Evening journal., 1897-07-21
.PORTONCOLDLAND
Dali Of the National Museum
Reports on the Locality.
RlES ARE NOT EXAGGERATED.
Metal Was First Discovered In 1866
id Has Been Taken Out In Paying
Quantities For Fifteen Years.
Methods OF Mining.

ashington, July 21.-Dr. William H.
one of the curators Of the Ma
al museum, is familiar with the re-
of country in which the Klondike
Fields are located through having
1 on several geological expeditions
he region in Alaska adjoining the
district and says that in his opin-
the reports from there probably are
q exaggerated. He said
When was there, 1 did not find gold
3 know,of it being taken out in prof
ple quantities for 15 years or more.
vas first discovered there in 1866. In
when / was up In that country-my
trip having been made two years
the first party Of prospectOrs who
de the mining a profit started out.
4 gold is found on the various tribu-
es Of the Yukon, and 1 have been
hin a comparatively short distance
the Klondike fields. / made one
n to Circle City, justfover the bound
{, of Canada
The gold bearing belt of north
stern America contains all the gold
.1s extending into British Columbia
at is known as the northwestern ter
Dry and Alaska. The, Yukon really
as along in that belt for 500 or 600
es. The bed of the main river is in
lowland of the valley.
The yellow metal is not found in
ling quantities in the main river, but
y the small streams which cut through
mountains on either side These
ctically wash out the gold. The
+ d and mineral matter is carried into
main river. while the gold is left
the rough bottoms Of these side
cams.
: In most cases the gold lies at the
tom of thick gravel deposits. The
i ID is covered by frozen gravel in the
lter. During the summer, until the
5w is all melted, the surface is COW
by muddy torrents. When the
5w is all melted and the springs be-
to freeze, the streams dry UP. At
approach of winter, in order to get
the gold, the mineP' find it necessary
dig into the graves formation.
Methods of Operating.
Formerly they stripped the gravel
until they came to the gold. Now
sy sink a shaft to the bottom of the
avel and tunnel along underneath in
gold bearing layer. The way in
lich this is done is interesting, as II
g to be carried on in cold weather
hen everything Is frozen.
The miners build fires over the area
lere they wish TO work and keeT
.ese lighted over that territory for the
ace of "a hours. Then at the expi.
tion of this period the gravel will b,
~ 4 20 n Of
lps six inches. This is then taken of
d other fires built, until the gold bear
z layer is reached. When the shat
down that far, fires are built at tn
ittom, against the sides of the layer
ID tunnels made in this manner
Blasting would do no good on accoun
the hard nature Of the material an
ould blow out just as out OF a gun
ne matter taken out containing tn
I'D is piled up until spring, when tn
rrents come down. and is panned AM
aided by these. 1t is certainly yer.
ard labor.
L see many reasons why the gold
slds should be particularly rich. Tn
reams which cut through the noun
.ins have probably done so for cen
,ries. wearing them down several hun
red feet ana washing out the gold int
,e beds and gravel.
TT is a country in which it is yer
ard to find food, as there is practical
no game. Before the whites wer
lto the, region there were not nor
ian 800 natives. They have hard wor
) support themselves on account Of th
earcity of game"