The record-union., 1897-08-25
NEED NOT GO TO
DAWSON CITY.
Streams on the American Side Are
Rich With Gold.
Birch and Preacher Greek as Good as the
KIondike.
of John Carr, the
Pioneer Mail Carrier Of the
Yukon Route, Who Has just
Returned From the Diggings-
The Ground Cannot be Ex-
hausted in Twenty Years.


SITKA, Aug. "a. (via Seattle, Aug.
a. John Carr, the pioneer mail car
rier of the Yukon route, is at Sitka
from the diggings. Carr is one Of the
best-posted men on Alaska mines that
there is in this country He offers in
formation that is of great Importance.
for he is an authority.
Carr declares that great riches are in
store for capitalists who will develop
the Birch and Preacher Creek in
American territory. 1t is not at all
necessary, he says, for men to go to
Dawson City, as the streams on the
American side are fully as rich as those
of the Northwest Territory.
THE Birch Creek diggings," said Carr
to your correspondent, will not ex-
haust in twenty years. About QUO
miles below Circle City is Kuykuk Riv-
er, which is at least 800 miles long.
II found that the Indians on this riv-
er work with crude rockers, yet they
make so and $12 per day.
Regarding the exploration of the dis
trict, three different parties left Circle
City in May last to prospect. These
men had been ON the Klondike, but
they said that they thought Birch
would prove richer than any of the
Klondike placers.
AS a matter of fact, the extent of
the territory mined in Alaska is rep
resented by a about forty square miles
and is part of the Birch Creek dis
trict.
con this side of the boundary line
there are many square miles of terri
tory the prospector's pick has never
touched There are numerous rivers
and creeks which have never been
mined at all except by Indians. There
is gold in aid of them, and as soon as
prospectors realize this they will rush
into the region by thousands.
'The blockade at Dyea and on the
trail is going to cause a great deal OF
suffering. / have seen strong men fall
in their tracks and give way to tears
from weakness and despair. l feel con-
WINGED, and / think I am in a position
to speak inteHigently on the subject.
that before many weeks hundreds win
be frozen between the pass and the
Klondike Those who go through Will
be very much disappointed, for at Daw-
SOIL LIlGIS are d cat many n.y.
are working for wages and who have
failed to find paying locations. Some
who are physically unable cannot work
in the mines and must starve to death.
Eight persons out of ten who are gong
into the mines are untitled to stand the
hardships.
Dawson has about 1000 population,
and half of the people will come out
of the place poor This is a very con-
seavative estimate.
"All the schemes for going up the
river other than by powerful river
steamers will fail. One party is going
to tow a large scow with steam
launch. There is a launch on the river
now. but it can only travel down
stream. Tt returns on the deck of
regular steamer"
LOOKING FOR A NEW ROUTE
OTTAWA (Ont.) Aug. 24.-The Min
lister of the Interior has left for brief
holiday on the Atlantic Coast, but be-
fore his departure he reached most
important decision. 1t is to the effect
that small detachment of mounted
police should at once proceed from Ed
monitor. Alberta, and endeavor to reach
the Klondike country from the eastern
slope of the Rocky Mountains. Edmon-
ton is the most northerly railway point
in the Canadian Mort invest Territory.
being 100 miles north of Calgary. The
route to be followed is by the way OF
the Nelson and Lard Rivers to the
Deafs. and up this river to the Pelly
They will follow the Pelly River to its
conjunction with the Lees, and the Lees
to the KIondike. a total of 1870 miles.
This is not the Mackenzie River route.
AS the police are to take horses with
them it is obvious that the authorities
consider this route practicable. or at
any rate is worth examining.
THE ROSALIE SAILS.
SEATTLE, Aug 24.-The steamer
Rosalie departed this evening for Ska
quay with about 100 passengers and a
full load of horses and supplies for
miners She took also number Of
wagons.
The schooner Moonlight had most Of
her deckload of lumber removed to-day,
and will get away with her sixty pas
sengers some time tonight. The
steamers Willamette, Utopia, Edith and
Topeka. and schooner Rapid Transit
are expected from Skaguay tonight or
early tomorrow. The Willamette and
Rapid Transit are overdue several
days.
Great interest is shown in the ex-
pected arrival of the Portland and all
sorts Of speculation as to the probable
amount of gold she will bring is heard.
THE PORTLAND REPORTED.
PORT TOWNSEND, Aug. 24.-The
steamer Portland has been reported
She will probaly arrive tomorrow. be-
ing reported off Cape F'lattery tonight
Lookouts have been posted all the way
to the mouth of the straits to report the
first sight of the steamer and the pop
uIace is ready to go wild with enthusi-
asm when she arrives. A large party
of newspaper men left by the steamer
City of Seattle for Port Townsend to-
night. They expected to intercept the
Portland with a tug, but are rather
late in starting. Thick weather, caused
by fog and smoke, makes the chances
about even that they may miss the
treasure ship.
ANOTHER ROUTE.
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. PA new
route is to be established to the placer
folds af the KI0nditxa The tourney