Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-26
RUSH FOR THE kLONDIkE
A Hundred Thousand Waiting for the Signal
to Start.
The West Supplies the Greatest MIMI
ber-Many Womens Going
Room for All.

Written for The Evening Star
Mr.. c. b. GoodelI has headquarters IN
New York as the representative of the
chamber of commerce of the city of Port
land, Ore. His business is to see that Klon-
uike-bound people are kept informed of the
| merits of the route via Portland He in
forms the writer that since the beginning
of January he has had inquiries from 25OOJ
persons as to The best means OF getting to
The klondike. These 5000 have all de-
clared their intention of going to the new
Eidorado this season. Many of them will
probably back out as they learn more OF
the uifncultieS of the expedition, bat q
| majority OF them, according to Mr.. Goodell
nave already completed their arrangements
Tor making the trip.
These hgures become more remarkable
when one considers that this is only the
| number that have come to the attention of
one man, and that they are all from New
England, New York and New Jersey.
Fever in the West.
According to the reports of the Portland
representatives in Chicago and other west
ern Cities, said Mr.. Goodell, 1.-The Klondike
fever increases in strength the further west
one goes. There are more people going to
the new gold fields from that part of the
country than from the east. l think that
at conservative estimate not less than
100000 people will go to Alaska this sum-
mer. An astonishing number are going Just
to see the country, although, Of course, the
great majority of those who are planning
to make the trip are after gold.
There are people of all classes and posi-
lions among those who have made Inquiries
OF me. Some are men of wealth and others
to judge from their appearance must have
had difficulty in raising the money to pay
their passage. Almost every little New
England town is sending one OF two repre-
sentatives. In a good many of these places
nad
sending two or three men out on the share
and share alike plan.
Many Women Are Going.
Another surprising thing is the number
of women who are going. l have heard of
at least 500, and there are quite a number
Of women who are organizing parties. One
from Metuchen, N. j., called on me the
other day. She has party of fifty pledged
and says that applications are coming in so
last that there will be a hundred by the
time they are ready to start. She was a
hustler, too, and will get the best rates that
are to be had for her party
what is the lowest amount on which
the trip can practically be nader
well, one can go from New York. in
GLIDING the cost Of an outfit and a years
provisions, for $500. OF course there are
many who will spend more, and MANY
others who will take less supply of pro
visions, and so will spend less. The rail-
road and steamship fares is about 500
from New York to Dyea. There are persist
ent runlors to the effect that cut in rates
is coming, and if that takes place it win
doubtless increase the rush.
IF 100000 people go to Alaska this sum-
ner, does 1t not mean that the country
will be entirely overrun, and that most
of them will have only their pains for the
journey?'
This question was put to Mr. c. w. Muir
ray, who has spent ten years in Alaska,
travelling over the greater part of It, and
m he liz xxrsf3
party OF twelve prospectors.
Room for All.
Impossible" was the reply. "Of course,
if they all go to Dawson City that particu-
lar section will be overcrowded but that is
only a small part. though the richest yet
discovered. of the Alaska gold fields.
People do not realize the vastness of Alas
ka, even when they are told that its ter
ritcry Is one-third the size of the whole
United States, and that its western point
Is farther beyond San Francisco than that
city is beyond the Mississippi.
Il have prospected hundred Alaskan
streams" continued Mr.. Murray. land
never panned one that did not yield at least
color. Take the Stewart river, for example
It cuts clear through the rockies, while the
Klondike flows only from their western
slope. There is room for 10000 prospectors
along the Stewart. There are very few
there now, though gold is undoubtedly 10
be had In paying quantities. Then there
are half q hundred creeks, each one 200 to
$50 miles long. and probably nearly, II not
quite as rich as French creek or Birch
creek. to which the miners focked In such
numbers last fall. No. there is plenty OF
room In Alaska and plenty OF gold, too but
those who are planning to go should re-
member that while there IL an even chance
of their taking out considerable gold there
is very slim chance Of becoming million
aires. Nuggets don't grow ON bushes np
there any more than they DO In any other
part OF the world ~ q