The herald., 1897-09-05

long as l am able to work, the chances
are will have enough to eat and to wear
for both myself and wife and children,
just as long as the latter stay at home.
But when I get old and the children
carve out their own lines of life, what
will become of the wife and me? I can
get money enough to get the best kind OF
start in the Klondike and maintain
myself and family for some time. Now,
we are all used to hard work, very hard.
Why not rough it for three or four years
out there and get enough to be comfort-
able always, instead of just being satis-
fled with enough to eat and wear from
one years end to another. with nothing
but hard work to look forward to?"
That is not hypothetical case. The
man himself said almost exactly what
is quoted to the writer within a fort
night. What is more, unless death or
sickness intervenes, his course will be
exactly as outlined. There are dozens OF
other cases like this all through the ter
ritory which will contribute Klondike
emigrants next spring. They are not
going there with any present intention
to remain longer than is necessary, and
hope to win a competence and come back
to the United States to enjoy it.
The majority of this clas of Klondikers
will wait until next May before begin
ming their journey, but there is another
and large element who will be footloose
long before that and will in consequence
make the best of their way to Seattle
and other points Of embarkation to be In
readiness to take advantage Of the first
northward movement. And what
movement that will be. The chances are
that not for many years to come will
Seattle again have winter population
of the number that is likely to be within
her gates the coming season. Undoubt-
edly some will go from the east to these
western points who will find the west
ern country which will be SO new to
them sufficiently attractive to abandon
the Klondike plans, but the cry of the
majority will unquestionably be 'Ex-
celsior!"
The slump in silver has unquestiona-
bly, caused great many practical MI
ners to decide on a Klondike trip. With
the value of a silver dollar lowering
around forty cents, the wages in the
silver mines will not increase, and while
there is small probability Of this figure
being maintained for any lengthy period.
it is among the probabilities that there
will be pronounced bull movement In
the white metal for long time. For
this reason it is safe to say that another
year will see so per cent at least Of the
silver miners Of the United States delv-
ing for gold in the new land of promise.
There will be many woman among
those who take the northward journey
next spring. It is the history Of all such
strikes of magnitude that while woman
is not found to any extent among those
who first rush in, the succeeding season
always sees plenty Of them. They are
going this time, and among them will
be all degrees, from the wife Of the la
borer, to whom manual toll is second ma
ture, to the daintily nurtured feminine
whose brain has hitherto furnished her
with employment. They will be the
women who will make or mar the new
country, for the probabilities are that Z
large per cent Of those who go with the
idea of merely making some money and
then returning to places of greater civ
ilization will find ample reasons for
making the Klondike permanent homes.
This tremendous rush Of humanity to
the gold fields which has been outlined
will necessarily be over largely the same
routes that have heretofore been utii-
lied. Plans are now making. however.
which will result in the roads Of today
being made far more passable. By an
other year railroads will have been sur
veyed and work thereon commenced.
Then will much Of the terror which now
enshrouds the journey be removed. The
members Of the Klondike army of 1897
however must make up their minds to
Journey without the aid of the iron horse.