The evening times., 1897-11-23
RICHER THAN THE KLOND|KE
Gov. Swineford, Of Alaska, Says
American Fields Are Best.
GOLD IN U. s. TERRITORY
Precious Metal Covers Ground Sew
enteen Times Larger Than New
York State-Tropical Vegetation
on Cnasf-Climate Not Much Worse
Than in New York City.

New York, Nov. pa. P. Swineford,
former governor of Alaska, arrived in this
city the other day from Chicago ON busi-
ness connected with the General Land Of
panied Ivy Charles P. Phining, of the Chi
cago freight bureau.
Gov. Swineford was appointed during
President Cleveland's first Administra-
ton, and, though he Resigned soon after
President Harrison's election, he has
only recently returned from Sitka. 1t
was during bis first year In Alaska that
the people Of the United States became
aware OF the rich gold fields through the
report Of the governor.
Gov. Swineford told reporter at the
Astor House that half the truth atout the
gold fields had not been told. While his
attention has been mainly directed to the
fields in that part of Alaska owned by the
United States, he is well informed about
Klondike. and believes that the coming
winter win zee millions OF dollars worth
of bullion taken from the Yukon district
by placer mining.
There is gold there" said the governor,
land every day dust and nuggets reward
the search Of miners, but more gold will
be found in the territory governed by the
United States than in the klOndike For
the miner who starts todav and IN Ameri
can Possession is the place for him tu
strike. This is Particularly true along ;he
coast. Here a man can conduct ope Tations
the year round II he so desires.
I'm the gold fields of the Yukon the
good or pa ying claims are all staked, The
UEited States has a territory seventeen
times as big as the State OF New YORK,
with only 5000 people in 1t, and rot all
of those are miners Underlying this ter
ritory Is gold. No one can say how much.
but that IL is there Is told by the fact
that a man cannot wash In a single stream
without finding 1t. 1t is not always found
In paying qualities. but you get color and
many times enough OF il to induce YOU ~
continue your search
The governor does not think that the
hundreds OF people now hound for the
Yukon Will ever reach the Klondike. He
is of the cpiuton that the larger part ofthe
miners will stop this side and try their
reach st. Nicholas they will find the claims
taken up. Not having enough money To
buy they will be induced TO stop where
they are sure of being repaid for their
labor
The amount Of gold in Alaska said
the governor, is fabulous. | had a man
washing Tor me who got ne fever and quit
The next knew Of him ne was washing
along the coast near YaEutat Ray. not far
from sitka. and with his old pan he was
making SIG d day. This is simply an
Illustration. There is gold in the sand
anywhere between sitka and Cooks Inlet,
a distance of 500 miles,
Governor Swinefsrd says that there is a
great mistake made in thin king that all
Alaska II cG;d and barren. 1T never
goes heiow 4 degrees below zero near
the shore ne said, and in summer there
Is vegetation hat is semi-tropical in growth
Not far from. my home in SItka ! haNe
often ridden through ferns 70 tall I ha: one
could not look over them frCm the back
of horse. To people who have not been
there or tc these who taIe only seen the
Klondike this may seen. a strange state
Inent, hut il is a fact. At the hea dwaters
OF the Yukon the difference vii! he found
to bc rreat. Even In the mildest day in
winter a man will freeze any part of
the body that is not prot ected-"
Tie governor estimates that the out
put of gold this winter in the Klondike.
Fort. Mile Greek and Nimook Greek
alone viii he over 100000. 900. The last
two fields are in United States territory.
Il have seen good deal" the gov
ernor said, about famine in the klon-
dixie. There is no truth in it lf the
miners have any sand, they can kill all
thr caribou they need. There are large
numbers of these animals near Dawson
City,"
Gov. swineford was asked if the early
reports nf the finding OF gold had !'een
He replied that there was
a story in Sitka that the Russi:in-Ameri
can Fur Company had twice succeeded
in closing the mouths of experts sent
there to investigate the truth ui gold re-
ports.
The govei nor will resign his position in
the United States Land Office, and VIII
lea We for the gold fields early in the winter.