'TELEPHONE HILL - The City and Borough of Juneau

EURO-AMERICAN HISTORY
Euro-American presence in southeast Alaska began in"the latter part of the
18th century when explorers visited the area in search of highly prized furs,
particularly the sea otter, for trade purposes. The survey for Alaskan
resources included the search for precious minerals and the hope of discovering
the famed Northwest Passage (State of Alaska 1982).
Countri es i nvo 1ved in exploring the northwest coast of North Ameri ca
included Spain, England, Russia, France and Japan. Russian explorers are
recorded as the first to encounter Native groups in southeastern Alaska. The
first published account of exploration in Gastineau Channel was written by
Captain George Vancouver, describing his journeys in 1793 and 1794. Seventy
years later, the name Gastineau Channel was included on the 1867 Humphrey
manuscript furni.shed to Western Telegraph Company (Werner 1925).
John Muir, a well-.known naturalist, visited Lynn Canal in 1879. Upon his
return to Sitka after interacting with Chilkat Tlingits, Muir noted that gold
might be found in the area lying between Windham Bay and Sullivan Island in
northern Lynn Canal. Chief Kowee of the Auk Tl ingits brought ore samples to
George Pt l z a mining engineer residing in Sitka in 1880. These samples
confirmed Muir1s statements- of potential gold reserves in southeast Alaska
(DeArmond 1967).
Encouraged by Kowee's visit, Pilz grubstaked two miners new to Sitka, Joe
Juneau and Richard Harris. On 17 July 1880 the parties signed a service
agreement stipulating the condition of the survey work. In addition to
providing three months of supplies, three Auk guides and a canoe for
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