The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-08-14
. Senatar SteMarf,s Advice.

OF great v1rulenoe. LaDorers, govern
ment clerks and statesmen are discuss
ing the marvellous possibilities of the
Valley of the Yukon.
Two enterprising young men who are
determined upon reaching the gold
fields are Fred G.. Calvert and William
Niemeyer.
Calvert is an engineer and surveyor
and was preparing to join the geological
survey for exploring the territory of
Alaska when the news came of the dis
covery of gold in the Klondyke regions.
Niemeyer is a telegrapher.
The two have planned to make an
early start for the North in order that
they may reach the Klondyke before
winter sets in and begin prospecting, SO
as to be in readiness in the spring.
The young men have been studying
mining and the geography of the
Territory. and have ably equipped
themselves for the expedition.
Senator Stewart, of Nevada, a
California pioneer, and for most of his
life miner and dealer in mines, advises
young men to go to the Klondyke.
Undoubtedly there is great wealth
of gold in Alaska, said the senator.
1T will take hundreds of years to ex-
haust the deposits which exist there.
The depth of decayed vegetable life,
combined with almost perpetual SHOWS
of that country, will present obstacles
which even the powerful spirit of enter
prise cannot entirely conquer. 1t will
never be like gold mining in California
and Australia. In those countries the
mining districts were open, and the
climate most favorable. 1t was possible
for even novice to quickly learn the
way to select the most promising spots
for base of operations. The physical
aspect of the country was not hidden by
SHOWS, as in the case of Alaska, and
men could rapidly gain knowledge of
where the most likely places for finding
the gold were situated. In Alaska it
will be different, for there is only a
short season in which the SHOWS permit
comprehensive idea of what the
country is
e'Those difficulties will be overcome,
however. 1t makes no difference to the
true miner what the difficulties are.
The frozen earth and the great SHOWS
do not deter him from getting at the
gold. They will build houses and work
stubbornly, Notwithstanding the awful
severity of the climate.
Thousands will perish because they
have not the physical nor the moral
stamina to survive. Yet even this
array of difficulties should not brighten
young men who really have determined
to seek their fortunes in Alaska. If
they do not find fortunes in the gold
fields there are many lines of work
opened up by the great gold boom.
The boom will be good for the West,
for it will take young to that country
who are filled with the spirit of enter
prise, and these young men will make a
place for themselves, even if they do
not find enough in Alaska to bring
wealth. 1t will make men of them if
they survive the struggle, and that is
| more to be desired than weak and
gradual degeneration, which is sapping
the life and energy of the idle men of
the East.
This idleness is enforced by the
giant grasp of money kings, who con
troll the volume of the world 8 wealth.
To escape it, men may we'll dare death.
Alaska should not daunt young men,
who realize the conditions against which
they must struggle in the East.
Suicides by the score, most of them
caused by business failures, show what
the human sharks are bringing the
country to. Let the young men ant
the older men go to Alaska.
There have been those who predicted
that the newly discovered gold il
Alaska would seriously affect the money
volume of the world. That is absurd
The immense demand for money today
will absorb all the gold which Alaskt
can produce. Climatic conditions mus
prevent any abnormal output of golt
from that country. The gold is there
but it can never be mined as it was il
California. 1t will be taken on
gradually. There is cause for en-
enlargement to the individual in thi'
undeniable fact. The cost to grea
corporations in mining gold in Alask;
will be so great that they will not con
troll the mines there for many years tt
come. California was gone ovel
quickly, and the inevitable ownership
by corporations was rapid.
THE Alaskan climate and othel
obstacles will operate to prevent this il
the newly discovered gold country
This will give the placer miner 1
much better chance for many years tt
come than was ever enjoyed by thu
pioneers of 40 in California.
These things should encourage mel
of good health and stout hearts to TT,
their fortunes in the Alaskan golC
fields. Many may fail, but again they
may wrest from the rocks and ice
fortunes which they would probably
never acquire in the East.
Men who are working for them