The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-04-28

furnish bacon and bread for meals at a
rate of about 81 80 per meal. Notwith-
standing his lame leg and a pair of very
sore and blistered feet Mr.. C; and his
companion made good time to the coast,
coming through in eighteen and half
days, and though some seven or eight
days were taken to lay over at different
points he was only IS days on the trip
from Dawson to Pembina. MIR. Cavi-
leer's experiences have been very varied
and he is kept busy by his friends, telling
about them and the country and the ways
and manners Of that far off land.
There is plenty OF gold III Alaska, if
one knows where to look for it. There
are not many places now, except that
which is already staked out, where gold
is definitely known to exist in paying
quantities. So far. only placer mining is
carried on and no gold-bearing quartz is
yet found, except in fragments. Almost
all the gold yet found is in thin stratum
of earth close to the bed rock. Over this
lies body of dirt from Is to 20 feet deep
which in winter is frozen solid as rock
and in summer is saturated with water.
Most of the mining is done by digging
shafts straight down to the pay dirt and
then tunnelling laterally. This can only
be done'in winter on account of the
water, and that the earth will remain solid
without caving. The shafts have to be
thawed out as they are dug. Most OF
these diggings are located along the flats
near the streams that empty into the Yu-
kon, and SO far, only two or three such
districts have been discovered that pay
richly, though some of these are very
rich.
The mining claims are not sold, only
leased by the government. The leases
are renewable each year, and must be
renewed and some work done to hold
title. The government also has sys-
tenn ofretaining for itself each alternate
ten claims.
Much complaint is made ofthe officials.
It is asserted that if a man comes to the
recording Office to record his claim, he is
apt to be informed that there is some
thing the matter with the title, but to call
around in a day or two. When he comes
back he is told that the claim has already
been filed on, and he is not allowed to
see the date Of the filing.
Law and order prevail owing to the
mounted police. Mr.. c. thinks that
Dawson is going backward as many men
are coming out. Regular employment is
hard to get, though wages are about one
dollar an hour. The miners can get s75
a month and board for digging, but with
the provision that the s75 is to come out
of the pay dirt in the spring, and if the
dirt don't pay they lose their pay. Not
withstanding the high prices of provis-
ions, the people are generous to each
other and men rarely go hungry even if
hard up. Nearly everything is gradually
coming down in price owing to the better
means of transportation and the getting
in of good stocks of supplies, though
merchants take all the advantages posi-
bic. Provisions are still high, and in
times of scarcity of some article, the
prices reach almost fabulous figures. On
the other hand, much money has been
lost in taking in certain classes of goods,
like eggs, butter, etc, which cost too
much to transporhI on dog sleighs and
which when at last 1otteh in, find mar
ket fairly well supplied at comparatively
low prices.
Mr.. C.. has brought home few mug
gets as specimens, considerable expert
ence, and left claim and half behind
him which he expects friends will sell for
him at good prices, and does not expect
to return. Except for his accident his
health has been perfect and he does not
regret his trip Of nearly two years in the
frozen north. Mr.. c. at our request
makes the following report Of persons
from this part WHOM he met in Alaska.
which will be ofinterest to their friends,
and acquaintance.
. ]. A. Marion, after quitting N. w. M.
Police. went to work ON tWd above on
Bonanza at one dollar an hour. When
ihe got through with that work he came
40 ia look after me fill I pot ahles ~ aef1