.4 'I fW A bwli"S alley adjoins the club.
SIP I- ,x f . "4 i4" j S w 'kWTIM where matched games are held fre-
III L ,w Vee I f tL " Z M away minin camP have taken great
II h ? . - A'? v-T ic---vt S . Va if -. - ',(LW S4 " Si Interest in this diversion, many of them
S Hfe, becoming superior players to a few club
II I -m WfTT f&pK " I o. It'.( f tl members of the sterner sex. Friday of
11 r 1 rTtf ' - -1 f' .ft - H each- week is Jadies- day, and many
131 fT -vv , y J T3i, Xisjf2al ladies assemble to enjoy the pleasures
3 U, jf W " ' ' - rif'' -Tii Mll'-'TCrii"''1'" ClUb afordE' The bath-rooms- a
scraped off the copiicr plates when the
mill is cleaned, is called amalgam.
The amalgam undergoes another proc
ess, by which the gold Is separated from
the quicksilver. The retorted gold is
then melted, all foreign matter removed,
and the molten mass is poured into a
mold the size of a brick.
"When cooled and its value determined
by assaying, the solid guld bricks axe
shipped to the home office of the com
pany, which is in San Francisco.
Under the present -free-milling process
in Treadwell It is impossible to treat the
concentrates, so about 25.000 tons are
shipped to the Tacoma smelters annually,
which is estimated to produce $1,250,000
in gold. The Treadwell group employe
14iX men.
A large machine shop-where mining re
pairs are being done and new machinery
constructed is in continuous operation. A
foundry for making castings required for
mining and milling purposes has been In
operation for many years. A new foun
dry is just completed which is the best
equipped and most oriierly foundry of 1
any "Western mlniuK camp. t
:
A feature which makes the life of
the Treadwell miner more attractive ls
a club, which five years ago was organ
ized for the benefit of the working men
and their families. As we entered the
main entrance we were immediately 1
ushered into a larpo room furnished
with eight billiard tables and four pool I
tables. Adjoining: this room is the read- I
ing and writing-room, containing the !
leading- periodicals and newspapers.
There are several writing desks, all be- )
ing- occupied with busy miners writing
to friends. Almost every magazine was j
In use, and in one corner were a num-
Hmderrng: Navigation.
in the future depend upon its harbor fa
cilities for not only its growth but its
very existence as a city of any preten
sion. In other words, if there were
no river here at all Portland would
probably be no larger than Hillsboro
likely smaller. The question of the
greatest importance, therefore, to Port
land today is the improvement of its
harbor and the creation of, conditions
which will to the vers' smallest extent
interfere with the movement-of the larg
est sea-going vessels. It must be ad
mitted that every additional bridge
stretched across the river is an addi
tional menace to shipping anxl. there
fore, to the very condition upon which
the growth of Portland depends.
The sums of money to be expended in
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the construction of the Madison and
Broadway bridges would go far toward
providing a tunnel under the river which
would easily accommodate twice the
traffic which can be possibly taken care
of by the bridges and the river freed
of a large per cent of its handicap in the
rivalry with the Sound ports.
To be sure.- the expense of such under
taking would be very great, but if wc
are to have a million people here within
the next 15 or 20 years it Is time now
that an Inventory of Portland's future
necessities be carefully taken. We are?
proceeding as if w-e would pet this popu
lation without laying the gi oundwork
for its realization. This is the difficulty
which confronts every modern city Hie
shortsightedness of those who originally
located it and had charge of the Hist few
years of its development. It may be ad
mitted that when Mr. Corbett, Mr. Ladd.
Mr. Falling and Mr. Lewis came here
more than 50 years ago and settled
among the big firs along the banks of the
river, sleeping in blankets in their primi
tive store houses, could not he expected1
to see what would develop in these woods
during the next half-century, but no
man in Portland today fails to see that
it is to be the largest city on the Coast
during the next 20 years -provided its
harbor is maintained and enlarged in a
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P ! Klflcs of this pompous mountain. Shady J
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manner commensurate with the demands
of a great seaport metropolis.
It will cost less to construct a sub
way now than at any future timemuch
less and no other possible enterprise
or expenditure of public money would
so quickly contribute to the city's speedy
growth. To do so would be looking to
the future with the eye of unquestioned
wisdom. Some of our enterprising citi
zens are now pledging a large sum of
money for the purpose of making the
city more beautiful, principally in an
endeavor to correct some of the earlier
mistakes of the fathers who were in
clined to build for the day only as we
are so inclined now with a larger light
pointing the way with unerring direct
ness and infallible prophecy. Our prin
cipal streets are far too narrow for the
transaction of the clay's dally business,
even now. When the skyscraper on the
corner of Washington and Third streets
Ls completed and a similar one follows
on the opposite side. these oopuiar
thoroughfares will look like shrunken
alloy-ways and the sun will rarely strike
the pavement save during the luncheon
hour. But this mistake cannot be reme
died now. It is but one of several which
are firmly established and must be en
dured to the end. but the harbor facili
ties can be arranged for now, for it is
s-a ills . t
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'a vital necessity which calls vigorously
for recognition and action.
Not many - years ago Hamburg, which
claims to be the largest shipping port,
of the-world and situated on a river like
the "Willamette, was obliged to condemr
ci oi uiu, ivj ui us uusmess aisiricc
destroy the immense buildings it contained.-
and by a vast system of excava
tion and dredging provide additional
room for the vessels which were coming
to it from every country on earth.
Other cities have been compelled to ex
pend fabufous sums to secure that whicn
the exercise of forethought would have
largely saved, and certainly Portland
should at this stage in its development
bo taking substantial cognizance of its
actual requirements when it reaches a
population of half or three-quarters of
a million.
I desire again to suggest that Guild's
Lake, directly within the city limits, pre
sents a most admirable location for a
splendid harbor which may be trans
formed into such with a minimum of
cost when compared with its actual value
and the inevitable expense of securing
it in the years to come. At least, it
might be acquired now and preserved
for its future use instead of permitting
private parties to fill it up and put it on
the market to be exploited as a resident
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dark-room for finishing; off kodalc pic
tures, an up-to-date barber shop, and
a first-class library, make this one of
the main attractions of the Treadwell
mines, the pride of the whole com
munity. Other attractions of this wonderful
gold camp, such as the Treadwell band,
composed of 26 employes of the mines,
the boarding houses, which attract the
eye of every tourist with the cleanli
ness and splendid-looking tables, the
houses for the miners consisting of
neat rooms, electric lighted, furnished
with hot and cold water, giving to the
weary miner the modern comforts of
life.
.
Intermingled with the busy life of the
Treadwell employe is much pleasure
and amusement. A tennis court is be
ing erected at Treadwell, so those who
enjoy the sport may play at their leis
ure. Baseball is another diversion,
roany'hundred dollars being donated by
the people to defray the expenses of a.
first-class baseball team, a Fourth of
July celebration, and the Flag Day ex
ercises of June 14 gives one the im
pression that in far-away Alaska every
effort is made by the people to furnish
pleasure hand in hand with the dreary
hours of toil.
Other pleasures are Interesting trips
to surrounding mines and glaciers. A
trip all newcomers are advised to take
is a' visit to the Basin mine, four miles
north of Juneau. The ferry, which
makes regular trips to Juneau, ls board
ed at Douglas, and a ten-minute ride
ls taken over the calm waters of Gas
tineau channel. When the Juneau wharf
is reached we at once start our climb
as ' we ascend the streets of Juneau,
.this attractive and quaint-looking
town being built on an inclined plane
plan, the last street commanding a view
above the level of the entire city. In
the distance looms up Douglas Island,
with its beautiful background of ever
green trees towering stately and grrand
in the rear of the island, giving it a
delightful aspect from the -opposite
shore.
It was after a slight shower and a
clear, white mist hovered above Doug
las Island, through which a faint shad
ow of the sun was penetrating. Far
ther out circled a clearer and more
beautifully tinted downy mist, which
floated 'serenely above the pale green
water of the channel.
After ascending a flight of 60 steps
at the rear . of Juneau, we reach the
road proper, which takes us to the
Basic Mine, four miles over a winding
and precipitious highway, but sur
rounded by most beautiful mountains
and picturesque creeks and cascades in
this country. As we traveled on and on
we had a magnificent view of Mount
Juneau, thickly timbered with ever
greens and numberless silvery colored
streams, which fall musically down the
or business district. It is quite as
Important that a suitable place be pro
vided for - the .proper handling of
ships while in Portland as it is
to secure and maintain a channel
for them to get here. This should not
be forgotten, and everybody must real
ize how inadequate the Willamette RiVer,
with five bridges spanning it within a
mile, will be for the shipping which will
come here when our population Is even
500,000 say three years hence. With so
small a narbor, especially when we will
always be in competition with Puget
Sound cities, it seems like commercial
harikari to make a gridiron of the area
we have.
It 1s a big problem and it is likely we
nave gone too far to expect any of
the bridge propositions to be abandoned,
but all of Portland's future greatness
and growth must rest first upon its harbor
facilities much more . than upon Rose
Festivals and Civic Associations, admir
able as these concededly are, and it is
time more ' serious consideration were
given to the certain requirements of the
future. If the bridges nave come to
stay then it is the more incumbent that
a lower harbor should be secured and
a subway provided for the traffic which
will demand undelayed accommodation
for Portland can't grow to be a city
IB Ji
sides of this pompous mountain. Shady
Bend, the coolest spot ou the road, with
its dense shade trees of pine and spruce
and-the luxuriant growth of aider and
Treadwll mills and the wreaths of
smoke issuing from the different works
give one the impression that three
miles in the distance ls located the
busiest town in Alaska.
The reverberating sound of the
berry bushes, was neit'reached. Scarce
ly had we passed Shady Bend, until we
found ourselves winding around the
solitary Cape Horn, the most precipi
tious part of the road, this turn of tue
road being bewn out of 'sVlid rock,
commanding a view of Gold Creek,
roaring swiftly by. at. a distance 300
feet below us. In the distance we could
see the road winding around the moun
tains, each curve taking us higher and
higter. Soon we were beyond the
Ebner mine, and in our tireless ascent
we finally reached the Red Mill. Here
a narrow pebbly trail took us one milo
distant to the Basin Mine, situated 1800
feet above sea level. Although it was
July 6. snow-capped mountains stood
about us. and 200 feet below wo caught
a glimpse of the Perseverance Mine and
mill. The sound from that 100-stamp
mill could be distinctly heard a3 w
stood enjoying the cool breeze wafted
from the mountains surrounding us on
all sides.
We were here given an opportunity of
seeing the basin miners in actual work,
this mine being worked from an open cut.
At the bottom of the cut large blocks of
snow are visible which were as solid as
in the coldest day in January. Many
miners prefer the open cut mines, bo they
may enjoy working in the fresh air.
After an inspection of the mines ami
its workings we started our gradual de
scent. As we neared the base of the
mountain, the sun was high over the top
most "peaks, flooding the narrow winding
road with a dazzling glow, spreading
warmth and brilliancy which was enjoyed
by the merry pleasure seekers.
m m m
An air of peace and contentment ev
idenced among the people here and to the
casual observer this ls difficult to un
derstand, but after living in this country
a. short time one finds the climatic con
ditions are such that in many cases im
prove the weakest constitution.
One noticable fact here are the numbers
of people who have lived here year after
year and seem to be perfectly satisfied.
Many informed me they left several times
to remain away, but always returned, a ,
reason for which they could not give, but
invariably added: "If you live In Alaska
one year, you will want to remain
longer."
A feature which the people of this min
ing town should feel proud of is the
spirit of educational training which pre
vails, here generally. The fact is proven
from the large number of children at
tending school and the effort made by
many people to continue this educational
training and send the young men and
women to higher institutions' of learning,
giving them the fundamental training to
battle with the more difficult tasks in life.
Many of the young men who entered,
school last Fall have returned and are
already actively engaged in some practi
cal . work around the mines which will
give them a keener Insight into the stu
dies they will pursue the ensuing years.
Owing to this education spirit there are
two schools employing seven teachers. Tho
Douglas school is a full 12-graded school
and the -rapid advancement of this Alas
kan school is due to the effort of a
Medford, Or., woman. Miss Adele Fickle,
who used every available means to raise
the school to a level with any first-class
school in the Northwest.
To the women of Alaska is due much
credit for assisting to establish comfort
able homes and educational facilities and
to the pioneei women does Alaska owe a,
debt of gratitude, especially to those who
braved the hardships and privations of
the early days.
In Southeastern Alaska is a class of
men and women who are willing to forge
on ahead, energetic and ambitious in all
thev undertake This spirit prevails gen
erally and consequently gives us a coun
try of which we are all proud, the majo
rity of the inhabitants being typical of
the best brain, bone and sinew of the
northwest. The dreaded frozen north
stories which are told and retold of Alas
ka are tales of the past. Substantial
homes, churches and sc-hoolf of the most
modern type are established, converting
this grand country into a land suited for
persons with stamina and energy who are
willing to mingle with an enterprising and
congenial class of people whose every
aim and ambition is progression.
wrth a million inhabitants on a foun
dation laid out for a mere 250,000.
T. T. GEER.
A Real Hero.
1 aena. fie coolest spot ou the road, -with 1
He's just fine, so big and handsome
All the fellers think he's great;
Saw him on the street this mornins,
That's the reason I was late
For school: I follered lilm
Ten squares; and say, I b'lieve he knew
I'm agoin' to play it some day
And be a football hero, too.
His face was all cut up on one side.
One eye was terribly black and blue;
Gee! he must have had a scrimmage.
Wish I'd seen it, deed I do.
Mother says the game is horrid.
Says I'm never to play ball
Women aren't sporty ever
But Just you wait till I get tall. ,
He's too brave to mind bein' beaten.
And he walked along just like
He wasn't cut; an' say, lie saw- me
And said. "Sou. you'd better bike
It hack to school." The fellers
Won't believe he spoke at Jill
They say I made it up to bluff that
I know a guy who plays football.
Baltimore American.
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