The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
William 0gilvie Describes the
Great Gold Fields.
RICHEST THE WORLD KNOWS.
More Millions Than Can Be Es-
timated Waiting to Be Mined.

Gold, Describes the Various Routes Into
tho Placer Fields, Tells How to Locate and
work n Claim. and neeounts tho DIsnd-
vnntaEes and DinicuitIe.. ne well M the
Advantages and Promises. or the Great
CountrS-stories or Good Luck and had
Luck. strikes and hosses-sore EHomestakes
Thnn Any Other District ~Known-ouarts In
siEht-A Fascinating and Complete story.
mfr. William ogilvio, F.. II. G.. s.. who for years
has bcen employed principally in the explora-
ton OF tho vast north land of Canada, and
IN conceded to be the greatest living authority
upon all matters concerning tho far northern
portion of America, has very recently returned
from Dawson City. Ash o has been on tho spot
and seen with an experts eyes tho birth and de-
velopment of the Klondike district, as well as
the discoveries at Forty Mile and Birch Creek,
which in a manner led up to tho opening Of
Bonanza and FL Dorado. his views. based upon
personal observation, coupled with scientific
knowledge. must at the present time possess n
double value. What he has to say as to the
Yukon country generally, the several routes
giving ingress to it, its natural resources and
mineral formation, as we'll as the glimpses
which he permits Of the life OF the miners at the
fever period of the rush. are presented here.l
GETTING INTO THE YUKON.
To make n commencement Of the subject. we
will assume that we want 10 visit tho Yukon
country. may say that l object to the uso OF
the name Klondike. because that is so small a
portion of the territory We havo up there in the
Yukon region. in comparison with which the
area Of the Klondike is an Insignificant guam.
tity; and nearly all that vast stretch Of country
has yet to be prospectcd. l will first introduce
you to the several routes into this collaborating
region which are now known.
Leaving Victoria by any one of the steamers
which run from here. we make our way through
the well-known Seymour Narrows, taking care
to time the passage to reach there at a suitable
stage of the water, for 1t is we'll known that no
ship can so through except Mt either high or low
tide because Of the terrible current at other
stages. In a few days, according to the capacity
of the steamer. VIC reach Port Simpson. the most
northcrly seaport in British Columbia or Canada
on the Pacific Ocean.
II VIC wish to make our way further in British
bottoms, we can here take the river steamers
and proceed from Port Simpson to Wrangel, it
being about 40 miles from tho former point to
the mouth Of the Stickeen River; proceeding up
that river about 100 miles, or perhaps n little
less distance, as will be found when tho surveys
or, made for tho proposed railway facilities.
That distance occupies sixty hours or more.
From the head Of the Stickeen the road would
follow through an undulating country which
p 'cscnts no serious obstacles to railway con-
struction. and for the greater part of the dis
tanco Of $50 miles is pretty well covered with
t mber. Mr.. W. T. Jennings. c. e., who lately
mado an examination of that route for the
Government, gave me some notes on it, and
asked INC to say that the natural food supply
for horses or cattle, rs he saw it, was not more
than sufficient to feed II couple OF hundred head.
Any greater number would soon crop it bare.
Those contemplating entry by that route may
lake his MS n warning and carry with fham a
sufficient quantity of food to obviate any risk in
this directiom, otherwise the consequences may
D. serious. The surface consists OF low, sandy
ridges. intcrspersed with swampy ground. tho
passage OF which is difficult for pack animals.
duce our whipsaws and commence to get out
lumber for our boats. Now. MhipsnwinG has
aud when two are doing that work II is noces.
sary for success that one shall push and the
case with the tenderioot, both either pull or
push. there is likely to be some inquiry from The
man who is above as to what the other fellow is
doing, and there may be some unconplimcntury
language INDUCED in. and the man below may
ask his partner to come down and have It out.
And II tho man below gets a grain Of sawdust
in his eye in the progress OF the quarrel there
Will be quite n sulphurous atmosphere around
there for some time.
DOWN TIE TEsLIN LAKE.
After a while. though, in spite of these dim.
cultios. the boat will be finally got ready. and
then commences the trip down the Teslin Lake,
which is eighty miles long and bounded on both
sides by high mountains. This lake takes its
name from that OF II large fish that is found in
It's waters. The Teslin-touh. which discharges
tongue the Tcslin River" and to call it thu
the proper rendition being 1'cslin River. The
Hootalinqua. or Tcslin River, is about l25 miles
confluence with the Lewis Of about 300 miles
by this route.
At two points only arc there hindranccs 10
navigation on this river. Ono OF them. re
ported TO mo IL short distance below the lake.
consists Of a number OF islands. with narrow,
1lln oh annals A Nya.n In TIM IN ~ . ~. tIn-a
is not moro than t. o and u half or three feet OF
water, through. but ms the bed OF the river is
than a couple of hundred yards. this could be
amended by opening the best channel and conccn.
The other obstacle is even less serious than
this. IT, is further do IN the river, and. as l un'
Of like Of rock running across tho river, some
what higher than The general bottom; In, low
wafer II is said q steamer, might touch this in
passing oyer it, but this also could be rumedied
easily and cheaply.
TAKU's LIVELY GLACIER.
leave you now at the mouth Of the Tcslin
A ana sS GaS Boat 10 10 MSFanEcl' T TSero Sss I bsoD IN IL
the last few months some talk in regard to u
p pn2 fsSh Fo w, by WAY riy OF Of r i inieti IN 1891
OF the country.
Taku Inlet Is about eighteen miles long, and
heads IN u glacier OF the same name, which IL
The snnmsr Q; 1898 i was camped for three
day the noise from rs discharges Of, Ice was like
salvos OF artillery, and often could be heard dis
tinctly Mt a distance of twelve or fifteen miles
IT. keeps the head OF the inlet almost %coptinu
ousiy ,iuli. OF ice. many pieces OF which are
veriiable %iccbcrgs. The tides and tho winds
play with these, and keep them drifting bach
an forth around tho head OF the inlet to such
an extent as to render y almost useless as {
harbor. Compared with this. IL seems TO mo tn,
celebrated Muir glacier is tame indeed.
visited 1t three times. and never saw 1t dis
charge any ice.
Taku, River. which emptics its waters into
TINS inlet about Two miles below the glacier
runs oyer II pretty wide valley. and is full o
sand bars that divide the waters into man;
streams. rendering it. somewhat doubtful 10
steamboat navigation. have heard it STATED
that ibis liver was navigablo for
but this is very questionable. During tn,
months OF June an! July an ordinary rive
steamer probably could make her way up TO tn
first torks some sixty m~,lcs.-but NJ further.
FROM the forks, the route from this inlet fol
lows tho left hand. pr NRkinah, branch. up pas
the mouth OF the Slocoh branch, Joining from
the west. and up which there Is n route owe
which the Indians travel to Tagish Lake, Tn,
Indians report this an easy route, with two low
SUBMITS TO cross; but 1t offers no distinct ad
vantage over the next two routes | notice.
hhout uievcn miles ahOyc The mouth of tn
E.ogol. wo leave the Nakinah and go up In