Phoenix weekly herald., 1897-09-09
FROM JUNEAU.
J. 0. Cooper Returns With News of the Rush to the Gold Fields
 A Hard Winter

A Hard Winter
 J. c. Cooper, proprietor of the Grand
 Pacific rsstsurent on Main street re-
 turned yesterday from Juneau, where
 he went month ago to gain informa-
 tion preparatory to a trip into the Klon- dyke country which he expects to make in company with dozen others early
 next spring. MT. Cooper spent five days in Juneau, leaving there on the 22d
 inst. During that time he saw enough to thoroughly convince him shat anyone is foolish to attempt the passage Of the
 mountains this winter.
 When he left Junssu, Mr. Cooper states there were between four and five thousand people csmped about that cisy. Ia an interview with Herald reporter hs said: "While large nun
 bsr of those now st Juneau will doubt
 less undertake to cFoes over to the KIondyke before spring, is is my belief
 that not one out of 8 hundred will suc- ceed in accomplishing she journey. They may be able to push over the pass, but even then their progress will be so impeded by storma that they will be compelled to camp somewhere along the line and wait for more favorable wea theR. By spring their supplies will have been exhausted end they will find it necessary to return for more pro- visions only to lose valuable tme, while others who have waited fos more favor able weather push on ahead of them.
 "At present the snow which has fallen in the mountains Is so loose that it is impossible to skid loads across it. By February 8 crust will have formed and this will not be so difficult of plishnens. During my stay of five days ss Juusau, four miners re- tuyusd from Dawson. They sil brought back large quantities of gold and gave glowing accounts of the fabulous wealth of the country. Three of the psrsy will go back to winter, but the other will wsit for spring.
 Several new treils have recently been opened up The old trails have been ruined by the constant travel over them, which has worn them out at places where they were cut ground the sides of mountains Burrows have hardly proved & success for fFeigh ting purposes. They are all right in the rtsine, but when they get down in to the river bottoms. where the land is swampy, they mire down, eud oucs fast in the mud are unwilling to exert themselves to ges out, bus have to be lifted out by hand. Just before I 8r rived party started across the mouu- tains with A drove of forty oxen T. is bhought that they will prove better adapted to the country"
 Mr. Cooper brought back quantity of gold bearing quartz specimens which | were secured in the viccinity of Junesu. 1
 This ore is low grade ee compared l with thas from st Klondyke, and will l run from s to $50 per ton. The Tread 1 we'll mine, operated by Rp English l syndicate, is running a 240 stamp mill 1 lay and night, ard is erectipg g 3OO- stamp mill close by. The Alaska Min ng aud Milling Company is operating B 20 stan mill.
 The trip to Juneau was made by Mr. Cooper with a view to making observa- ions which will be of benefit to the party which expects to leave early in he sprpg He has come back with s tore of information about the country, be routes of travel and the articles eceesery to be taken to insure the reatess comfort on the journey-L 4 5:cchange.