Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-08
REPORT ON THE NEW Ell DORADO.
History of GoId-Mining on the
KIondIlke.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., August THE
report on the Yukon gold region by josiah
Edward Spur, the geological survey ex-
pert. who headed a party that made
thorough investigation in Alaska last
summer, giving new facts about the in
terror, was made public to-day. 1t is
n comprehensive document, and reviews
In detail the work In the various dis
tricts. II says, as TO the Forty-Mile
gold district, that in the latter part Of
1857 Franklin Gulch was struck. and the
first year the creek is estimated to have
produced 1900. Ever since 1t has been
a constant payer. The discovery Of
Davis Creek and a stampede from Frank
lin Gulch followed in the spring OF 1888.
In 1891 gold mining in the interior, as
well as on the coast at Silver Bow Basin
and Tredwell, received q great impetus.
The event of 1882 was the discovery Of
Miller Creek. In the spring Of 1893 many
new claims were staked, and 1t Is esti-
mated that eighty men took out 10000.
Since then Miller Creek has been the
heaviest producer Of the Forty-Mile Dis
trict, and until recently. Of the whole
Yukon. It's entire length lies In the Bril-
fish possessions.
The output for 1898. as given by the
all but Miller Creek being in American
possessions was $4,000. with mining
population Of 19G. The total amount pro-
duced by the Yukon placers in 1894 was
double that Of the previous year. In
1925 the output had doubled again.
Following is the report on the Klon-
dixie District: with the announcement
OF gold here in the interior in 1861,
there was a genuine stampede to the
region. Forty Mile was almost DESERT
ed. But $50 men spent the winter on
the Klondke. in the gulches, and at
the new town of Dawson. The more
important parts OF the district are on
Bonanza and Hunker Creeks. Accord
ing to the latest information, 400 claims
had been located up TO January ], 1881;
about half as many on Hunker Creek.
There is plenty of room for many more
prospectors and miners, for the gulches
and creeks which have shown good
prospects are spread over an area OF 700
square miles"
The estimated Alaskan gold produc-
ton for 1896, made by the Spur report.
is $4,000.
DIFFICULTIES.
Tho report points out the difficulties
in the way Of speedy development OF
the country. First, the climate, with
short summer season and long winter
Prospecting is hard, but travelling over
the swamp is easy and the miner Is
able to begin with the first spring thaw.
Whatever Alaska may be In the future,
It is not now self-supporting asricul-
turally. Moose and caribou are here,
but are variable in quantity, abundant
one time. and then disappearing from
the region for twelve months at time.
Ten dollars a day are the general wages
paid, $l2 for a day Of ten hours being
paid in some OF the more remote
gulches. In winter the price for labor
is s. TO 50 per day of six hours. Many
times the miners have been at the point
Of staryation; hardly winter when
they have not been put on ration
basis. Universal suffrage is given, and
all have an equal vote The penalties
include: For stealing, Punishment from
the country, also whipping; threatening
with weapons, the same murder. hang
ing-but there have been none so far.
The mining laws differ for the differ
ent gulches. Generally, the claim is for
SEQ feet for gulch diggings. from rim
rock to- rimrock; but in some gulches
not paying well, an effort is being made
to stake claims 1920 feet long. Crowd
ed creeks are staked 800 feet TO the
claim. and no man is allowed 10 stake
more than one claim I'm his own name,
save the discoverer, who is allowed .0O)
feet. instead Of 500 The only officer in
the republic OF miners is the recorder,
appointed by popular vote. one in each
gulch or creek.