Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company
Encyclopedia
The Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co. had its offices in 25 Broad St.
, New York City
, New York
, USA. It was the operating company for the Alaska Gold Mines Co. in Alaska
, USA. It worked the Alaska-Gastineau Mine
/Perseverance Mine in the Silver Bow Basin
, approximately 4 miles from Juneau and processed its ore at an old remodeled mill and crushing plant at Sheep Creek. The property of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co. adjoined the Alaska Gastineau on the west.
in 1911. In 1912, the Alaska Gold Mines Co. was organized as a holding company to finance the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co., and large scale development of the mine commenced in July, 1912.
The mill was constructed in Thane
. It was designed by George Bradley, who also designed the Utah Copper Company
mill. Robert Semple began excavating for the foundations in November, 1913. Construction was under the supervision of Daniel C. Jackling
, the original company's managing director. After 1910, Bartlett L. Thane
, the mining engineer who pioneered hydroelectric power
in Juneau, Alaska
, became managing director. Charles E. Bruff was superintendent of machinery installation, while Charles Hayden was the company President.
The average number of employees during 1913 was 900. It was announced on Nov. 21, 1914, that the first section of the company's reduction works would be in operation after January 1, 1915. The first unit started up on February 18, 1915. By June 30, 1915, 4000 tons of ore were being crushed daily. The Alaska Juneau Mining Company purchased all of the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co. properties and assets in 1934.
. In addition, the company owned and controlled lands, reservoir sites, power plant sites and rights-of-way on Salmon Creek, emptying into Gastineau Channel; also on Annex Creek and Carlson Creek, emptying into the Taku Inlet; and on Granite Creek, Gold Creek and Lurvey Creek.
. The fine-crushing plant was housed in the same building as the concentrating mill. The lowest floor of the concentrating mills was 192 feet (58.5 m) above sea-level, affording ample grade for the disposal of the tailing, which was carried into the Gastineau Channel.
About 6,000 horsepower of electricity was required to operate the mines and mills. The big Salmon Creek power stations, owned by the company and erected at the same time as the mine and mill development, furnished the power. There were two stations, one at sea-level near the mouth of the stream, and the other at the upper end of the first basin at an altitude of 350 feet (106.7 m) immediately below the falls. A concrete dam held in storage 19000 acre.ft of water as reserve to keep the Pelton wheel
s moving during the winter months.
The Post office
was situated in the company's general store
. A school was established in a building provided by the company. Private businesses were conducted nearby by consent of the company, including a steam laundry. Liquor was not sold on the premises, but it could be obtained in Douglas
or Juneau.
and hydroelectric facilities (completed in 1912), and also the Annex Creek plant (completed in 1916), both designed by Harry L. Wallenberg, chief engineer. Salmon Creek Dam, the first thin arch dam ever constructed, was built by Thane with the assistance of some of his former football teammates.
Broad Street (Manhattan)
Broad Street is located in the Financial District in the New York City borough of Manhattan, stretching from South Street to Wall Street.- History :...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. It was the operating company for the Alaska Gold Mines Co. in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, USA. It worked the Alaska-Gastineau Mine
Alaska-Gastineau Mine
The Alaska-Gastineau Mine was a gold mine in Perseverance, about east of Juneau, Alaska, USA. It was briefly the largest gold mine in the world. The mine was operated by the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company.-Geography:...
/Perseverance Mine in the Silver Bow Basin
Silver Bow Basin
The Silver Bow Basin is a valley located northeast of Juneau, Alaska, USA. It is situated on Gold Creek in an area north of Icy Gulch, and approximately north of Gastineau Peak. A trail from Juneau leads directly to the mountainside...
, approximately 4 miles from Juneau and processed its ore at an old remodeled mill and crushing plant at Sheep Creek. The property of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co. adjoined the Alaska Gastineau on the west.
History
Around 1900, Joseph Gilbert bought the Perseverance claims and, with the assistance of Col. W. J. Sutherland, formed the Alaska Perseverance Mining Co. Their mill began operations in 1907. In 1910, the Alaska Perseverance Mining Co. was reorganized under the name of the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co. The company incorporated in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1911. In 1912, the Alaska Gold Mines Co. was organized as a holding company to finance the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co., and large scale development of the mine commenced in July, 1912.
The mill was constructed in Thane
Thane, Alaska
Thane is a neighborhood in the City and Borough of Juneau in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located along Gastineau Channel, it begins one mile south of downtown Juneau and consists of approximately two dozen homes spread over five miles...
. It was designed by George Bradley, who also designed the Utah Copper Company
Kennecott Utah Copper
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation , a division of Rio Tinto Group, is a mining, smelting, and refining company. Its corporate headquarters are located in South Jordan, Utah, USA. Kennecott operates one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the world in Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah. ...
mill. Robert Semple began excavating for the foundations in November, 1913. Construction was under the supervision of Daniel C. Jackling
Daniel C. Jackling
-Career:Daniel Jackling was educated in mining and metallurgy disciplines at the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri, now known as Missouri University of Science and Technology. In 1898, Jackling and Robert C. Gemmell made a detailed examination of the Bingham Canyon copper property. They...
, the original company's managing director. After 1910, Bartlett L. Thane
Bartlett L. Thane
Bartlett Lee "Bart" Thane was an American mining engineer who pioneered hydroelectric power in Juneau, Alaska. The world's first thin arch dam, Salmon Creek Dam, was constructed by Thane.-Early years:...
, the mining engineer who pioneered hydroelectric power
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
in Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, became managing director. Charles E. Bruff was superintendent of machinery installation, while Charles Hayden was the company President.
The average number of employees during 1913 was 900. It was announced on Nov. 21, 1914, that the first section of the company's reduction works would be in operation after January 1, 1915. The first unit started up on February 18, 1915. By June 30, 1915, 4000 tons of ore were being crushed daily. The Alaska Juneau Mining Company purchased all of the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co. properties and assets in 1934.
Holdings
By 1915, the company's properties included a net area of 2,166 acres, consisting of 1,672 acres of lodes, 219 acres of placers and 275 acres of millsites and homesteads. The mining claims consisted primarily of four groups, formerly owned and operated independently of each other, locally known as the "Alaska Perseverance," "Ground Hog," "Silver Bow Basin," and "Sheep Creek" groups. They covered a lode system in excess of 2 miles. The company also owned the 310-acre mill site on the Gastineau ChannelGastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel is a channel between the mainland of the U.S. state of Alaska and Douglas Island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska. It separates Juneau on the mainland side from Douglas , on Douglas Island. The first European to sight the channel was Joseph Whidbey early in...
. In addition, the company owned and controlled lands, reservoir sites, power plant sites and rights-of-way on Salmon Creek, emptying into Gastineau Channel; also on Annex Creek and Carlson Creek, emptying into the Taku Inlet; and on Granite Creek, Gold Creek and Lurvey Creek.
Operations
With the exception of the coarse-crushing plant, the four sections of the mill were housed in one large building. The mill was built of concrete and structural steel. The coarse-crushing plant was situated on the mountainside at the terminus of the railroad at an altitude of 125 feet (38.1 m) above sea levelAbove mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. The fine-crushing plant was housed in the same building as the concentrating mill. The lowest floor of the concentrating mills was 192 feet (58.5 m) above sea-level, affording ample grade for the disposal of the tailing, which was carried into the Gastineau Channel.
About 6,000 horsepower of electricity was required to operate the mines and mills. The big Salmon Creek power stations, owned by the company and erected at the same time as the mine and mill development, furnished the power. There were two stations, one at sea-level near the mouth of the stream, and the other at the upper end of the first basin at an altitude of 350 feet (106.7 m) immediately below the falls. A concrete dam held in storage 19000 acre.ft of water as reserve to keep the Pelton wheel
Pelton wheel
The Pelton wheel is an impulse turbine which is among the most efficient types of water turbines. It was invented by Lester Allan Pelton in the 1870s. The Pelton wheel extracts energy from the impulse of moving water, as opposed to its weight like traditional overshot water wheel...
s moving during the winter months.
The Post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was situated in the company's general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
. A school was established in a building provided by the company. Private businesses were conducted nearby by consent of the company, including a steam laundry. Liquor was not sold on the premises, but it could be obtained in Douglas
Douglas, Alaska
Douglas, Alaska is an area on Douglas Island in southeastern Alaska. Itoriginated in 1881 as a place providing services to miners of the nearby Treadwell gold mine, and was incorporated as a city in 1902. Douglas was once a larger town than neighboring Juneau, but dwindled in the early 1900s as...
or Juneau.
Major projects
While under Thane's management, the company conceived of and constructed the Salmon Creek DamSalmon Creek Dam
The Salmon Creek Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Salmon Creek, northwest of Juneau, Alaska. Built in 1914, it is the world's first constant-angle arch variable radius dam. Since it was built, over 100 such dams have been constructed all over the world....
and hydroelectric facilities (completed in 1912), and also the Annex Creek plant (completed in 1916), both designed by Harry L. Wallenberg, chief engineer. Salmon Creek Dam, the first thin arch dam ever constructed, was built by Thane with the assistance of some of his former football teammates.