The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-14
THE LAND OF GOLD.
F. S, Sylvester Talks Interestingly About
the klondlke.

f. S. Sylvester travelling agent for
the Seattle Trading Company, who sold
the outfit to the Worcester and North
western Mining and Trading Company
when they left Worcester two yeara
ago for Klondlke, was in this city yes
terday the guest Of Charles Wilkinson
at his home us Main street.
Mr.. Sylvester talked with a Spy re-
porter about prospectcs for Klondika
and other Alaskan mining points, ana
he thinks that the life Of that country
is yet in it's infancy.
1.-THE men who went there two years
ago when gold was first discovered in
large quantities in the Klondike dis
trict and had perseverance and grit,
are still there and working paying
claims he says, but the men who
went there with the intention of finding
gold piled up in baskets, did not stay"
A party Of English capitalists ara
now at work, Mr.. Sylvester says, build
ing a RAILROAD from Skaguay to Benneta
lake, distance of 80 miles, and as soon
as it is finished, the output of gold from
the country will be enormous.
At present, Mr.. Sylvester stated, the
land between Skaguay and Bennett
lake will mill out. gold so as to pay q
man about SIS day, but the cost OF
transportation Is so high that 1t is inn
possible to make it pay. The build
ing of the railroad will open clear
passageway down the Yukon into a
country which has been almost impas-
sable heretofore.
At present the biggest industry In
Alaska is along the coast, where a
large number of prospectors are en-
gagged in quartz mining up as far north
as Juno, and this will continue so UNI
til the railroad is finished, and then
there will be big immigration into the
interior Of the country.
The railroad opens up a country that
is without doubt, according to Mr.. Syl-
westerns statements, far ahead OF other
sections of the country for paying
claims which have been allowed tn
stay without being worked. The tram
way which is used on the Dyea trail
Will be done away with as soon as the
railroad is finished.
The war with Spain last year was a
death blow to Alaskan trade, Mr.. Syl-
Vester says, and much money that
would have gone into that country was
allowed to hold over. When the wealth
Of the country first came to the atten-
ton of the people, Mr. Sylvester says,
there was but one boat running be-
tween Seattle and points on the Alas
kan coast, and now there are seven
making trips that more than satisfy
the owners of the line that there Is
some money in the country The fire.
in Dawson City recently was also n
setback to the people Of that coun-
try, but 1t will not be long before they
recover from its effects and gain new
life.
Mr.. Sylvester's advice to person
starting out for Klondike is to make
sure that they have surplus grit left
before they make the trial It is q hard
country to get start in, and no ono
but a business man will make It no.
The ordinary person who reads a pa
per about the fabulous sums that arc
taken out, should remember that they
come only with years of hard work and
toll. Some Old miners who have been
in the country for years are still watt
ing for the road to be completed and
as soon as it is, they see their for
tunes. He stated that business is good
with his firm this spring, and they ex-
pect to increase it this summer.