Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-03

sides IT'S mineral wealth, to invite In
short summer clouds OF mosquitoes
descend on the yellow land, Ike the
pestilence Of ancient Egypt. In the long
winter the cold Is so severe that mining
can only be carried on during the sun
shiny days. Yet Professor Spur tens
us in the accompanying statement that
this is a country which for placer mining
will exceed CALIFORNIA; palmiest days.
To gather the gold, however and wean
81 from the surroundings which nature
has placed Il. much valuable machinery
Is necessary.
So II will be seen that it is going to be
G hard fight the seeker Of wealth will
have who tries his chances with fortune
in the Yukon gold-felds. This IS what
Professor Spur says:
TO the Editor;
Much has been written Of late con-
corning the possibilities OF Alaska as
gold-produclng country. As matter OF
fact tho production Of gold present year
may be roughly estimated at S.W0VV;
this amount, however, comes from an
immense region OF half a million square
miles. or about one-quarter as large a.
the United States. OF the mines which
produce this gold. some are in the bed
rock. while others are placer diSgings
The bedrock mines are few In number
anl situated on the southeast coast,
which IS the most accessible part or the
Territory. The chief one is the great
Treadwel mine near Juneau, and there
are also important mines al Berner 8
bay. al the Island Of Unga and other
places. Most OF these mines, however
are in low-grade ore. and the production
is only made profitable by means OF care
full management and operations on a
al
The placer mines are those which occu-
py the most prominent place in the
ponular mind. since they are remote from
civilization, and in country about
which little Is known, and which Is,
on account OF this uncertainty, danger
ously attractive to the average man. ms
gold-producing country Of the interior Is
mostly in the vicinity OF the lukoh
river or Of some Of its immediate
tributaries The most productive dis-
trlcts hitherto have been the Forty
Mile District, which lies partly In
American and partly IN Bcitsh' territory
and the Birch Creek District, which lies
in American territory. Some gold digginss
are supposed 20 exist on Stewart river
and some gold has been shipped from the
Koykuk. During the latter part or the
past season digsinss were also found on
the Klundck and Indian rivers, near
Forty Mile.
Another place. concerning which there
have been many vague rumors OF boiu
causing a stampede Of many unprepareo
and UNITED men. IS the Cook Inlet coun-
try. which lies on the coast above the
mouth OF Copper river, situation remote
alike from the mines near Juneau ano
from the placer mines on the Yukon.
TWO THOUSAND MINERS.
Tn oil ,h,a immense country, over whicf
placer digging is carried on or has beer
carried on, / estimate that there are
about two thousand miners. These are
mostly IN the Yukon districts. These dis
tricts lie In a broad belt OF gold-producins
rocks having considerable Wldth, anl
extending In general east and west Of
rection for several hundred miles
Throughout this belt occur quartz VEN.
which carry gold. but SO far as yet founc
out the ore is OF low grade. and large
proportion OF the grades have been 50
hrol<en by movements in the rocks thai
thew cannot be followed For this reason
the mines in the bed rock cannot be woik
ed except on large scale with improved
machinery, and even such operations arr
Impossible until the general conditions o.
the country. in reference 10 trilnsporla
ton and supplies, are improved.
Through the gold-bearing rocks th'
streams have cut deep gullies and can
yons. ana in their beds the gold which wa
contained In the rocks which have beer
worn away is concentrated, 70 that from
large amount OF low-grade rock tner
may be formed IN places gravel sum
GENTLY rich IN gold 20 repay washing. Al
the mining which IS done in this country
therefore. consists In the washing out
these gravels.
Ia each gulch prospectors are az nbert
20 stake out claims not already taken
the size Of the claims being determine
by vote OF all the miners In each guich
according TO the richness Of the eraVel
The usual length OF a claim Is about ol
feet along the stream. and the total widt
~ On. sliieh-bed. which Is ordinarily mar