The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-08
AN OFFICIAL REPORT FROM AN
EXPERT ON THE GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY.
MANY CLAIMS LOCATED.
FOUR HUNDRED HAD BEEN TAKEN
UP BY THE FIRST OF JAN
UARY.
CAMPS COMPARATIVELY ORDERLY.
No Murders Had Been Committed
Up to the Time the Report
Was Written.

WASHINGTON, Aug. THE report
on the Yukon gold region, by Josiah
Edward Spur, the geological survey
expert, who headed a party that made
a thorough investigation in Alaska last
summer, says that gold was struck in
Franklin gulch in the Forty Mile creek
district in the latter part of 1887. and
that year it is estimated to have pro-
duced $4,000 Ever since it has been
constant payer The character of the
gold there is nuggety, masses of 50
weight being very common. The yield,
of the first year after the discovery of
Forty Mile has been variously esti-
mated at from $4,000 to $150,000, but
$50. 900 probably covers the production.
The Davis creek field was discovered
in 1883, and in 1892 the Miller creek dis
trict was found In the spring of 1898
many new claims were staked and it is
estimated that eighty men took out
100000. Since then Miller creek has
been the heaviest producer of the For
~ Mile district, and, until recently, the
whole Yukon. Its entire length lies in
British possessions. The output for 1898,
as given by the mint director, for the
Alaskan creeks, all but Miller creek, be-
ing IN American possessions, was $685.
600, with a mining population of 1856
The total amount produced by the
Yukon placers in 1894 was double that
Of the previous year. In 1895 the out
put had doubled again.
Forty Mile district in the summer of
1896 is described in the report as look
ing as If it had seen its best days, and
unless several new creeks are discov-
cred 1t will lose its old position. The
Birch creek district was last summer
in a fiourishing condition. Most of the
gulches were then running; miners
were working on double shifts, night
and day, and many large profits were
reported. On Mastadon creek, the best
producer, over thirty miners were at
work. many expecting to winter in the
gulch.
AS to the hydraulics, the report says:
Some miners have planned to work this
and other good ground supposed to eX-
ist under the deep covering of moss and
gravel in the wide valley of the Nam
moih and Crooked creeks by hydraul-
licking, the water to be obtained by
tapping Miller and Mastadon creeks
near the head. 1t will be several years
before the scheme can be operated, be-
cause both of the present gulches are
paying we'll and will continue to do so
at least five years.
KLONDYKE REGION.
Following is the report on the klon-
dyke district with the announce
nent of gold here in the winter Of
1869 there was a genuine stampede
-, ENnn-txr
was almost. deserted. But $50 men
spent the winter on Klondyke, in the
gulches and at the new town Of DaW-
sen. The more important parts OF the
district are on Bonanza and Hunker
creeks According to latest informa-
to Jan. l, 1897; about half as many
on Hunker creek. There is plenty Of
room for many more prospectors and
miners, for the gulches and creeks
which have shown good prospects
spread over an area Of 700 square
miles. The estimated Alaskan gold
production for 1896, made by the Spur
report, is 81, 100000. The report points
out the difficulties in the way Of
speedy development of the country, on
account of the short summer season.
Prospecting is done in the winter more
and more every year, because frozen
ground renders travelling over the
swampy, moss covered country more
easy and the miner is thus able to be-
gin with the first spring thaw.
Whatever Alaska may be in the
future it is not now self supporting
agriculturally. Moose, caribou and
other game once abundant are disap-
pcaring from the region. Ten dollars
a day is the general wages paid, $12
for a day of ten hours being paid in
some of the more remote gulches. In
winter the price for labor is So TO IS
per day of six hours. Many times the
miners have been at the point of star
walton; hardly a winter when they
have not been put on a ration basis.
Universal suffrage is given, all having
an equal vote.
Penalties include: For stealing,
bsnishment from the country, also
whipping; threatening with weapons,
the same; murders, hanging, but there
have been no murders so far The
mining laws differ for different gull
cles. Generally the claim is for 500
feet for gulch diggings from rimrock
10 rimrock; but in some gulches not
Paying we'll an effort is being made
TO stake claims 1920 feet long. Crowd
ed creeks are Staked 300 feet to the
claim and no man is allowed to stake
more than one claim in his own name.
save the discOverer, who is allowed
1000 feet instead of 500. The ONLY
officer in the republic of miners is the
recorder appointed by popular vote.
one in each gulch or creek"