The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-30

ST. MICHAEL. ALASKA, Aug. IL (via
steamer Portland to Seattle, Aug. 29).-
By far the largest personality that has
come out of this northern wilderness
since it began to attract is William Ogil-
vie, Dominion land-surveyor. the man
who, upon the part OF the Dominion Gov
eminent. ran the boundary line between
the Northwest Territory and Alaska. He
is also Police Commissioner, an office
when means much in that country. lie
came down on the last boat with the band
of miners, and Is going out on the Ex-
ceisior. He is on his way to, Ottawa,
answering q summons 10 transact some
official business, the nature Of which he
does not disclose, but which no doubt has
TO do with the formation OF new revenue
laws and regulations affecting the Terri
tO1y. One thing to be done is the estab-
lshment OF monthly postal service
which means the opening of communities
ton by mail at the rate OF regular postage
instead OF a dollar a letter. Another thing
to be looked after is the timber law, about
which there is already some anxiety and
considerable sqCabbling among the
miners The lin Der for fuel and the
building of ca bins and boats is cut with
out license, and already 1t has become
necessary 10 go long distances from Daw-
son in order TO obtain it. Some restraints
VIII be placed upon the indiscriminate
cutting Of trees. The whisky traffic will
also be regulated in some measure.
Mr. o LIVE is scholar and gentleman
or the English type that lives much out
doors and is not only hardy, but hearty.
He knows the upper Yukon thoroughly
and expresses the most unbounded con-
tiGence in Is mineral resources. The great
money, he says, will be taken out with
the diamond drill, and MS advice to those
who wish to make fortune is TO buy one
and go in there. Mr. 0 ;ivie has no claim
of his own. lie says he declined TO take
one because he knew he would be called
upon 10 act as gold commissioner pre-
vious TO the regular appointment OF an
official at Dawson and did not wish to
have his Judgments open to the question
ing that personal interest in the ground
would entail.
Being asked as to the likelihood of the
Canadian Government adopting the
measure levying a tribute of 20 per cent
more or less upon the COLO taken out.
Mr.. Ogilyie said he did not believe the
report.
Il have been called to Ottawa upon
business that is wholly Incompatible with
such policy" he said. such a course
would put an immediate check upon
the deye Opment OF the country, stop it
entirely perhaps, and the development of
the resources OF the country Is the first
desire Of the Government"
Speaking OF gold discoveries Mr.. Ogilvie
said: The character OF the gold and the
gravel III which it is found indicates to me
that they are not the result of glacial
action, but rather OF natural erosion, and
l would say that the mother lode is not
far away from the placer mines in the
neighboring mountains. The mother lode
may not realize The expectation which
the placers have raised, but 1 would not
offer that as my opinion, for it is not my
omnion. I believe that we have a remark
ably rich country there. | have seen
quartz that assayed from $500 TO $1,000 d
ION. The great wealth will be taken out
by the big operations OF the quartz miners.
The placer miner has shown the way and
will be as certainly followed by the other
a, he was at Juneau and in California.
The big find a. FL Dorado is working out
two quite opposite effects. II has caused
the miner who has been putting up with
the hard hips of Alaska as all that coun-
try is called, for years satisfied with gravel
that paid 10 cents 10 the pan, to quit work
and curse his luck because he can't pick