Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-27
GOLD FEVER
Raging Among the Alaskan Mines
Rich "Finds."

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Aug. 26.-Df. W. v.
Kngsbury. surgeon Of the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey parry sent 10
Alaska by the Government to establish the
northeastern boundary Of Alaska, arrived
here today, being the first Of the party to
return. The expedition left San Francisco
two years ago.
They ascended the Yukon river to Fort
Yukon, where the party divided, q detach-
neot going up the PoIcupine river 1870
miles, where camp was established and
work commenced. The main body, under
command OF Surveyor John +. McGrath,
continued up the Yukon to the rivers inter-
section with the l4lst parallel, 2 900 miles
from the coast, where they established a
camp and called it Camp Davidson.
DR.. Kingsbury was with McGra,h's party
and ss the bend in the river at Fort Yukon
took them southeastward from that point
he went no further north than the mouth of
the Porcupine river, about 67 degrees north
latitude.
81 left Camp Davidson on June % y said
DR.. kingsbury. "All the work for which
we had bsen sent TO Alaska WAS then fia-
ished and the camp was being broken up.
In the opinion Of the leaders Of the tso
government survey parties sent into Alasks,
the RI suit of .he work has been most sstis-
factory. As YOU know, the object Of the
expedition hsd been to establish the north
eastern bundary Of Alaska, about
which there was a difference Of opinion.
Lieut. Ere derrick Schwsska had made 'iun-
mir = survey along the l4lst parallel for
this governme mt and Surveyor Ogilvie for
the British government, but there was a
difference of three miles in their establish
ment Of The northeastern boundary line
Our camp was sltusted ct the intersection
Of the l4lst parallel with the Yukon liver,
and the result of MIR McGrath's work has
been to confirm the Ogilyie survey. which
gives Canada several miles more territory
to the west than it vas supposed 10 have.
I'VE arrived at Camp Davidson On Aug
~, 1889 having been at work there ever
since, and there has not been one case OF
serious illness during the two yesrs We
spent there We separated from Turner's
party two years ago at Fort Yuk on, between
300 ar 400 miles low Camp Davidson,
and then went up the Porcuplne River
They have also finished their work, and
some OF the party have returned to San
Fssncisco with me-
DR.. Kipgsbury says the Yukon gold fie d,
are in Csnsdisn territory, the principal
mining camp being at Forty Mile Creek,
above Camp Davidson. he says:
"All Alaska is now at fever heat over the
discovery of gold in the placer mines OF
the upper Yukon. Old miners who have
worked in the California and South Africa
mines tell me that the Alaska strike IS the
richest they have ever seen. The country
along the upper Yukon is fast filing up
with people who have the gold fever, and
the miners already there are o excite d with
the prospect of fortune that they will not
leave the fields even to buy their supplies
Ia my opinion Alaska is going to prove one
Of the richest mineral possessions of this
country. We had occasional visits from
the miners Of Forty. mile creek at our
camp, ard they would talk Of nothing but
the gold strike"