In the late winter and spring of 1879, Harris began to prospect and mine for George Pilz, an entrepreneur from Sitka. Harris had twenty years of frontier experience, and a better than average knowledge of mining law and procedures.
His Native American guide in southeastern Alaska was Chief Kowee. Kowee is credited with discovering much of the Juneau area. When they returned to Pilz empty-handed, he sent them back to the Juneau area.
In October of 1880, Richard "Dick" Harris, with partner Joe Juneau, made one of the most significant discoveries of American prospecting.
Kowee took them beyond Gold Creek to Silver Bow Basin, and within a two week period, they discovered and staked some of the richest placer mines in Silver Bow basin, but more importantly the lode system that ultimately became the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine (AJ Mine).
The men shared discovery with the Takou claims, the basis of the Ebner. The Takou claims are above Last Chance Basin and would have been closer to the beach, hence probably more visible.
Harris named the town Harrisburgh after the capital of Pennsylvania; the Harris Mining District was however named after him. In addition they located mill sites and a town site. Within two months, the stampede to the area began. The town's name was later called Pilzburg, then Rockwell. Juneau was able to buy votes from enough of his fellow miners for the name to be changed to honor him.
Richard Harris married Kitty, a Tlingit from Hoonah, around 1880.
A long time Mason, he was admitted to the Jamestown Lodge in Sitka in 1881.
Although his partner, Joe Juneau, sold out his interest in the claims,
Robert M. F. Juneau (Schenectady, New York) to Richard Tighe Harris (Juneau, Alaska). The Governor of Alaska referred him to Harris for information concerning Joseph Juneau. Asks about Juneau’s background. His father left home in Canada when he was a boy and he never heard from him. He was 35, well educated, French, had black curly hair; his name was Narcissus and he came to Schenectady, New York, from Canada in 1844. His brother wrote to Juneau once and received a letter saying he was going to Skagway and would write again but he never did. 2 pages.1905 January 11