The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-27


will be much extended, the routes from
the States shortened by nearly 800 miles
and the dangerous traverse for river
boats from st. Michasl's to the mouth
of tho Ahpoon pass avoided.
"As | learn from the miners that
horses were used to advantage in trans
porting supplies from Circle City to the
Birch Creek mines during the summer
and are now in use in and around Dsw-
son, 1 see no good reason why they can
not be successfully employed i'll the in
terror at all seasons, especially south
of the Yukon and in the valley OF the
Tananah. For this reason l have asked
that six Canadian horses be supplied
the new post if established and recon-
mend that the department of the lnte-
rior be requested to send to the post
next winter 100 reindeer for winter USE
"Of the settlements within our terri
tory, but few, if any, can be called per-
nanent, rs now interests will neoessl-
tate many changes. Outside Of st.
Miohssl's tho North American Trans
portaisa and Trading company has
store ut Circle City. The missions at
Kudlik, Anvik, Nulatc, TAnansh and
Fort Yukon are simply native settle
neuts, aside frsm the priests and sisters
engaged in tho work. The Alaska Com
mercial company has stores at Andre
asfky, Nulato, Nukukahyet (Tsnanah),
Rampant City (Minoek) and Circle City
"The white settlements are Circle
City and Rampant City, the first l,2OO
and the second OFT miles from st.
Michaol's. Circle City is practically
abandoned. The principal mining camps
are Forty Mile, Birch Greek and MI
nook Greek. Rampant City had popu-
lation of about $50 on the 9TH Instant
which includes those in the mining
samp 10 miles away 1 counted ~
tents l store and 10 huts. The people
were getting out logs, whipsawing tim
her and new cabins were going up rap
idly. The city CD of Weare found rep
resented by four spruce logs crossed as
foundation for cabin; population, U.
It is located three-quarters OF mile be-
low the Alaska Commercial company
store at Nulxukahyet This is central
location, being practically at the head OF
navigation for river boats drawing more
than five feet of water, and is opposite
and n little below the mouth OF the
Tananah river. With the development
of the territory it will'become an impor'
tant center commercially and politically.
"The location of other towns cannot
he predicted from geographical condl'
tions as they will necessarily follow
the mineral development and nearly al
these evolved from placer discoveries
will be ephemeral and abandoned as the
district is worked out. The great lack
of sufficient food supply has checked
nearly all developments for this winter.
did not have time to visit the mines al
Minook and cannot speak as 10 theil
value. saw over $500 in nuggets ano
dust alleged to have been taken out OF
ten foot hole ON one claim, which claim
was sold for So, 200. Many miners com
ing down from the Klondike are stop
ming there and many coming into the
territory by this route will stop rather
than winter here, where there Is n'
chance to work.
Sowing to the dense growth OF 1or
est and moss the country is one oi Wv
most difficult in the world to prospec
and the work of development Will o.
slow. I have talked with many expert
enoed miners, who all agree in having
discovered many valuable lodes OF low
grade ore, but the present high price o
provisions bars the working OF an.
nlaoers or lodges that do not pay NOR
than An ounce per man per day.
cup to the time the boats fsiied .
mass the bar at this point 1 estimated
that from the boundary to the sea tner
were about 1 900 people, not including
those stranded at st. Michaels In
only lines of communication are by IN
waters of the Yukon and its tributa
RES. which are open from the last day
Of Nay until from the LIST TO the lotn !
October. There is no regular commun'
-.x,n,, h.txveen the mining camps dul