The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-25
THE ALASKAN BARNATO.
Joseph Ladue is the Richest of Iilondike's
Gold IIlngg.

Gold Klngg.
Joseph Ladue, who bids fair to be.
come Americas Barney Barnato,
knows more of the new land Of gold
than any other man. He is the found
er of and largest land owner in Daw'
son City. 1t was fifteen years ago
that he began his career as a fur trad
er in Alaska and the northwest terri
tories.
On August 81, 1896, he was the first
man to hear of the discovery of gold
in the new diggings. He started at
once for the scene and began prospect
ing. lie had money to back his judg-
ment and a perfect knowledge Of the
country. He staked out one claim, all
that the law allows, and he soon
bought cut twelve other claims.
Then he took a survey of the mouth
of the Klondike and YUKON Rivers,
and put in bid for the government
land thereabouts, and secured 17S
acres of it at 81 Is per acre. That
makes him the owner of thirteen
staked claims in the Big Bonanza, for
any one OF which he has been offered
$1,000 and has refused the offer.
His potential and practically assured
wealth, both as gold mine owner
and real estate owner, is certainly
beyond the dreams of avarice.' lie
is destined to be one Of the richest
men in the world-the American du-
plicste of Barney Barnato.
On June % last he mapped out
Dawson City, laying it out in sixty
foot avenues and markingit off in lots
of 1O0x5O feet. He has since been
selling these lots rapidly at $4,000
piece. His real estate operations in
Dawson City would alone make him
many times a millionaire.
lie has written a book, to be pub
lished next week, full of information
and practical advice for those who in
tend to seek fortunes in the Yukon
gold diggings. It's title is ''Klondike
Facts" and it is copyrighted by the
American Technical Book company.
Advance sheets of this timely book
have been secured by The World
Mr.. Ladue tells exactly how Klon-
dixie claim must be staked out.
Throughout the district are numerous
small streams or creeks, running
through narrow valleys between the
foothills. The prospective miner de-
termires on which stream to hunt for
the precious metal, and, having made
lind" he stakes out his claim.
In stalking the claim the prospec!or
must not exceed 500 feet up and down
the creek, the general course Of the
valley. The width CT the claim Can
run from base to base Of the hills or
mountains. II there are no claims 10.
Gated on this particular stream, the
claim is known as the discovery
ctaim,' and the stakes are marked o.
TIE next claim staked as you proceed
up the creek is marked No. 1, as is the
next claim going down the stream.
There can be but two claims marked 1
on any one stream. The four stakes
being driven and each marked with
your own initials, and the letters NJ.
l.. (meaning mining location), you
must bound your claim with cross or
end lines, and then proceed within
sixty days to file the claim with the
governments recorder at Dawson
City. The recorder at present Is also
tine gold commissioners.
In recording, atfidavits must be
made that the claim is properly staked,
and date given, and that gold has
been found. The number of claim
must also be given, and if it is not the
discovery claim it must be mentioned
as, for Instance, No. l or No. 10 above
or below discovery claim" as the
case may be. Ii claim should be
staked before gold is discovered there
On, the prospector has sixty days in
which TO prosecute the search for gold.
II when this time has expired he is yet
unsuccessful, he can no longer hold
this claim, as the finding Of the metal
is absolutely necessary to the perma-
nent holding of tho claim.