The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-07-29
NORTH YAKIMA. WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JULY 90 1897.

| the nortn. lnere are iouf oil these creeks,
Mastodon, Independence, Deadwood and
Boulder, each varying in length from six
to ten miles, which are known to be very
rich. A number OF small tributaries OF
these streams contain gold in paying
quantities. Mastodon has so far been
the largest producer, owing to the fact
that II WAS the first to be discovered and
worked. On more than . dozen other
creeks and gulches paying prospects have
been obtained and claims located.
Wages at the mines during the summer
months are ten dollars q day, and claim
that does not yield that amount will not
pay to open. From the middle of Janu-
airy until the last Of April is the most
favorable time to prospect, which is done
by sinking holes and burning timber in
them to thsw the ground out down to
bedrock, without being troubled with
water. Until the snow leaves it costs 10
cents a pound to have supplies freighted
out to the mines which is done with dogs
hitched to sleds. Each dog will pull an
average Of 200 pounds and travel Is miles
day. A number of men who have been
in the country for several years, have their
own dogs to help them along in the hard
work Of getting their provisions Of about
800 pounds to the mines for the season 3
work.
There are difficulties in the way OF
prospecting and mining in this region
unknown to any other. Nearly the
whole surface OF the country is covered
with thick coating OF moss and decayed
vegetation underneath, which never
thaws. After it 10 removed the hot sun
OF the long summer days and the run
ming water will soon thaw the ground
out down to bedrock. The troubles of
the miner do not end with this. During
two months OF the year the air is 80 full
OF mosquitoes as to often darken the sun,
| and they are 80 annoying as to make the
life of prospector almost burden.
Men have been known to be driven al
most to the verge Of insanity by these
blood sucking little insects. Smoke will
not drive them away and only a strong
wind will permit one to have q respite
from their attacks. At Forty Mile and
above they are not very troublesome.
The country there is dryer and less
swampy.
This land of the midnight sun In sum.
mer, gets very cold during the winter.
II ffoze up solid on the river the 10th OF
October last year, and from then until
December "a, the mercury ranged from
ten degrees above to twenty, forty and
| fifty degrees below. On the 28th it went
to sixty-eght degrees, the lowest point
reached during the winter. Men get
gradually accustomed to the cold, and q
number were out prospecting during all
this time seeming to enjoy rather than to
suffer from It. 1t is a still, cold atmos
phere that prevails while the cold wealth
er lasts and the wind seldom blows.
Berries grow in abundance in this
region. High and low bush cranberries
oiO 'ouhu WhCtOb piuOoCifiCp,
raspberries and wild currants are found
to be plentiful in many localities. There
is very little game IN this part of the
country. Five or six moose is all that
has been brought in, little of which
was offered for sale, and quickly disap.
peared at twenty-five cents pound.
There are four steamers plying on the
Yukon which bring up supplies during
the summer from st. Michaels. One is a
small steamer and intended for use only
on the upper portion OF the river above
Forty Mile. 1t Is 1850 miles down to the
mouth OF the Yukon and eighty from
there to ST. Michaels. The steamers
make three trips during the season, be-
ginning with the first OF June and end.
ing by the first OF October.