The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1897-07-30
ON TO THE KLoNpYKE.

| Newspapers that have been Solemnly
warning their readers to forego the
aIlurements of the gold finds in Alaska,
at least until they can time their de-
parture for the territory so as to arrive
there in less rigorous weather, must be
startled by the unanimity with which
their counsel is not needed.
From all over the United States, this
county not excepted, individuals are
setting out for the new Eldorado and
companies are being organized to con-
duet systematic operations in that far
away region. The few steamers on the
Alaska route have applications for four
times as many passengers as they can
carry, and new boats are to be put on
the line. In some cities expeditions are
planning to purchase their own boats
and complete outfits for the journey
and for living and mining when they
get to the gold fields. The ocean ports
i'll the Pacific northwest are doing a
land-oflice business in provisions and
mining outfits, and hundreds of their
adventurous and able bodied citizens
are embarking for the land of promise.
But there are fortune-seekers who
have taken an earlier start than they
have, even the advices from Alaska
being to the effect that the gold excite
ment has extended all over the terri
tory and the people are rushing to the
Klondyke in way that threatens to de-
populate many Of the trading posts and
coast towns. The stirring events of 40
are being repeated half a century later,
only the train and steamer and bicycle
have taken the place of the slowmoy-
ing prairie schooner.
That there have been rich finds of
gold no one can doubt. The testimony
is too strong and explicit to admit of
doubt. How much more of the golden
particles, kernels and nuggets await
the eager tenderfeet and experienced
prospectors no man can tell, but it is
not unlikely that the Rockies in the
extreme northwest hold within their
embrace as much richness, anyway, as
they have yielded in the western por-
ton of the United States. While the
recent discoveries have been on the
British side of the boundary it is the
opinion of those who have examined
the country that Alaska holds treasures
just as precious and abundant.
1t is the fact that the metal is so
easily found when once the gold-seeker
has penetrated the placer district that
makes the region so attractive to the
man of limited means, for his opportu-
mites of making big strike" are as
good as the experienced miner. Besides
it is inevitable that large and wealthy
companies will get possession Of the
best claims in time and the claim
owner who finds a good thing before
the district is Overrun with prospectors
will be able to sell out to the mining
companies who come later to good ad-
vantage. Not all can make these lucky
finds, however, and we must see COM
ing back from the Klondyke, if they
can get back, the usual proportion Of
woe-begone and forlorn individuals
who have failed to strike pay dirt in
the land of hardships and privations.
1t is useless tomoraliZe on the lottery
nature of such a craze as is now sweep
ing over the country. What are the
hazards of a trip into a rigorous coun-
try, the danger of death from starva-
tion or freezing, the possibility of i'll
success in the quest for wealth, com
pared with the romantic tidings
brought by every returning goldseeker?
To counsel patience and prudence with
those who have the fever is OF little
avail. The press of the country does
well, nevertheless, to set forth the dis
advantages of the undertaking, the
necessity of providing complete outfits
of food and clothing, the shortness of
the season that is favorable for opera
ting, the certainty that all will not re-
alize their hopes, and the folly of a
man who has fairly good thing at
home exchanging it for the uncertain
ties, the privations and vicissitudes of
trip to the wild, cold country in the
northwestern corner of the continent.