Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-11-26


storms are very severe.
The mean temperature of the interio
during the summer months is so to n
degrees, there being many very warn
days. The Yukon region, being so ia
north, has the long summer days ant
long winter nights of that latitude
though, being south of the Arctic cir
Gle, it just misses the continuous da,
and continuous night of the Arcti
summer and winter.
Aside from gold, the chief resources
of Alaska are timber, fish and fur-bear
ing animals, including the famous fu
seals which are giving the United
States. Great Britain, Russia and ia
pan SO much trouble. Salmon are
plentiful In all the streams of the
islands and mainland, and millions are
annually packed for market. .Halibu
and cod, herring and smelt, or oola
chon, abound and have become of grea'
commercial Importance. The seal ant
sea otter in the water, and the fox
bear, lynx, otter, beaver, etc., on land
contribute thousands of their skins an
nually to the worlds fur supply. Tht
fur trade is handled by the Alasks
Commercial Company and the North.
west Trading and Transportation Com.
pany, both of which have headquarters
on St. Michaels island. near the mouth
of the Yukon, while the Hudson's Bay
Company operates on the Canadian
side of the line.
Coal and coal oil have both been
discovered and may be of future value.
The timber of the coast and islands
grows very large, owing to the humid
atmosphere. 1t is chiefly cedar, spruce
and hemlock. 1t has been little used
thus far, though several small mills
have cut it for local purposes. The
tim Der of the interior is much smaller,
and is found only along the lakes and
water courses. 1t IS chiefly spruce,
alder, cottonwood and willow. Several
small mills have been taken in for cut
ting this timber. Agriculture is as
yet an experiment, but little having
been attempted. Conditions on the
islands are favorable for grass and such
and cereals as mature quick
ly. Even along the Yukon region
summer vegetables may be grown and
possibly wheat. A few years will show
what can be done in agriculture and
stock raising.
The great interest in Alaska at the
present time centers in the Yukon
placers on both sides of the boundary
line. Prospecting on the Yukon began
in 1881. In the fall of 1883 the
first gold was brought to juneau from
the interior. The next year 800 men
crossed the mountains and the number
of miners steadily increased each year.
The first work was on Stewart river and
then Big Salmon, both in Canada. In
1886 the Forty Mile creek placers, also
in Canada, were discovered, and the
next year the famous Franklin gulch,
on the same stream. In 1892 the Miller
creek diggings were found, also tribu-
tary of Forty Mile, and on the Cana
dian side of the line. The next year
there was large influx of miners, fully
300 working in the Forty-Mile district.
In 1898 the first important discover
les on the American side of the line
were made on Birch creek, and the
town of Circle City. now having 500 log
houses, was started ON the Yukon as
supply point The next year over
S400, 900 were taken out along Birch
creek and Forty-Mile. In 1895 Eagle
and Porcupine creeks began to produce
in the Birch creek district. The total
output of that year exceeded 500, 900.
In August, 1896, it was reported at
Forty Mile and Circle City that won
1erfully rich placers had been discov-
cred on the Klondike, small tributary
IF the Yukon entering that river about
so miles southeast of the international
boundary and on Canadian territory.
There was great rush to the new dig
yings, the older ones being nearly de-
serted. In few days $1,000 were
,aken out on Bonanza creek, tributary
If the Klondike. By January l, 1897,
100 claims had been located on Bonanza
md Eldorado creeks, and 200 on Hunker
,reek, and later many others on Bear,
Gold Bottom AMI Too Much Gold creeks
Ind their tributaries. Fully 1,4OO,-
700 were taken from the Yukon placers
n 1896.
1t was not SO much the amount of
,old brought out by the first steamer to
;ome down last summer, as the news
hat this was the result of but little
work in a few claims only, and that
here would have been many times as
much had the hundreds of other claims
been worked in time to send the gold
,ut, which caused the excitement. The
method of working these mines is to
ink shaft into the frozen ground in
winter, taking out the rich gravel near
and piling it up to be washed
'ut when the water runs in summer
ime. For this reason the gold washed
,ut last summer could not be sent
way, and will not be brought down
Until next July, when it is expected
hat several millions of dollars will
,ome out as the result of the first years.
work along the Klondike. The COM
nercial point for the Klondike district
8 the new town of Dawson City. situ-
tied on the Yukon just below the
mouth of the Klondike and reached by
liver steamers.
The Yukon gold fields extend for
housand miles along the stream, with
width of 500 miles. In this vast area
here are hundreds of streams and
'ulches, offering ample room for the
thousands of gold seekers to prospect for !
lew diggings. The new discoveries re-
'orted this year are on Dominion creek
nd on the tributaries of the Stewart
liver, on the Canadian side, and on
dunnook creek and it's tributaries on
he Alaska side, near the mouth of the
after the new town of Rampant City