The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-22
GOLD FIELDS OF ALASKA.
AN ELABORATE REPORT MADE BY
TWO GOVERNMENT EXPEDITIONS.

The Placer Mining In the Interior
and the Great Difficulties In the
Way of Developing Them-Charac-
ter of the Gold Deposits ON the
COast-Lavvs as Made by the Miners.
From the New York sun.
washington.-An elaborate report on the
gold fields Of Alaska is now in the hands
Of the government printer. 1t will consist
of about $50 pages. ana viii be fully Illus
trated with maps, cuts, and slides. 1t
comprises the reports OF two expeditions
sent to Alaska by the geolog cal survey UNI
der an appropriation by congress, Ia these
reports the charact Of the geological for
nation of the Alaskan peninsula and the
neighboring islands is extensively treat
ed, and the work viii undoubtedly he Of
great interest, not only to those who con-
template placer mining, but also to capt.
talists or prOspectOrs who are DESTROYS of
locating and developing quartz mining I'm
Alaska.
Aside from the reports which deal strictly
with technical points, there are several
which are of more general interest. These
treat Of the placer mining IN che great re-
gion which embraces the kl0ndiko district,
Gree city. Dawson city, and the tribu-
taries of the Upper Yukon. Another in
teretsing feature is the report which bears
on the placer mining OF the beach sands
and the quartz mines Of the coast. Two
expeditions were sent out In 1886 one IN
charge Of G. r. Becker to examine the
gold mines along the coast and the other.
headed by J. Il. Spur. 10 investigate the
placer mining In the interior. Mr.. Becker
was accompanied by Chester W. Purington
and w. ". Dali, the latter being "A special
ist on coal mining. Mr. Spur was accom-
panied by IL. =. Goodrich and C. +.
Schraeder. The expedition OF Mr. Spur
made a Thorough exploration Of the scenes
OF the recent discoveries IN the Yukon dis
trict. Mr.. Goodrich. who seems 10 have
accompanied the expedition in the charac-
ter Of . historian. writes interestingly re-
garding The expedition and lts results.
The party LEFT Washington iu May. 1896
IL spent four months in Alaska ana re-
turned IN October. II took the route from
Juneau up Lynn canal, and thence across
Chllkoot pass TO Lake Linderman. From
there they went ben open boats through
lakes and rivers 10 the gold mining dis
trict In returning they noated down 70
Nulalo, whore hey took a trading steam
or 20 st. Michael. and from there took an
other steamer 10 San Francisco. For
four weeks Of this journey they Were ac-
companied by L. A. Wiborg. am Alaskan
pioneer miner Mr. Goodrich says.
"The only practical route Jay over the
passes in the coast range, four Oh mum.
her from northwest 10 southeast. They
arc the Chilkat ChllkOot. White ana Taku
passes. The ChlkoOt and White passes
arc nearest in e direct line with tho honf.
waters Of the Lcwcs The former is 1870
feet above sea level while itF ncinhb0r 10
the south a. i.0O feet lower ChllkoOt
pass De- usually selected because % b. lcss
interrupted by pOriaRca, ana the. Journey
from salt water 10 the lakes at the head
of the river only twcnty-HeVsn miles, De-
much shorter than hy any other route"
After a history Of the yukon district
the early explorations Of thia territory ana
au account Of me different expeditions
which won't ln search 0f gold. Mr. spuff
takes up me famous klondlke region.
"Thc district properly Includes Kl5n-
dixie. Win ifH mHln branch f0Hunza. which
D. tWenfy-fDur miles i0nr and enters kl1u.
dixie three mirs from lis mouth. qua the
drainage 0f Indian creek Boz sHFs "knf.
flrspn'H fork r.sfH in mountain divide OBJ.
I.Gfiff che heH1 Of BONANZA creek ana
lows into quarts creek. which b. d0a.ul.