The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-01

Close to the waters Of the Yukon
river, in far away Alaska, the northern
most Of Uncle Sans possessions, lies
what the government now pronounces
the coming gold mining center of the
world. Here for the first time is told
by Prof. Spur, chief of the party sent
out by the government geological sur
vey to thoroughly examine the gold
fields, the truth concerning what has
hitherto been largely yelled in mystery.
There is little about the country, be-
sides its mineral wealth, to invite. In
the short summer, clouds of mosquitoes
descend on the yellow land, like the
pestilence of ancient Egypt. In the
long winter the cold is so severe that
mining can only be carried on during
the sunshiny days. Yet Prof Spur
tells us in the accompanying state
ment that this is country which for
placer mining will exceed CALIFORNIA;
palmiest days. To gather the gold,
however, and wean it from the sur
roundings where nature has placed it,
much valuable machinery is necessary.
So it will be seen that it is going
to be hard fight the seeker of wealth
will have, who tries his chances with
fortune in the Yukon gold fields. This
is what Prof. Spur says:
Much has been written of late con-
corning the possibilities of Alaska as a
gold-producing country AS a matter
Of fact, the production Of the present
year may be roughly estimated at
$3,000,000; this amount, however, comes
from an immense region of half mil
lion square miles, or about one-quarter
as large as the United States. Of
the mines which produce this gold,
some are in the bed rock while others
are placer diggings.
THE bed rock mines are few in
number and situated on the southeast
coast, which is the most accessible
part of the territory. The chief one
Is the great Treadwell mine near Ju-
neau, and there are also important
mines at Berner's bay, at the island Of
Ungan and other places. The latest
strike Is in klondyke. Most of these
mines, however, are in low grade ore.
and the production is only made prof
table by means Of careful MANAGEMENT
and operations on very large scale.
The placer mines are those which
occupy the most prominent place in the
popular mind, since they are remote
D.
abount which little is known. and
which is, on account of this uncertain
ty, dangerously attractive to the aver
age man. This gold-producing col1n-
try of the interior Is mostly in the
vicinity Of the Yukon river or of some
of its immediate tributaries. The most
productive districts hitherto have been
the Forty Mile district, which lies
partly in American and partly in
British territory. and the Birch creek
district, which lies in American ter
ritory. Some gold diggings are also
supposed to exist on Stewart river and
Keykuk. During the latter part of the
past season diggings were also found
on the Klundek and Indian rivers near
Forty Mile.
Another place concerning which
there have been vague rumors of gold.
causing a stampede Of many UMPIRE
pared and untitled men, is the Cook
inlet country which lies on the coast
above the mouth Of Copper river, a
situation remote alike from the mines
near Juneau and from the placer mines
ON the Yukon.
I'm all this immense country over
which placer digging Is carried on. or
has been carried on, estimate tina T
there are about two thousand miners.
They are mostly in the Yukon dis
trlcts. These districts lie In a. broad
belt Of gold-producing rocks having q
considerable width and extending In a
general east and west direction for
several hundred miles. Throughout this
belt occur quartz veins which carry
gold, but SO far as yet found out, the
ore is Of low grade, and q large pro-
PORTION Of the veins have been SO