Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-07-30
THE QUEST FOR GOLD.
Dangers and Difficulties OF the Journey
to the Klondyke.
Mr.. Charles II. Metcalf, writing from

MIR. Charles II. Metcalf, writing from
Dawson City on the Klondyke river,
under date OF June %, says: Here
I find m, self last in the midst of the
greatest and most wonderful mining
. camp the world has ever seen. Gold is
so plenty that it has To be carried about
in cotton bags, and four or five men
are required to pack and protect the
products of many of the claims. have
seen the result of one davis washing on
a claim in EldoradO creek, and the fig
ure was SIS 900 for twelve hours work
of four men. This claim was sold less
than six months ago tor $500. and will
produce more than Sl,000,000 before
the end OF n year. The excitement Is
now SO great that no one will sell at
any price, so there Is no chance for
newcomers in this immediate vicinity.
The country is full of prospectors, and
every stream within hundred miles
is located and claimed from one end 70
the other. On the big creeks where
the gold is found, namely Bonanza and
EldOrado. there are many men who
tried in every way to sell their claims
for few hundred dollars last winter
but could find no takers. These men
are IN possession OF great wealth, which
is even yet beyoud their capacity to
realize | could not even attempt To
picture this camp or city to you. Thou
sands of men. and women. too. for that
matter, are here living IN tents or log
sheds, or houses of boards with cloth
roots each habitation taking a position
to suit itself with no regard for its
neighbor or any form OF regularity.
The saw mill j. running night and day,
and men are rushing about at All times
OF day and night and buildings of all
ktnds are going mp Such l. the power
of gold that before cold weather comes
in Septem Der this Wilderness will be a
city in fact of many thousand people.
shall 90 out to Bonanza creek in
day or two aud look the ground over
there. doubt, however, If anything
can be done while everybody is in this
present state of excitement. Circle
City is a city no longer with one or two
exceptions all the stores and shops are
closed and the entire population has
transferred itself TO this new Eldorado,
each and ali tall OF hope in the great
golden handicap. Prospectors are rush
ing all oyer the country looking for
gold, but nothing of any consequence
has been found outside Of the two big
creeks spoke CT. A few men will be
made rich here, but every body is spend
ing money in the most lavish manner,
and am getting good prices for tie
goods | have to SELL You remember
the two dogskin robes that cost ne
81 80 each. and which | wanted so
much to bring a quantity of? Well ]
sold them both yesterday at $40 each.
and could sell hundred more if had
them; and this is fair sample of prices.
We had no trouble on the river this |
year, bat | do not relish making an
other trip if could help it. don't
mind the intensely hard work so much
but find the worry and anxiety abou
getting the goods safely over the lakes
and rivers very trying
At Dyea. one hundred miles from
Juneau, the actual journey begins anG
this is the most difficult and discourag
ing part of the many miles TO be tray
ersed. The most favorable time for
going into the interior is before the
snow melts from the mountains, which |
does not occur till the middle Of April. |
for the abrupt passages and what l. |
known as the summit" are bette. ac-
complished by hauling supplies on sleds,
while the pass is covered with snow.
After leaving Dyea goods must be
hauled six miles over the Dyea Flats.
From thi, point the route lies through I
what is known a. the canyon where the
trail leads up the steep and rugged |
sides of the mountains along a timbered /
shelf overlooking the canyon until
Sheep Camp is reached, a distance OF
twelve miles. Here rest is taken to
await favorable weather, which al
best is something terrible with the
thermometer a low as 90 to so degrees !
below zero. This stop is to prepare /
one for the summit which is eight
miles further up and $500 feet high,
and the most difficult and tedious part
OF the journey The trail leads up