Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1898-02-04
MINING CONDITIONS IN THE
KLONDIKE.

unuer Qato OF December 3i, Is In tile
form of letter from Dawson City to
the New York Times. The conclu-
sions OF this correspondent are ap-
parently SO just and reasonable, and
confirm so completely the advices
which we have heretofore received,
says the Mining and Engineering
Journal, that we give below several
extracts from his letter, winch was
published in the Times OF January
23d:
@To poor men or men Of small means
who imagine they see in this terri
tory opportunities to make fortunes,
and who, Notwithstanding all that has
been said about the difficulties to be
encountered at every point along the
Journey, and the probab BILE disarpoint-
ments which await them on their ar
rival here, are still willing, perhaps
anxious. to start on the journey to the
new Eldorado, MY advice eau be
su nmed up in one word-'don:t.'
"There are many disappointed,
heartsick men working on the dumps
here, winding en- the windlass, expos
ed to the r;gors Of the climate and
with the Thermometer standing at
from - degrees to Gu degrees below
Zero-and there is worse 20 come
who he'd been advised not to at
tempt the Trip. r +
"And yet they are here, and while
they tell you their troubles and figure
out how small, after all, is the remnn-
GRAFTON of $3.50 per hour-and the
average wages here are S1.25 while
many are working for their grub
fer sig or seven hours day, they
urge the writer to edvise others to
stay away
at is feared here that there will be
another rush-many are perhaps al.
ready on the way. Nothing but dis.
appointment and loss await those
who come.
"Ihe mining district known as the
klondike region comprises only two
creeks that are known to be rich-Bo
nan2a and it's tributary, Eldorado.
Every claim on the creek bed, as well
as all the bench claims, have been
located. Not all the claims even on
these two creeks are known to be rich
enough to pay the expenses of min
ing them at the present rate of wages
which are after all, only sufficient
to pay living expenses. Others are
fabulously rich. Some of those on
Eldorado will yield perhaps 100000
each, while others adjoining them will
not pay Tor the working. The same
is true Of Bonanza.
There are many other creeks here.
SbouC, every one of which, lying with
In a radius OF fifty miles, has been
Gtaked from mouth to source, and in
many cases TO O. point beyond the
summit Of che slope from which thew
AAohO no. UleISluTe, absolutely
no chance for prospecting or locating
In this district. 1t will be necessary
Tor anyone coming to this country to
prospect ir other districts, and with
very little chance of success, for there
are hundreds Of men here now who
have spent anywhere from three to
fifteen years in tho Yukon districts
prospecting for the gold which is said
to be there, and who are still looking
with longing eyes for the fortune for
Which they have hoped 80 long. When
men who were within so miles OF
Dawson when The strike was made
are Still without the means to buy
food for tbs winter, how can a man
( 5000 miles from here hopo to pick up
rich claim in the Klondike regionP
There are mary such here. cannot,
knowing IS much as l do Of the coun.
try, use language strong enough to
advise those who are thinking OF com.
ing to this desolate country to give up
the notion. No matter how discour-
aging may be the outlook at home, I
L. l. A.