Smyrna times., 1897-08-11
ALASKAN GOLD-FIELDS.

ALASKAN GOLD-FIELDS.
When Mr.. Seward purchased Alaska
Tor $7,OOO,OO0 it was thought he had
bought an ice-box. Alaska, however
has proved to be Uncle Sans gold-box.
or strOng-bOx. The first dividend of
Alaska was the seal-skin, which speed
lily reimbursed the National Treasury
the cost price of the Territory. It
would seem that time has been wasted
IN catching seals, as we are now told
that gold may be had for the shovelino
IN the headwaters of the Yukon.
Gold-mining i'll Alaska is divided
INTO the same two general classes that
prevail elsewhere, placer and quartz.
the former in gulches and the latter in
the mountains. While the greater ex-
cltement prevails in regard to the pla-
Ger KlOndike region, some of the
greatest mining operation of the CON
tlnent are carried on the coast region
some sixty miles north of Juneau. I'm
mense capital is invested in the coast
mines about Seward City, operated
mostly by the Rothschild, d. O. Mill s.
the Noewells of Boston, the Berners
Bay Mining and Milling Company.
under the direction of Colonel JohnF.
Plummer, of New York and others.
The product of all Juneau mines for
1896 was 50, 500, ,OOO-equal to the pro-
duct of all the districts of the Terri
tory.
juneau is the key to the new Klon-
dixie region and head-waters of the
Yukon. Those who are wise take this
short though difficult route, and make
their way over Chilkoot Pass to the
lakes and head-waters of the Yukon
thence to float down stream, instead of
going upward from st. Michael A
glance at map will show the proxim-
lty of the Juneau coast mines to the
Alondike placers, across the border. in
British possessions. 1t is possible that
some mining will be continuous from
the coast to Klondike, quartz and fs-
sures veins prevailing in the attitudes
and placers in the gulches and stream
beds. 1t seems anomalous that would-
be miners should hurry through the
richest gold-felds in the world at Sc
ward City in order to reach the lesser
placers of the Klondike. But such is
lotoriety of the places that tenderfoot
md Ole-timer alike tramp unheedine
over millions of tons of quartz veins of 1
sold, situated convenient to the ocean.
n order to reach region almost inac- {
'essible, and from which it is difficult
nd dangerous to take the product.
The Yukon Basin covers vast area =
4 the interior of Alaska and the ad- 1
Dining Canadian territory. From {
Ource to mouth are vast treasure-beds. {
ot only of untold millions of gold.
ut OF coal, copper, marble and all
letals, awaiting development. Re-
ent explorations have developed the "
mazlng fact that probably all the in p
umerable tributaries of the Yukon r
arry flour gold, which increases in h
1arseness as one ascends TO the q
'urces. Fortunately the Yukon is n
for most of its entire length. N
I'D its tributaries will admit of smaller IL
I'D fiat bottom boats. OF course. only j.
le smallest fraction of Alaska, and +
zen less of the Canadian territory. has 1
9en prospected. Nor have the pros ~
'cted sections been thoroughly gone '
ver, as yet. o'
Fortune-seekers report discoveries " ~
d fortunes almost incredible, and =:
rhaps scarcely parallel in the his ~
ry OF gold-mining, even by the we'll TT
scenes of the Cassair and :.
rlbou. In 1893 only 300 people had ~ -.
netrated the Yukon gold-felds, in u
easing to 5000 in 1895. The past sea- -
has witnessed an influx of many ~
ousands, attracted by the reports A.
ich have come back to civilization. - -
facilitates have been in Ia
'ased, and will doubtless keep pace '''
III the march of the new ambitions.
o much stress cannot be laid ON he,
warning that comes from the or,
kon that only those who intend to lar
rage in mining should make. the fro
rney. Professional men, clerks. Su
'kkeepers, etc., etc, will find no oc- ket
patton. No one should 90 there anr
hout at least $500 in pocket. and will
res of food and clothing. To all che
h, it may be said, fortune awaits poe
two years of hard work. vie
he climate of Alaska is healthy. Kei
, winters on the coast in the vicin. cur
OF Sitka and Juneau are compare viii
'ly mild. Although excessively picl
in the interior gold regions, the Che
is dry, making the climate endura- 9th
with suitable clothing, shelter and bee
!. The summer season is short and ted.
ghtful, with but little rainfall. Cal
he winters are almost dayless and crer
summers nightless. The mining ven
ION would ordinarily last from two shoi
our months annually, but necessity
resulted in the method known as RI
rning that is fires and tunnels, relic
means of which work is prosecuted nue. NUE.
ino fha xuipkar D.. Ill =.