Background
Thane was born in Oakland, California, United States of America, in August 1877. His father was a well-known orchardist from Niles, California.
Thane was born in Oakland, California, United States of America, in August 1877. His father was a well-known orchardist from Niles, California.
He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a degree in mining engineering in 1899.
The world"s first thin arch dam, Salmon Creek Dam, was constructed by Thane"s sister was named Laura. While attending the university, he played college football and was the quarterback of the 1898 California Golden Bears football team that defeated Stanford in the "Big Game" for the first time by a score of 22 to 0. Thane first came to Alaska in 1897.
He was hired by Herman T. Tripp to work at the Sumdum Chief Mine south of Juneau.
He was the first superintendent of the Eagle River Mining Company (1903-1910), before becoming Managing Director of the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company. By 1911, he had controlling interest in six Juneau area gold mines.
In 1912, he took control of the Perseverance Mine and developed it into the world"s largest. In 1915, Thane and other mining and business executives established Juneau"s first golf course, in the Mendenhall Valley.
Between 1918 and 1919, Thane quit the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company, moved to San Francisco, and then returned to the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company.
In 1921, after the Alaska-Gastineau Mine shut down, Thane attempted to develop his facilities for a new pulp mill, but a deal with Japanese investors failed in 1923.
He was also a member of Skull and Keys and Kappa Alpha Order at California