The Monitor-register., 1897-08-06

..
NOT GET THROUGH TO THE KLoNDIKE
THIS YEAR-EAsTERN CAPITAL TOO,
GOING TO THE YUKON FOR INVEST
MENT
SAN Francisco, Aug. - Private
letters received to-day from Seattle and
Victoria give some facts that ought to
serve as a warning to those who are eager
to rush off to the Klondike. OIe bit of
news is that the Indians, because Of the
great heat of the summer at Dawson, p.e-
dict the cary fret zing over of the Yukon.
which means the stoppage of river ravi-
cation aid disaster to any expeditions
that start out late this month from this
city or Purget Sound.
Dawson is crowded with newcomers
ported, but most of them are tenderfeet
and they are doing little independent
prospecting.
Another report says that snow has
already fallen in Chilkoot Pass and II
cents per pound is charged by the Indians
to carry freight over the divide.
A Victoria letter gives a startling
picture of the crowd which has gathered
at that place, eagerly waiting for chance
to all for the Alaskan gold diggings, and
the letter predicts that great m isery will
befall those who have little money and
are without q good outfit. The writer
says:
"rhere are 800 men here who think
they are going to the Klondikf. Nine
tenths of them won't get any further than
Dyea; in fact, it is impossible for them
to reach the mines. They have no idea
of what they will have to do after they
get across the divide, for which pm rpose
they have got lot Of horses that won't
pack ten pounds. They will have to go
into the woods, whipsaw their lumber,
and then build boats Most of them
don't know how to drive nail, let alone
build boat.
Very few Victorians are going, at
least not until next spring. They are
nearer to the land and understand the
situation. The Canadian Pacific N.viga.
tion Company loaded up the Islander to-
day, and to night they are loading
another steamer, and the two boats will
leave in the morning. In a couple of
months there will be some good stories
when the poor suckers commence to
return and tell of their hardships. This
| will be the story of Cassiar and Cariboo
over again. Very few will M Ike fortunes,
| and the remainder will return broken in
purse and spirit.
"But you ought to be here to see the
fun. Everybody is on Wharf street
at the Canadian Navigation Company's
docks tonight. The Canadian Pacific
will clear $40 900 on the trip of the new
steamers, and the Canadian Government
is getting its share of the revenue by
charging duty on the outfits brought
from the States"
1t is a significant fact that the French
Canadians who have returned from
the klondike are among the first to de-
Glare that the miners around Dawson will
not pay the heavy royalties and duties
which the Dominion Government pro.
poses to impose this season. Henry Dore
and j. E Boucher are two OF these
Canadians who returned recently. They
are American citizens, but they know
how their compatriots feel on this ques
tion. Dore said to-day
Fifteen Thousand miners will be on
the Klondike by next spring, and most
of them will be Americans. 1t is pre-.
posterous to believe that, after bravine
all dangers and hardships to get there,
they will submit to giving up large
percentage of their profits. Canads
cannot get enough troops or mounted
police into that country to see that TIE
regulations are enforced.
"If an attempt is made to enforce
tkese duties the miners will hold a meet.
ing and, whatever the decision, it will be
carried out. American laws rule there
and from my talks last winter witt
many miners l know they will rebel
against any regulations that crowd poor
miners.
Before left there was a strong feel
ing that the Stars and Stripes should
float over the Klondike gold fields, and
with more Americans coming in this
sentiment will be strengthened.
"What will two or three hundred
troops do against Is 600 we'll armed and
resolute American miners Besides
these soldiers must pass through Ameri
can territory to reach Dawson have
talked with many of the mounted police.
and l know they would never fire on
miners even If ordered to by their
officers. Unjust taxes will be sure to
start movement next spring which will
make the Klondike American territory.
| A generous act was performed by
Charles Anderson, q returned Klon.
diker, who cleared $50 900 as result OF
two years. labor in mine. Previous to
goif to Alaska he had hard luck, and in
his misfortunes was befriended in
Seattle by G. F. Wallin.
To-day he decided Wallin half of bis
Klondike mine, for which he had re-
ceived an offer of $4,000; and he out
fitted him in splendid style, and the man
has taken passage on the Willamette
Wallin is poor man In Klondike luck.