The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-03

90e moeQ9 At20 - kno0A q X NoS UaDcn
hss bsen done toward expierfng Il, much
~ III mouth. Ne were not able to learn
with AM. certainty how far Il was navig-
ABA nor 70 Get much information as to
III W1ter1hed. Only two men &sceuded
the RIVER froGM the mouth last winter, but
prospectors have been crossing over from
the Circle City and Forty-Mi.s districts to
the northeriy tributaries OF the T&nara,
and are reporting rich deposits there.
There car be Httie doubt that the Tanana
VIII disclose one or more good districts
glance at the map shows that the noun-
famous district between the Tanana and
the Yukon q almost paraEelograrn. on
two sides OF which extensive mineral dis
trtcfs exist. towif: The Forty-Miie and
Circle City district on the northeast. and
the Lower Rampant district on the west.
Il II but fair to assuMe that the south
easteriy side OF this region drained by the
Tanana II Also rich In gosd. 1t II to be
hoped that this summer viii see the Ia
mana opened uD for mining operations
Lite Ii known Of this district on the
insid<. 1t must be reached. as am glad
h being done. from the coast I believe
II Il r1cA Geld for exploration and pros
pec<ing.
The Kotsebue sound district IL also
district of which little can be
learned on the inside. It Is known TO
- . mineral district, and will probably
become the gateway 10 an extensive min
eral belt supposed to extend along the
Arctic circle from the koyukuk to kotze-
hue sound. and to even continue into the
Siberian gold fields.
Miners Going to American Side.
We were surprised In travelling up the
Yukon to find very general movement
among prospectors toward the American
side, the recent Canadian regulations
and restrictions being the cause. Although
these are being somewhat modified, they
viii still be far from satisfactory 10 the
average prospector. The Hmifation ..
claims TO 80 feet. with reservation Oh
every alternate group Of ten TO the crown
the heavy fees and annual payments re-
Quired. the ninety days representation
work required annually and the final roy
atty will turn many a prospeetor into
American territory. where the require
ments are so much more len.ent, even TOO
Ienient.
On the American side claims are usu-
ally reduced by vote OF the miners VINO
organize the district from the 1.3ao feet al
lowed by general law on placer claims to
GO or 500 feet. The representation work Is
fixed at from ten to thirty days PER year,
and the recording fees at from $3.50 to s..
The Lower Yukon has some geographic
al advantages over the Upper Yukon dis
tricss. The difficult navigation In the river
does not begin until you get above Tan
ana-above Rampant City. at Fort HON.
lin. This is the beginning OF the Yukon
fats, whose shallow channels came SO
near starving out Dawson during the low
water Of last summer. On the lower river
the distance from tidewater will be less.
the navigation more continuous ard sur.
and consequently all prices a little lowe-
and the reserve supply larger.
There IL now difference on flour Of 81
per sack between the store prices Of flour
on the lower ard upper river.
Exemption from duties and from foreign
regulations are also considerations that
will commend the American side to eyery
American.
The development on the American side
this summer viii be immense. Our gov
eminent should best.r itself to keep pace
in It's functions with this sudden influx OF
people and property.
How to &c. There.
II the party wants to see the entire Yu-
kon. he can go over the pass and float
down the river all the way. bonding his
goods through, but the cheapest, most
comfortabie and expeditions way for
reaching Lower Yukon points on the
American side Is by way of st. Michael
and river steamers.
Jack Carr. the old mail carrier. IS max.
ing trip that suTpasses ours. He left ST.
Michael on Thanksgiving day with dogs
and reached Dawson before we ief1 there,
bringing mail and official dispatches. He
should be at the coast now. We supposed
he would pass US on our trip from Daw-
son, but he evidently delayed his start.
w. d. WOOD.