The herald., 1897-07-24
asntry, an old miner. into the frozen
THE BUYERS. cINcH


French Canadians who We're successful
on The Clondyke and are now bound for
Montreal, are at the Commercial Hotel
In this city. They came from Seattle,
having reached that city by the steamer
Portland They could not get the prices
for their nuggets that they wanted there
and they will not accept the bid made
BY the Selby Smelling Works in this
city As the San Francisco Mint is
closed pending the change of admins
tration these five miners will carry their
bullion to Philadelphia and exchange
It there for coin of the United States.
The six men of the party are N. E.
Piootte, T. Morrin, who has been in the
Yukon country for four years; N. Mer-
cier, of five years experience; Joseph
Cazelais, who for seven years has mined
in Alaska: P. Amelier. who has been
there for five years, and Joseph Ore
chooses. who has just completed his eec-
ond year on the Yukon.
The closing of the Mint has afford
ed SPECTATORS an opportunity to make
considerable money out of the miners
who have brought their gold dust with
them A rumor has been circulated that
the Clondyke gold is poorer in quality
than that from other mining regions
and that in, consequence it is not worth
so much for minting purposes.
Some of the more recent arrivals who
have become acquainted with this state
of affairs propose to hold their dust I'M
til the Mint reopens, which will be on
August LIST, when they feel that they will
be able to get full coin value for it.
Others are considering the advisability
of sending it on to the Mint at Phila-
delphia.
FLOCKING TO'THE CLONDYKE.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 23.-Among
the arrivals from Alaska on the steamer
Bertha was Dr. c. E. Dickinson of Ko-
diak Island, which lies just at the head
of Cooks Inlet He says the gold excite
ment all over the Territory of Alaska
is something unprecedented, and that
people are docking to the Clondyke in
way that threatens to depopulate
many of the trading posts and coast
towns.
When I left Kodiak two weeks ago"
said DR.. Dickinson, ''the people were
leaving all that section of the country
and fiocking in the direction of the Clon-
dyke. In a way the situation is appall
ing, for many of the industries are left
practically without the means of opera
ton. Mines that are paying handsome
1y at Cooks Inlet have been deserted.
"In my opinion there are just as good
placer diggings to be found at Cooks
Inlet as in the Clondyke region. There
is not a foot of ground in all that coun-
try that does not contain gold in more
or less appreciable quantities. The
great trouble is that people have not had
either the courage or opportunity, do
not know which, to thoroughly prospect
the country. I think that in another
month the country will be practically
deserted There is room about Cooks
Inlet for thousands of men, and there is
certainly no better place in the world for
q poor man.
THE FEVER IN THE EAST.
NEW YORK, July 23.-The World
says: The Clondyke fever has not bat
ed particle. The offices of the railroad
companies and ticket agencies are WIS.,
tied by adventurous spirits eager to
seek their fortunes in the Alaskan gold
fields.
From information obtained by World
reporters those seriously considering
making the trip will do well to postpone
their departure for some time. Under
the most favorable circumstances the
working days in the Yukon gold fields
cannot exceed one hundred iD the year.
For the other 265 days the earth is COW
cred with snow, the ground is frozen
and the rivers stopped by ice. Anybody
starting from New York at this season
would reach the Yukon river just about
the beginning of the long Alaskan Win
ter and it would be far more comfort
able for him to remain in the States
and go to the new Ell Dorado at a more
seasonable time.
Frederick Hobart, editor of the Mining
Journal, said: 1t would be extremely
foolish to start from New York for
Clondyke a this season because one
cannot get there in time to do any thing
this year 1t is difficult, too, to get trans
portation. TIL Ala skan lines are not pre-
pared to carry many passengers. 1t is
easy enough to engage steamers and get
to the coast, but the difficulty is to get
from the coast inland. Much of the last
portion of the journey must be made on
foot. If you go by the Juneau route,
it is necessary TO walk over the mount
aims and then build boat. The Yukon
river is only Eavigable during three
months of the year. 1t would be we'll
for those who do not know the country
to learn more about it before starting
for the gold fields"
l.. Allen, associate editor of the En-
gineering Magazine, said: Naturally l
have given a great deal of attention to
reports from the new gold fields / have
no doubt there is lots of gold there.
know of very few men who are prepar-
ing to leave this city for the gold fields
1t would be folly for them to do so at
this time anyway as it is too late to ac-
complish anything this year"
Up to date 81 applications for trans
portation have been made at the ticket
agencies here. A large majority of the.
applicants do not propose to start for
several months.
A man who has just returned from
Alaska, where he has been for two years
said to World reporter: mo one but
a foolish man will start now from New
York for Clondyke. Any that do start
will reach the diggings to find them COW
cred with snow and be unable to Go any
thing till May or June. The talk about
the high wages reads well but it should
be remembered there is little work to
be done in the cold in Alaska at any
price. Those who go to the gold fields
will need quite little money and If will