The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-08-08
SPURR'S YUKON REPORT
Official Information Relative to
the Alaskan Gold Fields.
HOW THE RUSH STARTED
Difficulties in the Way Of Speedy De-
velopment of the Country Not Self
Supporting - Game Variable
In Quantity.

Washington. Aug. THE report of
the Yukon gold region by Josiah Ed
ward Spur. the geological survey ex-
pert. who headed party that made a
thorough investigation In Alaska last
summer, giving new facts about the
interior, was made public to-day. II
is a comprehensive document and re-
views in detail the work In the vari-
Gus districts. 1t says as to the Forty
Mile gold district. that in the latter
part of 1887 Franklin gulch was
struck and the first year the creek
is estimated to have produced $1,000.
Ever since IL has been constant
payer.
The discovery of Davis creek and
stampede from Franklin gulch follow
ed in the spring of 1883.
In 1891 gold mining in the interior
received great impetus. The event
of 1892 was the discovery OF Miller
creek In the spring of 1898 many
new claims were staked and II Is es-
timated that so men took out $1,000
Since then Miller creek has been the
heaviest producer Of the Forty Mile
district. and until recently, OF the
whole Yukon. Its entire length Hes
in British possessions. The output for
1898. as given by the mint director
for the Alaskan creeks, all but Miller
creek being in the American possess
sions, was Sl9S, 900. with a mining pop
ulation OF 1856. The total amount pro-
duced by the Yukon placers In 1894
was double that Of the previous year.
In 1895 the output was doubled again.
Forty Mile district In the summer OF
1896 Is described I'm the report as II 1t
had seen its best days and unless sew
eral new creeks are discovered. 1t will
lose its old position. The Birch creek
district was last summer In -four
ishing condition. Most Of the gulches
were then running, miners were run
ming on double shifts, night and day,
any many large profits were reported.
On Mastodon creek. the best pro-
ducer, over 30 mines were at work.
many expecting to winter I'm the gulch.
As to hydraulic mining, the report
says: Some miners have planned to
work this and other good ground sup
posed 10 exist under the deep covering
Of moss and gravel In the wide valley
of the Mammoth and Crooked creeks
by hydraulics. the water to be OBJ
tained by tapping Miller and Mastodon
creeks near the head. II will be sew
eral years before tn scheme can be
operated. because both gulches are
paying well and viii continue to do 81
at least five years.
Following Is the report on the klon-
dyke district: With the announcement
of gold here. the winter Of 1867, there
was a genuine stampede to the new
region. Forty Mile was almost desert
ed. The $50 men spent the winter on
the Klondyke. in the gulch.s and at
the new town OF Dawson. The more
important parts of the distric. are on
Bonanza and Hunker creeks. Accord
ing to latest Information 400 claims
have been located up TO Jan. !. 1897,
about half as many on Hunker creek.
There IL plenty Of room for many more
prospectors and miners. for the gulches
and creeks which have shown good
prospects pread over an area Of 100
square miles. The estimated Alaskan
gold production for 1896 made by the
Spur report Is sl.400,O00.
The report points out the difficulties
I'm the way of speedy development o:
the country. First. the climate with
short summer season, and long, cold
winter. Prospecting is done In the
winter more and more and the miners
are thus able to begin work with the
first spring thaw.
Whatever Alaska may be in the fu.
ture 1t is not now self-supporting agri-
culturally. Moose and caribou are vari-
able In quantity. abundant at one time
and disappearing from the region for
IL months at a time. Ten dollars a
day Is the general wages paid. In the
winter the price for labor II 81 TO IS
per day Of six hours. Many times the
miners have been at the point Of star
walton and hardly a winter that they
have not been put on short ration
basis. Universal suffrage is given and
all have an equal vote.