The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-01-14
MOTHER LODE FONUD.
Reported Discovery of the Source of
Klondike Gold.


Seattle, Wash. Jan. 12.-The steam
er City of Topeka, which arrived here
this afternoon from Junau, had among
her passengers nine men who left Daw-
son City December 9. They We're:
w. J. Jones, Port Townsend; D. D.
Stewart. Juneau; A. Colder, Nova
Scotia; F. G. Arnold, San Francisco;
W. 6. Stenger, Colville, Wash; Harry
Miller, Colville; ]. Cordroy,. Denver;
George Anderson, Tacoma, and Robert
johnson, Tacoma. They were "a days
in coming from Dawson to the coast.
Their journey was unattended by spe-
cial incidents. The coldest weather
recorded was 1S below zero. The
party brought out with them about
$50, 900 in gold dust and drafts. Dog
teams were used in making the trip.
The party brings no new features in
reference to the food situation at Daw-
son. They all agree that food is scarce,
but that there is no danger of starva
ton. If a large number of persons had
not gone down the river to Fort Yukon
and Circle City to spend the winter, a
different tale would have been told. F.
G. Arnold said:
"There is no danger of starvation.
Of course, there is not food enough,
but that was always true in the Yukon,
and always will be. There is big
warehouse full of beef at Dawson.
Next winter will be far worse than
this, because there will be many more
people there"
In reference to the proposed govern
nnent relief expedition, all agree that,
while it is not needed to avert actual
want, it would be welcomed neverthe-
less.
w. J. Jones brings news of the dis
covery of what is supposed to be the
mother lode and quartz origin of the
placers of the Klondike district. The
discovery was made at four different
points within "a hours, one of them at
the Dome, high mountain to the east
of the source of Eldorado creek, by
Frank Slavin; the second one at claim
No. 81, Eldorado, by A. H. Jose and
partner; the third one on Nugget
gulch, at No. 16; and the fourth some
where in the 20s on Bonanza creek.
The trend of the vein is northwest by
west, westerly from the Dome. 1t is
found at about 3OSfeet below the surface
and under the muck and alluvial de-
posit. The ledge is about Is inches
wide, and maintains uniform width.
1t is generally sp1inkled with free gold.
Mr.. Jones brings down samples of the
ore. and every one who has seen them
say the rock is precisely the same in
character as is found in the Comet
mine at Berner's bay, Southern Alaska.
Mr.. Jones said that old timers in the
Klondike had made a similar observa-
tion.
In no instance was the quartz discov
cry made by the men who owned the
placer claims, and the locaters of the
quartz ledge thus acquire a separate
and distinct title from the locators of
the placer. The discovery of this ledge
on No. 81, Eldorado, was made by
man who was working the placer for
the owner. A shot was put in and
about 80 pounds of ore blasted out.
The greatest excitement prevails, and
no man will listen to any suggestion to
sell his claim until further development
has been made. - 81"
Tom Nash, an employe in the saloon
where the recent fire occurred, has been
arrested for arson.
Regarding the output of gold in the
spring, Mr.. Jones says:
''It will be from $15, 200, 900 to $780,
900, 900. This opinion is concurred in
by the managers of the transportation
companies, and Alexander Mcdonald,
the richest man in the Klondike. Five
millions of dust is now stored in Daw-
son, s3, 100000 of which would have
come out this tall had the boat reached
DaWSon'