The record-union., 1897-08-06
THE RUSH TO THE
NEW GOLD FIELDS,
A Temporary LulI in the Excitement
at San Francisco.
Expected TO Again Reach a High Pitch Be-
tore the Week is Over.
Federal Agent Durham Arrives at
San Francisco and Will Sail for
Alaska Next Monday on the
Humboldt to Collect Facts Con-
corning the Recent Discoveries
of the Precious Metal.

of the Precious Metal.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. ). There
was at least the suggestion Of a lull
in the Klondyke excitement this morn
ing, as was but natural, following the
departure yesterday of the steamers
Walla Walla and Noyo. These two
vessels carried away hundreds whose
presence in and about the city, together
with the hurry of preparation incident
to their approaching departure, as a
matter of course tended to keep every
thing at fever heat Once they We're
fairly away, however and the relatives
who came to town to see many of them
off had returned home, it was but nat
ura1 that there should be a notable
sense of quiet where only yesterday ev-
erything was hurry and general ex-
element.
But it is already evident that the lull
will be but tmporary, for already the
departures yet to take place are being
looked forward to. and purchases of
transportation tickets are already in
progress. At the office of the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company, for exam
pie, the agents We're selling tickets for
Juneau this morning at quite a lively
rate, and this Notwithstanding the fact
that the vessel upon which those buy
ing them will travel viii not sail until
the 9th.
Interest in departing steamers for the
Klondylle is now centered in the Hum
boldt, National City, Farallon, North
Fork and other vessels which have been
hartered by private parties.
The next regular steamer which will
leave for the aorth is the Umatilla,
scheduled to sail from here on next
Monday. She will connect at Seattle
with the City of Topeka, but as the lat
ter steamer only goes to Juneau there
will be few prospectors on the Umatilla
destined for the gold fields.
The steamer Columbia leaves here on
Wednesday, the 18th inst, for Portland.
She will connect with the George w.
Elder, which goes direct to Juneau and
Dyea, and it is expected that a number
of fortune seekers will engage passage
on the Columbia here, and that there
will be a large delegation from Seat
tie and other points who will go on the
Elder
D. J. Mckinney, who lately went to
Dyea, writes to a friend that great
numbers of adventurerS are at the
place utterly unprovided for the ex-
periences before them. Many were
there with provisions for only thirty
DAYS. Six men whom he had encounter
ed had none at all, and one with three
months supplies and $50 in cash was
considerd by himself and scores of
others as being particularly we'll OFF.
Mckinney does not see how great suf-
fering can be avoided this winter in and
about the passes.
FEDERAL AGENT GOING NORTH.
SAN FANCISCO, Aug. 5.-Sam c.
Durham, statistical expert of the
United States Department Of Labor, is
at the Baldwin Hotel. He leaves next
Monday by the Humboldt for the
Klondyke.
Mr. Durham said this afternoon that
he goes to the gold fields simply to get
facts concerning the recent discoveries
of the precious metal.
In view of the probable tremendous
increase of population in this compar-
atively unknown region, it became i'm
portant to ascertain the exact economic
conditions of the country.
4 expect" said Mr. Durham, "to
spend from six to eight months in the
neighborhood of Dawson City, though
my researches will extend as far as my
time and opportunities will permit"
1t was the purpose of the Department
of Labor, he said to embody all the IN
formation gathered by him in a bulletin
to be issued about the LIST of March,
1858, in ample time for next seasons
rush to Alaska. This bulletin will con-
tain all obtainable statistics as to
routes, opportunities for capital and la
Dor. and, indeed, sufficient information
to meet every demand in all lines Of
enterprise, in addition to those relat-
ing to mines, their yield, location and
working.
1T may prove to be a very serious
question" he continued, ito regulate
the thousands of men, all bent on get
ting rich quickly, in respect to their
moral, physical and intellectual lives;
and the department should be COM
mended for its promptitude in endeav-
oring to aid them.
IF. as appearances indicate, the sup
ply of gold in the Klondyke is so ex-
tensive, the population of Dawson City
and the contiguous territory will un-
doubtedly swell to alarming pro-
portions.
This being the case, the problem of
providing for them becomes a serious
one. If my misAion is properly execut-
ed and l am determined to lend my
best efforts and intelligence to the
work, the results when published
should be of incalculable value.
Mr. Durham is a man of experience,
both in practical mining and statistics
relating thereto. He is about 40 years
of age, of fine physical proportions, and
is qualified in every respect to render
the Government efficient service.
He is an old Californian, and many
years ago was a compositor on the Sac
ramento Record Union
LAST STEAMER FOR ST. MI
CHAELS,
SEATTLE (Wash.), Aug. 5.-The
steamship Cleveland, under charter to
the North American Transportation
and Trading Company, sailed for st.
Michaels to-day with 200 prospectors
bound for Klondyke and ! 200 tons of
freight. Passengers and freight will
be transferred TO river steamers at