The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23
ALAsKA's FAMOUS MINES.
Where They Are Situated and How to Get to
Them In That Country.
Seattle Chronicle.

Seattle Chronicle.
A reporter met, yesterday, Dir. William
Moore, who twenty eight years ago moved from
California ia Victoria, B. c.. from whom he OBJ
tanned some very interesting information re.
specting Alaska on which country Mr.. Moore is
well posted. He and his three sons were the
second party who went into the Cassiar mines
In British Columbia, in 1872, only short time
after their discovery by three Frenchmen. Mr..
Moore and his sons cleared in several seasons
$45, 900 from their claims in those mines. With
this money he constructed a steamer, the West
ern Slope, which has figured Importantly in the
history of British Columbia. Mr.. Moore was
engaged afterward in other steamboat enter
prises which enabled him to familiarize himself
with the coast OF Alaska as far north as the
Chilcat river. He has obtained from reliable
sources valuable information about the interior
OF Alaska. The great mining excitement there
IS now on the Stewart river, tributary of the
Yukon. emptying into that mighty stream from
the east. about fifteen hundred miles from it's
mouth and about sixty miles from the Alaskan
boundary. The Stewart river is in British Co
lumbla, so tar as is at present known.
Thore are two ways OF reaching that country;
one is being used at present and the other must
be adopted as miners and prospectors pour in.
The present method of getting in is from Lynn
canal on the Alaskan coast. The coast range is
crossed by Chikoot Pass, and the course leads
to Lake Bennett the first Of chain of lakes
which are the source Of the Yukon Lake Ben
nett lies sixty miles from the ocean. The chain
OF lakes are descended and one portage Is crossed.
when Lake Lebarge, two thousand miles from
the mouth of the Yukon is reached. The river
is navigable for that entire distance, according
to Mr.. Moore. He obtains his information from
the surveyors who went through that country in
1865 to locate the overland telegraph which was
projected from the Atlantic coast through the
Russian possessions in America via Behring
Straits to England and the continent across Asia.
The scheme was productive. however, of obtain
ing reliable information about that country.
a. -
the Stewart river is accomplished by navigation
of the Yukon
The other means of access will be by ocean
steamer to the mouth of the Yukon, and thence
by river steamer to Stewart river. The estab
lishment of the steamer route will be matter of
the future, requiring capital and business to JUS
tify the expenditure of money AS the Yukon
country fills up with miners and prospectors it is
likely that this means of access will be adopted.
The Chilkoot Pass route at present used is tedi-
Gus. Provisions are packed into the Stewart
river country by Indians
The length OF route over which the provisions
have to be taken in this manner is so great as to
make them very dear. The steamer route will
in years to come reduce the cost of provisions
materially.
There are very few prospectors in that coun.
try now, but the excitement is increasing and
attracting great numbers who are preparing to
go in there Mr. Moore believes that this coun-
try is richer than the Cassiar Mines and will see
in it the next two years $500 men. Those who
contemplate going into that country should not
start unless they can stand 'roughing it," The
gun and the anglers rod will have to be the
means of supplying food for the prospector and
miner for some time to come. Game is at pres
ent quite plentiful The Yukon abounds with
salmon which are pronounced very fine in ap-
pearance. Some have been caught weighing
ninety pounds. The climate of the Stewart
river country is not very rigorous, but is re-
markably temperate considering its far north
ern latitude 81