The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-06
NO PLACE FOR POOR MEN
n. w. Harris Talks Entertain
ingly of Alaskan Conditions.
THERE Is PLENTY OF GOLD
He Was Several Weeks With Col Sam
Word of Helena, Who Is Cutting
Quite Swath in Alaska-No
Danger of Starvation.

Missoula, Feb. 5.-H. w. Harris, who
left Dawson City in October and Skag-
uay in December, is in Missoula to-
night and will remain here for few
days before continuing on his way
home to Kansas City. Mr.. Harris has
been in the Alaskan country for three
years and has visited most of the prom
inent camps and placer diggings since
the boom started two years ago. lie
says that the richness of the country
has, in no way, been exaggerated and
that the gold in some of the diggings
exists in almost incredible quantities.
on Eldorado creek, where he spent
some time. it is 20 feet to bedrock and
on Quartz creek, over the divide from
Eldorado. it is 80 feet Mr.. Harris has
a claim on Quartz creek, which was
located last year early in the sea-
son.
Last October the Canadian gold COM
missioner gave leave of absence till
October. 1885, to 500 men in the district
on account of the scarcity of provis-
ions and Mr.. Harris was one of these
who came away on this leave of alb
sence. He will probably return before
his time expires. as he must do this in
order to hold his claim. Some of the
claims on Quartz creek are the richest
litdl nave bttu Iounu, ie says rom
$500 to 81, 900 has been taken out of a
single bucketful of dirt hoisted out of
the frozen ground where the earth had
been thawed by fire.
AS to its being a poor mans coun-
try, Mr. Harris differs with many who
have expressed opinions He says that
the expense of working n claim is so
great on account of the peculiar condi-
lions that prevail there that 1t costs
fully $4,000 to develop u claim. 1t is
expensive getting around in that coun-
try. too, and no man without capital
can do much on his own hook.
Mr.. Harris met Frank Simons of this
city on his way out. Mr.. Simons was
then nearly to Dawson City. Mr. Har-
ris had an experience OF several weeks
with Col. Sam Word of Helena. For
three weeks he and the doughty colonel
were partners on the trail. Colonel
Word was for a time president OF the
miners committee of safety and Mr..
Harris says that he made speeches by
the hour and was a prominent figure
in all of the proceedings. With his
party and Mr.. Harris. the colonel start
ed for Liarsville. The colonel had two
pack oxen that carried his outfit and
the animals bucked at every opportu-
nifty, finally throwing the whole outfit
all over the trail. The colonel sold
them on the spot for $50 and in less
l1ldil lIlItt HUNTS the man WHO DOupHL
them had sold them for 5000. AT Liars
vile the colonel stopped and Mr.. Har-
ris went on. That was the last that he
saw of the Helena colonel.
Tonight Mr.. Harris has been the
center of attraction for all OF the pros
pective Klondikers and has had to an
swer questions enough to fill a book.
He is WellpoSted as to prices, dis
tances and localities and his informa-
tion is eagerly sought for by all who
are planning to GO Joe Deschamps is
one of the latest to announce his inten-
ton of going North, and he has been
collecting information as to the prices
of iron and tools. He expects to go up
and start a smithy somewhere where
good picks are in demand.
Mr.. Harris is an interesting talker
and his story is of miners and prospec-
tors who intended to do so. had re-
manned in Dawson all winter. there
would have been much starvation but
he thinks that the fact that so many
came out during the winter will pre-
vent those who remained from suffer-
ing.