The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-17
HOW TO GO THERE.
Route Laid Out to Reach the New
Gold Fields.

San Francisco, July 1.-THE story of
the famous Clondyke mining region has
aroused the keeneSt interest. Already
there is talk in San Francisco of organ
izing a company to visit the, Alaskan
Ell dorado with the coming of the new
spring.
Great golden nuggets stud the beds
of the streams or lie snug in the over
hanging banks. A bucket of dirt is
worth anywhere from 81 to $50, while
ton of mother earth taken from the bed
on Bonanza creek Is likely to yield a
fortune.
The conservative men of those who
have so recently left the field estimate
that SIC, ,000, 900 will be taken out in the
next year. They say that this is only
a beginning, with the end nowhere in
sight.
But for all this the Clondyke region
presents difficulties which stagger the
average man and make afraid even
those who already have Travelled the
long and torturouS trail that leads to
the golden ground. In order to reach
Dawson City, one must cross icy plains,
climb steep, snow clad mountains and
spin down treacherous rivers, which
threaten every moment death and de-
StructiOn.
Not one of the miners who came on
the Excelsior will advise anybody to
make the journey. They tell gladly
enough of the wealth 10 be had almost
for the picking up, but they also tell
of the dangers.
James Ladue, the founder of Dawson
City, tells how the Bonanza may be
reached, as follows:
Leaving Juneau, go to Dyea, by way
of Lime canal, and from there to Lake
Lindermann, 30 miles on foot, or port
age, as we call it, The lake gives you
a ride of five or six miles, and then fol-
lows another long journey overland to
the headwaters of Lake Bennett, which
is % miles long. On foot you go again
for a number of miles, and the Cariboo
Crossing river furnishes transportation
TARiSh E6 a
other 21 miles boat ride may be had.
This is followed by weary stretch of
mountainous country, and then Marsh,
or Mud lake, is reached. You can get
another boat ride of "a miles, and then
down q creek for 81 miles to Miles Can
yon to White Horse rapids.
This is one of the most dangerous
place on the entire route, and should
be avoided by all strangers. The
stream is full of sunken rocks and runs
with the speed of a mill race. Pass
ing White Horse rapids the journey is
down a river 80 miles to Lake La barge,
where 81 miles of navigable water is
found. Another short portage and
Louis river is reached, where you have
a 200-mile journey, which brings you to
Fort Selkirk. AT this point the Pelly
and Louis rivers come together, form
ing the Yukon. From that point on it
is practically smooth sailing, though
the stranger must be exceedingly care
full.
THE most dangerous part of the trip
Is that crossing CnllkOOC pass. Even
as late as May and June snow storms
occur, and woe to the traveller who is
caught. Chilkoot pass is itself 5000
feet high, but is the only opening in a
mountain range whose peaks reach an
average altitude of 10000 feet"
The summer on the C1ondyke lasts
about six weeks, and during that time
it is quite warm. The greatest pests
of the country are the mosquitoes. They
are SO numerous and so fierce that they
will kill person If he is not we'll pro-
tected. These and the cold in winter
are the great drawbacks of the golden
country.