The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-29
HOW long WILL 1T LAST:

HOW LONG WILL. 1T LAST:
The question as to bow long the pres
ent Klondike excitement will last IL
often asked. and, in the very nature ol
factory or definite manner. II must
Tor considerable period remain mat
ter of opinion; but the conclusion APP
pears warranted that there viii be no
material abatement of the present actiy-
ity for several months. 1t appears like
iy that the rush over the passes viii
go ahead without interruption till late
in the spring, and without doubt there
will still be steady stream Of travel
during the summer and fall In June.
or little before, the steamships will
begin the transportation Of passengers
and freight by way of ST. Michael and
the Yukon route. There Ii, on the whole.
no reason to expect cessation of the
enormous northward rush until river
navigation closes in the fan.
What then? Will there be a reaction,
and how general and protracted viii it
be? 1t seems clear that there will be
no heavy return tide this year. It is
to be expected that during the sum-
mer and fall some will return discour-
aged and even Impoverished. and that
they viii tell disheartening stories OF
the rigors of Alaskan climate and the
hardships of travel The numbers of
these repentant Kiondikers will of
course depend upon how many started
full OF fond hope and expectation for
the future. But they will have had no
opportunity to explore Alaska or the
Northwes. territory thoroughly, and
their testimony as to the value OF its
mineral resources will be of little value.
There will be, besides, the usual crowd
of Migrants. hangers-on and shiftless.
who started with little and who VIII
return with less. But the prospector
who goes with a serious purpose OF
finding gold, and who takes a years
provisions. expecting to devote his ener-
search. viii not be heard from this fall.
He knows 1t viii take time for him to
explore new territory and locate and
develop claim. 1t is not question of
days or weeks. In the ordinary course
of events, 1t will take months. We
shall not hear from him for a year or
even more, and we shall not know until
at least that length of time whether
there is to be a general return move
ment caused by the abandonment az
territory by the throngs now pushing
their way toward the borean regions.
We know already much about the
Alaskan and Klondike countries. We
know that there are enormously rich
placer deposits along certain streams.
and that millions have already been
taken out. We know that the general
character of the ground along the
streams OF Alaska and the Northwest
territory is auriferous. and we deem il
reasonably certain that the mineral Is
10 be found in paying quantities along
these water courses. We feel positive
that mother lode--or at least extensive
deposits of quartz-wiil ultimately be
found. and that they cover wide range
of territory. 1t is to ascertain these
things fer their own profit that the
Argonauts are now hurrying to the
| north
| Whether 1t transpires that Alaska is
able 10 support n small or large popula-
i ton. ii is now established that the
country's resources are to be uncov-
| cred, and that the permanent settle
| nens Of It's interior IL a substantial fact.
! That the trade between Puget sound
and the northern ports. when II re-
| sumaes its normal proportions. will be
| of vastly greater volume than ever be-
| fore no doubt exists.