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

ter sets in nothing can be done, and
the mercury sinks to 80 degrees be-
low zero. Yet in the short season of
but ninety days successful prospectors
have accumulated from 50, 500 to ST.
600 in gold.
Mr. Morrow and comrade took the
Chilkoot pass route over the noun
tains and down the lakes TO the Lewis
river, which they will descend to the
Yukon river, thence down to the diff
ferent mines on the river. The trip Is
one of difficulties which will tax the
endurance and nerve of the most
hardy and only such men can expect
to succeed. For only with the most
incessant toll, such as packing provis-
ions over painless mountains, towing
a heavy boat against five to an eight
mile current over battered boulders,
fighting gnats and mosquitoes by the
million, shooting seething canyons
and rapids and enduring a relentless
cold that for seven months of the year
never rises above zero, any man phys
ically endowed to overcome these OBJ
stacles who will go there for a few
years can by strict attention to bust
ness make good stake with the pos
sibilities of a, fortune
The estimated amount of gold taken
out of the Yukon gold field basin last
year is said to be about one million
dollars, which is doubtless eXaggera-
ted, yet there is no doubt that many
have returned in single season with
$4,000 and some with as much as $780, |
600. One hundred thousand men
could prospect the Yukon basin, and
so extensive is its territory that could
easily be lost TO one another The
territory cut by the mountain streams
is almost unlimited, and all of them
furnish rich diggings. Few people
remember Alaska's great extent of
territory, Attu, of the Aleutian group
being 1000 miles west of Sitka. The
longitude of Attu is as many degrees
west of San Francisco as Eastport,
Me. is degrees east The sun never
goes down on the domain of the
United States.
Gold dust and nuggets are the prin-
Opal medium of exchange throughout
the Yukon basin, but little money be-
ing in circulation. Everybody car
ries gold scales, and it is said soon to
become adept in making change.
The established value or gold dust
is seventeen dollars per ounce, If
glass of whisky is desired, 90, cents is
weighed out, etc. Nuggets of one
and two ounces are not uncommon,
One was found in the Franklin gulch
weighing thirty ounces worth 500.
The Yukon river is, so to speak, the
Mississippi or Amazon of Alaska.
The Yukon river penetrates that vast
region for 1900 miles, and is navaga-
bic in fiat bottom boats for the entire
distance. 1t is sixty miles wide at
the mouth, but too shallow for sea. 60
ing vessels to pass in. At no distant
day capital will find a Lucrative in
vestment in rich lodes of gold, iron,
coal and copper in Alaska. Intell-
gent prOspectors predict that in the
near future the word Yukon will as
sociate itself so closely with that of
gold that its mere mention will con-
vey impressions of an Elorado rival
ing that of fable.
Men are not alone in the rush for
wealth in the Arctic region. But re-
Gently Misses Anna X. Yields, Eu-
genie Armstrong and Maggie FarrellY
of Ellensburg, Wash, left for Alaska
to seek their fortunes in the Yukon
gold fields. The young women, who
have been school teachers, have in
their outfit small sailbOat, in which
they will make the trip up the Yukon
river to forty mile creek, nearly 1000
miles. Miss Farrelly's father is al
ready in the gold fields. The route
taken by the young women is entirely
different from that pursued by John
Morrow and comrade. Louisville
Post.