The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-09

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8,-The report
m the Yukon gold region by Josiah Ed
ward Spur, the geological survey ex-
merit. who headed a party that made
thorough investigation in Alaska last
summer giving new facts about the in
terror, was made public to-day. 1t Is a
comprehensive document, and reviews
in detail the work in the various dis
trlcts
II says as to the Forty-Mlle gold dis
trIct that In the latter part of 1887
Franklin gulch was struck, and the first
wear the creek is estimated to have pro-
duced $4,000. Ever since it has been
constant payer, The character OF the
gold there Is nuggetty masses of 81
weight being common. The Yield OF the
first year after the discovery of Forty
Mile has been varlously estimated at
nom $4,000 10 $4,000, but 100000 prob
ably covers the production.
The discovery of Davis creek and a
stampede from Franklin gulch followed
in the spring OF 1888. In 1891 gold min
ing in the Interior as well as ON the
coast. al Silver Bow basin and Tread'
we'll received q great impetus. The
event of 1892 was the discovery OF Miller
creek In the spring of 1898 many new
claims were staIed, and Il Is estimated
maj eighty men took out 100000. Since
,hrn Miller creek has been the heaviest
producer of the Forty-Mile district, and
nntu recently of the whole Yukon. Its
entire length lies In British possessions.
The output for 1898, as given by the
mini director, for the Alaskan creeks,
oll hut Miller creek being In American
possessions, was $l9S,000, with mining
population OF 1866. The total amount
nr6duccd by the Yukon placers In 1894
was double that of the previous year.
In 1895 the output had doubled again.
Forty-Allle district in the summer OF
1896 Is described In the report as looking
as il il had seen its best days, and unless
several new creeks are discovered Il
will lose Its old position.
The Birch creek district was last sum-
mer In a fourlshing condition. Most OF
tho gulches were then running, miners
were working on double shifts, night
and day, and many large profits were
reported on Mastodon creek, the best
PRODUCER over thirty miners were at
WORK, many tApeCtinb " WlHteE III llle
guleh. AS TO acknowledging, the report
says:
Some miners have planned to work
this and other good grounds supposed
TO exist under the deep covering of moss
and gravel In the wide valley OF the
Mammoth and Crooked creeks by by,
draullcking, the water TO be obtained by
tapping Miller and Mastodon creeks
near the head. II will be several years
before the scheme can be operated, be-
cause both OF the present gulches are
paying well and will continue TO do so
at least five years."
Following is the report on the Klon-
dyke district: with the announcement
oEgold here In the winter of 1867 there
was genuine stampede to the new re-
gIon. Forty-Mlle was almost deserted.
But $50 men spent the winter on thS
Kloudyke, In the gulches and at the new
town OF Dawson. The more important
parts OF the district are on Bonanza and
Hunker creeks. According to the latest
information 400 claims had been located
up to January /. 1897; about half az
many on bunker creek.
There il 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 Alas
kan gold production for 1896, made by
the Spur report, Is S1,4OO.OOO."
The report points out the difficulties in
the way OF speedy development OF the
country, First, the climate, with short
summer season and long. cold winter.
Prospecting Is done In the winter more
and more every year, because frozen
FTr0uUl rnnHnru NTnNFa1tn0r n
swampy, mOss-covered country moro
easy and the miner is thus able to be.
Gin work with the first spring thaw.
Whatever Alaska may be In the future
1t Is not now self-supporting ugricul.
tltay Moose and caribou here are
variable in quantity, abundant one time
and disappearing from the region for
twelve months at time.
Ten dollars day Is the general wages
paid, 'l2 for day Of ten hours being
paid In sOme OF the more remote gulches.
In winter the price for labor Is s. TO IS
per day Of six hours. Many times tho
miners have been Mt the point of star.
Walton, hardly a winter when they have
net been put on ration basis. Uni
versal suffrage is given, and all have an
equal vote.
Penalties include: For stealing, ban,
Ehinent from the country. also whip.
ping; threatening with weapons. the
zane; murders. hanging; but there have
been no murders so far
The mining laws differ for different
EuIches Generally the claim IL for 900
lee' for guich diggings from rimroclS 10
Hmfock; but In some gulChes not paying
wen an effort Is being made to stake
claims 1,33O feet long. Crowded creeks
are stakcd 300 feet to the claim, and no
man is allowed to stake more than ona
calm In His own name, save the dis,
VoFercr who Is allowed 1000 feet In.
t"ad Of 900. The only officer In the re-
public OF miners Is the recorder, appoint
"a by popular vote. one in each guich or
creek.