The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-05

was furry of thirty men who went
to the scene, followed by one after an
other of the miners within reach Of
the news, until the whole of Bonanza
creek was taken up with claims. Then
as the proSpectOrS began to come in
from American creek and other places
they also joined in the procession and
1t was these late corners who were I'M
able to locate upon Bonanza, who
CHANGED upon the now famous Hunker
and Ell Dorado creeks. You can i'm
agine by this time that l was on the
spot and 1 had the honor of naming
the Ell Dorado.
There was no demonstration or eX-
element. The men felt that there was
every likelihood that the new diggings
would prove lucrative, and hope was
in every breast; however there was no
certainty. 1t was not until October
when the more definitive prospecting
of burning shafts to bed rock took
place, that the miners were certain
they had struck it rich. Then outside
of little desultory shouting there was
nothing to make the occasion note
worthy. In the face Of the most won
derful prosperity, such as washing out
hundreds of dollars to the pan, the
miners preserved their equanimity,
and in fact many Of them hardly
dared yet to believe their good fortune.
Dawson City sprang up by magic.
A year ago there was nothing but a
marshy fiat, surrounded by a range of
hills Last winter there were several
log cabins, a small warehouse and one
saloon. Now there are four or five
hundred tents or dwellings, the two
trading companies with store and
warehouse each, fifteen saloons, dance
halls and gambling houses-and about
thirty women. A government building
and barracks are being constructed for
occupancy by the Canadian police.
''The Klondike is quite healthful or
rather it has been UP to last spring.
when the scurvy made it's appearance,
owing to the absence Of green vege-
tables and also the poor drainage in
Dawson City, the place being, as I told
you before, built on a marsh. There
is also sort of nervous disorder,
caused, l suppose, by the constant ex-
pectancy of striking it rich. You can
imagine that the strain would be wear
ing on a mans nerves.
$50 far as the extent of the mining
region is concerned, the amount OF
claims already taken up is but a mere
speck on the may Of Alaska and the
Northwest territory. There are 5000
square miles in Alaska alone, every
mile of which bears gold, possibly
great part of it of superlative richness;
this territory has yet to be prospected
to determine it's value. Prospecting is
a slow process, owing to the almost
utter impoSSibility of transportation of
supplies as the case now stands; it is
this scarcity of provisions which makes
it impossible for the prospector to
start ont on an extensive tour. even
if he would.
mo one, be he capitalist or laboring
man, should be deferred from entering
the Alaskan field of speculation or adj
venture on account of a fear of a lack
of gold. Explorations not only by min
ers but by government experts and
others well able to speak on the sub
ject intelligently, have shown not only
traces but splendid signs of auriferous
deposits of quartz and gravel all over
Alaska and the Yukon section of the
Northwest territory.
However, the slowness of travel, the
scarcity of workingmen, coupled with
the eternal dearth of provisions, make
the wise man pause before he enters
his physical abilities or capital in
race for the elusive color. Thousands