Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-08-13
The KIondyke Placers.

The chief object or interest III the
mining world al the present time are
the new Klondyke placers Of Alaska.
That these are phenomenally rich
there is no DOUBT whatever, since the
stories Of their great value are sup
ported by the arrival of large amounts
Of gold dust and nuggets in the
United States. But so far the ac-
counts Of the discoveries are some
what vague They have been made
along the Klondyke river. which is a
tributary of the Yukon, in Canadian
territory. though not far from the
American frontier order is preserved
in the region by a detachment of the
Canadian mounted police, but other
wise the mining is carried on as If on
/ American soil. Mails are obtained
! from Circle City. which is near by,
whittier the United States postOffice
makes a dispatch once month, ana
supplies are sent in from juneau, or
/ up the Yukon river. There being no
Canadian customs offices in the region
these have thus far gone in duty-free,
but there is already an cutlery in Brit
ish Columbia against this, and doubt
less ere long collectors of customs will
be stationed there Most of the min
ers on the ground are Americans, and
probably all the gold thus far eX-
tracted has been brought to the United
States.
The climate of the Yukon country is
wild and severe. The winter is long,
and the time when work can be car
ried on to advantage is correspond
ingly short. The snowfall is said to be
comparatively light; but the cold is
great, temperatures of 6S degrees to
20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit be-
ing registered. During the brief sum
mer the weather is sultry and the my
RAIDS Of mosquitoes are pest After
September 10Th the juneau route is
impossible on account of the fierce
storms which set in at that time and
make the crossing of Chilkoot pass
very hazardous.
The new diggings are very difficult
of access. At present there are two
routes thither. one from st. MichaePs !
near the mouth of the Yukon river, |
and the other from Juneau From St. |
Michael's there are lght-draft steam |
boats which ascend the Yukon river |
to Dawson City. a distance of LOO |
miles. the entire journey from Seattle |
occupying thirty or forty days, the |
fare costing $50. This is the easier |
rSte. The other is from Juneau,
partly by river and partly by foot, a
distance of $50 miles TO the Klon-
dyke. This route is exceedingly |
rough. The rivers are rapid and
rocky, and over the portages every
thing must be packed on their backs
by the travellers themselves, or by In
dian carriers, if they can be secured.
No food Is produced IN the country
and the immig grant is obliged to carry
a huge supply with him, because the
climate of the country is such that
egreSs from 1t is possible only in the
summer. and even with plenty of
money it is not easy to buy there all
that is needed. The Alaska CONNER
cial Company, which sends steamboats,
from St Michaels up the Yukon river,
declares its inability to transport to
the region an adequate supply of
goods for next winter if there is such
a rush thither as there promises to be.
II this happens there will surely be
much suffering and loss of life. I'm
Ter these circumstances it is a matter
FOR coDgratulatiOn that only com
Daratively small number of persons
AN find transportation thither before :
he present season closes.
Our advice to gold seekers Is TO con- !
luer wei the uiiucullleS 10 ne eucOuu- I
cred before setting out, and we adj l
lress this especially to persons in the
astern and central states who have +
ad no experience in rough countries, Il
nd therefore can have little idea of .
he hardshipS which must be borne in /
Nlaska To those VINO are going from r
he Pacific slope we suggest that they q
AXE a reserve supply of food in the {
form that the army has eX- f
with SO successfully and c
rovlde themselves with plenty of d
lothing and blankets. But above all, Ii
o one should start for the klOndyke a
Tho is not amply provided with money. n
/ is hardly necessary for us TO call at r,
milton to the historical experience of "
iese rich gold discoveries that where W
lere are a few who make fortunes c,
lere are many who lose all they have N
nd often their lives. and there are n
)und TO be diSappOintments in Alaska n
lSt as there were In California. Colo V,
do and kota.-Engineering and 4
lining Journal. $.