For Bert Parker's claims alone, there were "7 towers erected with 2000 ft. of aerial tram cable lines, erection of an Ore Bunker, and drifting of tunnels". The lumber & hardware cost $375.00, the cable $225.00, and the labor $1,050.00. The actual sum paid for the improvements by Bert Parker was $600.00.

This verification of  improvements done on claims held by the homesteaders were required most years and was called an Affidavit Of Annual Labor. The statements had to be sworn in front of a Notary Public and filed in Juneau, Alaska by the U. S. Commissioner & Recorder.

Assisting Bert Parker in 1939 in Glacier Bay was Pearl Haynes, Jake Hall, Les Parker, Abraham Lincoln Parker, wife Jennie (mostly home-making/baking in the tents), nieces Henrietta (age 21) & Genevieve (age 15) on short visits,  and daughter Jeanette (about 9). There were a great many trips of everyone between the two camps to help each other as needed. In addition, Tom Smith, and Joe & Muz Ibach would visit and give their "2 cents worth". "Hoisting" the heavy wooden towers was a monumental task, and required the hands of every one on site. Abraham Parker (age 73) was especially helpful when things were not working right and he could apply his inventive machinery mind to work out a "fix".

By mid-October 1939,  with 5 feet of snow on the ground at the Ptarmigan Creek mining sites, Bert Parker had loaded 180 sacks of ore on the "Edith A" transported on his overhead cable trams. Because of snow levels and slow melting, mining activities often could not start untill late June or July, and would come to a halt as soon as the snow began to add up once again---generally early to late October.

GHAA Note: "Man-days" were calculated by how many workers were present. For example: Three people working on the same day equaled 3 "Man-days". The claim holder could then declare that he performed 3 "Man-days".

GHAA Update Note: In Gustavus, Alaska over the winter months Bert "stamped" out his ore and sent samples and concentrates south for evaluation. GHAA does not have the results of Bert Parker's 1939 samples sent at this time. It is known that he worked the claims for only 2 months in 1940, performing 90 "Man-days" drifting tunnels, repairing the tram-way and uncovering ore. Actual sum paid for improvements on the "Iroquois" and "Cora" Bert Parker claims in 1940 was $475.00.

For Bert Parker's claims alone, there were "7 towers erected with 2000 ft. of aerial tram cable lines, erection of an Ore Bunker, and drifting of tunnels". The lumber & hardware cost $375.00, the cable $225.00, and the labor $1,050.00. The actual sum paid for the improvements by Bert Parker was $600.00.

This verification of  improvements done on claims held by the homesteaders were required most years and was called an Affidavit Of Annual Labor. The statements had to be sworn in front of a Notary Public and filed in Juneau, Alaska by the U. S. Commissioner & Recorder.

Assisting Bert Parker in 1939 in Glacier Bay was Pearl Haynes, Jake Hall, Les Parker, Abraham Lincoln Parker, wife Jennie (mostly home-making/baking in the tents), nieces Henrietta (age 21) & Genevieve (age 15) on short visits,  and daughter Jeanette (about 9). There were a great many trips of everyone between the two camps to help each other as needed. In addition, Tom Smith, and Joe & Muz Ibach would visit and give their "2 cents worth". "Hoisting" the heavy wooden towers was a monumental task, and required the hands of every one on site. Abraham Parker (age 73) was especially helpful when things were not working right and he could apply his inventive machinery mind to work out a "fix".

By mid-October 1939,  with 5 feet of snow on the ground at the Ptarmigan Creek mining sites, Bert Parker had loaded 180 sacks of ore on the "Edith A" transported on his overhead cable trams. Because of snow levels and slow melting, mining activities often could not start untill late June or July, and would come to a halt as soon as the snow began to add up once again---generally early to late October.

GHAA Note: "Man-days" were calculated by how many workers were present. For example: Three people working on the same day equaled 3 "Man-days". The claim holder could then declare that he performed 3 "Man-days".

GHAA Update Note: In Gustavus, Alaska over the winter months Bert "stamped" out his ore and sent samples and concentrates south for evaluation. GHAA does not have the results of Bert Parker's 1939 samples sent at this time. It is known that he worked the claims for only 2 months in 1940, performing 90 "Man-days" drifting tunnels, repairing the tram-way and uncovering ore. Actual sum paid for improvements on the "Iroquois" and "Cora" Bert Parker claims in 1940 was $475.00.