The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-30
GOLDREW ARDSLABOR
But Tenderfeet Turn Affrighted
From the Yukon.
BURNING HOLES IN THE ICE.
j. q. Hcstwood Tells How Wealth Is
wrested From the Frozen Earth
-England's Boundary Grab.


ing in this city Monday night Mr.. Hest
wood has some mining claims on the up
per Yukon. near Forty Nile city. he left
that point In the early part Of September,
and n took him over a month to get home
He came 1000 niles down the Yukon 10 ST.
Michaels. on the coast. then down 10 IN
alaska, and from there across 10 San
Francisco.
about 90 people went into the upper
Yukon country last season" said Mr.
Hestwood, "by way OF Juneau, making
their way over the mountains al Cnilkat
pass. then on the zee over the great lakes
for 30 miles: from there they had TO go
80 miles further by boat, when they
reached Forty Mile city. II Is estimated
that ten men were drowned during the
summer, mostly the results OF careless
ness on their own part Personally. / had
a very pleasant trip in. / was accompa-
MED by F. ID. Van Wagenen, and we had
our provisions carried over the summit oy
Indians. Their hauled by white men TO the
foot of the lakes. Most everybody who
went into the Yukon country this summer
was compelled to pack IN enough prov.s-
ions to last three months, and there was
a great scarcity of food. caused by the
Alaska Commercial Company's steamer
not being able 10 get up to the post before
the river froZe up last fail.
Activity at Forty Mile.
There has been a great dea Of activity
in the mines at Forty Mile. most of them
being back about fifty miles from the post.
The principal creeks in that district are
Miller. Glacier, Little God. Davis and
Poker Culch There has been more work
done in Glacier creek this summer than
on any OF the others. most Of the claims
on Miller creek having been laid over for
winter digging. 1t was demonstrated last
winter that these mines can be worked as
proftably in the winter as in summer in
fact. at much less expense. This is done
by the use of fire. A hoe is sunk by fire
down 10 the pay streak, the earth being
thawed out by the heat. The dirt is then
ho.sted by windlass and left on top of the
ground. and is washed out in the spTing.
opened up quite a rich claim this season
on Glacier creek. and have men employed
this winter burning. l expect 10 take in
prospecting machinery next spring which
VIII enable me TO locate the pay streak in
the gulch In comparatively short time.
By using this machinery hole twenty
five feet deep can be sunk in day. when
eighteen inches a day by burning is a
pretty good days work.
Only the renderfeet Croak.
Yes. ! have heard a good many dis
couraging reports from men who went
into the country last spring, but most of
them never reached the mines at all: they
secure what work they could. and get out
OF the country as soon as they could I
have never heard an experienced miner
speak OF the country as other than a great
gold country. / think one reason why
there were so many discouraged men in
the country was that most Of the people
who went there were not miners. thev
were hookkeepers and proress~r-A men
ana We're not accustomed TO enduring the
harusnlps that miner has TO PASS
through. ! believe the outlook for Alaska
generally speaking, is brighter than ever
before. A number of new creeks have
neen discovered this season in the Birch
creek district, and some OF them have
yielded handsome returns for the work
dohe / never did. and would not now
advise anybody TO so into the country mr.
iess ne had some capital. at least enough
10 carry him through the FIRST year. be
cause provisions are very expensive. Long
Journeys have TO he made across tho
mountains on foot and the provjsions
transported on the backs of Indians or
white men, who charge from 30 to II cents
a pound for the packing.
The Alaska Commercial Companv has
hniit Il new river boat at St Nichaers
called the Alice, Of 800 tons burden. which
VIII be used to supply the miners along
the river with food. IL has also built a
smaller boat, called the Beaver. of twenty
up lhe tributary streams OF the Yukon
The boundary Dispute.
Speaking OF the Alaska boundary dis
pute. Mr.. Hestwood said:
Along the coast. between portIan nj
channel and the 1i1st meridian is a grotln
or Islands, about 100 IN number. called
ire Alexander archipelago. and here is the
point or the dispute: England now claims
tnat N her treaty Of 1925 with Russia the
her h. ~.
The shores OF these Islands along The coast.
not the coast OF the mainland. ~ Enrland's
contention should prevail. Juneau would
he on British soil. and England would
control all the harbors along the southern
coast of tho territorr Chilkoot pass.
which IS the principal way Of lrgress 10
The upper Yukon. would belong to En-
gland, ard Englands custom houses would
re established 20 take tribute from all this
magn hccut country that Il bound to pro-
duce many millions IN gold. OF course.
th're IS some dispute as 10 the exact locn-
ton or the list ner. dian itself hut this is
only variation Of seven and three-duar-
ters miles. caused by the imperfectness Of
TIE instruments used IN the survey. This
meridian crosses Glacier creek near where
/ am located. and there Is a good deal Of
speculation among the miners as TO the
exact location Of II. and whether they are
IN br}tsh territory or On American sol
hft 'tiN f't'sftt'fif 1T ile Nttel states IA Is
70 hold her riEhtfal title 20 the territory
which s IN dispute. she might as well give
zap all claim tn Alaska. II this country
should have no coast l.ne up there cxCspt
above the 1fIst meridian entrance 10 the
INNER Yukon would be impossible nv vav
of an American port. except during The
summer months. because the mouth 81 me
Yukon, which is about sixty miles vide is
SLED with jCc from Rering sea until late in
Junc- You can easily see what this would
rnFan-fuSIarj would absolutely control
tho trad" of that country Il IS universally
claimed DIV experienced miners who have
hecn IN Alaska that r IS one n the great
FSt ECl1-9esrirE countries ia the world
There are 1so miles ~ waterway IN which
sold ear be found.
Quartz Lodges on the Yukon.
Valuable quartz lodges are being Dis
covered along the Yukon. sni next sum-
NOR machinery VIII he ,aksu tn go operate
thcu. There IS ore ledge twenty niles be-
low fAe mouth % the Tannah river '1et
average So IN gold per ton There = an
ofher aeou' 'wo miles back from the river
thst eSsaHed SIS per ton. other lodges
hsv" been located this season AMI Gro
HrnuE7f cut for milling test There is ~o
d'uNt -Hat 70 she nesr future there viii "a
10aSe- q stsc1p u-ils along the Yukon
river
Nearly ~ miners AMI prospe-tors came
foe-H 20 san Francisco on the Re~ths
AmrrE 2heu were r Anderson, the T7ek
GOOD IN SUMNER.
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