The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-16
The StupendOus Gold Discover
les in Alaska,
Give Rise to the Belief That
the "Mother" Vein
OFALL THEGOLDMINES
In North and South American
Mountain Chains
Has Been Found - ClOndy Ike
Find a Mere Scratch.

ST. Louis. July 16-The Republic in
leading article on the gold discoveries
in Alaska, says:
Old mining men, who have read of
the fabulous discoveries of gold in
Alaska, predict a great future for this
far-away possession of the Onlteo
States. They say that William Sew
ard builded better than he knew When
he negotiated for the purchase of Alas
ka from the Russian government, Tor
not only is il the center of the seal in
dustry, but it promises to be the FL,
dorado of mining in gold, silver, coal
and other products of the earth.
The point is made that where placer
washings give such astonishing results
there must be something back of the
auriferous gravel--that locked up in the
mountain fastnesses there may De 9ntoIo
treasure awaiting discovery ana eX-
traction by modern machinery. Ihe
Clondyke strike, those familiar with
Alaska aver, is a mere scratch. Be
yond CIondyke and in the unexplored
region of the territory it is believed will
be found the mother vein of gold,
branches of which have long been un-
der discovery in the United States
proper.
OF course, few men really know any
thing of the mineral resources OF the
territory. 1t is all guess work, and 1t
is only when a strike is made, such as
that reported from ClOndyke, that ac-
tual results can be recorded.
That the Clondyke region is rich in
gold is eSta blished beyond cavil by the
arrival of miners from that point, bring
ing home gold dust in fruit jars and
other primitive receptacleS.
These new discoveries naturally have
created a furry, and it is probab that
the gold excitement of '49 will be re-
peated.
seeker of gold to reach the new dig
gings than it was for the forty-nlners
to reach California. The enterprise IS
fraught with peril and hardship ana
the trip is absolutely impossible to
those without capital.
There are several routes to- Alaska.
Steamers and sailing vessels make fre-
quent trips from San Francisco, Port
Townsend, Victoria and Vancouver
From any of these ports it is a voyage
of more than $500 miles to Alaska Sit
ka is the first city of any Importance to
be reached in the territory, but when
the prospectGr has arrived there ne IS
only half way on his journey; In tact,
Sitka would not be desirable point for
Decentralization, as it is far removed
from the Yukon gold fields.
Juneau and Port st. Michael are the
favored points of destination. BY the
first route the gold fields may be reach
ed overland after a trip that would cor
respond to an expedition on foot from
St. Louis to San Francisco in the dead
of winter. The hardy miners who
have followed this route use Eskimo
dogs and go in sledges; Mules and
are at a premium and sell from $75 to
$500 apiece.
The route via Port st. Michael is
somewhat easier. Port St. Michael is
on Behring sea, where the Yukon river
empties into that body of water. The
Yukon is navigabl in summer and the
Alaska Commercial company and North
American Transportation and Trading
company make these trips each sum-
mer for the benefit of tourists.
The Yukon river is 1000 miles long
and winds it's way through Alaska and
over into the British possessions to the
right.
The centers of the Yukon gold region
primitive towns, 1,5OO miles inland
They are known as Forty Mile Post and
Circle City. Both are reached by the
Yukon river route.
BY this route. the fare from San Fran
cisco is $50 to $500 to Port ST. Michael,
and from the latter point to Circle City
there is an additional charge ranging
from $50 TO 5000.
Circle City is very frosty place. 1t
is not so many degrees south of the
Arctic circle, and in winter the miners
live in furs and fond anticipation of
what the spring may bring forth.
For only three months out of the year
is the gold mining industry actively fol-
lowed. The open season begins in the
latter part of May and ends in August.
Some miners continue work later in the
season, but under great difficulties. In
the warmest weather, as weather goes
in Alaska, the gravel in Forty Mile
creek is frozen to a depth of from 16
to 20 feet, and it is necessary to bore
through this crust and drift for placer
gravel through the opening.
The gold region, so far as developed
up to this time, comprises an area of
about so miles, extending from Port
1andChannel to Mount st. Elias. 1t is
an unbroken range of mountains. But
the new Ell Dorado is further east, and
on both British and American soil.
Some reports say there is more gold on
the British side than on the American,
but of this little is really known. The
new discoveries, however, will bring to
head the boundary dispute between
the United States and Great Britain,
and in the event of further discoveries
on the frontier trouble may result.
There are at present about 10000 min
erS in the district, mostly Americans,
armed to the teeth and prepared to de-
fend their titles.
Men who have visited Alaska and
that it would be foolhardy for an
American to start out for the diggings
with less than 81 coo in his pocket. 1t
would cost him $500 at least to get
within thousand miles of the gold
nelds and then he would be confronted
ces Tor everything necessary to COM
plete the trip and live
Labor commands so day at CIon-
dyke, but the laborer is emDloved for
only 100 days, so that his earnings must
be expended before he can again find
nine months in Alaska or come back
home to remain over winter the NET
result being to dissipate the high wa ages
paid during the actual mining season
The proper time to start for Alaska ac-
cOrding to a mining engineer of tbiS
city, who recently returned from that
territory, is March. and this same gem
tleman advances the theory that the
numerous parties now organizing for A
trip to the gold fields will become