The herald., 1897-07-31
A VETERAN EXPERT
COLONEL T. W. BROOKS TO START
FOR KLoNDYKE
The Pomona Miner Gives His Views
of the Countrywide Will Take
New Route

Col. T. W. Brooks of Pomona, one O.
the most intrepid hunters and miners III
Southern California, contemplate {
trip to Klondyke in the near future.
Last night Col. Brooks was seen by &
Herald reporter, with whom he chatteC
in an interesting manner concerning hi
impressions of Alaska. Col Brooks i!
thoroughly familiar with all parts o.
Alaska, except a portion of the field now
being operated.
Col. Brooks said: "My convictions con-
corning the wealth of the country are
conclusive, though I have not visited
that portion now being operated. The
evidences of its metallic fertility, the
yellow metal extracted from the various
localities. extending over hundreds of
miles of the country, make it at least
consistent to say that Alaska will in ali
probability excel the total product of
| the gold Of California from first to last.
which we all know can be estimated by
the ton. 1t is a territory several times
| larger than our state, and from a scien-
title standpoint, theoretically debating,
the heavy deposits of placer gold, the
best of reasons may be assigned sup
porting the impressions that it is con-
tinuous area, the entire length of the
territory embracing hundreds of miles in
width and capable of maintaining two
or three hundred thousand people.
ut is true, as proved by the hardy
miner, that the farther north we go from
the Mexican line the richer the placer.
The flow of the lava and the creeping
glaciers were from the north to the
south, and as the gold is of volcanic orr
gin, and considering its great specific
gravity, it should not be astounding that
the richest deposits are found. nearer the
source"
do you propose visiting Alaska? ?"
yes, sir. 1 will probably leave this
city in a few days, with a party of select
men, and will enter the country by a
different route to any travelled at the
present time. propose in large part to
make way of my own, as l did when I
visited the country with $50 men in 1858
and 1864, and will thereby shorten the
overland travel very much"
DO you care to give publicity to your
proposed route?"
There is no secrecy about it, though
I would prefer to make further inveSti-
CATION, when 1 propose to lead the way
to a new and UNEMPLOYED locality that
my judgment directs me to as being ia
vorable and otherwise advantageousiy
situated"
"Are you representing a Los Angeles
company?'
mo, not just that way. The original
PLAN that of chartering steamer to tbs
,ix = han n,
the river by steam barges which would
have constituted a company, was aban-
doned, and at the present time capital
lists OF Los Angeles are sending repre-
sentatives to the country who will, I'M
der systema tized plans go in body and
cooperate in many respects to the gen.
eral welfare of the whole. We propose
to leave The city Monday or Tuesday
next by rail to Seattle and thence by
boat to a landing south of Juneau"
do you expect large influx to Alas
ka?"
II surely do. There never was time
when the whole people were so matured
or ripened to grasp an opportunity to
make money as the present, and the
startling facts of the enormously rich
section are such as to command the con-
sidera ton of all classes, and there VIII
be many thousands of inexperienced
people go there who will experience the
most severe torture from cold, scarcity
of food and clothing, that has ever been
heard. 1t is decidedly the hardest AMI
all around most difficult country to OPP
crate in that has ever been discovered.
I would advise the tender and inexperi-
enced to stay at home"