The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-19


as that seems, following so soon after
a flood. The warm sun of the quick
!y heightened days turned the snow
into water and the whole ran off with
rush. Much good dirt was carried
away, dams and sluices broke and
very considerable loss and damage
were suffered. When the water had
gone many Of the dumps located so
high as not to make available the
water Of the creek were still-and still
remain-unwashed. These are now
awaiting some expected August rains.
Whether or not 1t is because of the
insistent enforcement of the 10 per
cent royalty law by Commissioner
Walsh, l am not at this moment pre-
pared to say, but certain it is there is
an air of disappointment in the town
with regard to the gold output AL
most all now shade down the figures of
their estimate as made early in the
spring. The total is variously placed
at from $10.000,00O to s20, 0OO,O 900. Alex
ander Mcdonald, the largest operator
IN the district, places it at $50, 600.
In the spring and before the arrival of
Commissioner Walsh it generally was
believed that the Government would
not enforce the royalty law. This hope
has failed, however, and the exaction
OF this big percentage of the output
causes widespread disgust and disap-
pointment. Great as the yield is, there
fore, there is a certain sense of depres-
sion in the camp. among the miners,
and nowhere is there any disposition to
boom properties that are being worked,
or to give out inflated reports of the
output. Many of the miners have large
indebtednesses to meet and Commits
sioner Walsh allowed them fifteen days
after the completion of the clean up in
which to meet these engagements be-
fore making their returns to the Gov
eminent. Royalty has already been
paid into the banks, which are author
lied to make the collection upon $780,
600. chiefly taken out of Ell Dorado
Creek
1t is reasonably certain to say that
the cleanup on the lower Bonanza
that is, Bonanza below Discovery, from
about below-has been really dis
appointing. Bonanza above Discovery
has more than met expectation; this is
true also of FL Dorado.
My estimate of Dominion Creek, as
given in The Call of April 49, has been
verified and even emphasized by the
report Of the Government inspectors of
the creek-McGrego Norwood and
Cadenhead. They speak of Dominion
Creek as showing the richest prospects
of any of the creeks. so far as develop
ment has gone. The creek is surveyed
from above Upper Discovery to 120 be-
low Lower. The confusion which re-
suited from the recording of the dis
coveries on this creek and which has
resulted in tying up some of the best
property on the creek, is now about to
be adjusted. Gold Commissioner Faw-
cett began the hearing of the case this
morning. The sworn testimony of
every claim owner on the creek will be
taken. The discovery will be fixed
from this and Judgment as between
the several overlapping claims will be
rendered and the property thus re-
leased from embarrassment and set on
the road toward speedy development.
Sulphur Creek is turning out fully as
rich as it's early prospects indicated
These creeks are still in the prospecting
stage and should they fulfill their prom
Use they will be sufficient alone to sus-
tain the camp at Dawson for several
years.
The two river steamers Of the North
American Trading and Transportation
Company the Hamilton and the Por-
teus B. Weare, now at the docks, pre-
pairing to go down the river, will carry
with them about four millions in gold.
The total shipment of gold to the
outside is most difficult to arrive at,
but will not fall short of eight millions
Porteus B. Weare, head of the
North American Transportation Com
pany, who has just arrived via Dyea,
is making a general survey of the sit
uation, and is much pleased with all
the indications. He started UP the
creeks this morning.
So much for that picture. Now for
this:
Ten thousand people on the way to
Dawson or already crowding it's streets
feel the touch of the depression that is
here, despite the heaps of gold in sight
The throng is depressed because of it's
no
are here that they cannot see how it
may be possible to supply all with
work. They feel that anything less
than overlapping the output must re-
suit in a cut Of wages at least, if not
lack Of work for many
Many Of these new corners are of the
most helpless character, and already
grave forecastings are made concern
ing them anent the long winter that is
coming. 1t is pitiful to see them sit
ting in their boats along the water
front, at the end of their long and hur-
ried journey, utterly at a loss what to
do now that they are here.
The gold commissioner is hourly be-
sieged by men asking him to please tell
them where there is a creek upon
which they can stake a gold mine
Numbers of the more alert new com
ers, men who came into the country
with sturdy purpose to mine, are, af-
ter short stay here passing by Daw-
son and hurrying down to the plentiful
diggings on the American side.
The American side, broadly speak
ing, is enjoying a boom. Every day
sees the interest in the diggings grow,
as the most encouraging reports are
brought here. New diggings are re-
ported in the old Forty Mile District
said to be very rich. Big prospects
have been found and much prospecting
is being done on American Creek. So
great is the rush down there that
number of new towns have been start
ed, the newest among them being Eagle
City, at the mouth of Mission Creek
into which American Creek flows. Star
City was the original of the place, but
II was so badly washed out by the
spring flood that the inhabitants
moved up the river a little way to
higher ground and called the new To-
cation Eagle.
A big stampede went down from here
a month ago, not only to locate mining
claims, but to stake town lots at the
mouth of Mission Creek. 1t is pro-
posed to control the old and new Forty
Mile District from Eagle City by an
all-American route. BY going up Mis-
sion Creek and crossing an easy divide,
the head waters of Forty Mile Creek