Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-08-12
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Mr.. Charles II. Metcalf, writing from
Dawson City on the Klondyke river,
under recent date, says:
Here I find myself at last in the
midst OF the greatest and most wonder
ful mining camp the world has ever
seen. Gold is so plenty that 1t has to
be carried about In cotton bags, and
four or five men are required to pack
and protect the products Of many OF the
claims. / have seen the result or one
days washing on claim in Eldorado
creek, and the figure was SlS,0OO Tor
twelve hours work of four men. rms
claim was sold less than six months
ago FOR $500, and will produce more
than $1,000, 900 before the end OF the
year. The excitement is now so great
that no one will sell at any price, so
there is no chance for newcomers IN
this immediate vicinity. The country Is
full of prospectors, and every stream
within a hundred miles is located ana
claimed from one end to the other. On
the big creeks where the gold is found,
namely Bonanza and Eldorado, there
are many men who tried in every way
to sell their claims for a few hundred
dollars last winter but could find no
takers. These men are in possession
OF great wealth, which is even yet be-
yond their capacity to realize. could
not even attempt TO picture this camp
or city to you. Thousands OF men,
and women, too, for that matter, are
here living in tents, or log sheds, or
houses of boards with cloth roofs, each
habitation taking a position TO suit
itself with no regard for its neighbor
or any form of regularity. The sawmill
is running night and day, and men are
rushing about at all times of day and
night and buildings Of all kinds are
going up. Such is the power OF gold
that before cold weather comes in Sep
TENDER this wilderness will be a city in
fact of many thousand people. l shall
go out to Bonanza creek In a day or
two and look the ground over there.
l doubt, however. if anything can be
done while everybody is in this pres
ent state of excitement. Circle City is
a city no longer; with one or two ex-
ceptions all the stores and shops are
closed and the entire population has
transferred itself to this new Eldorado,
each and all full of hope in the great
golden handicap. Prospectors are rush
ing all over the country looking for
gold, but nothing Of any consequence
has been found outside Of the two big
creeks / spoke of. A few men will
be made rich here, but everybody is
spending money in the most lavish
manner, and / am getting good prices
for the goods l have to sell. You re-
member the two dogskin robes that cost
me $3.50 each, and which / wanted so
much to bring a quantity Of? Well,
sold them both yesterday at $40 each,
and could sell hundred more If l had
them; and this rs fair sample of
prices. We had no trouble on the
river this year, but do not relish
making another trip if l could help it.
| don't mind the intensely hard work
so much but find the worry and anxi-
ETY. about getting the goods safely over
the lakes and river very trying, and
people tell me / am looking thin. l
hear indirectly that Booth Ca young
man Mr.. Metcalf took with him) is do
ing very well on my claim, No. 3, on
Mastodon creek. The weather is very
hot and will result in much sickness
and suffering in this damp marsh. DR..
lie Blanc has begun business already,
and will do exceedingly we'll feel sure.