The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1898-01-28

80 ~'fAf - t@tNNI| UTAUM Tic |NIAIIk
point, often remaining for weeks at a
time below FRO and occasionally going
as low as 60 or 20 degrees below zero.
IL SHOWS about one-third OF the time in
winter. but the snow does not become
excessively deep, though frequently the
storms are very severe.
The mean temperature Of the interior
during the summer months il so to 20
degrees, there being many very warm
days. The Yukon region, being so far
north, has the long summer days and
long winter nights Of that latitude,
though, being south OF the Arctic cir
Gle, 1t just misses the continuous day
and continuous night Of the Arctic
summer and winter.
Aside from gold. the chief resources
OF Alaska are timber, fish and fur-bear-
ing animals, including the famous fur
seals which are giving the United
States. Great Britain, Russia and ia
pan 50 much trouble Salmon are
plentiful IN all the streams OF The
islands and mainland, and millions ere
annually packed for market. Halibnt
and cod, herring and smelt, or COLA
chon, abound and have become OF great
commercial importance. The seal and
sea otter in the water, and the fox,
bear, lynx. otter, beaver, etc. on land,
contribute thousands Of their skins an
nnally to the worlds fur supply. The
fur trade is handled by the Alaska
Commercial Company and the North
Trad ~
pany, both Of which have headquarters
on St. Michaels island. near the mouth
OF the Yukon, while the Hudson's Bay
Company operates on the Canadian
side Of the line.
Coal and coal oil have both been
discovered and may be OF future value.
The timber OF the coast and islands
grows very large, owing to the humid
atmosphere. 1t is chiefly cedar, spruce
and hemlock. 1t has been little used
thus far, though several small mills
have cut it for local purposes. The
timber OF the interior IL much smaller,
and is found only along the lakes and
water courses. II is chiefly spruce,
alder, cottonwood and willow. Several
small mills have been taken in for cut
ting this timber. Agriculture is as
yet an experiment, but little having
b EN- attempted. Conditions on the
islands are favorable for grass and such
vegetables and cereals as mature quick
". Even along the Yukon region
summer vegetables may be grown and
possibly wheat. A few years will show
what can be done in agriculture and
stock raising.
The great interest in Alaska at the
present time centers in the Yukon
placers on both sides Of the boundary
line. Prospecting on the Yukon began
in 1881. In the fall OF 1888 the
first gold was brought to Juneau from
the interior. The next year 300 men
crossed the mountains and the number
OF miners steadily increased each year
The first work was on Stewart river anC
then Big Salmon, both in Canada II
1856 the Forty-Mile creek placers, alsS
in Canada. were discovered, and the
next year the famous Franklin gulch
on the same stream. In 1892 the Mile
creek diggings were found. also tribu
tary of Forty-Mile, and on the Cana
dian side Of the line. The next yea
there was large influx Of miners, full,
300 working in the Forty-Mile district
In 1898 the first important discover
les on the American side Of the lint
we're made on Birch creek, and tn
town Of Circle City. now having 500 lol
houses, was started on the Yukon as
supply point. The next year owe
S4OO, 900 were taken out along Bircl
creek and Forty-Mile. In 1895 Eagl'
and Porcupine creeks began to produc
in the Birch creek district. The tota
output Of that year exceeded 800, 600
In August, 1896, it was reported a
Forty-Mile and Circle City that won
derfully rich placers had been discoy
cred on the Klondike, a small tributar
OF the Yukon entering that river abou
so miles southeast of the internationa
boundary and on Canadian territory
There was a great rush to the new dig
cings. the older ones being nearly de
serted. In a few days $1,000 wer
taken out on Bonanza creek, a tributar
of the Klondike. BY January l, 1897
, 400 claims had been located on Bonanz
and Eldorado creeks, and 200 on Hunke
: creek. and later many others on Beai
Gold Bottom AMI Too-Much-Gold creek
! and their tributaries. Fully $l,40o
! 600 we're taken from the Yukon placer
in 1896.
1t was not so much the amount {
gold brought out by the first steamer
come down last summer, as the new
. that this was the result OF but lit
work in a few claims only, and tn:
7 there would have been many times
! much had the hundreds Of other claim
been worked in time to send the gol
out. which caused the excitement tt
\ method OF working these mines Is
sink a shaft into the frozen ground
, winter, taking out the rich gravel nes
: bedrock and piling it up to be washe
: out when the water runs In summit
: time. For this reason the gold washe
!, out last summer could not be Sci
away. and will not be brought dow
. until next July, when it Is expecte
that several millions Of dollars wi
= come out as the result of the first year
. work along the Klondike. The con
4 mercial point for the Klondike distri
is the new town OF Dawson City. sit