The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-03
SUMMER AND WINTER MINES.
A Necessary Distinction in the Forty
Mile Gold Diggings.
From the Chicago Record.

From the Chicago Record.
The gold diggings of the Yukon are
graded according to their depth as winter
and summer mines, classification that
has been recognized only within the last
two years. Until within that time the
miners considered it impracticable to do
any work in the winter, and so they hi
bernated for eight long, dark months, con-
Stunning what they had earned during the
short summer season. Winter was a time
for gambling and dissipation, and they all
collected at Forty Mile and whiled away
the long night of self-imposed imprison-
ment.
Though the people of Forty Mile still
expect quite a muster from the mines al
the approach of cold weather, there is a
very radical change from the old order.
They have discovered that they can ac-
complish more in winter than in summer,
and as a consequence the working year
is three times as long as it used to be.
And here comes in the utility of classify
ing the diggings according to their depth.
If the gold lies only from two to six or
seven feet from the surface it is necessary
to remove all the worthless ground, throw
ing it to one side until after the pay dirt
is taken out after which it way be piled
where it was originally taken from. The
QlIucQlLy Oh SuCn INNING IS increased
threefold by the fact that the ground is
frozen. Every foot of it, either in sink
ing or drifting, has to be thawed by small
fires. The shallower mines, the whole
process being in the open air, are worked
in summer.
In the other kind, where the gravel is
more than seven feet from the surface,
they sink a shaft for a beginning, and
then burrow or drift under the superficial
part, removing only enough dirt to allow
space to work in. These operations being
under ground, where the miner is protect
ed from the weather, are better adapted
for the cold season. So the miner builds
his cabin at the mouth of the shaft, gets
in a supply of wood to the most accessi-
BILE place, and TRANQUILITY views the APP
proach of cold weather. If he is of provi-
dent habit it is not necessary for him to
expose himself greatly. He must bring
to the surface and dump possibly a ton
of dead" ground in day, and also carry
70 a safe place a few hundred pounds Of
pay gravel. There is no necessity for be-
ing out of doors more than a minute or
two at time.
If one is prepared for them the winters
at the mines are not bad by any means
Seventy degrees below zero Is about the
coldest but that is not Of frequent occur
renee There is a good deal Of dry, still
wea ther. with the thermometer from 10 to
30 degrees below, and as much, probably,
early and late in the season, when 1t hardly
falls below zero. l have met men who
have wintered on Forty Mile in an ordi-
nary tent.
August and September are the months
for preparing for winter and also for
prospecting. During that time great
many of the men hunt for a while and en-
deavor to lay in a supply Of fresh meat.
They kill moose, caribou and bear. The
first named are wary and have been scar
ed back from the vicinity OF the mines,
and It is becoming more difficult each year
to secure supply. Caribou are more MI
gratOry In their habits They travel in
biennial circles.
year ago they were In plenty all
around the headwaters OF Birch and For
ty-mile creeks. but last summer there
were none. The old-timers say they Will
return again next season. Bear are not
to be depended on. Sometimes, on occa-
sions when meat is scarce. they are elu-
sive and avoid the hunter for long pc
RODS. and then again II seems TO occur to
| them to make amends for their apparent
neglect. and they seek out the miners.
From Aug. / the pest Of flies is no longer
a burden, and for a few weeks man
may undertake exploring trips with de-
gree Of comfort, so this Is the period Of
prospecting for new mines.
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