Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-23
OFF FOR THE YUKON.
ANXIOUS INQUIRERs IN LONDON
ABOUT NEW GOLD FIELDS.
A WARNING TO PROSPECTORS.
Difficulties of Transportation to the
Alaskan DigEings Innumerabie-
More stories of the Richness of the
Finds.

siOner In London. has been Deslesed ior
several days past by inquirers who de-
sire to go 70 the Yukon mining districts.
Most Of the applicants for information
are young men without money, who are
employed on farms and in the factories.
Would-be emgrants Of this class are
urged TO remain at home. but hardy men
with a capital OF flOO or more are en-
couraged TO leave for the gold-helds.
Several solid London capitalists are in
teresting themselves in the mining terri
tory. and are making Investigations with
"a view to organizing mining companies.
Experts have been dispatched TO inspect
the region.
Regarding the suggested exclusion Of
Americans from the Yukon region, Off
cials here say there is nothing in the
treaties between the United States and
Great Britain to prevent such action, but
as a matter of policy, il is unlikely that
such "A step would be taken.
The various steamship companies re-
port that few persons have left Eng
land for the new gOld-fields thus far.
This IS probably due to monetary con-
siderations.
TERRITORIAL BOUNDARY LINE.
OTTAWA. ONT. July 22.-The atten-
ton Of the government has been called
10 the claims advanced i'm the United
States press that the Yukon gold-felds
are I'm American territory. The ministers
are reticent. 1t is learned. however, that
the government regards the convention
under which the boundary commission
was appointed as being Of the nature Cf
a treaty, and that IT should not be alb
rogated. The ownership OF the fields de-
pends upon the question whether the
coast line is 10 follow all indentations
of the coast. or whether where the dis
lance from headland 30 headlan1 is six
miles the coast line is 20 be taken as
the lire drawn from headand TO head
land. As regards future proceedings. the
statement is made that for twenty-five
years Canada has been anxious to have
the boundary line clearly and finally set
tied. and that any feasible and amicable
proposition TO effect this end will be Sc
riously considered.
COAL-MINERS OFF FOR THE YUKON
VICTORIA. 3. c., July pa special
TO the Times from NanaimO, says: Many
coal-miners left hero to-day for Victoria,
on their way TO the Yukon. Some thirty
Of the best miners in the pits Of the Van
couvor Coal Company have thrown down
their picks 20 prepare to leave for the
promised land. ON every corner. up
street and down-street. common conver-
satiOn IS the Yukon Many are trying 10
raise money on property which cost them
over 81 SO and have been unsuccessful,
even to the amount Of one third Of the
original cost.
Among those who viii go are Thomas
Keith, ex-member Of Parliament; Alder
man Arthur Wilson. and about fifty
others, who will bid adieu 10 Nanaimo
within the next three weeks.
Every effort Is being made in Victoria
and other provincial cities 10 have Ca
madam customs officers sent up TO collect
duties on American goods. Ii is ex-
pected that officers will 20 up on the
next steamer.
PASSENGERS FROM SEATTLE.
SEATTLE, WASH, july Z-At 3:37
o. clock this afternoon the North Amcri-
can transportation steamer Portland sail
ed from Seattle for st. Michaers Alaska,
from which point her passengers will be
transferred 10 Yukon river steamers, and
carried TO the famous Klondyke gold
fields. There were 12S passengers, a few
Of whom were women. II can be stated
almost positively that unless something
unexpected happens the Portland's pas
sengers will reach Dawson City, at the
junction of the Yukon and Klondyke
rivers, without experiencing any hard
ships worth mentioning.
j.. NJ. Culbertson, who went TO the
Klondyke last spring has written home,
saying: I'VE hear stories about the mines
hat Will scarcely be believed. one claim
washed out over $4,000 I'm one day. and
others as high as 10000 and 100000 Some
nave to clean up the boxes as often as
three times a day. but this clean up does
rot represent the one days work but
he wash for The whole winter.
"1he bonanza claims. of course, are all
taken up. and the creeks where the rich
lnds have been made are taken clear ND
10 the top Of the mountains. but we hope
% get hold of something that will satis-
~ us before long. The stories we heard
n Seattle do not half tell the story OF
heir richness, but they don't belong to
Is. and the only thing we can do IL
he next best thing. and that is try 10
ind some more. When we arrived here
he miners were nearly out Of provisions.
WAGES SIS A DAY.
" HS'o ttl q FAb pei AdN III lit ulSkllEEs
)ut they are trying TO cut them down
% SO. Most of the men on claims that
hey tried 20 cut. quit and came back TO
amp, as they claimed they could not af-
ord 10 work for less than SO. and pack
heir grub in over the TRAN. and some OF
he worst trails you could imagine /
mink | can give you a ve2e good idea OF
heir condition by the description given
~ a man here.
''IIe said il was like walking through
.otton straw. The country is covered
With moss from 10 inches deep, and
he frost is out about u 10 II inches, and |
'ou so down TO the bottom of il every
tep. The mines are fifteen miles from
iere and they have TO pay 2S cents a |
'ound 10 have supplies packed In. but |
when II freezes uD il is an easy matter |
o sled supplies up the river and creeks !
md if we get located this summer we |
will take in a years supplies that way" |
A WARNING.
SAN FRANCISCO. July 22.-The Alaska |
Commercial Companys steamer Bertha |
rrlved from Unalaska to-day with 50J |
ons Of concentrates from the Apollo |
nine at Unga and a bar OF bullion from |
he same source. but brought no gold |
rom the KlondilSe region. Captain
Iayes. Of the vessel speaking of the
,londike boom, however said: "rhe fact
hat the new gold fields are 1900 miles
rom st. Michaels, and that the difficult
les Of transportation are innumerable.
annot be too fOrcibly impressed upon
Intending prospectors. The newspapers
Ill be responsible for the loss of many
YES. and a great deal of suffering and
If they do not strongly advise
he public that the river Yukon. now
nat the mountain torrents have ceased
inning. Is very low. and consequently
nat 5000 tons of supplies now awaiting
cannot possibly be con-
syed to their destination for some time"
LYNCHING IN GEORGIA.