The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-10-09
THE RUSH FoR GOLD.

In times OF feyeriSh Stampedes tO
new gold fields, the trails take on the
appearance of the desolated route OF
flying army. AS it is today on the
Skaguay and Dyea trails, SO it was in
lS48.49 along the overland route to
California. The long route was
strewn with broken wagons, and dead
bodies of horses and oxen, offcast
utensils, clothing and blankets. Ban
croft recites that emaciated men.
carrying infants crying for food, stop
ped to feed on the putrefying car
cases lining the road, or to drink
from alkaline pools, only to increase
their miseries and finally end in sui
eide. In September, 1850, the suffer
ing along the overland route to the
gold fields was reported to be unparal.
leled. Nine-tenths of the immigrants
were on foot, without food or money.
and beyond the desert were still 90.
Oc9 souls, the greater part of whom
we're destitute.
1t is closely estimated that $1,000
people poured into California in l849,
$1,000 by sea and Al, 600 overland.
Meanwhile gold was being taken
out by the ton. Twenty, forty, fifty
and one hundred pound nuggets were
common. On Nelson creek, a tribu-
tary 20 the Feather river, for example,
nuggets lay strewn on the ground, and
rockers yielded $500 a day. At Rich
Bar 1890 was taken from two pans of
dirt. Three men took out $500 in
four days. One man took out SIS, OCO
in two days. AT Downieville the aver
age yield was said to be two pounds
per day to the man. Bates took out
$3.50 from one pan of dirt. A streak
at South Bar yielded 5000 a day in
quarter and half pound Jumps. Two
men got out 56 pounds In one day.
South Bar yielded $1,000 per hour. It
was like drawing on a bank.
at Dyea the Indians charge from
30 to so cents per pound for packing
supplies, and it is counted exorbitant,
Early in 1851 there was a stampede to
the Trinity river, and men paid as high
as 1926 per pound for packing food.
Two men came down from Salmon
river with $4,000, the result of three
weeks work. At West Weaver the
yield for the year to 26Co men $780,.
60.
These fabulous diggings were not
confined to two or three small streams,
as is now the case in Klondyke. They
were found on hundred creeks and
rivers. The country could be pros
pected with ten times the rapidity
that prospecting is carried on in the
interior Of Alaska. There were num-
erous well defined signs" and the
trained eye of the miner had little
difficulty in directing him to the rich
ground, The earth and gravel were
unfrozen, the climate was mild and
even in winter, and wherever food
was abundant mining was something
Of picnic.
Even should Alaska be as rich in
gold as was California in the early SOS,
years of hard weak will be required
to uncover the treasure. The richest
Alaskan gold fields yet discovered lay
concealed beneath the most uninvit-
ing surroundings. The experienced
gold miner would never have looked
there for rich placers. The pay earth
is locked in frost and the summer
sun can perpetrate It but a few inches. |
Perhaps the golden story Of CalifOr-
MIA will be repeated in a lesser way in
Alaska. Probably CALIFORNIA; chapter
Of crime, hunger, privation and starVa
tion will be written there in fuller aud
more doleful measure Spokesman
Review.
The Railroad Company have placed |
a special car at the disposal of the |
militia company on their trip to Boise
Monday next They are also allowed
the privilege of taking their arms into
the car providing they are not loaded
that is tina oyt.nc