The evening times., 1897-07-24


tie air il thick with mining terms and
s.echemes"
All former hohbies have given way to
this latest conner. The cranks who used
TO ask you il Its hot enough for you?
inquire inssessd ''if you're going up theTe
and get rich?" The baseball fiends, IN
lieu of discussing the pennant race enter
with equal ardor into the subject OF min
ing and rich strikes" Every scrap oil
news from the new FL Dorado is seized
mon with avidity and earnestly discussed.
Men who a week ago scoffed at the won
derful tales of returned prospectors are
now only roo eager TO get TO the goldfiebls
No one seems to entertain the chance OF
failure. and the ideas OF fabulous fortune
which the ma iority nourish are likely 10
rilay sad havoc with their usual content
lncnt. The only thing vi hich is keeping
these embryo miners at home, however,
is the Lack of funds Very few seem to
possess any other wealth than that which
they receive in their weekly pay envelopes.
and the woods are full of those who are
looking for angels to 'grub-stake"
them
Very few of the men know anything or
the nature OF tbe country to which they
are eager 70 go, nor do they seem 20 have
the slightest knowledge OF the conditions
under which gold is usually found ne or
two. however. who are determined to leave
tue CITY as SooI. as they can make salts
factory arrangements have been spending
their time atthe National Museum studying
quartz and making inquiries as To 'l0des'
and the manner ia which mining is done
There are men in Washington at present
whose advire and knowledge VIII prove
OF vast benefit 10 all parties starting out
for the KloHdike. They have endured all
the vicissitudaS adventures and hardships
3f a similar excitement, and therefore speak
with the knowledge of practical expert
ence.
Among these is Mr. Henry Brock, OF
Brocks Hotel, on Capito, Till. Mr.. Brock
was among the first 70 leave for California
when the news OF its new-fOuRd riches
reached the East, and remained at the dig
Sings for almost ten years Nlr. Brock
considers the geld fields of A lsska to be
alnost lifEitiess, but at the same time de-
tlares that failure viii meet The cndeavors
OF the ma jority Of those who 90 there.
1T has been my experience. he said
THAT enc nan will strike il rich, where
five thousand fail to succeed. This Is not
the fist time thai I have heard OF gold
in tEat part of the country. In 1858,
while ia California. my partner determined
t. try his fortunes at the newly foand dig
gings on the Frazier River I had made
al arrangements to accompany him. but
,s-ar.I
inquiries an over California as to my where
abouts. 1 determined TO go home and see
item before l went. Not long after J
arrived East, I saw my friend. He had
been eompeIled to return home on account
OF having his canoe overturned. and as al
his Possessions were lost in the river he
was forced to Gesist He secured additional
funds, however, from his folks, and re-
turned 10 Alaska, meeting with great sue
cess. The place 70 which he went is very
near the Klondike, and was very richin ore.
The great trouble lay in mining It, The
ground, TIE climate, and scarcity OF food
deferred most men from going TO that
land
The conditions in California were differ
ent from those confronting the men who
now 90 20 Alaska. There we hacthe most
salubriot;s climate In the world Food
and meat were to be had in abundance
Thousands OF buffalo rOaned abort, TO be
had for the shooting In addition deer and
antelope abounded in the mountains, their
flesh suppl FinC us with sust enance. theskins
with protection But how different the
klondike country Is. No vegetation. no
ueat. No beauties OF landscape are there
to greet the eye. Always a monotonous
blaekness and a killing cold
NO man should leave for such a place |
unless he is Of hardy constitution and |
fun of grit A man without nerve is |
LOST amid such scenes. Obstacles OF every |
sort viii confront him. He viii be com |
PEELED to pay the most exorbitant prizes |
for his bare living. In many cases ne will /
be compellcd to live on dog meat. Nv adj |
vice TO any man contemplating Journey |
TO tie mines is to go well prepared Let |
him be SO fixed financially that he can |
bear the expense incident TO his Journey /
and his living until he finds work Good. |
stout clothing and heavy underwear. Of
COURSE. are Indispensable Above all let /
him take a liberal supply OF quinlne. 1t |
VIII prove Invaluable in such a cold place
MANY a poor devil who leaves for /
opulenoe, VIII find but failure in It's stead |
Mining history is but a record OF such dis
results"
At the depots and ticket offices of the va
riOus railroads but little account is taken
or the prevailing excitement A number of
men have made inquiries as 10 what it will
cost TO get 10 Seattle, but up to the pres
ent time. no one has left the city. The
nearest steamboat line by which it is DOS
sible TO reach the State of Washington is
&C Philadelphia and runs by way of the
great lakes. The journey overland costs
about S65. There seems to be no ipdica- |
ion that cut will be made nor have the
ocal railway officials heard OF such an
action being contemplated.
District Passenger Agent Hece. of the
Baltimore and OHIO road, remarked TODAY
HAT he was not in favor OF any reduction
n the present rates.
III We Offered extra Inducements 10
reach Alaska, " said he, 1T would onl y tend
20 bring misery. The boats cannot carry /
hose ALREADY at the coast ,andif additional |
carloads OF men were brought out it would
De barbanous. They would be compelled
% remain in Seattle. and as there wouldb be
thousands OF newcomers the majority
would not Doe able TO secure any employ
nent In the meanwhile, with the res,ilt
nat the most terrible privations would en-
me.
mo, ft isn't strange that no additional
teamers have heen put in to service This
raze turst upon the country In a day,
ma the transportation companies were
lot Justified in ng their money until