The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-25
ITS VAST OPPORTUNITIES.
AMPLE PLACE FOR CAPITAL AND
LABOR IN THE kIONDikE.
NO" . Poor Mans Country. 81 He he
industrious. Larky and Well Pro-
Sfsioned-Alcc McDonaId.s succes.
The Present Rate Of Wages.
BY the Poss-IntelIsgence- Alaska News
Syndicate

By the Pos;-IntelIlgencer Alaska News
Syndicate
hAW SON CITY. Sept. is-Capt J. +
HeaIs, one OF the managers OF the North
american Transportation * Trading Com
pany. IS man Of experience. a clnsa
observer Of passing events and is one
81 the best posted men n the North lie
Deiieves that there are vast opportunities
19r proatasle investment CT capital which
VIII ultimately develop the mineral re-
sources OF this great mining belt west OF
iae Rockies. When thar times arrives
there VIII be ample employment for thou
saHds OF men with no fear Of a famine A.
present II Is a poor mans country. conai-
TONED that the man be Industrious lucky
ana Wen provisioned. The taiiings from
the Claims that are now being worked VIII
some day give up millions OF dollars 10
companies enterprising enough TO intro
once improved machinery adapted fer saw
ing Inc fakes Of the metal.
Two years ago Big" Alec Mcdonald
came TO Alaska from Aspen, Col with
sHai' srubstake and put in the autumn cut
ing wood for living For Is months or
more ne worked hard and was often In de-
SPAR OF obtaining enough provisions to last
through the season. He is a man OF limited
education, OF honest and hard-working ap-
a
quainiances say that his success is due 10
MS answering fidelity TO friends and tina,
ne is as true as steel" He IS a Scotchman
ABOUT - years old, and at one time had
made considerable money in the pioneer
mining camps OF Colorado. Today he owns
large interests in e5 mines in the Kloudike
district One year ago today he told me he
was practically broke. 1t Is hard 10 esti-
mate The amount his property will yield in
yran he tr.x
figure is si.ooe.eoo
How did he make his money!" is the
question propounded by all .'tenderfeet."
by strict attention TO business. avoiding
all kinds OF designations that are calcu-
lated to deaden mans most active mental
agencies and by honest dealings with his
fellow men.
Large companies in a few years will be
earning enormous dividends In operating
the worked-ou; claims and failing of the
Eldorado and Bonanza creeks. The facili-
ties now in use are not of the character
that will save the finer particles of the
gold, but as the country becomes better
known and the transportation facilities in
crease proportionateiy, then q more scien-
tine system OF mining VIII be introduced
and the prospector will have TO look else
where for "a poor mans country" Mr.
Mcdonald said to me:
successful, but then I'm not out of the
woods yet. Wait until the cIean-ups next
spring. That will tell the story. Yes, the
most or my properties are turning out
splendid indications and l can sell any
piece that / am interested in for far more
than paid. But then. I've been through
too many mining exeitements not TO learn
to wait until the clean-ups before banking
my gold.
n hsc fc a.
man unused to hard labor. frontier life or
inexperienced in mining. Without means
Or provisions for getting out of the coun-
try. he is likely to become discouraged ana
ruin his iifes future And with that re-
mark Mr.. Mcdonald started for the
gulches.
The Labor situation.
Mine owners are carefully watching the
labor situation and In few weeks or as
soon as the rush from the outside is over
and the number of available workmen in
the country can be determined with any
reasonable degree of accuracy. If the sup
ply of labor comes anywhere equaiing the
demand, the owners viii combine to lower
the standard of wages from SIS TO So or
possibly $ a day. Rumors to that effect
are now in constant circulation. Some OF
the heaviest owners by careful manage
nent have accumulated a considerable
quantity OF provisions and are calculating
on large number of men coming into this
country without the necessary supplies
who. TO avoid the privation of hunger. will
be compelled to accept s. or $40 a day and
board themselves out of supplies furnished
by the owners. Once the rate is estab-
iished. the wages will never be raised. ana
IL will have the effect of causing the opera
ton and development Of gulches producing
less wealth than the Klondike district.
There are dozens of creeks down the Yu-
kon valley where good diggings have been
located ard could be worked at a profit II
labor could he obtained at s. or $40.
In leasing mines on lays most Of the own
RS exact covenants that the claims shall
Aaye been thoroughly worked and COM
pleted by the first Of June. 1893. If that
policy Is carried out. about two-thirds of
E.ldorado, bonanza and Hunker creeks will
have been worked out this season. and
considerable part OF other creeks. OF
course the supply OF labor and provisions
and the rate OF wages will govern the ques-
ton 10 large extent Most OF the owners
are anxious to make as large cleanup"
this winter as possible and retire from ac-
tive mining life next year. IL all the people
who are now in the Klondike realize their
dreams of wealth and go TO the Paris ex-
position. a they now contemplate. the Yu-
kon valley will be We'll represented in
Gay Paree." Mine owners and mine work.
ers all have the same object in view.
The CoE,missioaer's Power.
The official who. II he chooses. can exer-
oise czarke power, Is Mr.. Thomas Faw-
eett. the Canadian gold commissioner. He
IS the officer before whom all mining claims
ara filed recorded ana adjusted and hts
government has placed enough confidence
in hts integrity and ability To instruct him
30 exercise his own discretion in all mat
ters until otherwise Instructed He left
Ottawa nearly eight months ago. and since
then has had no official communications
Although he Is not a miner, yet he exer-
"A