Digital Bob Archive

APRIL 20, 1881-This has become a mining camp with two different and distinct names. Rockwell is the name chosen by vote of the residents and is the one recognized and approved by the Navy. But the mail steamer California, on her April trip, brought word that the Post Office Department has approved an office with the name Harrisburgh. This name was suggested by the Sitka postmaster who was unaware of the local vote which had rejected it in favor of Rockwell. There is talk of holding another election, an idea being promoted by Dick Harris who originally named the townsite. He has now returned to the camp from Sitka and is preparing to work his mining claims in Silver Bow Basin. It seems unlikely that any such election will be held before autumn, if at all. Everybody is now getting ready for the mining season. Miners who could afford it have had lumber shipped in on the steamer while others are whipsawing their own. The lumber is being transported up to the basin by Indian packers who are moving here from Auk and Taku villages in the expectation of finding work. The going rate for packers is a dollar a day and plenty of men are available. Some of the miners are already at work on their claims along Gold Creek, having shoveled their ground clear of snow.

In the meantime, although a post office has been officially designated for the camp, we are still without a postmaster. Nathaniel Hilton is the man appointed by the Postmaster General to fill the office, but he declines to serve. For one thing, he has no house in which to keep the office. For another, he plans to spend the summer at Silver Bow where he has an interest in several claims and will not be available to run the office. The man suggested for the job in Hilton?s place is Edward de Groff, the young clerk who is in charge of the Northwest Trading Company?s business here. He has secured the preparation of the ground for building. He also runs the store on the company?s barge on the foot of Seward Street. This is the middle one of the three north and south streets laid out by the special committee. The others are Franklin Street, to the east, and Main Street, to the west.