The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-05-18
OFF FOR THE MINES.

White men who ever ventured into the
savage and unknown wilderness, cross
ing the mountains from Fort Mackenzie
in the far Northwest Territory. 1t was
not until 1872, however, that the coun-
try was prospected. Then one miner who
ventured in reported finding coarse gold,
but because of the dangers and hardships
Of crossing the mountains and rivers
the trip was not again taken until 1880,
when a party of 20 went in and found
gold in many places. One year later the
first paying diggings were opened, and
in 1886 the remarkably rich Cassiar bar
diggings were discovered. Every year
since then more gold diggers have made
their way to the Yukon fields, going in
the spring and coming out in the au-
tumn with the fruit of their labors.
They found it impossible to winter
there, for all supplies had to be packed
from the diggings on their own backs
over the mountains and then floated
down the rivers on RATS or boats built
on the spot for a distance of 500 miles.
Sometimes the thermometer goes down
to so below zero in the winter, and it is
practically impossible to do any travel
ing in that region after September.
In 1892 a forward step was taken.
Two Chicago men, P. D. and E. E.
Weare, were told about the situation by
Captain J. j. Healy, an old Montana
miner who had spent ten years in Alas
ka. The Weares and John Cudahy, to-
gether with a number Of other Chicago
capitalists, then formed the North Amer
lean Trading and, Transportation COM
pany, and transported the timbers and
machinery Of a 500 ton steamer to St.
Michael's island, so miles of the mouth
Of the Yukon. There the steamer was
put together and launched in time to
make a trip up the river with q cargo of
supplies that same fall. Sixteen hundred
miles from the rivers mouth Fort Cuda-
by was built the following year; ware
houses, a sawmill, a free reading room,
a billiard hall and many fine cabins
were also erected, and the new fort was
made a general trading station.
Since that time the mining interests
Of Alaska have increased enormously,
and this spring a genuine stampede to
An unoh AdS Dckuu. I1uIluTeuS
OF miners will this year be at work there
with pick and shovel. Owing to the dry
ness OF the climate, what is known as
hydraulic mining, which requires great
quantities OF water, cannot be employed.
The Alaskan region, therefore, may prop
erly be termed a poor mans paradise, for
in placer mines, where the work has to
be done with a pan or cradle, machin-
cry can never take the place Of muscle.
P~rospectors who go into the country in
search Of fortune outfit at J~uneau'in
southeast Alaska, 1000 miles southeast
Of the mouth Of the Yukon. After 100
miles river navigation to the foot Of the
coast range the hardships Of the journey
begin. Everything must be packed over
the mountains. % miles, to Lake Linde-
man, a n~avigable body Of water, tribu-
tary Of the Yukon. There pole RATS are
built, and an 800 mile trip Of combined
lake and river navigation alternating
with neavy portages begins. Many boats
and RATS are lost every year by venture
some crews who prefer shooting the rap
ids to packing their belongings around
them.
The first and one Of the Oldest Of the
diggings reached by those who enter the
country by this route is known as Stew
art river. Seventy miles below this is
Sixty Mile creek. Several lesser diggings
are found along the river during the
next 100 miles, when, at Forty Mile
creek, Fort Cudahy is found. Other dig
gings are Poker, Davis, Glacier. Little
Gold and Miller creeks, the last named
being, until the Birch creek strikes Of
1894, the richest diggings found. Golt
amounting to $500, 900 was taken our
Last year. and go, 600 was cleaned u,
from q single claim in a place only 81
By 100 feet in extent. Perhaps 1876 me,
are employed in these claims, witt
wages st SIC . day, whisky 81 a glass
butter 41.60 q pound, potatoes 81
pound and other things in proportion.