The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-02

| Seattle Is bound for all time to be the
/ chief point OF departure, arrival and sup
| ply for the gold fields OF the Northwest
| This was the remark Of Omer Naris, OF
| Chicago, who returned yesterday on the
| Dirigo. Mr.. Mars had made two trips 10
| Dawson as special correspondent for the
| Chicago Record and is one Of the naost
| intelligent AID wideawake observers who
| have visited the valley OF the Yukon. OF
three important facts Mr.. ssarls declares
| himself firmly convinced: First, that the
| meager exploitation Of the Yukon valley
| gold fields and collateral territory has DEM
| onstrated the existence OF a practically ex-
| haust.ess supply OF gold.
Second, in the development and usufruct
| OF this vast store of wealth, whether on
| British or American territory, the United
| States IL destined TO take the leading part.
| Third. Seattle Is destined for all time 10
come 20 be the main entrepot through
| which people viii depart for and arrive
| from Alaska, from which the vast and in
| creasing store OF supplies needed will be
| iurnisned ana to which the shipments OF
| the newly unearthed god viii be continual
l ly made.
| Mr.. Maris left Seattle on his last trip to
the Yukon about March l. going in over
| the ice and coming out over the ice. He
| left Dawson October 4. making the trip up
the river on the second voyage OF the little
steamer Golden Star, and coming out to
Dyea.
Il think that hereafter the great route
| of travel will be by way of Skagway and
| the White Pass railroad said Mr. Maris
to a Post-Intelligencer reporter last night
| at the Rainier-Grand. That railroad, the
completion Of which seems now assured.
will be a great thing for both freight
and passenger traffic to and from the Yu-
| kon, and will undoubtedly do much to fix
| Skagway as the Alaska gateway TO the Yu-
kon. as Seattle is already the southern
| What do I regard as the most significant
| outcome OF the present season in Alaska?
First OF all l would say. the total output.
| Which despite all drawbacks. despite al re-
| ports to the contrary, cannot be far short
| Of $l5,000.00c You have already handled
more than 100000 right here in the Seat
| tie assay office, and there has been good
| deal OF gold that has come to Seattle with
| out going to the assay Office at all Add To
this 100000 that has gone to San Fran
| cisco. Add to this the fact that many Of
| the prospecfors have not brought out their
! gold, and that not one OF the large compan-
| les has brought out Its fun treasure. and
| you are not far away from my estimate,
| which I think is n fair and reasonable one.
Bench Claims tor the Poor Man.
Next. and scarcely subordinate 10 the
| other, l would mention as the most signi-
| ficant feature OF the season, the develop
| ment Of bench claims. 1t is difficult for
person at distance to appreciate what
these claims mean to mining in Alaska and
| the Yukon valley. It was hard. in fact to
| get proSpectors themselves TO realize it. ana
no STAMPEDE in the history OF gold mining
| In the Northwest was so slow in getting
| started as the movement toward the bench
claims. Now they ara the hope OF the
! miner. To begin with, they are the poor
mans chance Bear in mind that many OF
| the creek bed claims are almost as difficult
| to prospect and work as quartz Calm. On
tho bench claims pay dirt il easily struck
and the miner is not impeded by the muck
| that besets him on every hand on the lower
creek claims. The bench claims are essen
tally summer claims. The ground cannot
be handled In winter. and even the little
| part OF it that can has to be sluiced again
| "A noteworthy feature OF the situation
Is that nearly all the creeks are showing
| good bench claims. These benches appear
from geological standpoint to be a sort of
secondary bed of the stream, and gold has
been found In almost every one pros
pected. One Of the biggest stampedes of
the season has been that to Quartz creek,
on account OF the rich bencn claims there.
Il am inclined TO think that this winter
there will be systematic prospecting of
son. and feel quite sure that gold will be
found there. 1t has been found upon pre-
cisely the same level across the klondike
and up Bonanza creek.
II am disposed also to think that this
winter and early spring will witness very
large movement toward the Atlin lake dis
trict. l think this movement will take
| place not only because that district liz com
paratively easy of access, but because all
the authentic reports that nave come from
there have been most favorable l have
seen men from there. and they had some
thing to show. The specimens Of gold they
had were OF very fine quality.
Sanitation Much improved.
Health conditions had improved very
much when / left Dawson. The peculiar
dysentery and typhus diseases that swept
the town and wrought such havoc seem
largely due 10 warm weather and the
magic touch OF the first frost seems to act
as a healing balm. ! don't know where
the fatal germ OF disease a. Dawson Ia to
be located. Some. l see. have ascr!hed il
To the water that the people have to drink
But don't think the trouble can be there
The drinking water at Dawson seemed 10
me 10 be exceptionally good. Most Of the
people drink spring water The merchants
have a still better arrangement by means
of which a pure, clear water is brought
from spring or stream across the river.
| Il am right positive thar Dawson ia on
earth to stay. Daily It takes on more of
the aspects OF a settled ard permanent
town. and lays aside the swaddliug clothes
of a mining camp Markets and merchan-
disc there are growing more in harmony
with civilization. There was plenty OF
green stuffs and vegetables there this sea-
son. brought in by enterprsing vendors
from Seattle Potatoes were staple at 40
cents a pound. Poultry was 10 he had at
all times, and nice young chickens were
never more than 81 or s. apiece. and to a
man who has grown used 10 the Ia wson
scale OF prices. that seems very cheap.
! Altogether there Is more confident and
hopeful feeling i'm Dawson since Mr.. ogil-
| vie's arrival The old extortions ard crook
| edneSses that prevailed before his arrival