Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-04
THE TurRsT ron GOLD.

| Through the testimony or experts VI"
soanv aide of the klondike prospect IL
he,ne rapidly disclosed. Government
oecp,s and officers who have made care
ri examination and scientific study OF
| ,no now gold area as a whole are now TO
Tho fore and the information they are
giving regarding the gold deposits ana
climatic conditions OF, the difficulty OF
reaching and the expense Of existing III
tho great northwest territory. ought, u
would seem to have a decided effect In
checking the drift 10 that region.
The reports OF these agents. officers
and experts show that much Of the Alas
kan and Klondike glister IL Fictitious ana
deceptive. Summarized, these reports
itera;e Punch's advice. Don't" one oil
the experts of the United States Govern
men, says that az a matter Of fact the
Alaskan gold production comes from an
area of half million square miles, ana
the Weld for the present year may be
roughly estimated at only about S,oOOwD.
OF the mines which produce gold, some
are in the bedrock and some are placer
diqgings. The ore-carrying quartz IS ex-
ceedincly difficult 10 work, the ore itself
Is Of low grade. and the metal-bearing
veins are so broken 10 by volcanic DIS
turbance that great trouble and expense
are involved in following them. IL Is
admitted that the Klondike strike seems
10 be n very rich one, but the estimates
of returning miners as to the extent OF
the placer districts are discounted as ex-
travagant, and the quartz conditions are
said 10 be the same as those in Alaska
The official reports respecting the ell
matte conditions. the difficulties Of travel
the expense of living. and the chances OF
starvation In the new fields carry an
eouany Giscouraging and warning tone
and the United states expert to whom
we have referred says plainly that MS
general advice TO the average man IN
tending TO venture into the Yukon gold
district is to keep out.
But unless human purposes. human
desires human nature have undergone
n revolution in this fin de steele age, and
there Is no proof that they have, 1t is
doubtful whether this advice Will be
taken. 1t is doubtful whether the warn
ing Of the experts will be needed. Expe-
rience has demonstrated that the gold
fever must run its course. If those VINO
have persisted in all climes in the search
for gold could rise from "the darkness OF
their prisons. low and lone" what vast
spectre caravan they would make. Yet
the living gold-seelers from pressing on
TO fortune or to suffering. and, perhaps
death.
"A-lurscl thirst for gold. what dost
thou not compel mortals to do" exclaims
Virgil. Cowley t9s us that
"Gold bcgets in brethren hate.
Gold in families debate;
Gold doth friendship separate.
Gold doth civil wars create"
and other poets, both ancient and modern
and many moral essayists have inveighed
against it as constituting the sum of the
worlds woes.
There is no denying that the lust for
gold has been in certain directions one
Of the greatest curses Of humanity II Is
mere responsible than anything else for
the UNANIMOUSLY cruel record of Spanish
American conquest, and TO it is due the
fact that the Portuguese sank so rapidly
from their high position as navigators
and explorers. Our own English ances-
tors were not free from its stimulating
influences in pushing discovery on this
Continent, and the individual instances
in which it has lured men away from
noble aims and to moral destruction are
countless But it must not be forgotten
that lust of gold has not been the domi-
nant influence with all gold seekers.
Many. very many, have been actuated
primarily by that spirit of adventure that
makes heroes Again, ii should not be
forgotten that the thirst for gold is, in
cidentaly, a great civilizer. In prospect
ing for gold other things are found Of
equal If not greater value to the comfort,
happiness, and well-being Of humanity
In the train of the enthusiast, the dream
| or. and the victim of the gold fever go
others who open up the country, increase
and expand the heritage of civilization,
and create States and nations.
Doubtless but for that shining ore upon
which
Commerce has set the mark OF selfish
ness.
The signet Of its all-enslaving power"
vast domains that are now under we'll
! ordered governments and social condi-
lions, and are yielding abundantly the
fruits of peaceful labor. would be wilder
-