Mining in the North

Fractured Veins & Broken Dreams: Montana Mountain and the Windy Arm Stampede

Abbreviations used:
ACC: Anglican Church of Canada
BYGMCo: British Yukon Gold Mines, Ltd.
CBCo: Conrad Bonanza Mines
CCMCo: Conrad Consolidated Mines
GOV---: YTG files, YA code
GS: GSC Reports
HGD: H.G. Dickson, D.L.S.
JT: J.B. Tyrrell reports
JHC: J.H. Conrad
M: Montana newspapers
McK: William McKenzie
MP: NWMPolice Reports
Star: Whitehorse Star
UK: United Keno Hill brochure
YDGMCo: Yukon District Gold Mining Co.

• 1860 (?): JHC born in Virginia, 1 of 13 children

• 1874: JHC arrives in Montana at age 14 (M)

• 1885: JHC driving cattle around Yellowstone (M)

• July 10, 1893: first staking in the Wheaton Valley, by Thomas Kiorman, Frank Corwin, Christ Heinecke and August Germerslomer (Star, Sept 14, 1906).

• Fall 1893: JHC files for divorce from Mabel

• July 13, 1899: Wm. R. Young locates Montana Mine

• July 24, 1900: J.M. Pooley locates Mountain Hero Mine

• 1901: Montana Mine bonded to New York interests (Ormsby, 1907)

• August 29, 1901: J.M. Pooley iocates Venus; J.M. Stewart, Uranus

• 1902: JHC sends experts up (?)
          - JHC bonds Montana Mine for $250,000 (Ormsby 1907)
          - Mr. Hodnott stakes in Wheaton (Star, Sept 14, 19O6)

• 1903: valuable quartz mines found near Carcross (MP)
          - stampede to Kluane
          - Boundary dispute: NWMP top out at 300 (?)

• January 17, 1903: first news of Tanana gold, brought by Jujiro Wada, appears in Dawson newspapers.

• June 20, 1903: JHC has mining property in Ketchikan, plans on building smelter, is visiting Whse Copper Belt (Star)

• August 5, 1903: Ira Petty locates "Joe Petty" and "Little Johnny" (GOV1995,2877)

• 1904: stampede to Tanana (MP)
          - North American recession hits; worst since 1890s.

• February 2, 1904: J.M. Pooley, J.M. Stewart et al applies For 80acres, Pooley Ck. (GOV1952)

• February 29, 1904: JHC gets Free Miners Cert. in Whse.

• March 1, 1904: JHC visits Copper Belt and Kluane (Star)

• May 17, 1904: JHC arrives as representative of syndicate which has bonded the Arctic Chief copper property (Star)

• May 23, 1904: JHC has the Gov't diamond drill, is setting up camp at Arctic Chief (Star)

• June 1904: NWMP awarded the title "Royal"

• June 4, 1904: JHC's mother dies in Kalispell (Star)

• June 9, 12, 1904: JHC at Bullion Ck (Star)

• July 15, 1904: Capt. John Irving & JHC off to Atlin to look after mining interests (Star)

• Summer 1904: there was no warm weather at all (MP)

• December 1, 1904: NWMP numbers 300

• January 10, 1905: JHC in Whse after 10-day trip to Windy Arm, where he optioned silver property [probably Montana] (Star)

• January 11, 1905: JHC and William Clark hire the 4-man crew from the Copper King, including George Erickson, to start work at Windy Arm (Star).

• March 1905: Windy Arm mines start (MP)

• March 22, 1905: George Dail locates "Vault". (GOV1996,295b)

• Spring 1905: Gold Hill discoveries by "Scottie" [Morrison|, backed by JHC (Ormsby, 1907)

• June 26, 1905: G.A. Singer reports to stockholders that Montana Mine vein has $12 Million ore in sight. (Star November 14)

• July 2, 1905: James Murray locates "Caribou". Sold to HR October 20/05. Caribou is heart of Big Thing Group; also Vanguard, Pride of Yukon, Pride of Yukon No. 2, Nipper Fraction, Eureka and Eureka No. 2. (GOV1997,2997)

• July 3, 1905: G.A. Singer applies for 160 acres at Conrad City. (GOV1953,560)
          - JHC applies for 160 acres at Conrad City. (GOV1953,561)

• July 22, 1905: Thistle and Aurora located (GOV198l,630)

• July 26, 1905: JHC and G.A. Singer return from Seattle; material for first tramway ordered, plus 50 mules & horses (Star)

• July 28, 1905: Windy Arm mines have cost JHC $250,000 (Star)
          - JHC says he has been mining in Montana for 35 years.
          - WP&YR has a force of men surveying a branch line to Conrad City

• August 3, 1905: $5,000 appropriated for Windy Arm road. (GOV1912)

• August 7, 1905: Billy Weidieppe fitting pack saddles on mules.
          - 5 claims being worked, 100 men working.
          - Barney J. McGee gets first hotel licence for Conrad City, is shipping in hotel and general store outfits (Star)

• August 8, 1905: WP&Y delays railroad to Conrad City until 1906 (Star)

• August 14, 1905: Conrad Consolidated, Conrad-Bonanza, and J.H. Conrad companies operating.
          - 60 men working in Montana, Mtn Hero mines, in three 8—hr shifts, with Herman Vance foreman. Smaller crew on Uranus & Venus, with George Erickson sub-foreman.
          - F.W. Farrington brought from Colorado as assayer.
          - tramway being installed by R.H. Lanyon of Nelson, BC, with 50 men.
          - tent city springing up.
          - telephone system has been installed to the mines.

• August 15, 1905: Star arranges for correspondent at Conrad City (Jack Hope).
          - gov't road approved to Conrad City; Robert Lowe and Harry Dickson leave (or Carcross (Star).
          - the Gleaner Look high explosives to Conrad City and Atlin, with the barge Taku loaded with lumber for tram.

• August 16, 1905: 300 people in Conrad City last night (Star)

• August 17, 1905: JHC takes a large party to Conrad City; H.A. Murphy of Pacific Coast Steam Ship Co.; C.S. Barnes and F.W. Fickhardt of WP&YR; W.P. Grainger; Messrs Pooley and Hughes of Caribou.

• August 18, 1905: surveying underway for Conrad City road (Star)
          - 100,00 feet of outside lumber has been taken to Conrad City on the Gleaner.

• August 21, 1905: Pooley et al sell 80 acres, etc. to JHC. (GOV1952)
          - 3 feet of solid ruby silver struck on the Uranus claim on the 18th (Star)

• August 22, 1905: Barney McGee is mayor of Conrad City (Star)

• August 24, 1905: CCM buys "Vault" (GOV1996,2955)

• August 29, 1905: W.A. Anderson applies for water, power rights. (GOV1954)

• July-August 1905: virtually no rain; Dawson placer production way down.

• September 1, 1905: Edmund Bristol invests in Big Thing Mine, discovered 3 weeks ago (Star)
          - 10 tram stands of 40 finished.
          - HGD to survey Pooley Canyon tramway tomorrow (Star)

• September 5, 1905: 90,000 feet of cable arrives.
          - Royal N. Riblet is laying out 3 new tramways, on the Vault, Venus, and Big Thing Mine claims; Harry Dickson has a crew surveying the Big Thing tram. Conrad-Bonanza has Vault etc (Star)
          - 5 business lots sold in Conrad City by Singer.

• September 6, 1905: Hon. Frank Oliver, Min. of Interior, leaves Whse with Major Snyder to visit Windy Arm mines, using the Gladys. Returned September 8 (Star)

• September 12, 1905: Herman Cane starting on the stone houses at RT.
          - JHC takes old friend H.B. Kelly; Pittsburg coal operator Charles H. Horton; Mr. Armour of Toronto to Windy Arm (Star)

• September 14, 1905: survey of BC/YT border at Windy Arm ordered; Harry Dickson doing the work (Star)
          - WP&YR surveying Log Cabin/Conrad City/Carcross loop (Star)

• September 16, 1905: telegraph line construction started.

• September 19, 1905: Mr. Robeson has bonded Dail & Fleming, is building a large warehouse at foot of trail.
          - Daulton is money behind Dail & Fleming option; paid $105,000 for 80% of properties (MP:41)
          - Chas. Watson is Conrad City townsite agent; lots went on sale September 16, 41 sold in 3 hours at $25-300 (Star)
          - road to Conrad City finished, Robert Lowe lauded

• September 21, 1905: Bert Wooldridge opening 18x28-foot restaurant at Conrad City.

• September 26, 1905: Three big-shots from east coast at Conrad City.
          - Stone houses being built at Thistle/Aurora (Star)
          - Conrad Mtn. not being worked.

• September 27, 1905: H.M. Lay is manager of CIBC, Skagway (Star)
          - First mention of JHC as "Colonel" in Star
          - Too much money available to invest in Windy Arm, says JHC.
          - Commissioner W.W.B. McInnes goes to Conrad City on Gleaner

• September 28, 1905; rumours that Conrad City is to be new capital (Star)

• September 30, 1905: stone house at Mountain Hero completed.
          - telegraph line nearly complete, office being built at Conrad City.

• October 2, 1905: Gold Commissioner Senkler married in Dawson (Star)

• October 3-7, 1905: JHC in Whse with severe cold.

• October 4, 1905: JHC building house at Carcross (Star)

• October 6, 1905: telephone line being installed by Paul Hogan, from Caribou to Conrad City by way of the mines (Star)

• October 7, 1905: Star has got lot in Conrad City, will open office when size of town justifies.

• October 10, 1905: JHC sends first message over new telegraph line.

• October 13, 1905: cable stretching started on Mountain Hero Mine tram. A capstan broke during stretching, not fixed by November 3 (Star)
          - JHC plans 4 more tramways, 3 concentrators and a smelter.
          - heavy snow has halted work on some claims.

• October 14, 1905: sawmill fire at Carcross

• October 16, 1905: JHC as philanthropist (Star)

• October 17, 1905: Indian Reserve #5 established at Carcross; 160 acres, Lots 15 and 16, Group 6 (754) (ref. Map H671)

• October 19, 1905: 7-mile road built from Carcross to the Big Thing Mine by Sam McGee with 16 men, started September 20 (Star)

• October 23, 1905: Dr. A.F. Edwards on way to Conrad City to open office

• October 24, 1905: JHC leaves for Seattle, New York until Jan/O6 (Star)

• October 30, 1905: Bill Clark interviewed by Star.

• November 1905: Conrad City has 1 licenced hotel, 2 stores,restaurants, etc. (MP)
          - JHC trying to raise money to build copper smelter at Carcross (MP)
          - WP&YR has carried 385 tons of goods for Conrad City in 1905 (MP)

• November 1, 1905: Edmund Bristol et al incorp J.H. Conrad Yukon Mines Ltd., and the Windy Arm Syndicate Ltd., in Toronto (Star)
          - Capt. Fitz Horrigan posted to Caribou, covering Conrad City (Star)

• November 4, 1905: 40 tons of ore shipped south, most to Tacoma, some to Denver to test concentration methods (Star)
          - August Voepel, Maj. Snyder, Robert Lowe incorporate the Voelpel Power, Light, Water and Telephone Co., Ltd. (Star, Nov15)

• November 8, 1905: G.A. Singer has WP&YR build a new tramway capstan (Star)

• November 11, 1905: Palmers incorp. Conrad City Water & Supply Co., Conrad City Telephone Syndicate, and Conrad City Electric & Power Co (Star)

• November 14, 1905: JHC brags to Vancouver Province, but not looking for money (Star)

• November 25, 1905: Conrad City business men building a trail from Carcross to Conrad City (Star)

• November 28, 1905: derogatory article in Victoria paper; Windy Arm scam (Star)

• December 1905: NWMP number 228
          - MP regrets that Americans are profitting in Windy Arm.

• December 15, 1905: first horse team crosses lake ice to Conrad City.
          - Alex. Chisholm has opened hardware at Conrad City.
          - contract let for building Conrad City dance hall.

• December 18, 1905: G.A. Singer returns from stockholder's meeting in Seattle; company reorganized to build concentrator (Star)

• 1906: work starts on the Vault (JT)

• January 6, 1906: Billy Weisdeppe's Diamond W freight line makes round trip from Carcross to Conrad City every day, 11 miles in 2 hours (Star)
          - Principal buildings in Conrad City are:
            * Mine Manager G.A. Singer's office
            * Windy Arm Hotel (Watson & Son)
            * Conrad City Hotel and restaurant (W.Wooldridqe)
            * Alex Chisholm Hardware
            * Hume & Proulx cigar & tobacco shop
            * "Frenchies" general resort & solo emporium
            * laundry and bath house
            * Dominion telegraph office (Jack Hope, Star corresp.)

• January 8, 1906: Wirt Hansbrough & W. Leithead buy "Ruby Silver", through Windy Arm Mining Co. of Seattle (Star)

• January 11, 1906: Ruby Silver Mining Company operating (Star)

• January 18, 1906: JHC & Edmund Bristol secured $1.5 million from London.

• January 27, 1906: Ross & Cochrane started building hotel in Conrad City (Star)
          - F.W. Farrington built new house to bring his bride to.
          - A. Chausse renovating his building to first-class hotel.

• January 31, 1906: Weisdeppe busy hauling ore with 4-horse teams, 5 tons per sled (Star)

• February 3, 1906: Stroller White writes article blasting plan to build dance hall in Conrad City

• February 5, 1906: G.A. Singer & Mellott building hotel in Conrad City (Star)

• February 7, 1906: Weisdeppe hauling 5 tons per day, not per trip.
          - Montana Mine working 24 hrs/day, 3000 tons of ore on dump.
          - lots in Conrad City which sold for $150 have resold for $400.

• February 8, 1906: positive articles in B.C. Mining Exchange, and by Provincial Minerologist (Star)

• February 19, 1906: Arctic Trading Co open in Conrad City in temporary building (Star)

• February 20, 1906: no rabbits for sale all winter
          - S.A.D. Bertrand heading to Conrad to arrange for summer wagon road from Carcross.

• February22, 1906: JHC, from Toronto, buying all available Windy Arm claims.
          - falling tonnage of goods shipped into Yukon (Star)

• March 8, 1906: RNWMP application for Conrad City land rejected as too valuable. (GOV1954,600). [see Nov. 1/06]

• March 19, 1906: first hotel in Wynton by W.A. Anderson near complete.

• March 20, 1906: JHC orders his Carcross house to be enlarged.
          - Carcross Syndicate, Ltd. formed in Toronto. Has at least 4 claims.

• March 21, 1906: 200 people leaving Dawson to start coffee houses and laundries in Conrad City (Star)

• March 23, 1906: W.D. Young arrives from east to open reading room.

• March 26, 1906: Capt Martin laying out townsite on his block to south.
          - Vault and Venus being worked by contract; George Rich on Vault, Fred Whitman the Venus (Star)
          - Businesses in Conrad City:
            * Windy Arm Hotel (Chas.Watson & Son)
            * A. Chisholm Hardware Store (A. Chishoim)
            * Conrad Drug Store (W.A. McKeown)
            * Conrad Restaurant & barber shop (H.M. Wooldridge)
            * Proulx & Hume, tobacconists
            * Arctic Trading Co. in temp bidg (Capt. Martin)
            * Mrs. Dodson, bath house & laundry
            * Japanese restaurant
            * Drueie & Co., furniture
            * Alvilla Chausse, Geo. Curtis finishing Northern Hotel

• March 30, 1906: 5 buildings going up in Wynton, 3 of them hotels

• April 7, 1906: list of Conrad contracts in Star

• April 10-12: "City of Seattle" ful] of equipment For Conrad

• April 18, 1906: San Francisco earthquake

• April 23, 1906: Ten Thousand Club formed in Carcross
          - first white child born in Carcross

• April 27, 1906: to be called Conrad Day (Star, Apr.28)

• May 11, 1906: telephone system being built
          - Tacoma smelter workers get major improvements in working conditions

• May 25, 1906: Captain Richards of the Gleaner forces channel open to Conrad City to bring people to Whse for celebrations
          - Fairbanks burns

• June 1906: Gladys rebuilt and re-launched, put on Carcross-Conrad patrol (MP) [See June 29 Star]

• June 4, 1906: men clearing for Mary Turner hospital.(GOV1955,619)

• June 8, 1906: road being built to Venus from Wynton by private donations, and other roads being built by BC and Yukon. Read an article from The Weekly Star here.
          - grand opening of new Yukon Hotel

• June 9, 1906: Bishop Bompas dies at Carcross

• June 15, 1906: Archie Gould & W. Simpson buy Wynton hotel (Star)
          - W.H. Jefferies goes to Conrad to open branch of P. Burns & Co. butcher shop.

• June 18, 1906: CCMCo recorded Venus Group: Venus, Venus No.2, Venus Fraction, Vault, Uranus, M & M, Capella and Mamouth (GOV1996,2955)
          - Montana Group recorded: Montana, Mountain Hero, Joe Petty, Little Johnny, Black Jack

• June 20, 1906: pack trail from Conrad City to the Big Thing Mine started (JT); Carcross to the Big Thing built Sept20-Oct19, 1905

• June 29, 1906: S.S. Wright has started a lumber yard at Conrad City (Star)
          - Mabel F. being readied for Conrad City service.
          - Watson & Son building deluxe new hotel [Windy Arm]
          - Yukon Hotel (C. Barnes) & German Bakery Cafe top notch.
          - Sargeant Acklen & Constable Runildson are local NWMP
          - Daulton has 12 men working on Humper/Venus Ext.
          - Wooldridge opening "palatial" restaurant.
          - Northern Hotel (Curtis & Chausse) adding on.
          - June 23, the Gladys arrived on 1st patrol
          - Allan MacDonald has boat-building business
          - 2 corner lots sold for $1800.
          - Mountain Hero Mine tramway has longest span in the world, 2,960 feet.
          - Venus tramway under construction; Vault will be next.
          - camps working at Big Thing Mine, Howard, Vega and Caribou
          - Dr. John Pringle in charge of Prebyterian mission at Conrad City

• July 1, 1906: Post office opens at Conrad City; James Murray, PM. Quit November 10/07
          - Mining Recorder's office opens at Conrad City

• July 2, 1906: combined US/Canada celebrations in Conrad City

• July 6, 1906: Walter Lawrence doing contract work on Vault/Uranus
          - Alaska Governor visits Conrad City.
          - new Windy Arm hotel (C. Watson) progressing
          - Northern Hotel annex open, Chause has sold out to Curtis.
          - Mary Turner's hospital finished, will open soon (Star)
          - E.J. White has started the Conrad Miner newspaper
          - Mr. Gilliam reports 65 men working at Montana Mine; 50hp compressor in.
          - Conrad City shouid have school by fall (Star)

• July 13, 1906: stampede to headwaters of the Watson River (Star).
          - 500 claims recorded in first 90 days (Hurja, 1914)

• July 20, 1906: JHC escalates Watson stampede, sends in 49 men.

• July 23, 1906: Mabel F. come to Conrad for the first time

• July 27, 1906: JHC applies for 160 acres at head of Morrison Ck.

• August 1906: Venus tramway built, Pelton Water Wheel installed (JT)
          - Carcross—Conrad City road being upgraded, Conrad City-BC built (GOVl9l2)
          - Sisters from Dawson in Conrad City re. hospital (Star, Nov2)

• August 1, 1906: Conrad Mining District formed. (GOV2034,1729)

• August 10, 1906: Major Wood says 1000 men in Windy Arm district; only 2 people left in Tagish, but it may boom as well.

• August 17, 1906: JHC off to Vancouver to meet Wm. Mackenzie

• August 31, 1906: JHC returns from coast with his 17-yr old son Barnaby.
          - Jerry Doody on photo trip to Windy Arm
          - Vault tramway being built.
          - Conrad City post office can now issue and cash money orders.
          - Federal Railroad Commission meets in Whse to discuss high freight rates.
          - JHC returns from Seattle with "a few bales" of money to work Wheaton, continue Windy Arm

• September 7, 1906: W. Robison working at Conrad City as painter, paper-hanger.
          - Rev. O'Meara has fancy new house in Conrad City.
          - Gilbert Skelly started work on Carcross-Conrad City road on 3rd.
          - "Conrad News" in the Star now bylined Jas. M. Murray
          - W. Sam McGee working on Venus road

• September 12, 1906: Mary Turner hospital operating (GOV1955,6l9)

• September 14, 1906: J.H. Hoare, Hoare & Williams, Mackenzie & Mann agents, in Windy Arm with JT (Star)
          - of 5 births in August in south YT, 2 were in Conrad City.
          - Dr. Kerr, dentist, apparently practising in Conrad City.
          - hard to get enough miners or carpenters.

• September 16, 1906: Catholic Church at Conrad City dedicated (Star, Oct12)

• September 21, 1906: Archie Gould has taken over Wooldridge's hotel.
          - Sargeant Ackland took census, found 12 school age children.
          - Mrs. Geo. Curtis went to Whse with daughters for school year.

• October 1906: JHC has 140 claims in the area (M)

• October 5, 1906: Yukon hotel has top mixologist, Theo Sweet, Atlin.
          - Sargeant Ackland, in Conrad City for 5 mo., transferred to Whse.
          - heavy snow on mtn., many men laid off, heading outside.

• October 2, 1906: J.M. Poeley falls against circular saw, hurt bad.
          - Mr. Lute of Mackenzie & Mann is in Windy Arm with JT (Star)
          - new post office open.

• October 19, 1906: J.P. Rogers leaves as JHC's Mgr, Vance takes over.
          - YT being stripped by headhunters & souvenir hunters.
          - Queen & McPhee, grocers are covering their tent with wood.

• October 26, 1906: JT sends out negative reports to McK. (JT)
          - Mountain Hero Mine tramway not working (JT)
          - tramway to Vault under construction (JT)

• November 1, 1906: Conrad City has 2 NWMP, living in a tent.
          - NWMP number 140
          - Myrtle Turner hired as teacher in one of first 3 Assisted Schools.

• November 2, 1906: Burns & Co. closed for winter
          - JT has former telegraph office set up for winter quarters.
          - Sisters' hospital under construction.

• November 9, 1906: JHC returns with more material tor Vault tramway; framework already up (Star)

• November 10, 1906: JHC gets telegram from McK to stop operations. Star suggests that it is to reorganize for smelter (Star, Nov16)

• November 30, 1906: Dr. Pare and Capt. Horrigan made their weekly visit to Conrad City.
          - H.M. Lay heads east, won't be back to Conrad City.

• December 21, 1906: JHC wires from Toronto - Venus, Vault & Montana Mine back at work; Big Thing Mine should be in a few days.

• 1907: work on Conrad Mines has been "limited":15-30 men (MP)
          - Livingstone Creek is richest in YT (MP)
          - Conrad City NWMP closed

• February 15, 1907: T.M. Daulton offers to buy Bill Anderson's Wynton hotel & ranch.
          - Fred Ronkendorl of Yukon Hotel, leaves forever.
          - lower tunnel at Vault coming along well.

• May 31, 1907: Mining Recorder's office moved to Carcross (Star)

• June 7, 1907: Yukon Hotel apparently bankrupt (Star)

• June 21, 1907: Mabel F making daily trips to Conrad City (Star)
          - Charlie Watson's Windy Arm Hotel still the best in North.

• June 30, 1907: Conrad school officially closes.

• July 19, 1907: JHC working on Big Thing Mine, Can.-Yukon and CCCo properties, but pushing Wheaton-Watson (Star)

• July 26, 1907: Kennedy & Parks checking out JHC's mines (Star)
          - Venus shipping, new bunkhouse being built (Star)
          - Hugh Hamilton buried in Conrad City, above the powder house 1/2 mile north of town.

• August 2, 1907: Watson's Windy Arm the only hotel in Conrad City
          - Arctic Trading doing well in Conrad City.

• August 30, 1907: JHC leaves for the winter, for NY etc.(Star)

• September 13, 1907: Mining Recorder Percy Reid busy, but with Wheaton records (Star)
          - a hotel licence costs $250 in Conrad City, $500 in Whse, $700 in Dawson)

• September 20, 1907: C.J. Grace of Toronto in Windy Arm to check his mines (Star)

• October 4, 1907: E.J. Hamacher in Conrad City photographing (Star)

• October 8, 1907: R.C. Miller doesn't think much of Conrad City potential (GOV1953,560)

• October 11, 1907: Venus closes until spring (Star)

• October 18, 1907: Capt. Martin and family off to Victoria for a few months (until April 18, 1908).

• October 25, 1907: Payment must be made for Venus on Nov. 1 (Star)

• November 1, 1907: NWMP number 93

• November 10, 1907: James Murray quits as Postmaster. Frank McPhee takes over February 18, 1908

• 1908: Anglo-American Consolidated Mining Co. controls Beach, Red Deer, Humper No.1, Venus Ext. (GSC)
          - Venus concentrator opens (MP)
          - JHC has Riblet survey tramway over Chilkoot (MP)

• January 15, 1908: R.C. Miller says Conrad City lots have no value. (GOV1953,560)

• January 24, 1908: H.W. Vance has bought concentrator for Venus (Star)
          - Mr. Hoare is resident manager of Company in Conrad City.

• February 18, 1908: Frank McPhee takes over Conrad City post office; dies June 29, 19O9.

• March 27, 1908: Fred Whitman one of the most experienced hard-rocks, is now at Conrad City (Star)
          - headhunters wiping out game around Carcross.

• April 17, 1908: Capt. Martin reopens store at Conrad City (Star)

• June 19, 1908: Venus concentrator being built, but dock too small.
          - R.C. Miller's family returns after 2 year absence.

• July 3, 1908: JHC returns after raising $600,000. Has bought out Mackenzie except in Venus (Star)
          - got more money for his Porcupine mines as we1i.
          - JHC says the recesion is over (Star)

• September 1, 1908: JHC cancels Conrad waterfront application.

• September 4, 1908: JHC investing heavily in Wheaton, Porcupine (Star)

• September 18, 1908: JHC buys Dail & Fleming property (Star)

• September 25, 1908: Mr. Woods, machinist, injured building Venus concentrator, nearly complete (Star)
          - Big Thing Mine to resume operations (Star)

• October 2, 1908: JHC in Carcross with Riblet and cousins Hunters.
          - JHC in Dawson looking at hydraulics for Porcupine (Star)

• October 9, 1908: JHC to build tramway across Chiikoot (Star)

• October 16, 1908: Venus concentrator finished.
          - H.W. Vance is from Iowa (Star)
          - Big Thing Mine opening after 2 years idle (Star)

• November 1, 1908: NWMP number 79

• 1909: Big Thing & Venus being worked, tramway from Big Thing Mine to Lake Bennett surveyed (MP)
          - Daulton operating the Dail & Fleming properties as "Empire" (MP)
          - only 12 people in Conrad City (UK)

• December 25, 1908: A 4-horse team belonging to the Yukon District Gold Mining Company was on the way over the lake to Carcross with 70 sacks of concentrates when the ice gave way just off the mouth of Pooley canyon and everything went to the bottom of the lake except the driver. The loss to the company is estimated at $1800.

• January 15, 1909: Venus concentrator shut down because of breakdown. Operations resume February 15 (Star).

• March 1909: new 2-room house on lot in Whse for sale for $500.

• April 2, 1909: JHC in New York buying mining equipment, probably for Porcupine property (Star).

• June 28, 1909: Conrad City Postmaster Frank McPhee dies. Mary Turner takes over May 1, 1910. Post office closes Dec. 10, 1910.

• September 30, 1909: NWMP number 74

• March 15, 1910: JHC marries 38-year-old Nellie Robertson in Iowa.

• Apr. 8, 1910: JHC and Edmund Bristol combine claims as BYGM (GOV1997,2997)

• July 13, 1910: Edmund Bristol and JHC partners in Fairpiay, Westover, Thistle, Aurora, Columbian, T&B and Glacial Lake (GOV1997,2981)

• December 10, 1910: Post office closes at Conrad.

• 1911: remarkable deveLopments at Big Thing Mine; power p1ant installed, 100 men working (MP)

• 1912: MCK forecloses on JHC

• January 19, 1912: Big Thing Mine actively working; 30-40 men cutting 2-3,000 cords of wood for power plants (Star)

• February 2, 1912: "Cat" lost through ice hauling wood to Big Thing Mine.(Star)

• March 29, 1912: Main ore body finally struck at Big Thing Mine (Star)
          - Foreman is Wm. H. Ireland, with 75 men
          - Dail & Fleming are working the Humper Group.

• June 21, 1912: JHC comp1aininq about high WP&YR rates (Star)
          - JHC leaving for outside, won't be back until he can operate here at a profit (Star)
          - Big Thing Mine closes (Star)

• July 12, 1912: Ireland working at Big Thing Mine on contract (Star)
          - JHC left on 10th for Porcupine (Star)

• August 16, 1912: JHC buys more Porcupine claims (Star)

• September 27, 1912: E.J. Proulx and Carl Faulk now fox-farming at Carcross.(Star)

• March 14, 1913: Fleming-Dail Mining Co. operating on Windy Arm (Star)

• July 10, 1914: Conrad City now abandoned (Star)

• August 3, 1914: Percy Reid now working at Emigration Branch, Ottawa (GOV1997,3416)

• January 21, 1916: Silver Queen & Ruby Silver operating on east side of Lake Bennett, 5 mi. north of Bennett (Star)

• February 21, 1917: Alaska Corp. applies as YT Co. to run the Big Thing Mine (GOV1920)

• March 31, 1917: Venus No.2 operated by Lackinaw & Tagish Mines (GOV1990,758)

• May 8, 1917: John Warne working on Venus concentrator; should be operating in a week (Star)

• November 30, 1917: Venus operated by Harper Mines (GOV1990,950)

• February 28, 1918: MP report on strike at Venus re. non-payment (GOV1923)

• September 5, 1918: Harper closes Venus (GOV1990,950)

• November 19, 1919: Montana-Yukon Mining Co. incorporates in YT

• 1923: operations cease on Venus until 1966 (UK)

• November 27, 1928: J.H. Conrad dies in Seattle of cancer.