The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1897-08-13

The hloudyke ilacera.
The chief object Of interest in the
mining world az the present time are
the new Klondyke placcrs OF Alaska.
That these are phenomCnally rich
there Is no DOUBT whatever, since the
stories OF their great value are sup
ported by the arrival Of large amounts
OF gold dust and nuggets In the
United States. But ~ far the ac-
counts OF the discoveries are some
what vague. They have been made
along the Klondykc river. which Is
tributary Of the Yukon, In Canadian
territory, though not far from the
American frontier. order Is preserved
in the region by detachment " the
Canadian mounted police. but other
wise the mining Is carried on as II ON
American soil. Mails are obtained
from Circle City, which Is near by.
whittier the United States postofiicc
makes dispatch once a month. aud
supplies are sent In from Juneau. or
up the Yukon river. There being no
Canadian customs offices IN the region
these have thus far gone In duty.frcc
hut there Is already an outcry In Brit
ish Columbia against this, and doubt
less ere long collectors OF customs VIII
he stationed there. Most OF the min
ors on the ground are Americans. and
probably all the gold thus far ex-
tractcd has been brought TO the United
States.
The climate Of the Yukon country Ia
wild and severe. The winter Is long,
and the time when work can be car
rled on 90 advantage Is correspond.
ingly short. The snowfall Is said To he
comparatively light; but the cold Is
great. temperatures OF GS degrees 20
40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit be-
ing registered. During the brief sum
mcr the weather Is sultry and the my
RAIDS OF mosquitoes are pest. After
September 10Th the Juneau route Is
impossible on account Of the fierce
storms which set In at that time and
make the crossing OF Chllkoot pass
very hazardous.
The new dgglngs are very difficult
OF access. At present there are two
routes thlther one from 81. Mlchners,
near the mouth Of the Yukon river,
and the other from Juneau. From 81.
Mlchacls there are llght.drnft steam
boats which ascend the Yukon river
TO Dawson City. distance OF 100
miles, the entire Journey from Seattle
occupying thirty or forty days, the
lNTt toNUUk FlNNs LUIS IN INV fNHlfl
route. The other Is from Juneau.
partly by river and partly by foot, n
distance OF $50 miles to the klon-
dyke. This route Is exceedingly
rough. The rivers are rapid and
rocky, and over the portages every
thing must he packed on their backs
by the travellers themselves. or by In
dian carriers, II they can be secured.
No food Ii produced m the country,
and the immigrant In obliged to carry
huge supply with him, because the
climate OF the country Is such that
egress from Il II possible only In the
summer. and even with plenty OF
money II Is not easy 10 buy there all
that is needed. The Alaska CONNER
clal Company, which sends stea mboats
from ST. Mlchae's up the Yukon river,
declares Its inability TO transport 60
the region an adequate supply OF
goods for next winter II there Is such
n rush thlther as there promises TO be.
II this happens there viii surely be
much suffering and loss OF life. I'm
der these circumstances Il n a matter
for congratulatlon that only n COM
paratlVely small number OF persons
can find transportation thlther before
the present season closes.
Our advice TO gold seekers IS 10 con-
slider well the difficulties to be encoun'
tered before setting out, aud we adj
dress this especially TO persons In the
eastern and central states who have
had no experience In rough countries,
and therefore can have little idea OF
the hardshlps which must be borne In
Alaska. To those VINO are going from
the Pacific slope we suggest that they
take a reserve supply OF food In the
compressed form that the army has eN,
perlmentcd with 80 successfully and
provide themselves with plenty OF
clothing ana blankets. But above all
no one should start for the Klondyke
who Is not amply provided with money
IL IL hardly necessary for us to call at
tentlon to the historical experience OF
these rich gold discoveries that where
there are few who make fortunes
there are many who lose all they have
and often their lives. and there are
bound to be dlsappolntments In Alaska
Just as there were In California, Colo
RADIO and MISUNDERSTANDING and
Mining Journal.