The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-30
YUKON MINERS OPPOSE It.
1nao 0oo11nou Nave Bees Held anA
- = 2ssal< . Lass Ceoosnies-
-, Dsl1sl WITH NsDeross Osjec-
oe0os = - - Dorne % Ottawa

OAWD00. Nov. as-The miners OK the
nkoa have prepared and forwarded TO
OseWa . protest against ths proposei
- The collection Of royalty ard the
1eeeyvettoa Of every alternate claim for
- eooeat of the crown. The gold COM
missioner and executive OF the judicial
apartment have unofsiciaify expressed an
e0eniea that when the matter was prop
~ explained TO the privy councl
- ~ would BE- abroxafsd and modifed
- - ~ revert 70 the best interests OF the
SefhWeGt territory and Development OF
- mining interests OF the country. The
canadian miners have taken deep In
sefest IN the matter and have been IN
eefamentai In calling mass-fneetings and
1aehArfnG data and Information thai
would assist the council In arriving al
proper conception OF the existing facts.
1kJeGy and terseiy, the communication
Which y 10 be borne to Ottawa explains
ehe situation. and In as follows;
70 His Excellency. the Goyernor-Gen-
Nfat IN Council: Whereas, the govern
1eent has SO amended the mining Teguia-
s5ous governing the plaesrs OF the YUKON
4aatFict OF the Northwest territories that
= heavy royalty Is imposed. based on the
Gross output OF the gold fields. and that
efeek' and river claims are limited
i length TO 100 feet each. rather than so
8S0ks - AGTet0A0fet ana itfAS &s@tS asN%s
nate claim Ii reserved from location:
Now, therefore We. the undersigned
0inerB Of the Yukon district. do humhly
pststton ~ follows:
Believing that the government has
been misinformed as 10 the Yukon piac-
eFa. and having profound faith In the
Justice OF the representatives or the
crown and the people. we represent as
true these propositions:
ftrst-Grossly exaggerated reports
have been published through the newspa-
pers Of this Dominion and the United
0tAtes concerning the wealth OF the Kion"
dixie and Indian divisions Of the Yukon
district. Men of this district who have
gone hence TO the csnters OF population
of this country and tbs United States are
quoted by the press authority for as
serfiOns either wholly false or grievously
misleading. The impression has been
given. apparently. that enormously Rich
claims are the rule. and that gold may
he mined with profit, even now, almost
anywhere In the vast region about the
VILLAGE Of Dawson. That impression is
NOT justified.
.second--of the 1000 claims thus far re-
corded In this district. not more than
twO-score have been demonstrated TO be-
remarkably rich. The others are either
moderately rich. ruling conditions con-
Etdercd, or practically unknown auanti-
tie8-most OF them the latter. The indi-
cations are favorable 70. fair profit from
= considerable percentage OF these 9TH
erp II no royalty IL imposed: but there is
no certainty that a substantial number OF
the claims would be profitable IL heavily
taxed. Indeed. IL Is probable that many
a. them would not be worth working at
Ill.
"Third-The wage rates are high and
bupplies are costly. Ordinary unskiiied
labor commands 81 to 80 an hour. -four
costs $3.50 TO $50 hundredweight. bacon
costs 30 cents TO si.ao pound, fresh beef
costa 30 cents 20 81 pound: good grade
blankets cost SIS apiece: and other sup
pties are proportionately expensive. It is
dtRicult. and at times impossible. TO buy
supplies at all: and along the Yukon
famine conditions threaten every winter
and shortage Ii the rule. These conditions
are, az course. temporary, but 40 great
are the difficulties with which men are
oeset who cope with this desolate region
that u In unreasonable TO expect any sub
etantial notifications as TO wages or SUD
plies until ciaim-soldefs have gone far
toward leaving the proved stream valleys
mass Of worthless tallingx, In conse-
uucnce OF the cost,.nesa of labor aud sup
plies, net many of the mines OF this dis
trict, even In the valleys Of the Bonanza
and Its tributaries. yield much beyond
expenses al present. and many that have
been well prospected are not rich enough
10 Justify the claim holder in employing
miners to assist In working them. In
many cases accordingly. a royalty of 10
or 20 per cent. of output would be a me-
dunn of eonfiscation.
'sFourth-Mining Is seriously hlndered
and It's Costumes materially increased by
severe climatic conditions. From very
near the earth's surfac. TO the greatest
depth Yet reached everything Is frozen
throughout the year. the Temperature
from early October To June ranging be-
tween the freezing point and 70 degree
below zero. During this cold season drift
mining Is carried Oh. and Il Is necessary
to fhaw the frozen ground by means Of
banked fires before the pick and shovel
can be used, and before sluicing can he
done In the spring the gravel mined In
winter must he thawed hy the suns heaf
From June 10 October when omen pltS
may be worked. the sun must he given
time 10 thaw exposed ssavel. and fire..
unentiy fres must be brought TO bear 10
unfestsr Ice bound masses.
ssFifth~These are 40 reads Il, All tsts
district. nor are there, 80 far as We
know. any steps In progress 20 establish
means oil transport; and never were men
more Handicapped in moving To and from,
mines than We are of the Yukon. During
the cold season we are Obliged 20 nav. m
to Is cents pound for Transporting su,,-
plies distance OF fifteen miles durins
the warm season. 81 cents. For lonvar
distances the charge Is even greater pro.
pcrtienately.
..Sixth-Thss IL land Of treu.enao,,s
so.!tudss ard marvellous w!ldness II nm
pears TO he a land Of Immense nrntnis, for
the prospeetcr: but the appearance ma.
be deceptive. There is practically noshtrt
known OF u beyond 4 radius ~ flgty nai'ea
from Dawson, ard no: much heyAaA a
radius of twenty miles. l. Is outside she
rarye of language 70 picture the trials
that encompass the explorer who rens
forth here with pick. shovel ana gold rs,,
To search for sold only strong men an
equal to the task, and only men OF sreat
courage and psrseversnce can press far
II the government place a heavy hand ~,
the prcsrccsors. already almes, svenziea
With toll and pFivation. prospecting IN
this district will he abandoned by ths M.
yoyity and praSpectcfs Will turn towar.l
other gold fields. Thls Is nat a thraa.
Il In condition. ns<hea rtsn.si nv she
regulations complained % many who ar,
here are already planning 20 leave can.
adian territory.
''Seycn,h--To limis creek and river.
claims 10 lao feet In length is 20 ,alseaur-
age prospecting. and 10 reserve every Al.
ternasc claim lscm location mus. have =
similar cfYec, ana also discourage the IN.
vextment OF capital for DEVELOPMENT ~
the resources Of tho district. And thts
because
s'ta) The ray streak Is 50 narrow On