The record-union., 1898-07-31

cleanup. But great was the disap-
pointment when nothing appeared in
the sluice-boxes. Many dumps were
abandoned. OF course the mistake was
made in ever putting a pick in the
ground. They were excellent specula-
tive claims, and some which have not
shown up cents could have been sold
for J0,0O0
But the deed was done, and it could
not be helped. Water got low, which
some gave as an excuse for not con-
tinuing the work, yet talk quietly to
the men who had lays" or men who
were employed on the mines, and you
will get pretty good idea All are
shy Of a stranger, but I first awaken
their sympathies by a long turn and
come back to the subject so gently
that it is all out before they know
it, Those whom know make no bones
about it.
Old Claims to Shut Down.
There is to be but little work done
this winter The richest mines fell
short 70 per cent, nor was 1t on ac-
count of shortage of supplies or men
The work informs you on that, and
no one here denies it. The reason given
to the world for closing them down is
to avoid the 10 per cent. royalty, hop
ing that it will be changed, but the
opinion which prevails here is that in
another year or two, at the farthest,
the mines will be completely exhausted,
and Of course cannot be sold
Pencil and paper are the best min
ing implements in this country There
will not be a pick struck in the ground
on Hunker Creek and its gulches on
Sulphur nor Dominion this winter, ex-
cept it be by some innocent fellows
who take the world seriously. These
are fair speculative creeks, and II a
pick point enters they fear it will all
go up in smoke.
Dominion Creek was doomed here for
couple Of weeks. 1t was the leading
| creek, but yesterday an auction Of
claims on that creek occurred here, and
| ten ounces (S160) bought the choicest,
while some sold for one ounce (Slb).
| 1t was complete fizzle.
Outside men are not buying. 1t ls
mostly done by local mining gamblers.
Yet there is gold here and in abund-
ance. Four millions await shipment,
| the product of a few good claims and
| many poor ones Some estimate the
\
sound well. l cannot see where it can
come from. The sum of the product of
each mine will not make it. A quarter
| Of a million is the highest figure for
one mine that I have heard of, and
the others range from hundred thou-
sand to merely expenses.
! | can assert with confidence that if
the same energy had been expended
1 IN Co1 Increased
wealth Of the State would have far
exceeded that of all the gold dug out
of the Northwest Territory.
Simply, Go Home.
| The question that now naturally pre-
sents itself to the ''tenderfoot' is, Wha'
is there for me to do? 1t is simple, al
| though many do not or will not see II
1t is simply to go home. With Two
| thirds of the mines worthless, the ylelc
| Of the other third 50 low that they VII
be held unoperated for speculative pur-
poses, and no new territory that prom
ises anything, there is nothing else fol
| him to do, but backtrack.
| Many have gone already. The streets
| look deserted to what they did a week
/ ago. and many more will go just as
| soon as they can make their arrange
| ments. Some say they will stick 1t 0u'
| a year, anyhow, but that is simply
foolhardiness. Go they must, and they
| may as well face the conditions now as
at any time. There will be fortunes
/ made here for years to come, so VII
| there be capital prizes drawn from the
lottery every month, but there is nc
| country where these people can go II
| and develop any kind of paying prop
| erty An occasional prospector will hi
it now and again, but this country has
been thoroughly prospected for hun
| dred miles, and whereas they may Lave
walked over pay dirt, the general re
| suits show that it is useless to take
chances in this district.
Very many are going to the American
| territory The laws of this country are
abomina BILE and a disgrace to civiliza
ton, and the abuse of power knows NJ
| shame There can be no excuse for ;ht
| Government, and no eXtenuating cir
cumstances. The laws are generically
| bad and purposely framed so as 10 per
| nit the largest degree of fraud and tht
most narrow limits to individual activ'
| ity Man has no rights that the Gov
ernment is bound to respect. The reg
ime is the provincial system, and it:
| operations result in a military despot
ism. All power is delegated to a Gov
! ernor General, who executes the laws
| at his discretion. He is commander o.
the forces, and is final in civil matters
Canadian Government Roasted.
| What is the conclusion? All magis.
trates, all civil officers, must bend tC
the influence of the sword Remon-
strate to the Home Office, and you are
politely told that they have Governor
| General there who possesses their ful
| confidence. True, the one now in com
| mand is gentleman of many parts
He exercises his functions with vigol
| and intelligence, but the machinery OF
| government is so large that it is hardls
possible for him to so modify the laws
as to adapt them to the best interests
Of the territory. Because of their re.
| strictions many who would remain here
are going to American territory.
A man must purchase every natura
as well as civil right To build a cabin
| costs $40, and then one must go beyond
other concessions or pay stumpage tc
| large monopolists, who have bought uI
| the forests near. man cannot bring
a raft of logs down the river without
| a permit To mine costs $40 for a Ii.
cense and S1OO year after for tax, as
well as royalty. stumpage for wood, etc
| The Governments power transcends
the bounds of belief. The murmurings
are not all confined to Americans Eng
lishmen and Canadians are loudest ir