The Dickinson press., 1898-02-19
kL0NDIKE'S DARK SIDE.
Many Disappointed Prospectors
at Dawson City.
FOOD AND CLOTHING SCARCE
Men OF Small Means Advised to Stay Away,
All h Rich Claims on BONANZA and
n Dorado Crooks Already Taken Up.
WaEning e Intending Ipyeatora.

Writing to the New York Times from
Dawson City under date of Dec. 8, 1897,
MI. E. LIE Roy Pelletier says:
The information which seems to me
Of greatest Importance to the outsider
just now is that regarding the advisa-
bility Of fitting out and starting for this
country, of which 80 much has been
written, and that which prospective in
vestors will welcome. 2 %
To the frst-to poor men or men of
small means who imagine they see in
this territory opportunities to make for
tunes and who, Notwithstanding all
that has been said so far about the diff
culties to be encountered at every point
along the Journey and the probable dis
appointments which await them on
their arrival here, are still willing, per-
haps anxious, to start on the journey to
the new Ell Dorado-my advice can be
summed up in one word, don't.
There are many disappointed, heart
sick men working IN the dumps here,
winding on q windlass, exposed to the
rigors Of the climate and with the ther-
mometer standing at from 95 to go de.
grees below zero-and there is worse to
oome-who had been advised not to at
tempt the trip. Many Of them, while
grumbling about the hardships which
they have and are still enduring, blame
the newspapers for having brought them
here. True, some of the more sensa-
tional papers did give a greater amount
Of space to that part Of the story which
described the riches of this district than
to the other side, which told Of the dan.
gers and hardships, but in looking over
a lot Of clippings which I brought with
me I find columns Of matter advising
only those who were well fitted in every
way to Withstand hardships and priva.
ttons Of the most severe nature and who
knew from experience something Of the
nature Of the life they would be COM
PEELED to live here to attempt the jour
ney. ~, Is
And yet they are, here, and while they
tell%yon,t their troubles and figure out
how small, after all, is the remunera.
tion at $3.50 per hour-and, the average
wage here is $1:a6, while many are
working for their ''grub''-for six 81
seven hours . day, they urge the writer
to advise others to stay away.
1t is feared here that there will be
another. rush. Many are perhaps already
on the way. Nothing but disappoint-
ment and loss await those who come. ]
shall try to explain q few Of the reasona
why this is 90.
All Good Claims Alresdy Taken.
The mining district known as the
Klondike region comprises only two
creeks that are known to be rich-Bo,
nanza and its tributary, FL Dorado.
ALI claims on the creek bed as we'll al
all the bench claims have been located.
Not all the claims even on these two
creeks are known to be rich enough tc
pay the expenses Of. mining them at thu
present rate Of wages, which are, afte,
all, only sufficient to pay living ex
pensea Others are fabulously rich
Some Of those on Ell Dorado will yielt
perhaps $500, 900 each, while others nd
Joining them will not pay for the work
ing. The same is true Of Bonanza.
There a many other creeks here
about, everyone Of which, lying within
q radius Of so miles, has been stake,
from mouth to source, and In man.
cases to q point beyond the summit Q
the slope from which they run Their
is therefore absolutely no chance 70
prospecting or locating in this district
1t will be necessary for any M cominI
to this country to prospect in other dis
tricts, and with very little chance Q
success, for there are hundreds Of mel
here now who have spent anywher
from 3 to Is years In the Yukon dis
tricts prospecting for the gold which i
said to be there, and who are still look