Now that Wm. A. Temple, the diamond drill expert for the territorial government, has arrived in Whitehorse, and as Commissioner Congdon is still here, we presume consultations will be held with the owners of mineral claims on the copper-gold belt to the most feasible and desirable methods to adopt to aid the progress of the mining industry in this district, and also to decide on the best location to commence operations with the diamond drill.
In considering the subject of extending government aid to the district, we desire to place before the government officials a few facts relative to the question of haulage from the mines to the railway, which, in our judgement today is the chief obstruction to the development of the mining industry:
First - It has been demonstrated by actual work and smelter returns that on the Copper King, Grafter, Arctic Chief, Valerie and War Eagle bodies of copper-gold ore occur at and near the surface carrying sufficiently high values to ship at a profit, provided a haulage system is devised which will do away withn the transfer by sleigh or wagon.
Second - Because of the high cost of feed and relatively short life of horses in this northern country, sleigh or wagon haulage cannot be done at a cost which will compare with the same in the mining camps of British Columbia or any of the western states.
Third - On any of the properties named there is an opportunity to obtain, if not sufficient cash to defray the cost for development to a certain point at least a very large percentage of such cost, provided the work is performed with good judgement and conservatism.
Fourth - The necessity for sacking having been removed because the transportation companies have made a through rate on bulk ore to B.C. smelters, the only difficulty remaining is the cost for haulage of the ore from the mine to the railway to enable the owners of all of those properties which we have mentioned to either work them or else option them on a working bond basis and eventually effect a sale.
Fifth - one of the principal causes which today deters capital from considering investment in the copper-gold belt is the comparatively limited development. Local capital has done all that has so far been done in the way of serious development work, except that performed on the Arctic Chief, which has been by individual effort, and can be considered the same as local. No outside capital such as was invested even on the islands off the British Columbia coast has aided.
Sixth - The combined rates for freight and treatment of our ores is less
than the treatment rate alone for the ores furnished to many smelters in the Western States, and equally as low, if not lower, than a local smelter could afford to treat the ore, when all the conditions surrounding the establishment of a plant here are taken into consideration.
Seventh - The ability to obtain a portion at least of the cost for development from the shipments of ore is an important consideration even when heavy
capitalists are doing such work. How much more important then is it when local business men are showing their confidence in their own camp by exerting their best efforts to develop and aid its mining industry.
