Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-09-03
(Sltka. Alaska. Letter.l

The sudden finding OF gold in hith-
erto unsupported country has made
millionaires out OF poor men. In a
minute from poverty they came into
affiuence. The United States will have
more muiti-mlllionaires than ever,
more plutocrats. and more Sudden
riches" Canada has not struck 1t so
rich. for the successful prospectors have
almost without exception, been United
States citizens and residents OF the
states In the sudden making Of mill
lionalres IL Is difficult TO tell who has
struck Il richest, accounts are 50 wide
iy divergent. But all agree that no ac-
counts have exaggerated the facts. so
far as the finding OF great quantities
OF gold Is concerned The richest man
among the new Alaska millionalres Is
Joseph Ladue. the owner OF the town
OF Dawson, and the finder Of enormous
gold deposits. Ladue Is a resident OF
Schuyler Falls. Clinton county, N. Y.
where. It is said. he rs soon TO be mar
ried 70 an old sweetheart whom he
could not before afford 10 wed. When
the gold fever broke OUT in mild form
two years ago he went TO Alaska. after
a failure IN the Black Hills and found
enough to tell him Of greater things la
ter on. He returned TO his home, but
later went back to Alaska. took up a
claim In the very heart Of the country,
paid for a certain quantity OF land
which was then for sale at a very low
figure and started IN 10 look for gold.
His first find brought settlers there by
the dozen. Dawson" the place was
called aud as the owner sold Off small
portions OF the land his fame grew and
spread. He now owns Dawson. having
sold but little. and Is 80 many times a
millionaire that his wealth cannot be
estimated He IL the Barnato of Alas
ka. the man who struck II rich, and, !
knowing a good thing when he saw It.
held on to Il. 1t Is only another tale OF |
South African luck but much nearer |
home-envioualy near. The rush to the |
Alaska gold fields Is such that all out |
going steamers are filled far in adj
vance. These steamers run intermit- |
tently after the cold weather sets in. |
and there are long intervals when few |
Alaska voyages can be made. This ac-
counts for the awful haste to reach
there before the inland waters become
There is also an over
land route. but this also becomes Inn
after awhile. owing to the
lack OF travelling accommodations and
the long distances that must be gone
over without finding q habItation.
Alaska has never been settled" ow-
60. h. Il A
thought that ii might In time be made
as liyable as any OF the other cold cit
les. and. indeed. as St. Petersburg or
or any of the large North
)f- Europe cities. But this Is quite
step ahead. though not at all inn
probable.
AZ present. II you want TO get 10
Alaska and become Barnato. there
ire two ways of going. One is by sea
md the other Is overland II you take
he sea route you can start by steam
hip from Seattle. II you have been for
innate enough TO secure accommoda-
ions ahead. and crossing the Gulf or
Alaska. touch first at Unalaska, passing
through the Aleutian Islands From
here the route lies directly north. get
Ing colder and colder every minute.
Iere you viii need all the arctic wraps
on have brought with you. The ships
are viii be warm. nourlshing food S
ereals, chocolate. meats and spices. 1
tut for all that. you will need fur over [
oats fur hoods. blanket wraps. wooden h
iittens and big. warm. fur-llned bags C
d which 10 sleep. For one going from 8
very warm city into this region the ii