Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-04-17
ALASKA LETTER.

Healy, who is now in Alaska was pub
lished in the Choteau Calumet and will
| be read with interest by many Of our
readers:
JUssEAu, ALASKA, March II, 1886.
THE STAMPEDE
Has set in for the Yukon valley.
About twenty men have started al
ready. They are provided with
sleighs and snow shoes, the latter to
he used in crossing the portage from
Chilkrook to the lakes at the head Of
the Hootlinka river, a tributary Of the
/ Yukon river. From the lakes they
intend hauling their provisions on the
sleds over the ice to the foot of the
lakes, which is about 120 miles from
the summit Of the mountains. The
Indians pack from tide water to the
head Of the l2kes, distance of IS
miles, for which they have heretofore
charged 10 cents per pound, but now.
[ understand that they are charging
20 cents per pound This
MAY CAUSE TROUBLE
as there will be several hundred men.
on the trail in the next sixty days.
From the foot Of the lakes the rest of
the journey is made in small boats to
Stuart river where they claim the new
gold fields are. The distance to these
from here is fully 700 miles, If not
more The last steamer brought
about fifty men who intend gong in.
Many Of these are old timers who
have some to take advantage of the
early rush.
Tue excitement will run high this
summer, but [ can't say that there is
anything to justify a stampede at
present. Still, there is no doubt that
good pay has been found on the Yu-
kon, and if the find should prove ex-
tensiye there will be more new camps
discovered, as those who have been
there say that there is an immense
stretch of unexplored country and that
| FLOAT GOLD
is found along the principle streams.
There will be suffering here If men
come who have not the will and the
means to search for mines There is
| no employment for l;.borers or
mechanics. All branches are full and
many will return on the boats. The
first impression of the country is very
discouraging, owing to the sudden
change from the prairie to mountain
region.
The quartz interests will look up in
a short time as the prospecting season
is about to open. There have been
many large lodes located close to deep
tide water, and should capitalists turn
their attention to the country they
may find profitable investments. Tho
Threadwell mill is running full blast,
120 stamps, all by water power. There
are many more locations On Douglas
Island which will develop into splen-
did properties. At Bernard's Bay,
distant 40 miles from here, there have
been some good locations made, and
promising reports are expected from
them next season. At present it is
all uphill work with the few
GRAND PRosPEcToRs
who are here They have but little
means and they travel further and
stand more exposure than any class
Of men I ever saw. I only regret that
[ did not find this country when I
was ten or fifteen years younger.
The opportunities for pioneers are
grand. I will now have to take rear
seat as there are men here who think
nothing Of taking LOO pounds on their :
backs and trudging along all day.
The Indians are peaceable. and if let
alone and not reserved by the Gov
ernment, there will be no trouble
with them, unless the gunboat now in
Alaska waters is hauled off. Think
Of the immense country that you
could steal Montana and Dakota out
of and then have enough left, guard
ed by one old gunboat capable of
making but six knots an hour.
would like to write you more in
formation, but news is very scarce
here. e.-Mail once a month, and we are
all isolated until the arrival Of the
boat An opposition boat would help
out wonderfully. The rates of pass
age are not properly regulated. You
can either
PAY Or SWIM.
Walk, you can't. It is rumored that
a semi-monthly mail will be put on
the coming season.
Criminals are scarce here. Every
man is on his good behavior. No
pistols or tights, as man who COM
mits a crime must face the music. No
dodging or hiding And again there
is the best class OF citizens here yol1
aan Il nd II, ar.v ff,r1ufrv Hard ngsaa s