The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
SUMNER N WINTER MINES.
A Necessary Distinction In the Forty Mile
Gold DiGGingn.
From the Chicago Record

From the Chicago Record
The gold diggings of the Yukon are graded
according to their depth rs winter and summer
mines. n classification that has been recognized
only within the last two years. Until within
that time the miners considered 1t impracticable
to do any work in the winter, and so they hiber-
mated for eight long. dark months. consuming
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
i'm p~risonment.
Though the people of Forty Mile stIn expect
quite n muster from the mines at tho approach
of cold weather, there is a very radical change
from the old order. They have discovered that
they can accomplish moro in winter than in
summer, and as a consequence the working
year is three times as long as IL used to be.
the ~diggings according to their depth. II the
gold lies only from two to six or seven feet from
woe Wort inrss' ero ~ u threwinr It 70 to s9 one side a'S un aei
after the pay, dirt Is taken out. after, which it
may be piled 3, where WI it was GriginalIy taken
threefold by the fact that the ground is frozen.
Every foot OF Il, either In sinking or drifting.
mines, the whole process being In the open air.
are worked in summer.
Ia the other kind. where the gravel is more
than seven feet from the surface, they sink a
shaft for n beginning. and then burrow or DRIFT
under the superficial part. removing only
operations being under. ground. where tho
miner Is protected fIom the weather, are better
adapted for the cold season. SO the miner
builds his cabin at the mouth OF his shaft, gets
In II supply OF wood to the most accessible place.
and TRANQUILITY views the approach Of cold
weather. II lie is OF provident habit it is not
necessary for him, to expose himself greatly.
He must bring to the surface and dump possibly
n ton of "dcad ground in u day, and also carry
to a safe place II few hundred pounds OF pay
gravel. There Is no necessity for being out of
doors more than n minute or two at n time.
II one Is prepared for them the winters at the
mines are not had by any means. Seventy de-
grees below zero is about the coolest, but that is
not of frequent occurrence. There Is a good
deal Of dry. still weather, with tho thermom-
eter from lO' TO 3O' below, and as much. proba-
bly,, early and late In the season. when IL hardly
wintered on Forty Mile in an ordinary tent.
August and September nrc the months for
preparing for winter and also for prospecting.
During that time a great many of the men
hunt for u while and endeavor to lay In II supply
OF fresh meat. They XIII moose. caribou. and
scared back from the vicinity Of the mines. and
1t Is becoming more d ificult each year to secure
a supply. Carbon are more migratory In their
habits. They travel in biennial circles.
A year ago they were In plenty all around the
h~eadwaters of Birch and Forty Mile creeks,
timers say they will return again next season.
Bear are not TO be- depended on Sometimes, on
oCcasiOnH when meat II scarce. they are elusive
and avoid the hunter for long periods. and then
again 1t seems to occur TO them TO make amends
for their apparent neglect. ana they seek out
the miners. From Aug. ! the pest Of files Is DO
longer a burden, and for II few weeks n man
may undertake exploring trips with a degree OF
comfort, so this Is the period OF prospecting for
new mines.