The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-06

Another Source OF Wealth in Alaska
4 Alaska promises TO be the great gold field
Of the future. Returned miners tell Of
wonderful prospects there. One Mr. A. II.
Hart Of Sitka recently visited St Louis,
and in the course Of a conversation con-
corning Alaska. told of the wonderfully
rich gold dep sits in the rivers Of that ter
ritory. In some places mining Is very easy,
Mr.. Hart tells Us, but in others the streams
are very rapid and the current constitutes
danger to miners When the tide is low
pure gold can be panned cut
without difficulty. But the tides
rise very suddenly and must
be closely watched, or the miner
is apt to lose not only his store OF gold but
his life. To adventurous spirits who are
this far away such a caution against tides
may appear rather unnecessary, because
the old timers will always tell you of all the
dangers that it is possible to encounter
whenever they come to regard you as apes
sible competitor. They are perfectly will
ing that you should know your life is every
moment in danger, because II you move
your base Of operations your chances of
trenching upon their claims are much less,
and they like plenty of room. or course
there isn't any hing selfish in this. 1t is
simply disinterested consideration for a
'tenderfoot.n
At the same time a tenderfoot is usually
regarded by them as pretty much identical
with fool, and they know the old aphor-
ism about a fools luck. Therefore they
are superstitious, and fully expect a new
conner to strike it rich at some spot they
had never suspected of containing anything
at all
That's always the way. When you find any
mineral that is very valuable you usually
stumble over it. Old miuers well know this
and they always suspect tenderfoot's cap~-
abilities as stumbler. When the tide is low
Mr.. Hart says that pure gold can frequently
be seen among the gravel at the bottom of
streams as the prospector pas 'es along the
the shore. He says there is enough there, if
properly handled, to make 100 millionaires.
and there is certainly sufficient raw material
in the land so far as men are concerned.
Now, the only difficulty seems to be for the
men and the gold, in the language Of poll
tics, to get together" 10 this end
there is apparently but one obstacle,
according to Mr.. Hart. Machinery is
required. He SAYS that a large plant suit
able for the work, and operated by expert
enced people. would bring wonderful results
Individuals, OF course, could do something
But organized operation would be far more
effective, because the streams have to be
damned, and sometimes diverted from their
natural courses. This requires labor. and
also capital.
Diverting stream from its course at
proper point just after a food tide fire.
quently bares to view a perfect sheetng OF
gold, which can be cleared with very little
difficulty. Owing to the sudden rise of
tides one person, or perhaps two or three,
would find this no easy thing to do
For the tide might come in just when they
had their work noarly completed. and de-
stroy all that they had taken days and pos
sibly weeks to do. 1t is not necessary to
urge the average American to go up TO
Alaska and take possession of this gold. But
the only thing apparently necessary would
be to restrain him.
No doubt but Mr.. Hart will be very much
astonished to see what an enormous influx
OF population he has precipitated by the
time he gets back.
There is no object in speaking CT this new
| gold field further than to show that the re-
sources of this continent are by no means
exhausted and, further, to give people of an
adventurous disposition In this particular
locality an equal chance with the denizens
| of st. Louis.
In order to give some definite idea of the
location of this native wealth, Mr.. Hart
refers particularly to Forty-Mile creek as
a small and rocky stream very rich In
mineral. Yet he says that the ore is by no
| means confined to that stream.
Another difficulty has to be taken into
account, and that is the great severity of
the climate. Alaska has nine months of
winter and three months of very cool
weather, So the miner from a southern
latitude would find it necessary to start at
the beginning of summer. Even then he
might not be able to stand the climate all
the year round. Still there is no doubt that
he would try very hard if he struck any
dust.
With no other implement than what is
known as a wooden rocker, Mr.. Hart says
that he has worked out nearly 600 ounces
of gold within thirty one days. That seems
rather profitable employment, and would
justify one in travelling some distance for
chance to do the same thing.