The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-27
YUKON VALLEY GOLD-FIELns
The Richest Placers Probably in
Alaska.

Views of an Expert of the Coast Survey
Concerning the Recent Klondise Dis
coveries- Other Opportunities for Profit
In AIaska-The Obstacle of severe
Climate.
New York POST
Washington, July 24.-"The study of
the map convinces me that the greater
part of the gold fields of the extreme
Northwest will finally be found within
the limits of our territory" said scien-
tific expert of the Coast Survey to your
correspondent today. 81 went through
Alaska as member of the Boundary
Commission, and am very familiar with
the valley of the Yukon and the surround
ing country. The greatest activity in
placer mining is now in the British pos
sessions about forty miles east of the l41st
meridian, which is our boundary. But
you look at the map, and see where gold
has been found, you will observe that all
the lodes seem to lead into Alaska.
.'There is d certain regularity about
gold findings. South of the Klondike in
British Columbia is the Cariboo region
which was the scene of u former gold ex-
element. Crews on vessels deserted.
and there was the same sort of rush, on
"a smaller scale, that we have seen in the
Klondike. Then directly east of the PAN
handle of our Alaska territory is the
celebrated Cassir country. Here are the
head waters of the Pelly River, and the
confluence of the Lewis and the Pelly
makes the Yukon. The richness of the
Cassir country has long been known, and
it belongs to the same general trend,
go logically speaking, as the Klondike.
the continent Wherever the tributaries of
these rivers have been prospected, gold
has generally been found. Forty Mile
Creek, Sixty Mile Creek, and Birch Creek
are instances in point. The headwat-
ers OF all these streams are in a group of
1nountai MS, the area of which is probably
thousand square miles. 1t is mostly I'M
explored, but largely within the territory
of the United States, and it is probably
rich in gold. OF the country further
north we know little as yet, although it
is we'll watered, and belongs to the same
mountain range. 1t is entirely likely
that placer mining can be carried on
through this country for distance of
500 miles
parallel to the west coast, it will be OBJ
served that there is another remarkable
region west of the Coast Range, which
conyerges into the same Alaskan terri
tory. Beginning at Juneau, there is a
great deal of quartz mining, and near
that town the largest stamp-mill in the
world has been built. The ore is low
grade, yielding only about SO. so ton,
but it can at that figure be very profitably
worked. At Yakutat Bay, right under
Mound st. Elias, there is considerable
placer mining, and at Cooks Inlet, fur
ther north, still more. Compared with
the region in Alaska which now seems
likely to be rich in gold, the California
territory was very small.
gold III our own territory is very fortu-
nate. The Canadians will doubtness de-
wise some way of discriminating against
alien labOrers in their territory, either
by taxation or by more direct restrio-
ton. If we have gold fields of our own
on our side of the line, perhaps the two
countries may treat each other with recip-
rocal courtesy. PresidentsC levland ssveto
of the immigration bill last winter has
turned out, in the immediate situation of
the gold country, quite fortunate. That
bill, it will be recalled carried with it
what was originally known as the Corliss
amendment for preventing Canadians
from drawing wages in this country Had
that bill been approved, it is likely that
the Canadians would have promptly passed
legislation of the same kind, and our
people would not now be enjoying the
profits of gold mining in the Klondike
IS am much impressed with the oppor
tunities for profit in other things in
Alaska besides this gold. The fisheries of
the coast are most remarkable, and when
fully developed may yield larger returns
than the mines. Then the coal, now that
a population is going into the country
which will want to use it, is a very i'm
portant thing. Some system of easy
transportation across country, from one
river to another, might be proftably es-
tablished. The inhabitants of the Yukon
valley will always have to draw their
foodsssupplies from outside That is one
of the most desolate regions on the face
of the earth. Game is very scarce. The
Indian population is slight which proves
how difficult it must be to get food
There are some salmon in the river, and
few rabbits may be caught, but there is
nothing like decent food supply.
! 9" The climate will furnish o great OBJ
| stacle to the rapid development of the
mining country. There are really but
two months and half in the year when
one can work to much advantage, except
in shaft down in the ground. From
the goth of June to the 10th Of September
the weather IN the YUKON valley Is fairly
good, and there is perpetual daylight.
To be sure, the ice, in loose cakes, Still
floats inssthe lakes, and the snow remains
on the mountain sides. There is no
spring or fall. Heavy winter comes sud
denly in early September. Climatic con-
ditions account for the fact that we are
hearing SO much from Alaska just now.
Open weather has been there long enough
for the miners to wash out the 7'dumpn
which they have shovelled to the surface
ginning to bring back the returns of
their labor. I have no doubt these re-
turns, as regards the gold actually
brought into the States, are overesti-
mated, since the freight charges for
transporting gold are considerable I be-
lieve the banks.of Seattle have already
taken in 20 per cent. more gold than the
steamboat reports indicate. I know one
man there, well along in years and in
moderate circumstances, the proprietor
of small stationery store, who has inst
brought back $50, 900 in gold, and has
left his son in Alaska to guard tbe
claim 'no