Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-10-27
TIMES IN DAWSON
Described by a Man Back From the
klondike Country.
The Abongine as Compared With His
Brother in the states--Men Don't
Easily Find Work.

Yakima, who has been Ia Dawson for
the past two month, was one OF the
passengers who came down on the
City OF Seattle. Ia regard to affairs
at Dawson, Judge Erwin said:
"The development OF the great
basin OF the Yukon is as yet In It's
inception. Gold 10 qantitles such as
will startle the world, even more 80
than did the first strikes on the Klon-
dixie, is yet 10 come from the Yukon
and its tributaries.
"Thls gold will not be In the shape
OF the great nuggets found 90 Elorado,
Hunker and Dominion creeks. IL will
be In the finer placer gold such as is
today being hydraulIclcised from the
gravel banks OF Southern Oregon.
The poor man will haYe no chance
with this dust, except as he Is paid
wsges for the acquiring OF 1t. 1t
will be corporations with heavy cap
ltal, their mines equipped with newly
deYlsed machinery suitable TO the
working OF claims under the climatic
conditions existing on the yukon.
With these installed then will he
seen the output speak Of,
"There are on the tributaries of
the Yukon banks OF gravel existing
running from to 10 cents per pan.
This gravel would not pay pros
pector, with rocker or the ordinary
slulces, TO look at. With modern
machinery, however, made suitable,
as have said, To the Alaskan eli.
mate, and these immense gravel
banks will be made to yield millions
"The trip now into the Yukon has
been dlvested almost entirely 'of its
former haTdships and terrors, steam.
ers or pack trains hlllng the complete
distance from Dyea TO Dawson and
competition makes the trafilc rates
fairly reasonable"
"What truth Is there regarding the
destitution and number OF unem-
ployed In Dawson, that Is reported?"
was asked.
Entire truth" was the answer,
"but the larger portion Of the unem-
plOYed consists of rabble TO which
no sympathy can be given. There are
men who went into the Yukon expec-
ting TO live and possibly grow rich
through preying on the producing
miner. To their surprise they found
that the average miner was about as
wise as they and that the stories OF
peltlng concert show actresses with
nuggets were somewhat exaggerated.
Nevertheless hundreds OF this class
poured into Dawson. Physically
unable tu do the work asked OF a
miner aud far too many TO ill the
small jobs TO be had about the city,
these 'grafters' are now reduced 70
what might be termed beggary
Every man coming into Dawson from
one OF the creeks Is besleged with the
fellows striking for money, each one
having his own hard luck story. This
riff-raff has not the money 10 come
out with, and l suppose Dawson will
have to carry them through the com.
Ing winter"
"Times at Dawson are nourlshlng
AMI there IL lots OF money 10 circula
tlon there. The development OF
mines In that vicinity Is very great
and the work will go right along
through the winter. Many claims on
Dominion, Hunker and Sulphur
creeks are turning out much better
than was expected aud the output of
gold next summer will be large In
crease over this year.
son account OF the amount OF sup
plies that has been shipped ia the
cost OF living Is reduced and IL will
be stlli further reduced. Before l
left Dawson or September 20, 1900
tons OF stuff had come up the river
besides what went In over the pass,
and 10 or IL more boats with supplies
we're expected up from ST. Michael.
"Coming out we came up the river
by way OF Bennett, our fare on the
boat being 25 cents a mile 10 addition
TO meals at sl.50 each. We were 10
days coming from Dawson 10. Bennett
IL Is much cheaper TO go down the
Yukon 70 So. Michael. The cost OF
travelling from Dawson 70 Bennett is
about 500 and from Bennett to Ia
coma aoout $50. Each passenger Is
allowed 100 pounds OF baggage
Judge Erwin was United States In
dian agent for the Yakima reserva-
tion under the last Democratic ad-
mlnistration, aud was relieved about
a year ago. He takes great interest
Ia Indian matters aud naturally paid
some attention 70 the condition OF
the Alaska Indians. In this connec-
tion he said:
"In practical civilization aud pro.
gress the Alaska Indians are ahead Of
the average reservation Indians In the
state. The long hair aud Raudy
blanket have disappeared from among
them. Their young women cannot
play on the plano or work uue EN-
broIdery as the sO.called graduates OF
our Indian schools can, neither can
the boys play football'or toot a cornet,
But they can and do make a living
for themselves and they are learning
TO be shrewd bargain drivers. The
government does nothing for them
and they must work or 70 hungry.
The consequence Is that they all have
money 10 spend, all sneak little