The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-29

y icl(O Vi liz NOAi6ANANiAOs
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to ottawa warning the Privy Council
that only harm could result from their
operation, and that the development of
the country now being speeded under
the influence of the great gold discov-
cries would be paralyzed. These Of
fcials are the local high authorities
and what they say must have great
weight with the Government. A pub
lie meeting was held in Pioneer Hall
on Thursday evening, November 4, at
which a memorial was drawn up ask
ing the Canadian Government for the
repeal Of the laws. 1t will be carried
to ottawa by a delegation of three,
Maxim Laundryman, D. E. A. Willis
and E J. Livernash, named at a subse-
quent meeting.
The belief is general that the laws
will not be enforced-that when OF
tawa comes to a full realization of the
situation here the Government will re-
scind its action. With this belief the
prospectors keep digging in the ground
and the stampede scrambles over the
hills and up the icy gulches by batta-
lions on the trail. There has been an
epidemic of stampedes lately. A stam-
pede is started in various ways. A
prospector gives the cue to a few
friends that he has found something,
and the rush to get next to the dis
covery begins. The run is generally
through an unbroken country, with
little or no trail to guide, and banked
with snowdrifts, the creek may be
many miles away and the stampeder
be compelled to have provisions and
blankets with him in. the rush and
often to camp out in frightful weather.
The office of the Gold Commissioner
is kept crowded and busy for days fol-
lowing their return. The recording fee
is SIS, and the revenue of that office
might pay the expenses of the Cana
dian Government. The Canadian Gov
eminent, by the way, has at last made
arrangements for the carriage of reg
ular malls under the protection of the
police, and a party starts to-day to
make the first trip. Posts are estab-
lished at the head of Lake Linderman
and at the foot of lakes Lebarge and
Tagish and at White Horse Rapids.
Contracts have been let for the build
ing of barracks at Linderman.
1 send this dispatch, however, by a
party of seasoned miners, under the
leadership of J. S. Barnes. Mr.. Barnes
with his partner, Harry Dobson, is
among those who are fortunate in own
ing some of the best properties on both
Bonanza and FL Dorado, and is. never
theless, forced to stop work upon them
by the conditions that have described.
Influenced by other private considera-
ton, Barnes will lead the vanguard of
the army over the frozen river and
break the trail to Dyea for the great
number who will follow.
have said that this army, or the
larger part of it, takes its long and
perilous march because the individuals
that compose it failed to bring with
them provisions necessary for their
subsistence. They have suffered much
and will have suffered much more be-
fore they reach their homes. 1t is not
likely that the hard luck stories they
will have a right to tell will stop the
stampede of next year. Certainly, their
experience should be sufficient to warn
all who come to bring a years supply
of food and clothes.
They who depend upon the steamers
next year will as certainly be disap-
pointed, for it is beyond the possibility
of the boats that ply here or that
may be sent up by new companies to
supply in the brief time that the sea-
son allows the demands even of those
! who are already here. In face of the
fact that greatly increased facilities
! will certainly prevail next year for
bringing in supplies, it must be borne
/ in mind that those who came in this
year with supplies will have consumed
| them, and, instead of the $500 people
that formed the population at the be-
! ginning of this year, the number al
! ready here and dependent upon the
transportation companies, next year
/ will have increased to nearly 10000.
The demands of this number cannot
be met, and the terrible march out
! over the ice will confront every man
who does not by his own effort and
/ foresight make it unnecessary.
AS for the rest-the opportunity that
the creeks and gulches offer to those
who come to dig need not add any
/ thing to what has been said. There
were about $500 people here at the be-
/ ginning of this year. They were
nearly all miners. Orders for outfits
were filed with the companies to the
number of 1900, and accompanying
/ each order was cash to an average of
+ $500 each. That is to say, so per cent
Of the inhabitants had $500 each on
deposit. That fact argues it's own
case.
The new corners have been busy
making locations and very many new
! creeks and gulches have been staked
/ from end to end. 1t is more than
likely the excitement that prevails
outside will be taken advantage of by
! so-called investment or other COM
! papies organized for the purpose TO