The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27
is IN A SECOND cALIFoRNIAi

AIaska--One Ship Briggs One Million
Dollars--Eundreds of caIifOrnians Will
Go. N
Almost half a century has elapsed
since all America was put in a fever of
excitement by the announcement that
an Ell Dorado had been found on the
shores of the Pacific. Even now there
are people living who a recall the ro-
mantle excitement and remember, per-
haps seeing emigrants start on a long
Journey of 5000 miles in the quest Of
the precious metal. Now comes the
announcement that Alaska bids fair to
be a rival of California, and Senator
Jones says the deposits are likely to
prove as rich as those Of California.
We clip the following from an ex-
change:
Two score sun tanned and hard
featured miners who have just returned
from the new Klondike camp on the
Yukon river, in far Alaska, tell won
derful tales of deposits of Alaska's gold.
These stories would have excited de-
rision were it not that all of these men
were able to furnish ocular proof of
their tales with pounds of yellow gold.
Not one of the party went into this
camp last fall with anything more
than his outfit and a few hundred dol
lars. Not one came out with less than
IS. 900; a dozen cleaned up from $1O,-
900 to $40, 900, while half a d z9n aver
aged from $40, 900 to $50, 900. Scores
500, 600 to 81, OOO, 600, which are now
being worked by their partners or by
hired laborers. They are not boosters
or boomers. In fact, they are careful
to warn any one about venturing into
the Yukon country unless he is young,
vigorous and brave, able to bear hard
ships, end has from $500 to 81, 900 for
for outfit and current expenses after
reaching the new gold fields. Perhaps
it is these very conservative views
which have made their talk take such
powerful hold on the popular magma,
ton.
OF course, this first keen enthusiasm
may fade, and next spring may see
few go to the far north, but no one who
has observed the popular feeling here
will be surprised to see 5000 men go
from this city, and perhaps 1 500 or
more will start next month. The blood
of the Argonauts flows in the veins of
half of the C~alitorniens, and stories of
rich mining strikes stir them as a blast
of trumpets.
James Ladue, one of the miners now
in the city, gives an interesting account
of the trip, and also of his experience
in the great almost unknown region.
Ladue has been in Alaska for fifteen
years, but it was not until the diecov-
cry of gold in Bonanza creek that he
struck it rich. incidentally it may be
mentioned that he is the founder or
Dawson City, though the bonanza find
was made by Robert Henderson, who
had been prospecting for years in the
great northwest. Ladue is a hard Wis
aged man with a keen Y and heavy
dropping mustacbe. To day he gave
this description If bis quincy to the
new camp:
THE most dangerous part Of thetrip
is crossing the Chilhoo5 Pass. Even es
late as May and June $40 storms &C
cur, and woe to the traveller who Ia
caught. Chiihoot is iteelf $500 feet
high, but is the only opening in a noun
tain range whose peaks reach an aver,
age altitude Of 1O, 1000 feet. The snow
storms at the pass are sudden and furi-
Gus, and many lives have been lost
there. People who have been caught
have saved themselves by crawling
under some o~verhanging rCcka, where
they have been forced to remain two or
three days without food.
Dawson City is not unlike some of
the mining towns hers ia this State end
elsewhere, with the difference that no
| awlessness exists. The people realiz5
they must dep0ad to o certain extent
on one another, though the Canadian
government has been 8 powerful factor
in keeping down the unruly. The his
tory Of Dawson City is interesting. /
built the first house in it and raised the
first American flag, The discovery of
gold in that immediate locality was
made by Robert Henderson at a place
CAGE called Gold Bottom, though Csc.
Mccormick brought to Light the riches
OF Bonanza creek. As soon as the news
of the great find reached Circle City