Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-21
THE NEW Ell DORADO
DIR. DALI, At WASHINGTON,
KNOWS ALL ABOUT 1T.
REPORTS not EXAGGERATED.
Reason Why the GoId-Fields should
lie Particularly Rich-HOw tho
Mining L. Done-Unusun1 Methods
Country Uuinviting.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., July o--Dr. WILL
liam II. Dan. one OF the curators Of the
National Museum, Is familiar with the
country in which the Klondyke gold-felds
are located. through having been on seve-
raj geological expeditions to the region
in Alaska adjoining the gold district and
says that In his opinion the reports from
there are probably not exaggerated. He
says:
"When 1 was there l did. not find gold,
but l know Of its being taken out in
profitable quantities for fifteen years or
more. 1t was first discovered there In
1866. In 1880, when was in that coun-
try my last trip being made two years
ago, a party of prospectors, who make
mining a profit. started out. The gold
is found on the various tributaries OF tho
Yukon, and / have been within COM
paratively short distance OF the Klondyke
fields. made one trip to Circle City,
lust over the boundary of Canada.
1.-THE gold-bearing belt Of Northwestern
America contains all the gold-fields ex-
tending into British Columbia, what Is
known as the Northwestern territory.
and Alaska. The Yukon really runs
along in that belt for 800 or coo miles,
The bed of the main river Is in the low
land OF the valley.
"The yellow metal Is not found In pay
ing quantities in the main river. but In
the small streams which cut through the
mountains on each side. These practi-
~
mineral matter are carried into the main
river. while the gold is left on the rough
bottoms of these side streams. In most
cases the gold lies at the bottom OF thick
gravel deposits. 1t is covered by frozen
gravel I'm the winter. During the sum-
mer, until the snow is all melted. tho
surface is covered by muddy torrents.
When the snow is melted and the syringe
begin to freeze. the streams dry up. Az
the approach of winter In order TO get
at the gold. the miners find 1t necessary
to dig into the gravel formation.
Formerly they stripped the gravel on.
until they came TO the gold. Now they
sink a shaft to the bottom of the gravel.
and tunnel along underneath, in tho
! gold-bearing layer.
AGENCY OF FIRE.
"The way I'm which this is done Is In
teresting. as il has 10 be carried on IN
cold weather, when everything Is frozen.
The miners build fires over the area III
which they wish to work, and keep
| these iighted over that territory for tho
soaco of about twenty-four hours. AT
the expiration of this period, the gravel
will be melted and softened to depth
of perhaps six inches. This Is then
takon off. and other fires are built, until
| the gold-bearing layer Is reached. When
! tho shaft Is down that far. fires are built
AZ the bottom. against the sides OF tho
! laver and tunnels made I'm this manner.
| Blasting would do no good, owing 10
| the hard nature OF the material IL
would blow out. just as out OF gun
| The matter taken out containing the
! cold IS uiled up until sprirg. when the
torrents come down. and Is then panned
and Graded. 1t is certainly very hard
labor.
"I see many reasons why the gold
fields should be particularly rich. The
streams which cut through the noun
tains have probably done so Tor centu-
ries. wearing them down several nun
dred feet and washing OUT the gold into
the beds and gravel
1T Is a country in which 1t is very
hard IN find food. ms there Il practi-
cally no game Before the whites went
into the region there were not moro
than 200 natives. They have hard work
TO support themselves, owing TO the
scarcity of game"
I.AND-OFFICES ON THE YUKON.
WASHINGTON. July 20. - Commits
sloner Hermann, OF the General l'ahu
Office. stated to-day that he VIII re-
| commend the establishment OF two land
districts I'm Eastern Alaska, the TWO
oaices TO be placed on the Yukon river,
or its tributaries. i'm anticipation Of
great number OF contentious over mine
raj land locations in various sections
where the gold discoveries have beeh
made He says that where the place
e. practically without law, the local OF
aces will be of infinite value TO the
land interests. and indirectly to the pre-
| servation of law and order. The offices.
II is believed. will be located at circle
Citv and Dawson. The general land or
fee is in hourly expectation OF petitions
and requests from some such action
EXCITEMENT CONTINUES.
| SAN FRANCISCO. July D.-The ex-
/ element over the recent discoveries or
/ ,,old i'm Alaska stil continues here, ana
n,hen the steamer Excelsior leaves TOR
| 81 Nlichaei's next Sunday she VIII carry
| an the miners supplies she can hold.
! ,rba Excelsior will be the last vessel 10
sail from San Francisco this year o
| connect with the Yukon steamers opt
here is already talk Of chartering an an
other steamer to take up miners. ,, no
edditlonal news from the gold heias VIII
he received until the steamers leaving
bere and Seattle return.
IT the Baby Il Cutting Teeh