The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-02

profoundly impressed with the belief that
IL is the greatest gold region the world
has ever known It's richness and possi-
blities OF development are beyond con-
ceptiOn.'
The foregoing were the remarks OF g.
IT. Vines. at the Palace yesterday. Mr,
Vines is the attorney for and a member
of % wealthy New York syndicate WhiCh
owns a number Of the richest claims ln
the Klondike and has just returned from
q trip made for the purpose OF inYestlsat-
ing the properties of their titles. As nus
views are from the unbiased standpoint
OF capitalist and not OF an excitaDle
gold seeker his opinions are of particular
interest and value.
81 had exceptional opportunities 10 OBJ
tain certain inside information, parlicu-
larry from the Canadian officials con-
tinued Mr.. Vines For instance the
Gold Commissioner informed me that he
had on hand 100000 IN gold dust collect
ed thus far IN royalties. Al inc same
time he said that sum was misleading as
"a basis for estimating the output IL was
the opinion Of the commissioner that fully
three-fourths OF the gold washed out this
season had not been reported and never
would be. as &c was impossible for the au-
thorities 10 keep posted as 20 tho actual
product of the many mines. ana they are
largely dependent upon the honesty or the
miners.
"At the headquarters OF the Alaska
Commercial Company i was informed
that they had 100000 in dust. but no
idea, as to how much more would come in.
They are also of the opinion that the
outside world was woefuliy ignorant OF
tLe mighty gOid-pr0ducing resources ot
the country.
"The North American Transportation
Company was not SO communicative. /
had considerable gold dust / desired
them 90 take care Of but they refused
absolutely 10 handle IT, They said they
had both their large safes and scverli
big tool chests fun and the available
space in their storeroom was occupied
with bags OF the yellow metal; in fact
such packages We're kicking around un-
der foot While ] was in their Once
man came I'm who had been notified py
the company tO call and take away "a
big bag of the stuff as they would no
longer Doe responsible for &c. All this du-t
Ieft on storage with them was at owner $
risk ! should say this company had
several millions on hand.
LAS To the real output This season the
estimates vary greatly. running from
100000 90 S500000. Probably t0UO-
900 90 SI2.000000 will be close 90 the mark
However. The great amount sequestered
by miners win not Dee heard of from
that section. For instance. there was o.
party of three men who cleaned mp S--'-
600 each and got away with b. without
reporting TO the Gold Commissioner.
I'm another case where a claim was sold
during nv stay for S2-0 600 tho product
was reported to Doe $4,000. when, a5 n
fact the yield was 100000. AT many or
the rich claims requested 10 Doe allowed
10 wash out a. pan of the dirt, but was
curtly refused. The owners or man
ayers were suspicious and would not per-
mit anyone 10 get an idea of what their
claims were producing one could see
the stuff sh0velled into the sluices. but
that did not give any reliable line. sun
one cannot blame these men who nave
undergone so much in the pursuit or
wealth. They say they can't AFFORD 10
pay men SIS per day for pick and shovel
work and then give the Canadian govern
ment one NTH OF tine gross yield. and
they are doubtless right
''What greatly impressed me i5 the
wealth and extent OF the bench claims
As am instance. I saw "a claim ON the
ninth tier I'm French GuIcn which ape
peared 10 be- 1000 feet above the creek
bed which was turning ont $1,000 per
day What extent OF territory this class
OF ground covers no man knows, ana inc
development of the diegIues viii proo-
ably occupy years AS 20 quartz lodges
after careful Investigation / ann strongly
inclined 90 the belief that they no longer
exist I'm that region.
"As 90 the future possibilities l Wouid
say that they are apparently immense.
Anywhere along the uk0u for distance
HfH. H d HNa b. Ha
uoslt. the river now flowing in some
places 900 feet below the old bed. Tho
reasonable conclusion is that this pre-
historic river bed must Doe fahulousiy rich
I'm gold as a result of centuries or glacial
action. OK cOurst this proposition IS
based on the now generally accepted the-
DRY that the wealth of the klOnulhe Is
due 10 such an agency
Those wha have gone 20 the Yukon or
other rivers expecting 90 successfully
drcdge the river bed for gold VIII DE- dis
appointed. The presence of immense
Quantities of dotritus I'm an the large
streams will make such work Impossible.
incidentally IL I were going 20 prospect
for quartz 1 would go 10 the North Faclhc
coast. There are several thousand miles
OF coast lire that bear every evidence pr
being rich IN collaborating quartz ana
believe 10 is only n question of q snort
time when its existence there viii bc
proved.
OF crossed the ChUk0ot Pass twice and
put in two months AZ Lake Bennett walt
Ing for tho fee 10 go OUT have nor seen
much summer this year On the ttn or
July We crossed lakes in which the ice
was thick enough 20 bear up pack horses
and the snow In some places was rom
forty 10 fifty feet deep. / was the hrst
man 10 secure passage on the INITIAL
steamer from Dawson up the Yukon.
with improved service this will become
the favorite route. BY going TO the Sound
by rail man can now make the trip 10
Dawson BY this route in about twelve
DAYS with some degree Of comfort, pro-
vided there are no unusual delays. There
are now about Ave miles Of the railroad
completed and the company has a force
OF 600 men a. work. Upon its completion
with the present steamer service on the
lakes down the Yukon, the trip Will
be comparatively easy.
THE White Horse Rapids constitute
terrible stretch OF water. as IS slightly in
dlcated by a snapshot kodak picture
took OF n French Canadian battcau max
ine the shoot through the most dangerous
nart. The day / was there five men were
drowned and the strange fact In connec-
ton with this Wild river IS that IN eacn
instance where a boat goes down IN the
center Of the rapids nothing IS ever again
seen OF man, boat or outfit. Fortunately
accidents are not numerous. The channel
IS only about 900 feet wide and Is supposed
20 be equally deep.
Truly IL IS wonderful country. Not
withstanding the hard trip nave been
greatly benefited in health and ! regard