New-York tribune., 1898-01-02
RIVALRY For YUKON 1RADE
GREAT PREPARATIONS BEING MADE ON
THE PACIFIC COAST.
,,rrx COMPETITION BETWEEN THE CITIES
VICTORIA MERCHANTS WIDEAWAKE--
nr-TITODS MINING.
rrY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.l

rry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.]
Washington. Jan 1.-Grcat preparations are In
nrorress on the Pacific Coast for the rush OF go'd
seelers who are expected TO invade the Yukon
country the coming spring, and the competition
ho,weon rival towns for the Quitting trade Will
10 eorcor than Il was last year. According 10
report Just received from United states Cohsu'
| Smith Of Victoria. p. c., the cnterprisihs '"e'-
! chants OF that town feel that they did not get
their fair share OF the last years trade. and arc
do,orminod TO grasp and hold It next season
Thcir expoctati tiors are high. Early In November
the advance guard Of the mighty army OF expected
cold-seekers from Australia arrived, one hundred
strong Consul Smith says
Agents from England have been mere anu brss are
now here, making contracts for housing tI'fe ~
or four thousand god-seekers, ana every hotvl II.
Victoria mas coaiiac'S wen ~ " is remembered that
nj least 4 portion Of The great legion from tne
ne stats tst g T PcTresan Pnss iTn e ss CIV BIDS ar
to have its hands full later on. One company mas mas
| goods and several other leading business men oI
| Victoria accustomed to doing things or n lafse re
the coming trade The transportation comnames
have by purchase OF ease secured ocTa bs mort
! and St Michaes, Dyea. skaguay' Fort "rahse"'
! etc.
Consul Smith refers 10 an address delivered at 4
/ n,ee,nr OF the representative citizens OF victoria
| by Mr. Sifton the Canadian Minister OF the I"-
! terror (who is now IN Wash!ngton( after recent
! trip 10 Northwest Territory. In which he ha'u-
| rally desirous OF pleasing his audience, declared
that the boundary Une between Alaska anu BRUSH
! coluubIa when rightly settled. would include
some important posts now in the possession OF inc
| United States, and gave an outline OF the piahS
now in progress to get an all-Caradlah route ''@
the stickeen River and the railroad projects con-
nected herewith his remarks being received WIN
loud applause by the audience. In the course OF MS
remarks Mr. Sfton intimated that tho 100 pounds
exemption now allowed by the Canadian Govern
nent to the miners would be abrosated by January l.
and that probably everything not bought IN Iahau@
would have to pay duty. But he declined TO give
any assurance that the tax on mining wouIn DC re-
duced or the alternate claim exaction pe ale-
waited" Consul Smith continues
Having met several who have spent some time
in the newly discovered gold fields. perhaps might
be We'll 10 give a synopsis OF the views given by
two OF the most prominent ana l'eScmI ~ 1a Ie" n Xo 0
namo who spent some months on IN 6e & ocuandSn
81 ti'eh & 4 MIR ni IL. says that the Kiond<e min
ing country is covered with snow most Of the year
il is Quite hot the Thermometer showing 81 to 80
degrees and then men must wear professors ior me
arau; v,blrh ia protected by a thick moss under
| moss il now cut Off with the shovel The miner
three inches and digs. and 50 on by relays Every
foot of ground has to pG eS S' down S 10 @
rock. and it is impossible to dig or work pick
'ns'e We'll known citizen Of Victoria, who obtained
$40 cSo In addition to an pterest in some fifteen
rich claims as result OF TWO years iaDor M III @ 1me
/ cral Impression the best time for mining is In the
| winter as then the surface water does not neon
venicuce the miner. The large paying mines are
/ nll worked in the winter, and the wash-up Is IN
the spring and summer; m 3WeVer Owe e, III III be Inc ha nUs
| and banks of the various rivers and creeks by a
| noor man to enable him to purchase good claim
! in the fall. In the Canadian gold region the land
is extremely nat. and the best way 10 work H. OK
| long by four feet wide. or thereabouis. and build
| not fire 10 thaw the ground. so as 10 be able TO
In, bo = 81
! no Grade the water runs down into the hole ana
extingulshes the fire, thus stopping the WORK IN
the ground being thawed only by the miners fires
| process repeated When the hole becomes deep
up in baskets. Al intervals Of few, days pan or
dirt Is washed. to ascertain Its yield. -
| No attempt is made during the winter 10 wash
| more than is necessary 10 tcst me yleld o, ore:
| This accounts for the big strikes reported last
vlous hard work Ny informant says that ~ Mas
kan diggings summer work is more prohtable than
| this from personal experience. The pay dirt In
! Alaska IS nearer the surface than In canada. and.
| Alaska a more profitable place for miners Than
! Canada owing to the excessive royalty charged
there Is expectation OF having repealed The
I[londike stratum runs In the direction OF Alaska.
and he has Interests In mines there which are pay
| ing as well az those In Canada.
The miners in Alaska make their own laws
| There 4. no tax upon them. and questions OF
nationality arc asked any more than In the klon-
dixie region. The temperature In winter goes 10 ~
degrees below zero but the air Is stu and dry. and
Is really no harder to endure than 90 degrees below
in Montana This man has. since sold part Of his
claims IN tnat nsd spo cngb down He w r"turn in
the spring TO deliver what he has sold and pros
There arc Ave principal routes followed by miners
| IN going TO the different dggings. which are as
sm mTnT es sioei s,rney csi miles Dawson city i6si
miles: Teslln Lake. 1919 miles. and Fort selklrk.