The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-15

The ships that arc arriving In this port
from St. MIchaeiss and the mouth OF the
Yukon bring with them many returning
miners who have spent several seasons IN
the gold mines under the Arctic circle.
While these miners are reiiceni as to
their success" said = well-known mining
man yesterday, there 10 tangible evidences
that they have not fdled their time In tho
inhospitable gold fields Of the Tar North.
In fast. there - soaxcely one among the
returned miners who 10 not possessed OF
more or less god dust. worth At the minis
of the government 81 and upward an
ounce. In the country whence they have
come this gold dust passes current as the
money OF the land. because there Is no
other circulating medium, and the dust
Is weighed out over the counters OF the
merchants or the bars OF the saloons at so
mulch per ounce, and every saloon or bar
is provided With scales <or the weighing
of the dust.
ION their arrival in Seattle the miners
ind changed conditions: they discover
that the merchant and the bartender.
while they are willing 10 make exchange
OF dry ana wet commodities for the min.
ers' gold. are not provided with the
weights and measures. nor are they farnil-
lar with the value OF gold dust. In their
dilemma the miners turn TO the banks Of
Seattle, which are In the same predica-
uent as the merchant with the exception
that the banker offers to take the miners
gold and will send II to the mint for him.
charging expressage and exchange for hts
services.
This was the condition of affairs in
Seattle IN the past fortnight. 1t was I'M
fortunate alike for the miners and the
business interests OF the city, because Sc
attic in the early spring posed as an out.
fitting point for miners who were going to
the mines OF Alaska, and this city was ex
pected 10 take care OF the infiowiug and
the outfiowing trade OF the country with
equal facility.
Over 200 miners with gold in their belts
came down upon Seattle and caught her is
rather deploraele plight. SO far as psr-
chasing their dust was concerned. and had
not some Of the jewellers Of the city, more
familiar with the precious metals than
other business men, come to the front and
purchased the gold Seattle would have
been placed in an exceedingly unenviabla
position.
1T is estimated that fully s125. 900 in gold
dust came 10 Seattle In one week. but how
much Of II remained in the city by prir.
chase or otherwise Il IS difficult to state.
It IL estimated that the placers OF the yn-
kon VIII yield this year &. 600 600 In gold,
and this estimate Is not at all unraaSon-
able. How much OF IL viii como 20 Sea-
tie. which really commands the trade Of
Alaska? All will admit that a large por-
ton OF II should come, but II the miners
are not accorded better facilities for ex-
change than they have experienced on
their first visit they will be very likely 10
seek other and more consenial fields
1T has been stated that the minis Of
these miners have been poisoned against
Seattle: II has been asserted that they
were told At st. Michaels that Seattle
wouldn't purchase their gold, because the
business men Of this city knew nothing
Of the value Of tho dust. They found the
statements bordered on the truth. II they
were not absolutely correct.
The whole matter can b briefly
summed W In the statement that SEATTLE
has never had that faith I'm the mines that
she should have: her bankers. merchants
and business men have been slow 10 rec
ognize the fact that there were mines in
Alaska OF any great worth, until the re-
turning miners brought them convincing
evidence in tbs shape OF nuggets and dust
amounting 20 tens OK thousands or dollara
They said the stories OF these riches were
the tales that the old salts told to the
marines, and they wouldn't believe them
These same doubters said there was moth
inx In Trail Greek or the other British CO.
!unabsa mining districts. Until they visited
the camps and found all the good things