The record-union., 1897-07-28
THE CLONDYKE SITUATION.

The rush towards the Clondyke con-
tinues. but it must very speedily come
to an end for this season, since nature
will soon close her arctic gates against
travel. It is said that a new and open
route has been laid out for those who
go by the overland course, but even
then in the new mines winter will set
in by the middle of September with
such severity that working of the
placers will be quite impossible.
The news from the mines continues
of the same rosy character. That there
are exceeding rich placer deposits along
the upper tributaries of the Youkon is
no longer to be doubted. That these
streams are we'll lined with gold
secured by glacial action and by water
from their original storehouses in the
rock ribs of the mountains is positively
certain. That fortunes have been taken
from these placers by the fortunate few
is established, and that other fortunes
await uncovering is certain.
But taking the whole line of news
and giving it diligent study, while these
things are found to be true, and indi-
cate that even greater discoveries will
be made than any yet reported, it is
also disclosed that only the young and
the hardy, those whose physical ener-
gy, correct habits and bodily strength
equip them, are fitted to go out to the
mines for the purpose of digging and
washing for gold. There are in the
mining regions by this time as large
a bodysof men as there is provision for,
probably larger. Those who enter now
without food supplies for nine months,
and means with which to get out of
the country irrespective of what they
may earn in the region, viii be guilty
OF foolhardiness.
The warning to go prepared or go not
at all has been so much repeated by
the press that none can now plead ig-
norance of the physical conditions and
the obstacles to be encountered. 1t
would seem that about 5000 men are
now in the new mines. Some 300 of
these have been there from one to ten
years, and. of the whole number. about
one in five has made more or less mon
ey, the major portion counting their
gains in the thousands of dollars. The
others are still prospecting, or are la
boring for high'wages. or are possessed
of sufficient capital to wait until the
next open season, or they are engaged
in business and in speculation. But
the latter number is small.
There are a few in the new mines
who are already suffering, being with
out means to outfit themselves for
actual mining, or they are not qualified
physically TO do hard labor. It costs
a Iaboringt man not less THAI 81 30 to
So day to live at either of the new
mining camps, and ordinary wages for
skilled workmen range from SO to $15
a day. Unskilled labor receives about
a third less Provisions and clothing
rate high, and there is lack of essential
variety, notably of acid foods. and this
fact. it is feared, Will be productive of
much sickness.
Order. appears to be we'll preserved in
the camps, and no acts of violence or
lawlessness have thus far been report
ed, which speaks wen for the efficiency
of the Canadian officials and mounted
police.
The land passages to these mines are
very difficult for $50 miles OF the route.
For the remainder of the 600 miles they
do not appear TO be greater than are
those encountered in traversing mount
ain regions in California on foot. The
cold of winter is excessive, but fuel is
plentiful, and there should be no rea-
son for great suffering on account of
the frigidity Of the atmosphere If the
pioneers are warmly clothed.
The summing up of the whole matter
may thus be stated: The new mining
section is extraordinarily rich in gold
deposits in gravel along at least five
affiuents of the Clondyke and three of
the Yukon. The season for entry is