The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-16
ALASKA'S GOLD
Is andleas-Yukon District but Small
Part OF the TreRsnro-Ladsn LRnd-rtiCh
Streams Unexplored.

u Boundlesa-h ukoh Dtbtrlot put j" o"N''
Part OF the TreRsuro-Ladsn Land-NiCh
Streams UnsIplored.
CHICAGO, Aug. 15.-Charles T. Case.
graduate of the engineering depart
ment Of the University of Michigan, and
professional gold prospector for twenty
years, says there are other ileldn In Alas
lka as rich as the Klondlke diggings. He
has spent much time In Alaska, and In
discussing to-day the recent gold strikes,
said:
"The Yukon IS a wonderful river in
many ways and remarkable in the one
face that gold can be washed from the
sands OF all its tributaries. The true
source Of the Yukon Is Lake Kennieott,
which Is the head Of the west fork of the
Taheo river. and Lake Ketchum is the
head Of the east fork Of the same river
"These two lakes are only separated by
narrow portage from the northern
afIluents OF the Stlknle river, which falls
into the sea at the head Of Summer
Strait. nearly east from Sitka.
"The two forks are on either side OF the
Bald Mountains The west fork is about
1870 miles long from Lake Kennicott, to
where It Is united with the east fork.
Both receive several small rivers on their
way.
"The length OF the Tahco to Fort Sell
kirk, at the confluence of the Pelly, Is $50
miles. The length OF the Pelly to the
same point IS n little more than 800 miles,
AT Fort sellSlrk is Pinus contorta (the
true plno), which grows six to eight feet
high, which Is the most northern limit OF
tho pine in North America, From Fort
selklrl to the mouth Of White river Is
ninety-fve miles and thlrty-flve miles
further to the south OF Stewart ricer.
From the mouth Of Stewart river to
Dawson City Is slxty-Hve miles, or 6S5
miles from the true source Of the Yukon
to Dawson City,
More streams with Gold.
"Thls Is truly a country Of long dis
tance1. We are now at the scene OF the
greatest excitement known in the his
tory Of mining. but before we settle down
to the belief that all the gold Ia on the
Kiondike. let as prospect the streams
down which we have come, and by using
our pencil n minute we find that we have
traversel the Yukon G3b miles, passed the
Pelly, which Is 800 miles, and passed the
White and Stewart rivers, with lengths
1876 and 1856 miles, respectively. besides
many smaller streams 100 miles ana less
in length. or n total length OF TOvGrs, ag-
gregating 1900 miles ur more,
AN these streams contain gOld-not n
little, but much. True II N that these
strcams have not been prospcctcd to any
considerable extent but enough to dem
onstratc the fact that gold exists In all
these streams, and In paying quantities.
"some may ask, II gold exists on these
streams In paying quantities, why is II
not worked?' | will answer by saylnn
that prospectura have been carrying gold
out OF the upper Yukon country for many
years. When q PfosPect8F hHdH a good
thing he never Is In hurry 10 herald II
10 the world, believing II Is good enough
for him tn keep and some OF my best
plncorg have been known to only a few
untll that few had enriched themselves.
"Thc geological formation on the Pclly,
tfppor Yukon and other streams, Ia more
favorable for gold than about the Klon-
dixie, and believe the Klondlkc In only n
nero notice OF what ls to follow The
formation IN THE part OF the country In
| a mctnmOrphic Quartlte, with black
pronolltc dykcs and the necessary orup-
tive force for the deposition of mineral 10
everywhere apparent.
"From Fort yukon TO the entrance Of
the ltnmpnrlg, the Yukon ls very wide,
tortuoua. full of RluuEhi, Islands ana cut
offa which chnngns more or less every
year with fresh doposIt and dcnulntlon
VI material. In one place here tho river
IL q llttlr more than twenty miles wide,
Indians illrh secrets.
"Tho Tnnnnnh In the first river below
the RnmpnrtB Of any Importance This
river Is practically unoSporod but be.
llcyc It win prove the rlchest part Of the
great Yukon nyutom, II has not been
known VI a white man ascending further
than the Bates Rapids, ana iB nnvlgnblo
| 10 that point
"Thr Indians report II ns rapid, full VI
cascades und cnturnotR with high m0un-
tain bnnlH Tho indians have been
bringing large nuggets " gold out of thlH
stream Tor hnlf " century aud gold can
be banned frm the alIt near the june.
| ton with the yukon.
"Thc Indians In this section are fierce