Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-04-19

grees. We think our instrument is |
not very reliable when the tempera-
ture falls below 40. February has
averaged the coolest month. 1 think
It's average has been about 40 degrees
below. There have been few days
four or fYe-during the whole winter
that we did not work because Of the
cold.
Last week Mr.. Bayne and L went
up the Yukon to stream emptying
into it from the west, called Swede
Creek. We started when the temper
ature was 40 degrees below. We
camped in our tent and kept quite
comfortable at 3S degrees. We had
our small stove aud sleeping bag
with five blankets, Our bed was
quite hard and smooth, being made
of ice. When we were little too
cold underneath we would apply the
remedy of turning over. We staked
our claims 100 feet each for ourselves
aud 100 feet for our partner, Queen
Victoria, and came back. Arose very
early the next morning, took our
places in the line in front Of the
commissioner otfice,a building 12xl5,
and stamped our feet until Is minutes
till p. m, before we could get our
claims recorded.
We are interested 10 several claims
thinking there will be good demand
for them this coming summer, Nearly
everything is taken within a radius
of many miles from Dawson including
bench and quartz ledge as well as
placer mines, SO there will be a
scarcity of ground for new comers un-
less they procure by purchase.
Among the richest claims devel-
oped are those on Eldorado, Bunch,
Placer, Bonanza, Bear Hunker, Do
minion and and Sulpher creeks. Some
of these are immensely rich in deposit.
L think the great quantities Of gold
reported before we came here were
not over estimated. The great diff
Guilty lies in taking it from the ground.
1t has to be done by thawing every
inch of the way to bedrock which is
sometimes thirty, forty and even
seventy feet from the surface. The
process is a tedious one requiring a
great amount of fuel and much labor
in preparing it, as it is very scarce IN
many places. 1t sometimes requires
months to sink one shaft and If it
happens to be located in the wrong
place, the unfortunate loses at least
one-fourth of a years work, for win
ter is the only season the mines can
be worked for there is too much water
! in summer.
People who claim to be in communi.
cation with the outside say that our
friends have us dead or dying Of star
vation or scurvy. am happy to say
that not one of my acquaintances is In
want OF food or has scurvy. There
has been more or less sickness caused
generally by oYerwork and many call
it scurvy tut there is not symptom
shown that would indicate thatdisease
as known in the states. But very few
deaths have occurred and these were
caused by neglect and exposure. 1
am living testimonial that this cli-
mate can be endured and that the
winters make a good resort for the
leanly built. l weighed 153 when l
left Seattle and now weigh 1856.
l predict that if the reported num-
Der of people come, the wages will be
cut anoJher year Too much stress
cannot be laid upon the importance OF
bringing at least one years supply.
Nearly ali who understand the difi-
culties OF navigation on the lower
river, predict a shortage for next
year.
IL is getting late, wanted to talk
with you and Irma about school,
with Helen about house keeping
about our people at home, about
friends coming in, but just cannot II !
mail thisI do not dare wait for an
other mail FOR the next may not leave
until July.
Write everything that will Interest
me and everything will.
J. o. HALL.