The record-union., 1897-07-24


of disembarking at Juneau and await
ing another steamer for Dyea, the head
of navigation on this route to the Yu-
kon frontier The granting of the ap-
plication would have made it necessary
in all cases of all vessels clearing for
Dyea to give a special permit to the
deputy at Juneau in the case of each
vessel In order to obviate this diff
Guilty, the Secretary of the Treasury
constituted Dyea a SUPPORT of entry
This action was taken under authority
of the Act of March 10, 1896, which au-
thorizes the Secretary to establish sub
ports at such places in Alaska as he
may deem proper
Some objection was made by repre-
sentatives from the Pacific Coast to the
granting of application to permit Ca
madam vessels to proceed to Dyea, but
on full consideration of the question, it
was thought advisable by the Secretary
to exercise the right clearly given him
by statute to make Dyea a SUPPORT
thus relieving passengers from annoy
ance of Decentralization at Juneau and
awaiting other means of transportation
to Dyea.
The Canadian Government will be no.
tined immediately of the intention to
create a SUPPORT of entry at Dyea for
the benefit of British shippers of sup
plies for the gold. district Vessels carry
ing men, provisions and supplies will be
allowed to proceed past Juneau to
Dyea, where the supplies are to be put
into bond and shipped over the short
intervening stretch of United States
t0 he pyr;ti
dairy line, and thence to the Clondyke
fields
All of the Cabinet were agreed upon
the coruse to be taken. In the brief dis
clisslon over the matter, it was pointed
out that it was not only very neigh
borly action to take, but would be help
full to citizens of the United States as
well. Nine-tenths or therea bouts of the
men now rendezvoused in the gold belt
belong to this country, it was stated,
and failure to make the concession
might deprive our own citizens of needed
supplies. Beyond all this, it was init
mated that in case the privilege was de-
MED by this Government Canada might
take UP the matter, and by way of retail
iation restrict operations upon such part
of the gold fields as are on Canadian soil
to citizens of that Government
CAPTAIN HOOPER'S REPORT.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-Captain C.
H. Hooper, commanding the Behring Sea
patrol fleet, in report to the Treasury
Department dated Unalaska, July 9TH
says that the Alaska Commercial Com
pany's steamer Excelsior arrived at that
port on July 4th with about forty miners
from the Yukon district and about $780,
600 in gold bullion.
Continuing, he says: 1.-THE Excelsior
brings wonderful accounts of rich dis
coveries in the Clondyke or Reindeer
River, where fortunes are being made in
a few weeks. According to these re-
ports, nothing has ever been discovered
on the continent approaching it in rich
ness. The Clondyke is tributary of
the Yukon, a few miles above Forty
Mile, and is wholly within Canadian ter
ritory. Gold was discovered there last
autumn, and during the winter attracted
miners from all directions. 1t is said
that over 1000 men are located at Daw>
son, the principal town, while Circle
City, Forty Mile and other places are
nearly deserted. Owing to the sudden
influx of people, provisions were high,
but as far as / can learn there was no
actual suffering.
"Of the forty passengers on board re-
turning from these mines. it is said none
have less than $4,000 and some have as
high as $4,000. Others who have made
their pile are coming on the steamer
Portland. Two packages of coarse gold
one containing S120 and one S130, are
shown as the result of washing one pan
of dirt each. The principal mines are on
the Bonanza and Ell Dorado Creeks
small branches of the Clondyke, and ex-
tend in the aggregate sixteen or eigh-
teen miles. Being in the bed of the
river, the claims can only be worked in
the winter, when the out soil is frozen.
The pay dirt is melted by fires built in
the shaft, and the gold extracted by the
usual washing out process. A claim is
800 feet in the direction of the river
and from bank to bank, provided it
does not exceed 664 feet. The cost of re-
cording a claim is SO and the yearly
rental 500. Claims sold as high as
$50 900, and a still higher price has been
refused for others.