Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-26
THE RIVER SPREADS.

Vessels that have been lying in
comparative idleness, or at the mos
saunierlng with no particular objective
point ahead, along the Pacific coast
arc being put in commission aud pre-.
pairing to make trips northwari ns
rapidly as possible. These craft are
much more numerous than would
have been thought a month ago, as 1t
seems quite probable there will In o
short time be regular fleet OF them
plying between Seattle and Juneau or
st. Michaels, but tbs number
Ia nowhere near adequate to
tho demand. Every vessel that
leaves port is chartered up to its
full capacity some time before it is
ready to 90, and 1t is safe PROPOSE.
ton that were the carrying ability ten
times ns great as 1t is there would still
be none to spare.
This state OF sffsirs prevailing at 81
late time In the season, what is to be
prefigureL for the more propitious per.
iod, beginning about the middle or
latter part OF next Msy2 II thousands
want to, and will II they can, so now
only to arrive sb.ut the time
the season IL closing and
with certainty OF not more
than a months good work to rely on
till next year, 1t is rsnso nable to con.
clude that those who are holding back
for the coming year can he counted up
by tens of thousands, always provided
the crazs does not suoside In the
meantime. These latter will find that
they have bsen sensible against their
will for once at least, as even though
their minds are 30 fixed on the frozsn
north that they are incapable OF at
tending business where they are, they
are awaiting the settlement OF the
question OF co ntinuity In quarters much
more hosptable than can BIS found
anywhere within the Arctic circle or
near 1t.
There is an abundance OF gold in
the KloDdyke country; all doubt OF
this Ia at rest. 1t may also be believed
with good gr unds that there is con-
siderable elssw here in the frozen zone,
as not little has been extracted from
the earth on the American side OF the
lice which separates Alaska from
British Columbia. More tn an this, II
has been found contiguous to the
coast where the rigors OF the eight
months winter season are not
quite 80 pronounced as at the scene OF
the present excitement. AS 10 how
extensive the finds are In any OF these
plsces, nothing but hard, continuous
work can determine; one thing, how
ever, being pretty we'll settled
Klondyke up to date leads all lists (
reports are anywhere near true.
The trip by the Yukon river, II
made much later in the year than this,
will have to be on sledges or some
such cOntrivancs, as early in the fall
1t begins to freez, and shortly after is
| practically solid mass OF ice
from source to mouth. 1t Ia one
Of the most crooked streams ON earth,
so much as that the Traveller upon 1t
from st. Michael to Kiondyke covers
900 miller, while the crows flight
would bs less than half that distance
The mouth OF the stream is nearly lOC
miles north OF the seal islands OF the
BsFiug sea and about twice as ial
south OF the Arctic circle, yet IL MOI
only enters this region but traverses II
for some distance about half way
from ST. Michael to the diRgings
Those who are not naturally hardy
accustomed to privstions ami equipped
in the most comprehensive manner
had better keep away from there I'll
next year at Least; ovsn then they vii
find 1t an uninviling, sterile. E-rc
place to get along in.