Digital Bob Archive

JANUARY 14, 1895-B. M. Smith of the Alaska Electric Light & Power Company says the mining on upper Gold Creek causes problems at the power plant. The creek is very muddy for this time of year because the mining operations which usually shut down with the coming of snow. Quantities of sharp quartz sand wash down the creek and cut the cups and bearings of the water wheel.

Al Noyes chipped 30 tons of ore to the Tacoma smelter this week from the Glacier lode on Sheep Creek. It is said to run from $250 to $300 a ton in gold and silver.

JANUARY 14, 1895-The highest tide in many a year, accompanied by high winds, played havoc among the Douglas waterfront Friday. Several boats were wrecked and a number of Indian canoes were smashed. Robert Purvis?s coal house and the wharf leading to it were demolished and there was a great scramble to rescue the many cords of wood that had been stacked along the beach above the normal high tide line.

Two hose cart companies are being organized by B. M. Behrends and Emery Valentine. One will be for the section of the city above Second Street while the other is for the portion below Second and along the waterfront.

The Juneau & Douglas Telephone Company now has 16 phones in operation.

JANUARY 21, 1895-A number of Juneau businessmen have written to the headquarters of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company protesting the company?s newly announced through rates from Puget Sound to the head of Lynn Canal. Until now, freight and passengers bound for the Yukon have transferred at Juneau to smaller steamers and this has produced much business for the local boats, merchants, hotels and other business houses. Most of this business will be lost to Juneau if steamers from Puget Sound run all the way to the head of the canal.

Tomorrow evening the Scottish residents of Douglas Island and Juneau will enjoy ?A Night Wi? Burns? at Kane?s Hall in Douglas. This will mark the first birthday observance in Alaska of the immortal Robert Burns. More than 250 invitations have been issued.

JANUARY 28, 1895-A new steamship line is being organized at Seattle to be known as the Alaska Steamship Company, and although it has not yet sent a ship north it already has had an effect on freight rates. The Pacific Coast Steamship Company, long holder of a near monopoly on the business, is offering reduced rates to Alaska merchants who sign a contract to ship exclusively on that line. This will be accomplished by a system of rebates ranging from 7 per cent on $250 a year to 20 per cent on $20,000. First class passenger fare is also being reduced from $50 to $40 between Seattle and Juneau. Several local merchants have signed contracts but others are waiting to seen what the new company has to offer.