The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-02-05
THE NEW ELDORADO
THE GOLD FIELDS OF ALASKA
AND THE YUKON.
Geography, Climate and Resources
of the Now Famous Region Of the
Far North-Great Extent Of Ground
to BE PrOspected.

W ne fEospcSAeu'
Special correspondencel
Purchased from Russia in 1867 for
81, 200, 900, Alaska was portion OF the
United States for 30 years without at
tracing the attention its resources and
wealth merit Everywhere apathy and
ignorance preayiled in regard TO this
latest territorial acquisition. Suddenly
this was changed In Il single day the
eyes OF the entire world were turned to
klondike, and there they remain fixed.
On the 18th of last July the steamer
Portland sailed into port with $500 600
of gold ON board, and 10 the ends oil
the earth was telegraphed the story OF
the rich placer diggings discovered
along the Klondike and it's tributaries.
which has filled the news columns of
the press with its varied experiences for
four months. Ten thousand men
Joined in it, Some are now at the
mines; others are scattered all along
the trails from the coast to the Klon-
dixie; still others are at juneau, Dyea
and Skaguay, awaiting more favor
able time for the journey, while not a
few have returned to civilization, sat
isficd with their experience or 10 make
a fresh start under better eircum-
stances Great and exciting rs was
this first rush, it was but the advance
ripple of the great wave of gold hunt
ers that will roll in upon the Alaskan
coast the coming spring. Probably not
less than 90, 900 men will start for the
Yukon next year. and possibly four
times this number may 90. For this
reason clear and succinet description
OF Alaska and its resources, with "A
brief review of its routes Of travel must
be Of interest even to those Who have
no intention OF seeking the northern
wilderness.
In the first place. it must be under
stood that the Yukon river flows partly
through Canada and partly through the
United States, and that the klondike
region is on the Canadian side OF the
boundary line though good placers, pos
sibiy AS good As those OF the Klondik Ike,
exist on the American side Of the line.
Beginning at the Arctic ocean, the
boundary line rms due south along the
Hist meridian rs far rs Mt. It. Elias,
10 marine leagues from the Pacific
whence IL follows the coast line, pre-
serving distance of 10 marine leagues
from il, in n southeasterly direction 10
the latitude OF 81 degrees and 10 min
utes, which becomes the southern limit
All east of that line belongs Ia Can
ada, part being in the Northwest Ter
ritory and part in the province of Brit
ish Columbia, the dividing line run
ming east and west across both lakes
Bennett and Tesin. The present gold
discoveries are all north of the British
Columbia line, but no one can tell
what may be revealed in the future.
That portion west OF the boundary
line and belonging 10 the United States
constitutes Alaska pIoper, and contains
total area Of 6l7, 703 square miles, Of
which 81, 500 square miles consist of
islands along the coast 1t is only on
these islands and a narrow strip of the
adjacent mainland that settlements
have been made and industries de-
veloped except the gradual development
of gold piacers along the Yukon, ending
with the recent startling discoveries.
The towns OF Alaska consist OF hnt hall
a dozen of any prominence, besides the
new places on the Yukon. They are
| Sitka, the capital, Juneau, Wrangel,
New Metlakahtla, Kodiak and Dutch
| Harbor. Sitka is ON Baranon island,
/ off the southeast coast, and has popu.
lation of about 800. Juneau is on the
mainland, about 100 miles further
north. 1t is the chief commercial city
/ and during the winter season its popu-
! lation exceeds B, 900. New Metlakahtla
Is a mission and trading point near the
southern extremity, and Wrangel is a
trading point ON the coast ut the mouth
of Stiekeen river. Kodiak is on the
island of the same name south OF the
! Alaskan peninsula, and is the seat OF
the salmon packing industry. Dutch
Harbor is on the island of Unalaska, one
! OF the Aleutian group, where vessels
pass from the Pacific into Behring sea.
Alaska is region of mountains,
there being no great valleys nor plains.
! Along the coast high range of noun
tains rises almost abruptly from the
waters edge, deeply indented with long
arms of the sea. These present a series
of Alpine peaks of the most picturesque
description, the highest being the Fair
weather alps, exceeding 10, 900 feet,
ST. Elias and Logan exceeding $4,000
feet, and Wrangel, further 10 the north
west, said to be still higher. Down
the canyons of these coast mountains
many tremendous living glaciers flow
steadily to the ocean, filling the bays
and inlets with great masses of floating
ice. Beyond this coast range the noun
tains are lower, but almost continuous
as far north as the Arctic, and as fai
east as the great plains OF Mackenzie
river region Yet there are many nm,
mountain valleys, with occasions
stretches of rolling table land, in sum
mer time brilliant with carpet o
grass, moses and flowers.
The coast mountains divide the eli
| ,nato nj Alaska into two dieiinc