Connecticut western news., 1897-07-22
KL0NDIKE'S WEALTH
coLoFiELos OF MARVELLOUS RICH
 NESS IN THE YUKON COUNTRY.

Gcoiogist Dali, Who Has Passed some
 Time In Alaska. Relieves tho Stories
 Told of Fabulous Wealth Are Not Over
 drawn-Gold on the American Side.
 Washington, July 2i.--Dr. William H. Dall, one of the eurators of the Ma tional museum. is familiar with the re- zion of country in which the klondike goldhelds are located through having been on several geological expeditions to the region In Alaska adjoining the gold district and says that in his opin- ion the reports from there probably arc not exaggerated. He said:
 When | was there did not find gold, but know Of it being taken out In prof. liable quantities for l5 years or more. 1t was first discovered there in 1866 In 1880. when was up In that country--my last trip having been made two years ago-the first party of prospeetors who made the mining profit started out. The gold is found on the various tribu- taries of the Yukon. and have been within q comparatively short distance of the Klondlke fields. made one trip to Circle City, just over the bound- ary of Canada.
 "The gold bearing belt of north western America contains all the gold fields extending into British Columbia what Is known as the northwestern ter- ritory and Alaska. The Yukon really runs along in that belt for 800 or coo miles. The bed of the main river ls In the lowland of the valley
 The yellow metal is not found In paying quantities in the main river. but in the small streams which cut through the mountains on either side. These t.tsa 4tEsf fI.E stx sA.a. WsN. mud and mineral matter is carried into the main river. while the gold is left on the rough bottoms of these side streams. ....
 Tn most cases the gold lies at the bottom of thick gravel deposits. The gold is covered by frozen gravel in the winter. During the summer until the snow is all melted the surface is cov- cred by muddy torrents. When the snow is all melted and the springs bee gin to freeze. the streams dry up. At the approach Of winter, In order to get at the gold, the miners find it necessary to dig into the gravel formation.
 Methods of Operating.
 Formerly they stripped the gravel off until they came to the gold. Now they sink a shaft to the bottom of the gravel and tunnel along underneath in the gold bearing layer. The way in which this is done is interesting. as it has to be carried on in cold weather. when everything is frozen.
 "The miners build fires over the area where they wish to work and keep these lighted over that territory for the space of 24 hours. Then at the expi- ration of this period the gravel will be melted and softened to a depth of per- haps six inches. This Is then taken off and other fires built, until the gold bear ing layer Is reached. When the shaft is down that far, fires are built at the bottom, against the sides of the layer. and tunnels made in this manner.
 Blasting would Jo no good on account of the hard nature ot the material and would blow out just 6s out of a gun. The matter taken out containing the gold Is piled up until spring, when the torrents come down, and is banned and cradled by these. It is certainly very hard labor.
 ''I see many reasons why the Rold@ fields should be particularly rich. The streams which cut through the noun tains have probably done so for cen- turies wearing them down several hum dred feet and washing out the gold Into the beds and gravel.
 "It is a country in which lt is very hard to find food. as there Is practical ly no game. Before the whites went into the region there were not more than 300 natives. They have hard work Co support themselves on account of the scarcity of game"