The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-09
RICH CLEAN-UPS ON THE YUKON
Mining Districts the American Side Coming
Steadily TO the Front.

IIPON che point the returning KloadiA-
IL ers-or az least these q them who
~ came oa,k by way ~ 81 Michael ard
ina down river v0ute-are agreed and
tA2t IS that the American side now offers
the best opportunities that can aa found =
the northern country. A. matter ~ fact
there has not been q discovery Of any m
portance made In the n.onilke district
ta.s summer. The mUch-a3Hertised stew
arr river has 80 Tar proven 4, complete
fa.lure--except for hunting purpoSes-ana
y has been pretty thoroughly prospc>ted
during the past season by men with high
hopes and with determination 20 success!
Mere such 4 thing possible.
No one w2N d, ny the IA tulous riches 81
some thirty claims on EJdora&o. an equal
number on upper Bonanza. ANA of certain
claims on bunker. but II IS row known
that with three or four exceptions The
creeks that were staked in she various
stampedes iast winter are practically
worthless, and claims located upon them
are now unsuitable AZ any price.
Discoveries on American side
The principal discoveries made during
the past season nave been made upon
American territory.
The writer spent six weeks al Circle f'ity
on trip down the Yukon from Dawson
to 81. Michael during the present summer.
and visited all Of the camps along the
river in Alaska. Prior 10 the klondike
excitement Circle WAS the banner mining
camp Of Alaska and The whole Northern
country.
Birch creek-upon the tributaries of
which the precious metal is founa--corre-
spends 10 the kiondike river. The mines
sixty miles from the town and river.
ana while tue trail : fairly good. Il runs
through a low tmbered country. aud the
mosquitoes during the months of July ana
August are simply i1doscG!ba bic, How
ever. once the mines are reached. the mos
quite pest Is abated. as they are located
al a higher altitude and the open nature
Of the country gives the wind free play.
Mastodon creek - the great producer OF
the Circle City district Other creeks are
probably fully As rich, bat they Awe uot
been 80 thoroughly developed But the
riches of Mast0don have been thoroughly
proven. and NcEe L located n the much
advertised klondike. ii would have a much
greater reputation taau u has al the pres
ent time. As it IS. however. i employed
about $50 men steadily during the past
summer Il SO per day per man. Some OF
the n-ne owners on this creek employed
as high as sixty men and worked Nhat
would be called IN this country nigh, and
DAY shifts although the word ngat Is 4
missioner Waen applied TO that portion
day between sunset and sunrise. ana
where photographs can ne taken At mid
night without the ali II artificial Light.
Seine Rich CIean-Ips.
AS 10 The individual profits of mine own
ers in this section. that s a more difficult
matter 10 get 1t. Connclia and Gregor.
JOINT owners of claim OH Masio5on. are
known 10 have taken out $1,000 over and
above exp nses this summer. other own
ers have taken out fully as much. aud the
Gums have taken out more
on the river steamboat Yukoner, which
made The trip from Dawson 10 ST. Michael
the first week OF last month. was IA quiet.
gentlemanIy, unobtruSiVe young fellow,
accompanied by a friend and a couple OF
valises which were very heavy and which
they took very good care OF. The young
fellow WAS George Herman. half owner OF
claim on Mas,0don. He had been In the
country six years and stated o the writer
that he had become 80 accustomed 20
\ a:ska that he felt that IL was his home
and that ne was merely making a visit.
The writer well rems mbers calling on
Herman at his cabin on the Mastodon dur
ing the latter part OF July and finding him
busily engaged In drawing out particles
OF black sand from gold dust spread out
on the table before him, and with sh-
pan about two-thirds full OF the mate
risf' az hand 10 work on. II would be
safe t. say that Herman Is worth in the
hundreds Of thousands, all taken out OF
And yet this work has been going on
without any blowing of trumpets and few
outside or circle knew Of the existence Of
MaStodon creek. Miller creek. Deadwood
and Others OF similar character in that
vicinity. on thu latter creek are any
number OF claims that are known 10 be-
worth $40 per day 10 the man during the
working season, that are not considered
worth working unGer present conditions
Of course these--as IS the case with most
Il the Circle city mines are summer dig
gings. hut are also prospects that can be
worked by winter drifting Burning has
so far been found 70 be unnecessary in
this sect on.