The morning call., 1894-06-04
EXPLORATION NEAR HOME.

Messrs. J. A. Cochran. A. \. GodaL j.
j. Broeren, j. J. Long and G. T. Rosen-
bund, who sailed yesterday in the Alaska
Company's steamer Bertha for the upper
waters of the Yukon, will probably have
it in their power to add something to our
knowledge of the most unknown portion
of The continent. They remain on board
the little steamer on her long voyage to
kpnak, and thence on the endless trip up
stream to the diggings; it Will be August
before they leave her for good. When they
have made final landing they will maks
their preparations for eighteen months
prospecting, hunting and exploring.
The GOLD diggings of Alaska. inclusive
of those on the coast, are in streams which
empty into the Yukon above the bend at
Fort Yukon, in the latitude OF "a deg. and
therea bouts. These streams rise on both
sides Of the Yukon. but chiefly on the
western or American side. Flowing in a
direction which is nearly northeast by
north the Yukon crosses the meridian OF
al deg. n~abOut IS deg. north latitude,
and from that point becomes an American
river. South of 65 deg. it is Canadian and
receives the waters of the streams which
take their rise in the Canadian Rocky
Mountains and their spurs. The gravel of
these Canadian streams is probably aurif-
erous, but they have not been prospected.
Most of the work which has been thus far
done Is on the upper waters of a stream
which is known as Forty-mile Greek, and
empties into the Yukon In Canadian terri
tory. But the whole western bank of the
river is scanned with creeks, all OF which
probably carry gold. They wo uld have
been prOspected long ago but for the
shOrtness Of the season, which rarely ex-
ceeds three months, and for the high price
Of supplies.
Analogy dictates that the whole valley
of the upper Yukon. at least as far as its
junction with the Poreupine. is covered
with auriferOus gravel. with spots which
are poor and spots which are rich. But
good mining camp cannot be built Up
there until road is constructed connect
ing the mines with Chilcat. That road
presents no insurmountable difficulties and
would not cost much money. For few
miles back of Cnilcat there is water trans
p9rtatiOn on the river which bears that
name. Then comes the Chilcat range,
which is not lofty and in which more than
one practicable pass has been found. On
the eastern side gentle slope leads to the
Actin and other lakes in which the Yukon
takes its rise. The lakes are in Canadian
territory: they and the river which Issues
from them are navigated by canoes, which
are carried down 10 the mines by the cur
rent. At the present time the business of
transportation across the range is in the
hands of Indians, who are unreliable and
whose charges are eXorbitant. II a fair
road were built and draught animals pro-
vided TO travel it miners supplies could be
conveyed from San Francisco to the mines
in three weeks. instead of twelve, which is
the time occupied by the river route. II
the Bertha's passengers are alert they will
turn their journey to profitable account by
surveying route across the Chilcat range
and starting a transportation company.
So little is known of the extreme
northern section of this continent that its
possibilities are not suspected. The yarns
which we have read about rivers which
swarm so thickly with salmon that a boat
can hardly make its way through them
are probably travellers tales. But there
is no doubt that this excellent food fish is
amazingly abundant in the Mackenzie, the
Pnrcupine, the Telly, the Mcmillan and
the other rivers of Alaska. and the Cana
dian north: there ought to be money In
canning it more extensively than is now
done. and shipping the product TO market
by way Of the Yukon. How many fur
bearing animals of the fox, marten, sable
and ermine species still survive no one
knows; an Indian will never tell the truth
about his hunting grounds. but the region
is so sparsely inhabited that the valuable
creatures can hardly have been extermin-
ated. Above all, now that a gold ounce is
worth twice as many silver ounces as it
was ten years ago, is of moment that
the diggings should receive a serious ex-
ploration. Even If it should prove that
the richest dlggings are on the Canadian
side of the river, their working would be
as helpful TO commerce as il they were on
the American side. The world always
wants gold. Mr.. Cochran and his com
panions will lay trade under obligation if
they can point out source from which an
Increased supply can be obtained.