The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-08

Washington, Aug. THE report on
the Yukon gold region by Josiah Ed
ward Spur, the geological survey ex-
pert, who headed a party that made
a thorough investigation in Alaska last
summer, giving new facts about the
interior, was made public today. 1t is
comprehensive document and reviews
in detail the work in the various dis
tricts. 1t says as to the Forty Mile
gold district, that in the latter part of
1887 Franklin gulch was struck and the
first year the creek is estimated to have
produced $4,000. Ever since, it has been
constant payer.
GOLD IS NUGGETY.
The character of the gold there is
nuggety, masses of So weight being
very common. The yield of the first
year after the discovery of Forty Mile
has been variously estimated at from
$4,000 TO $3.50, 000, but 100000 probably
covers the production.
The discovery of Davis creek and a
stampede from Franklin gulch followed
the spring of 1888.
In 1891, gold mining in the interior,
as we'll as on the coast of Silver Bow
boS41l 14CclQ0 lSSClNCQ d s3ACcil
impetus. The event of 1892 was the dis
c0very of Miller creek. In the spring
of 1898, many new claims were staked
and it is estimated that so men took
out 100000.
Since then, Miller creek has been the
heaviest producer of the Forty Mile
district. and until recently, of the
whole Yukon. Its entire length lies in
British possessions. The output for
1898, as given by the mint director, for
the Alaskan creeks, all but Miller
creek being in American possessions,
was S19S, eco, with a mining population
of 1856. The total amount produced by
the Yukon placers in 1894 was double
that of the previous year. In 1895 the
output was doubled again.
Forty Mile district, in the summer of
1896, is described in the report as if it
had seen its best days and unless
several new creeks are discovered it
Will lose its old position.
The Birch Creek district was last
summer in a fiourishing condition. Most
of the gulches were then running, min
ers were running on double shifts,
night and day, and many large prohts
were reported.
On Mastodoan creek, the best pro-
Queer, over so miners were at work,
many expecting to winter in the gulch.
As to hydraulicing the report says:
HYDRAULICING.
''Some miners have planned to work.
this and other good ground supposed to
exist under the deep covering of moss
and gravel in the wide valley of the
Mammoth and Crooked creeks, by
hydraulicing, the water to be OBJ
tanned by tapping Miller and Masto-
doan creeks near the head 1t will be
several years before the scheme can
be operated, because both gulches are
paying well, and will continue to do so
at least for five years"
Following is the report on the Klon-
dyke district:
with the announcement of gold here
In the winter of 1867 there was
genuine stampede TO the new region.
Forty Mile was almost deserted. The
$50 men spent the winter on the Klon-
dyke in the gulches and at the new
town of Dawson. The more important
parts of the district are ON Bonanza
and Hunker creeks. According to the
attest information 400 claims nave peen
located up to Jan. l, 1897, about half
IS many on Hunker creek. There IS
plenty of room for many more pros
oectors and miners, for the gulches and
creeks which have shown good pros
oects spread over an area of 700 square
niles.
ESTIMATE FOR 1896.
The estimated Alaskan gold produc-
ion for 1896, made by the Spur report,
5 81, 400 060.
The report points out the difficulties
n the way of speedy development of
he country First, the climate, with
short summer season and long, cold
winter. Prospecting is done N the
winter more and more and the miners
ire thus able to begin work with the
irst spring thaw.
Whatever Alaska may be in the fu-
ure. Il is not now self supporting az
Moose and caribou are
-ariabIe in quantity-abundan one
ime and disappearing from the region
or y months at time. Ten dollars
day is the general wages paid, $12
or a day of ten hours being paid in
ONE of the more remote gulches. In
he winter the price for labor IS So to
8 per day of six hours. Many times
he miners have been at the point of
tarvation: hardly a winter they have
lot been put on a short ration basis. /
suffrage is given and all have
n equal vote. Penalties include: For /
tealing. Punishment from the country, |
lso whipping; threatening with Wea- !
here have been. no murders so far
MINING LAWS.
The mining laws differ for different I
ulches. Generally the claim is for 500 {
set fer gulch diggings from rimrock 1
, rimrock, but in one gulch not pay (
lg we'll an effort is being made to !
take claims 1920 feet long. Crowded I
reeks are staked 500 feet to the claim
nd no man is allowed to stake more
IAN one claim in his own name, save
ne discoverer, who is allowed 1000 feet
lstead of 500.
The only officer in the republic of
liners is the recorder, appointed by
opular vote.
More Police to be Sent.
ottawa, Ont, Aug. AT meeting
, the cabinet decision was arrived