The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-03-16
KLONDIKE'S DARK SIDE.
e. LEROY pELLErIER WRITES vIvIDLY OF

f. LEROY PELLETIER WRITES vIvIDLY Oh
HIS OBSERVATIONS.
- the investor this region offers
pnLy advantages, but great care must
be- taken lest worthless properties be &C
quired.
Placer mining claims do not as a rule
offer much inducement to the large
operator for the reason that the probable
output is SO difficult Co estimate and for
the further reason that they can under
ordinary circumstances and by the usual
methods be- so quickly worked out
Owing TO the fact, however, that the
gold in these mines is held in the earth
by several feet of almost impregnable
ice, which, as stated before, must be
thawed out by A most laborious and slow
process, it is probable that many of the
mines will not have been thoroughly
worked out during the next five years.
i speak now of those already known to
be rich in gold deposits.
This thawing method is so expensive,
too, that ground which will not yield
$40 per day to the man cannot be work
ed except at a loss. 1t happens, there
fore that great areas of enormously rich
ground are being left untouched The
miners, while drifting about in the
gravel and bedrock, take out from time
to time pans of gravel, thaw it in their
cabins and wash the gold out, so that
they may see how it is running. If the
pay streak seems TO be giving out In the
direction in which they are working,
they change their course, in the endeav-
or TO follow it.
AS soon as the paintings show that
the gravel is not running over 10 cents
the drift and either locate the pay streak
at some other side of the shaft, or, if it
is not found there in what, according TO
the above, is paying quantities, they
sink new shaft in the endeavor TO re-
locate it. 1t will be seen that great
deal of "dead work. is necessary, and
of course, this is all loss, since it costs
just as much to drift in poor ground as
In the richest portions of it.
In many instances the pay streak
runs in a course so irregular that it is
very hard indeed to follow it. At places
the bedrock is smooth and consequently
does not hold the gold. At others it is
very rough and shady, and it is at such
places that the big pans of which one
on the outside hears so much are found.
Owing to these conditions it happens
that not only are some spots immensely
rich, but also some others-sometimes
entire claims-are worthless blanks
Careful Investigation Necessary.
And there is where the investor must
exercise great discretion in the pur-
chase of properties on creeks which are
known to be rich. think that l may
say that in every case, both on FL Dorado
and Bonanza creeks where the present
owner has located pay streak he is
either unwilling TO entertain a PROPOSE
ton TO purchase his ground or puts a
figure on it at which, with the expen-
sive methods of mining in vogue would
offer no inducements TO the speculator
who understood the conditions thor
oughly.
True, many of these claims which are
now considered blanks may prove TO
contain immensely rich deposits of the
precious metal. That was so of several
claims on Bonanza creek last season.
1t was thought that Bonanza creek was
uous pay streak; but many claims which
were designated as blanks last season
are now proving rich. Still these are
the exceptions.
; BY the time that this letter reaches
the eyes of the reader hundreds of men
who are now on the way out will be
flooding the country with Klondike gold
mining properties. 1t will be readily
seen that these men must have seen
much more prospect of making money
by selling their claims than by working
them, and while, as l have said, this
district offers many excellent opportu
mites to the investor or speculator, great
care must be taken by intending pur-
chasers not to be caught by one of the
many schemes which will undoubtedly
be worked by these persons
think that there are some of those
now going out who have really valuable
property to sell, but when one considers
the great risk that they run by taking
such trip he will understand that the
prices which will be put on properties
will be far in excess of their real value.
Besides, these men know that they have
but TO wait until the river breaks up in
the spring, when they will be overrun
by anxious buyers-but men who are on
the ground to investigate before parting
with their money.
1t does not look. therefore, as If many
of these men who are Drawing the dan
gers of a 500 mile trip over the ice in
the dead of winter in order to sell to
those who cannot investigate are work.
ing in good faith. That is the impress.
sion that prevails here among those who
are in position to know.
shaky Options.
The few claims on which these men
have secured options-such options run
ming in most cases only until July,
some only until March, thus allowing
the investor no opportunity to investi'
gate-are those ON Bonanza and Ell Do
RADIO which have the reputation of being