The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-25
DANGERS OF IKE YUKON.
Experienced Miners strip the KIon
dixie District OF Its AIIurcments.

Dangers of the Yukon Region" is the
subject of a report from Consul General
John l.. Bittinger at Montreal to the De-
partment of State. Major Bittnger
writes:
The Federated Mining Institute of the
Dominion Of Canada is now in session in
this city. At the session last evening
two experienced, practical miners. who
have spent several years in the Yukon
gold regions. were present and gave ex-
preston to views in regard to affairs in
that country that may be of interest
to people who contemplate going there.
MI. Christie the principal speaker, de-
clared that under present conditions.
there were too many people in the dis
trict now and those who were physically
and intellectually untitled TO cope with
the hardships of pioneer life should not
venture their chances in the wild scram-
BILE. He gave it as his opinion, based on
his own experience and personal obser-
walton at Dawson, that many of the
glowing reports which reached civiliZa-
ton in regard to the finds of gold were
largely exaggerated. He had passed in
to the country over the Skaguay trail,
and the difficulties were great as to
be almost insurmountable to many.
There We're crevices and holes in which
| the pack horses got stuck, and he had
seen them go down out of sight, packs
and all. in the mud. He knew of some
thing like 5000 horses being lost there,
and had himself contributed thirty of
that number
He said he had known many men who
! had started out altogether unprovided,
and yet had managed to make their way
to the gold fields, while, on the other
hand, some OF those who had set out sup
| piled with everything that seemed neces-
! sary for the journey had failed TO get
/ through, and had abandoned the under
| taking. To seek gold in the Klondike, he
! declared, men of hardy physique were
| needed. Professional men and clerks he
! regarded as unfit to endure the hardships
/ of the trip to and the life in the Klondike
/ region.
I'm conclusion Mr. Christie said that
| the pictures of the Klondike wealth had
/ been largely overcolored and many OF
the reports regarding rich finds had been
! sent out by parties in order TO enhance
! the price of their claims. He did not
| believe they would ship s70.000,0OO in gold
| out of that country this year, or any
! thing like that sum. The production OF
| gold there he said. was bound to be more
/ or less limited, owing to the natural dis
advantages attending mining operations.
| Mr.. Fred Hyde, who represented what
| Is called the first 300 of 1885, and who had
been associated with Joseph Ladue and
! other well-known pioneers of the Yukon
corroborated the views expressed by Mr.
| Christie and said that the immense rush
| of gold-seekers to that country was a
! great mistake. and must result in dis
aster to thousands. The number of peO-
pie going from the eastern provinces OF
| Canada to the Klondike region is consid-
cradle but apparently is not near SC
large as the inflow from the United
! States
Mr.. L. A. Phillips, agent Of the Alaska
| Exploration Company of San Francisco
who has been here for a month. has pur-
| chased of Canadian merchants S500,0G
worth of goods including clothing, can
ned goods. condensed goods, liquors and
other supplies, which are to be shipped
from here to San Francisco and thence
by the company's vessels by way of St
Michaels to Dawson and other points on
| the Yukon River"