Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-20
4 MAMMOTH ENTERPRISE.
Scheme to Operate in the Klondike on
a Large Scale.

w neellng Attorney Granted Power
OF Attorney for a Chicago Cor
poration Which Proposes to Open
Up the Yukon River to Naviga-
ton During the Entire Year and
Transport Thousands of Men to
the Diggings-Company Granted
a Charter in. This State With a
Capital of Three Million Dollars
and a Paid Up Stock of Three
Hundred ThoeSand.
F. B. Cox, of his city, has been
granted the power of attorney for
big Chicago corporation which was re-
Gently granted charter under the
laws of this State. The company is
known as the Yukon Mutual Mining
and Trading Company, composed ex-
clusiyely of capitalists OF the Windy
City. West Virginia is a favorite State
for outside corporations to get charters,
as there are fewer restrictions and the
fees and taxes are less than in the ma
jority of the States. The Yukon Mu-
tual Mining and Trading Company is
organized with a capital OF $4,000, 600,
and the members had paid in 100000
at the time the charter was granted,
as the State law requires a paid up
capital of ten per cent before 1t grants
the charter. AS the name signifies. the
company is formed for the purpose OF
operating in the gold fields of Alaska.
There is every evidence that the COM
pany is bona fide, as they have com
menced their operations in very bust
ness-like way and have not ostenta-
tiously advertised their plans.
According to what is known of their
plans they intend TO open up route
along the Yukon river TO the Klonoike
diggings. At the present during about
nine months of the year this route is
impossible on account of the low water,
ice and the rough nature of the coun-
try. There are three routes TO the gold
fields and at present each at its best
presents the greatest obstacles and dan
gers to be overcome and passed
through. The Yukon river, while the
longest way round, is considerably less
hazardous, and consequently this route
seems to be the most desirable. How
ever, this means long trip of over
1900 miles from Victoria, on the coast
Of British Columbia. About half of
this distance is taken up by ocean
steamer from Victoria to st. Michael's,
at the mouth Of the Yukon river. Then
comes another long journey of 1000
miles during limited season up the
Yckon river to the headwaters where
the hlondke field is located. This
route while a continuous trip by water
is not open Until late in the spring and
remains opel for only few months.
The plan of the Chicago company is
to establish a system of transportation
TO the gold fields even after the river
becomes unnavigable They expect to
have their plans perfected by spring,
and when the warmer season dawns
will have much quicker mode of
transporting the thousands of men
whom they intend to send to the dig
gings. These men they will employ
on the contract labor system, some
thing similar to the arrangement by
which American capitalists have
brought foreign labor into this country
in recent years. The company will pay
the expenses of whoever Yants to go
after binding contract has been made
with them The men who go under
these terms will be gwen percentage
of the amount which the mines yield.
The company expects to have no diff
Guilty in getting men to go without al
vertising for them, as the gold fever.
instead Of abating, shows signs of
growing into something Of an exodus
from this country in the spring.