The herald., 1897-08-30
Thousands of Miners Will
Not Reach KlOndike
SOME FRESH INFCpMATION
FROM ONE WHO WENT THERE TO
ASCERTAIN FACTS
j. G. Cooper Returns With News of
the Rush to the Gold Fields-A
Hard Winter

J. c. Cooper, proprietor of the Grand
Pacific restaurant on Main street, re-
turned yesterday from Juneau, where
he went month ago to gain information
preparatory to a trip into the Klondike
country, which he expects to make in
company with dozen others early next
spring. Mr.. Cooper spent five days in
Juneau, leaving there on the 22d inst.
During that time he saw enough to thor
oughly convince him that anyone is fool
ish to attempt the passage Of the noun
tains this winter.
When he left Juneau, Mr.. Cooper
states that there were between four and
five thousand people camped about that
city. In an interview with a Herald
reporter he said: while large number
Of those now at Juneau will doubtless
undertake to cross over to the klondike
before spring, it is my belief that not one
out of hundred will succeed in accom-
plishing the journey. They may be able
to push over the pass, but even then
their progress will be so impeded by
storms that they will be compelled to
camp somewhere along the lakes and
wait for more favorable weather. By
spring their supplies will have been ex-
hausted and they will find it necessary
to return for more provisions, only to
lose valuable time, while others who
have waited for more favorable weather
push on ahead of them.
"At present the snow which has fallen
in the mountains is so loose that it is
impossible to skid loads over it. By Feb
ruary crust will have formed and this
will not be so difficult Of accomplish
ment. During my stay of five days at
Juneau, four miners returned from
Dawson. They all brought back large
quantities of gold and gave glowing ac-
counts of the fabulous wealth of the
country. Three of the party will go
back to winter, but the other will wait
for spring.
Several new trails have recently been
opened up. The old trails have been
ruined by the constant travel over them,
which has worn them out at places
where they were cut around the sides of
mountains. Burros have hardly proved
success for freighting purposes. They
are all right in the mountains, but when
where the land is swampy, they mire
down, and once fast in the mud are un-
willing to exert themselves to get out,
but have to be lifted out by hand. Just
before I arrived a party started across
the mountains with a drove of forty
oxen. 1t is thought that they will prove
better adapted to the country"
Mr.. Cooper brought back a quantity
of gold-bearing quartz specimens which
were secured in the vicinity of Juneau.
This ore is low grade as compared with
that from the Klondike, and will run
from So to $50 per ton. The Treadwell
mine, operated by an English syndicate,
is running 240-stamp mill day and
night, and is erecting 900-stamp mill
close by. The Alaskan Mining and Mill
ing company is operating 120-stamp
mill.
The trip to Juneau was made by Mr.
Cooper with view to making observa
tions which will be of benefit to the par
ty which expects to leave early in the
spring. He has come back with store
of information about the country, the
routes of travel and the articles neces-
sary to be taken to insure the greatest
comfort on the journey.