Alaska Archive With Gold Miner Content

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/15/2018

A wonderful archive of 15 letters, majority typed, single-spaced, on White Pass & Yukon Route letterhead from Jim to Arnold. Range from 1915 to 1937, these letters from Jim reveal life in the Yukon, near the Arctic Circle, where he works for a mining company. The letters contain lots of talk of mining (gold and silver), but also contain rich accounts of his life and recreation, as well as thirst for reading and politics, and the characters he encounters, dances he attends, radio programs he listens to, floods and mosquitoes he has to battles, not to mention the below-zero weathers and Masonic order references. These letters contain a wealth of information from a single man, an admitted “maverick” who enjoys outdoor work, but also enjoys sitting in a comfortable chair and being warm! Jim is an intelligent and well-read man and extremely witty writer. We are only hitting some high spots with descriptions. 1 page single-spaced letter on “White Pass and Yukon Route” letterhead stationery, Nov. 11, 1913. “It’s a great thing to be a pioneer and considered a tough man, NOT.” Life is tough in the Yukon; plus, 1-page single-spaced letter on WP&YR stationery, April 5, 1920 (rec’d 5/8). “Gold has not advanced in value, thus mines are closing down...” Writes of national politics, labor unions and effect on gold country; plus, 3-page letter on WP&YR stationery, Nov. 24, 1922, from Mayo, Yukon Territory, Canada. Speaks of no Prohibition on alcohol. “The ore (being mined) is silver and is so doggone rich that no one actually knows what the returns will be until they get them from the smelters...” Good detail on operations, competition mining companies and demands of Canadian government on American businesses there. Inquires about U.S. politics: “Has Hank Ford GOT the Hebrews yet...” “Is Harding making good or will he Flivver the next election..”; plus 3-page single-spaced letter on WP&YR stationery, Aug. 22, 1923: Jim envies Arnold’s life back East, but admits he probably won’t move back. He’s a “maverick who goes browsing over any and all hills that look high and sunny.” Talks of watching a forest fire, politics and recreation in the Yukon. “It would not surprise me if time would vindicate Wilson’s idea of a World Court to preserve peace...” Interesting accounty of the death of a camp doctor. Fell off a boat and drowned; plus, 2-page single-spaced letter on Mayo Masonic Club stationery, Dec. 17, 1927: Writes of a pilot and the “Queen of the Yukon.” Observes: “That Lindberg person must be a dandy...I think the U.S. ought to be proud of him.”; plus, 2-page single spaced letter on WP&YR stationery, July 14, 1929: Writes about the Masonic order in Yukon and “the shadow of the (Arctic) circle.” Death of Charlie Shell, a Barnum and Bailey clown, “who got some idea that he had a cancer and started to starve it out of him...” Didn’t work. Mosquitoes so bad a woodchopper took a break and the pests made off with his saw; plus, 2-page letter on Mayo Masonic Club stationery, Nov. 22, 1933. Speaks of losses in the stock market crash and of President Roosevelt, “we’re with you Mr. President...” Plenty of rabbits and caribou to eat. Only one mining company working due to hard times;, plus, 2-page single-spaced letter on WP&YR stationery, Jan. 8, 1937: Lost lots of personal possessions in great flood of the Stewart River. Writes of the exploits of “King Eddy,” and decries the U.S. labor unions and John L. Lewis. “That stuff belongs in Russia...”; plus, 2-page handwritten letter on WP&YR stationery, Dec. 20, 1934: Doesn’t know what he’d do without radio and the various programs. Got a new dog that loves to chase rabbits; plus, 6-page handwritten letter on Hotel Georgia (Vancouver BC) stationery, Dec. 25th (no year), Jan 23 (no year) and April 3 (no year): He is spending winter in Vancouver to get to a warmer clime.

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