The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-23

The Steamer Excelsior l. to Bring Down
Over y 100000.

over s. 100000.
SAN FRANCISCO. July 2.-When the
steamer Excelsior returns from her next
trip TO st. Michael. which VIII be ABOUT
September 9Th, the present hlondlke eX-
element will be cast into shade. from a
private letter which was received mere
by the last steamer from trustworthy
sources, II is known that the Excelsior
will bring down on her next trip between
100000 and s6,oOO,oOO in gold dust, which
will represent the cleanup OF all the
miners remaining on the Yukon, who
send their money by express.
When this treasure strikes San Fran
Disco tho present excitement will be mild
compared with tho craze which Will then
follow.
The new diggings are now the only topic
here Hundreds who have made plans 10
20 TO the mines this fall find they cannot
get steamer passage TO Juneau From
here the steamers are all full 10 St. Mi
chael and Juneau, but extra boats Will
DO put on at Portland and Seattle for
Juneau. and by that route, no doubt, sew
eral hundred more gold seekers will go
in should the season remain open long
enough for them TO cross the Chilkoot
Pass.
Three men came I'm yesterday from the
Yukon on the steamer Umatilla from VIC
4 toria. Two were miners, who are SAID
70 have cleaned UP good fortunes. one al
Klondike and the other at Cook Inlet
The third man was ID. Harvey ration,
a furniture dealer Of this city, who went
up last spring, and was at kiondike Tor
two weeks recently. He went up one
and a half years ago, leaving his VIE
with enough money to last her for year.
lie could get no letters TO her. Mean
while she ran out Of money, and being
too proud TO ask for aid, she nearly
starved. She was al the wharf when the
Umatina came I'm, and in her weakened
condition she fen fainting into her hus-
bands arms. The miner took her 10 a
restaurant as the first method Of restor-
ing her health.
A letter has been received from John
Kavanagh a young man from this city
who went up last year to try his luck
He did little mining, but made S35 q night
playing the violin in dance houses.
The gold brought here from the Klon-
dixie IS Of q poorer quality than was
expected. The difference I'm favor OF
California gold Is from 81 to 81 per ounce.
The returned miners made this discovery
when they deposited their gold for sale
with local refining works. The returns
were much smaller than they expected
and they were greatly surprised. Some
OF the late arrivals are holding back and
are not offering any more gold, but are
retaining It IT. expectation Of getting larger
returns from the United States Mint
when II receives deposits and resumes
coinage on August LIST. But In this they
are likely TO be disappointed, for the
local refinery experts are close hgurers
and have always been reliable in such
matters.
AS explained at the Selby Smelling
Works to-day, the Klondike gold is I'M
feiror 10 gold form the regular producing
districts OF California. Gold from the
Eldorado diegings In Hlondike average
only SIS per ounce ana that from the
Bonanza diggngs. in the same region
averages Sl7 per ounce The gold IRON
the regular districts OF California aver
ages from SIS TO so per ounce. Klondike
gold contains a greater percentage OF
silver than California gold. mat from
the Bonanza diggings averages IL IL per
cent. i'm silver, and that from the Lido
RADIO diggings averages p per cent. or the
white metal Klondike gold therefore.
contains from p 1-2 10 % per cent OF
silver. which is to-day worth only - IS
cents per ounce.
Regular California gold as It comes TO
this city from the mines contains only
from 10 TO y IL per cent OF silver.
There is, consequently, from IL to L J..
per cent less silver and from 81 TO 81
greater value.
Where the yield amounts 10 millions
OF ounces per annum the difference IS
vast one. IL has been the custom In
the Yukon country 10 accept gold at
the common rate Of ST. per ounce In ex-
change for supplies. labor and mining
properties. When the gold IS sold down
here it brings less money
4 story told by the returned miners
from the Yukon IS that discoveries quite
as startling as those which are now cleo
trifying the world may shortly be looked
for i'm the territory which belongs be-
yOud question 10 the United states.
I'm spite OF the questions raised as to
the proper location Of the boundary line
between Alaska and the British North
west Territories there seems no good
reason TO doubt that the greater part
OF the gold region Is I'm Queen Veto
ria's realm. But Just as certainly the
Mmook and American Creek mining
districts are I'm Alaskan territory ana
the report now IS that rich discoveries
have already been made there. while
expectation is high among those whose
attention has been attraced thither that
great news may be expected az any time.
Two very rich strikes on American ana
Minook creeks. Alaska are reported and
it IS believed that since the last news
from these points was received much
greater developments have been made.
In fact 1t now appears that the rieh
promise OF this region has not heen
secret among the northern gold hunt-
ers during the last few months, pu'
the fame OF the Klondike region had be-
come such that nearly every one wished
10 hurry to that district There Were
some exceptions. however, ana now
every mail from the north is expected 70
bring news which may have the ehect
Of directing a great portion or the rusn
northward TO American rather than
British territory