The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-04-30

Show Alaska to Be a Veritable
Modern Eldorado.

PARIS, KY, April % John Nor
row, a son of Postmaster Alonza Nor
row, of Hutchinson, this county, writes
home interesting letters from far off
Alaska, that immense territory of the
United States, purchased in 1867 from
Russia for 81, 900, 0O0--less than halt a
cent an acre.
John Morrow left Bourbon county
about two years ago for Douglas City,
Alaska, where ne has since been con-
tinuously employed as foreman in a
stamp mill at a salary of 81 per day,
working every day and Sunday, only
the Fourth of July and Christmas
Day being obserbed by cessation of
labor. Mr.. Morrow's letters, with
their glowing and enthusiastic de-
scription of the possibilities of the
rapid and certain accumulation of
wealth in that isolated region soon at
tracted Jake, Joe and Frank Hail.
three otherBourbon county boys--who
have remained at Douglas City and
have reaped golden harvest in return
for their industry and hardships. In
fact, since the sOjourn of the quartet
in the far Northwest, Mr. . Morrow has
been enabled to lift mortgage from
lis fathers place in this county, and
the Hall brothers purchased about a
month since an improved Bluegrass
farm-all from the store accumulated
by their energies in their adopted
home.
Douglas City is situated on Doug
las Island, two miles from Juneau,
the Alaska metropolis, and ferry
connects the two points. On Douglas
Island is the famous Treadwell gold
mine. which has the largest quartz
mill in the world. The ore of this
mine is of a low grade, but free mill
ing, the average yield per ton being
$40. yet the net profits in 1894 ex-
ceeded $500 900. This mine alone
has added more than the purchase
price of Alaska to the wealth of the
world. The Mexican mine, half
mile from the Treadwell yields a
higher grade of ore and will prove
more valuable property.
Juneau, the largest town in Alaska,
is the Quitting point for the great
mining district Of southeastern Alas
ka, and largely for the overland pros
pectors bound for the Yukon gold
fields. This town is the headquarters
of several steamboat lines.
Juneau and Douglas City are just
now in the throes of a greater "gOld
fever" than any ever experienced in
that section, says Mr.. Morrow's most
recent letter. These towns threaten to
be depopulated by the rush to the
Yukon fields--a thousand miles furth-
er north and within the Arctic circle
the region of eternal snow and ice.
Fascinating and thrilling stories are
told of the hardships endured by
those in search of the hidden and pre-
cious metal. A letter written in Feb
ruary stated that Mr.. Morrow and a
comrade, would, March Is, leave
Douglas City for the Yukon fields,
and with 800 pounds of baggage each
to be carried by Indians-and start
on the long and dangerous trip over
mountains, across lakes and down
rivers. No two comrades have ever
survived TO make the round trip to-
gether, so fatal has proven the rigor-
GUS climate, the fierce bears and the
inhospitable Indians and Eskimo.
The two travellers expect to reach
their destination, Circle City, by June
Is, consuming just three months in the
trip. Circle City is merely small
mining settlement at the junction of
the Yukon and Porcupine rivers.
Help is so scarce that $40 day is
paid for labor in the mines-from
June 10 to September Ibis short and
time is worth money, and when the