Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07


regard to the government. The miners
meeting" Is the only government IN the
interior Of Alaska, but n is becoming a
thing TN OF the 2ass. The better class of min
ers nave already oejectef to having dis
rutes occurring in the gnlches settled in
town, for the greatar preroDderance of
the disputable class in the latter makes it
almost impossible to obtain justice there.
AGAIN, while perfectlyxweu intentioned, the
miners are not oftsn,thed ones best fitted
to decide cases impartiaiiy.
The object, however,7of tie miners meet
ings Is acknowledgements, judicial and
executfve-and the majority rules, suffrage
being accorded to ALL u
The Only Court.
When a man has 1grieyance he posts a
notice to that effect and tsets a day for a
meeting. A moderator is appointed, the
prosecutor presents his case, and the de-
PENDANT replies. Questions are asked,
speeches made pro and con, a motion is
made and carried or defeated. If carried.
the penalty is imposed without delay.
Among the penalties are these:
For stealing, Punishment from the coun-
try. Even II 1t Is in the dead of winter
the culprit Is given enough provisions and
put on sledge and started on his way. In
some parts of the country the additional
punishment of whipping at the post is in
ficted. Stealing has been remarkably in
frequent.
For threatening with weapons, the pun
ishment is the same. There have been no
murders, but for this offense death by
hanging Is the penalty provided. Gam
bling Is legitimate amusement, and has
no place In the catalogue OF misdemeanors
Miners Laws Differ.
1.-THE mining laws as established by the
miners are slightly different from those
of the United States or Canada: in fact,
they differ for different gulches,'' the re-
port says.
Generally the claim is 800 feet for gulch
diggings, from rimrock to rimrock, but in
some guches that do not pay well enough
with small diggings, an effort Is being
made to stake claims 1920 feet long. On
the other hand, creeks which are becoming
crowded are staked 300 feet to the claim
No one man is allowed to stake more than
one claim in his own name, with the ex-
ception of the discoverer, who is allowed
loo feet instead of 500. If more than one
miner made the discovery, still only the
amount of an extra claim Is given to the
discovery claim.
1.-The only officer in the republic of min
ers is the recorder appointed by popular
vote one in each gulch or creek. He Is
without executive power his duties con-
sisting in recording the names OF claimants
ard the location of their claims, Tor Wnlch
he receives fee established for the par
ticular gulch in which he holds office. Inc
amount generally received is - for every
claim registered.
1.-The law provides that for the month of
July the miner must do assessment work,
as it is called and, failing this, the claim
is once more thrown on the market
Title by Proxy.
I'm case miner is prevented from doing
this work himself his title may be hela
good by proxy So it happens very often,
when man goes out of the country Tor the
winter, that he hires some man to take his
Lot, 4, ,r-r th, m
month.
These are the placer laws, as applied In
the American territory. Those which are
beginning to be enforced. on the British side
of the ilne and are cEoUdfng out the ones
formulated by the mipers. are the reguia-
lions already in force in other parts OF
Canada and British Columbia. The laws
governing quartz claims IN all parts of the
territory are the same as the quartz mining
laws in the states. 90
1T will be seen that, we, have here So
ciety in the first stages Of formation. Up
to this time the people, have governed them
selves, and have done SO very well; but
there will come time when the need for
has appreciated this need, and has sta
toned a garrison at Fort Cudahy to main
tain law and order in her possessions. On
the American side the miners still frame
their own laws
Two customs inspectors are stationed at
Circle City, but they, are, the only repre-
sentatives of the United States in the in
terror. With closer Connection with the
home government, through some civil or
military representative. the better protec-
ton would have an important economic
effect
In Mr.. Becker's report he states that
Berlng strait is so extremely shallow that
further rise of the country Of less than
300 feet would connect the continents of
Asia and America
He states further in regard to the gold
fields:
First Discovery of Gold.
TT should be noted that the first discov-
cry Of gold in Alaska was made in 1878 by
P. p. Doroschin. He found auriferous
sands on the Kaknu river, the grains being
coarse toward the source, In region not
far from Resurrection creek. The miners
on the Bear assert that the gravels have
been worked to some extent before; that
they find old pick points deep in the ground
Late in August, 1880. fresh finds were
made, particularly ON Canyon creek and
Mills creek. The miners at the new dig
gngs are said to have made over 5000
cay and many slightly worn nuggets were
obtained.
THE richness of the new washings slim
re gion, and pay gravel was found on Resrr-
reotion creek and elsewhere. A rush TO
this region took place in 1885, and, while
good diggipgS were found not enough
auriferous gravel was discovered to supply
the needs of the influx of miners, and great
disappointment followed. Had there been
enough gold for last years crowd twice
as large a one would have sought the
fields in 1897"