John R. O’Neill

John O’Neill was from Almonte, Ontario. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament in the federal government. He visited Keno shortly after United Keno Hill Mines started mining on Galena Hill and optioned almost every property not controlled by the company. Many old-timers had been holding their claims through the 1920s and ‘30s with no returns so they were happy with the deal. O'Neill optioned for big prices but typically paid only a few hundred dollars a month to hold them. The mines were repromoted and grew into Yukeno Mines Ltd., Mackeno Mines, and finally Galkeno Mines Ltd. Most of the thirty companies taking part in the 1950s boom picked up O'Neill's options.¹⁾ The John R. O’Neill collection of photographs held at the Yukon Archives includes images of lead and silver mining at Keno Hill, an adit at Galena Hill, the transport of ore out of Mayo, and others.²⁾