New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
THE YUKON GOLD COUNTRY
MAN WHO SPENT MUCH TIME IN THE
RICH ALASKAN REGION TELLS
WHAT 1T is LIKE
STORES OF UNDEvELOPED TREASURES IN A
LAND DIFFICULT OF ACCESSIBLE CLIMATE
AND NATURAL FEATURES-HOW
THE MINERS LIVE


In 1879 there was issued in Seattle by the
Calvert Company, publishers a handbook
Guide to the Yukon Gold Fields" Its author
was V. Wilson. who had spent much time in
the region of which he wrote and who had
carefully observed the phenomena of the coun-
try and noted them for reference. His obser-
vations he recorded and published in the hand
book referred to, and interesting reading they
make in these days. when the eyes of the world
are turned to the Yukon River. In 1879 Mr..
Wilson recorded this prophecy of the Yukon
gold fields: "The next few years will see wagon
roads and trails through the Coast Range,
steamers on the lakes and upper river, and the
whole of the vast upper country will be made
accessible to the miner. Then hundreds will
flock there. and ten years will see a population
Of one hundred thousand people in the Yukon
basin. Then it's vast richness will become the
byword of the world, for it is a poor mans
country--nature has stored her treasure in
safe of ice with time lock which only opens in
the long sunny days of summer
This prophecy so boldly made two years be-
fore the world at large had heard of Clondyke
is already partially realized and promises an
even more ample fulflment in the future.
According to Mr.. Wilson. the trip to the gold
powers of endurance of the most hardy and ne
declares that only such can hope to succeed
Only with the most incessant toll, such as pack
ing provisions over painless mountains, towing
a heavy boat against a five to eight mile cur
rent over battered bowlders digging in the bot
tomless frost. sleeping wherever one may hap
pen to be when night overtakes him. fighting
gnats and mosquitoes by the million, shooting
seething canyons and rapids, and enduring for
seven months in winter bitter cold that ever
rises above zero and frequently falls to 40 de-
grees below, can the difficulties of the region be
surmounted. The climate is healthful, Mr.. Will
son SAYS in spite of the long and terrible win
ters and the summer months are delightful.
A REGION ABOUNDING IN GAME.
Mr. Wilson's book is especially interesting in
its description of the game with which he says
the region abounds. The upper country is full
of moose. bear, caribou and much smaller game.
In the summer the moose grow to weight OF
100 pounds, and have wonderful spread
of horns. while they furnish the principal
food of the Indians Great herds OF Arctic
reindeer also come as far south as the Yukon
in the severest winters. On the Clondyke River
the bears are sometimes so numerous as to
keen the Indians from going there when fish are
plentv Mountain goats mountain sheep, lynxes
and wolves are also plenty. The rivers Oh the
Yukon and Clondyke, he says. are full OF hsh Oh
many varieties, including whitefsh. trout lake
cod salmon Arctic trout, pike and suckers SO
that miners provided with gill nets need have no
fear OF starving.
Mr.. Wilson advises no man to think OF gong
to the Clondyke who cannot obtain at least
S4OO and his list Of necessaries contains the
usual number of tools and catalogue OF pro-
visions. He adds that not the least important
thing IN he taken Is a pair of snow glasses. as
without them attacks of snow blindness cannot
no prevented. Some miners have been driven
mad by these attacks
In tho land about the Yukon, says Mr.. Wilson.
tusks and bones and teeth of enormous size are
found and nearly the whole basin furnishes
some fossils The Indians. too, tell tales OF see
ing huge, wooly beasts with horns ike 'he
branches of trees, and they say that in winter
puffs of steam rise from their nostrils They
tell also of seeing some kind Of wonderful beast
whose legs on one side are longer than those on
the other.
The trading companies or the iukoh oi''iio'
have their headquarters at st. Michaels
Island The Alaska Commercial Company anu
tho North American Trading and Transporta-
ton Company do the bulk Of the business anu
hove large warehouses and stocks Of provisions
and tools The ice in the river seldom meits
before June !, and ships having carsoes Tor the
island cannot usually get there until ABOUT JUNE
% This makes the running season for the river
boats only little more than three months. as
ice forms again in the river by october l.
ROUTES TO THE GOLD FIELDS
The route followed by the miners after they