The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-16
THE PASSING IHRONG.


down from Alaska concerning the rich
diggtngs Of the Stewart river are not to
be condemned rs exaggerated or untrutk-
ful. Mr. Henderson has spent the greater
part OF his hfe In Alaska. as miner, trap
Per and steamboat man. and knows the
Upper Yukon country thoroughly He is
at present a guest at the Rainier-Grand
He said last night:
In 1855 I poied from sixty-Mile to the
Stewart river. and thence UP that stream
10 miles. 1t was In the fail of the year
and the ice was already forming on the
banks OF the stream / was alone and
without blankets, and had barely enough
food to last me during the trip. l poied
up the Yukon and up stream on the Stew
art river, 10 miles altogether, in ten days.
I understand that this record has never
been broken.
Il had gunny sacks sewed into a mat
tress and blanket Of the same material
for covering. II was pretty cold. I can
tell you. Wen. found gold everywhere
prospeeted, although not In paying
quantities in every prospect hole. On
that would yield In ordinary methods Of
mining from SO to ~ per day to the man.
On ali OF the larger bars ! found good
prospects. and any of them would yield
hahdsoneiy IL worked by the hydraulic
process. There were three bars that were
especially productive. These were the
Porcuptne. Steamboat and Chapman bars.
On ali Of these found gold In paying
quantities with an ordinary pan and
rocker.
Why didn't locate claims and stay
theres Well. principally because I was
always looking for something better That
Is the way with most Of the Alaska
miners. They will work while on a
good piece Of ground. get grubstake. and
then leave It and hunt for richer dig
91ngs- belisye that Stewart river will
turn out very rich when once ii is thor
oushly prospected. The old-timers used
to advise prespectors to stay with the
larger streams. This found to be a mis-
take. The smaller tributaries are the
best. explored the Stewart river as
far as Its confluence with McQuestin
river. Gold in greater or less quantities
exists along all the streams tributary to
the Stewart"
r. d. Brown, millionaire mine owner and
mining expert, and Steve OBrien. Of Vic
taria. are In the city on their way to CALI
fornia. Mr.. Brown has interests In South
Africa, Mexico. British Columbia and 9TH
er places. and he is now on his way from
the mines in the Trail creek district to
Mexico He says that many miners are
coming from South Africa TO the Kiondike
and that some have already arrived, Speak
Ing OF the mining laws OF the different
countries. he said that the laws of the
Northwest Territory. If enforced. were al
most prohibitive. He referred to the alter
nate claim regulation. Mexico's mining
laws or even the much complained-of
Transvaai laws, were not so discouraging
as the mining laws of the British North
west territory
Mr.. O'Brien, speaking of the prospec-
tive klendike trade Of Victoria. said: THE
merchants of Victoria are making great
PREPARATIONS for big trade. One mer-
chant alone has to my actual knowledge
seventyfive car loads Of goods en- route at
the present time. This Is more than four
train loads and of course is big con-
sixnment for one merchant to handle. 1t
shows you that we are expecting a crowd
there in the spring better than a whole vol
uns of talk would"
r. Byron johnson, a mining man and
capitalist of Vancouver, B. c.. is In the
city on business connected with the settle
ment Of large estate whose funds are In
vested In real estate in the United States
Mr.. Johnson believes that the Pacific
coast on both sides of the international
boundary line is to enjoy season
of great prosperity.
Already business matters in Vancouver
show better improvement" he said.
Real estate, which was dull as ditch
water few months ago. now finds ready
sale. The merchants anticipate q large
business in kiondiks Quitting. and have
already done considerable in thie line.
They have laid in increased stocks prepar-
atory for the spring rush. Victoria mer-
chants also report an Improvement, while
everywhere on the North Pacific coast
| believe that times are now much better
than six months ago.
Seattle appears to he very lively to
Il oAD hot thA To-
this city are ell doing a good business.
The development Of Alaska and the Klon-
dixie gold fields means a great deal to the
Pacific coast, on this side as well as the
other side of the line"
James kean, a business man of Mount
Vernon, is in the city and Ia stopping at
the Diller. II has been six years since he
has been in Seattle, and he finds a won
derful Improvement.
why. there are five people on the street
now to where there was only one when
was last here said Mr.. kean. s'and
should think by appearances that the bust
ness had Increased in that proportion ALSO
| notice that firms which occupied little
out-of-the-way locations then are occupy
ing big central stores now. The people look
hanpier and liyelier. too.
Shagit county? Oh, YES. We ara graw-
ing. too. and getting in better condition
all the time Skagit county warrants are
selling at % cents now. which We think Is
pretty good. and there is no limit to the
quantity OF money that seems anxious to
bs Invested in them. Realty values are
coming up toe. and mortgages arc being
paid on at good rate.
Yes, IL is true that we are In the hands
Of the Popuiists up in our county. but that
Will not last always, and you may look
for Us 10 throw on the incubus at the next
election ii 10 of fEa Sf in,
Skagit county,"
The Women's Yukon-Alaska Mining
Investment Company, Of this city, be-
lieves that ere long II will be among the
successful enterprises TO make money in
the gold fields of the north. Last week
they took an important step toward cap
turing California trade and capital Mrs
Charles NJ, Clayton has been sent to Call
fernia 20 represent the company. She
VIII make San Francisco her headauar-
ters. Mrs Clayton is a grand-daughte
OF the late Capt. William Renton, and is
regarded as enc OF the best business wo-
men In the Northwest. She has literary
tastes and has written extensively for the
press OF the country.
E. Il. Herritt, of ooupeviiIe is among
the guests at the piiIer hotel We have
| very successful fruit-drying plant on
WILDLY island" said Mr.. Hermit last
| last night, land it Is turning out an Inn
| mense product this year. 1T will dry some
| thing like 100 tons of potatoes and I don I
know hox much onions. The potatoes are
dried down 10 about ene-fifth thsir original
| weight, while the onions are iessaHed In
| weight three ar four times that much.
| All this product is marketed I'm Seattle"
| A. Atwood, of this city. who. in a COM
1 10 hz ST Int sseyay