The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-25
Mining in Alaska

Mingled with stories of rich strikes
in the Alaskan gold fields come many
tales of appalling hardships, and danger
and death. In considering them it is
well to remember that gold discoveries
are almost invariably exaggerated.
while the difficulties and sufferings are
usually minimized. 1t is as natural
for miners who have made finds" to
over-estimate their value as it is for
them to breathe. Not that they intend
to misrepresent. but merely because
their boundless hope and enthusiasm
warp their judgment and they view
their prospects through highly-colored
media.
When shipment of gold is actually
made, of course the shipper knows how
much there is of it, and so does the
person to whom it is consigned but no
one else does, except through second
hand information which may be true
or not. In illustration of the uncer-
tainty surrounding such matters, refer
ence may be made to the case of eX-
Governor McGraw of Washington. who
lately returned to Seattle after two
years sojourn in Alaska. 1t is said that
the estimates of the gold dust which
he brought back with him varied all
the way from $4,000 to $780, 900, the
governor himself declining to make
any statement.
rms, however, we do know: Rich de-
posts of gold are comparat lively few
and far between in any country. If
they were net, gold would soon become
so abundant as to have very little
value. There is no reason to doubt
that Alaska comes fairly within this
rule. 1t is quite certain that there IS
gold there in spots. How much there
is of it is yet to be determined But
it is equally certain that there is al
most no limitation upon Alaskas eli
mate-of particular kind To say
that 1t may reckon on eight, and per-
haps nine months of rigorous winter,
and not more than three or four months
or rather doubtful summer, is very
falr and conservative statement In
such region a person with ample
means, comfortably housed well cloth
ed, provided with abundant food of the
right kind. and under no necessity Of
exposing himself, can manage to ey
of physical suffering.
But how about the man who goes
there with limited means, or none at
all, with insufficient food supplies. in
adequate clothing and not even a cabin
to shield him from the cold and the
storm? 1t is plain that unless fortune
Immediately attend him in his search
Tor gold. suffering, hard, cruel and
long must inevitably be his lot. When
the shades of the Arctic winter fall,
and he finds himself unsuccessful and
destitute, what is he to do? To remain
where he is means to suffer and perhaps
40 starve. unless someone more fortu-
nate than he will lend a kindly help
ing hand. If he strike out for a more
genial cline. his hardships, for a while
at least must be even greater than if
he remain. He may finally reach home
and friends. emaciated and broken
in health, or a lonely grave, perhaps
an unbured corpse somewhere in the
ice-bound wilderness, may tell the story
of his failure.
We have no desire to disparage the
klondke.
Doubtless there is gold in Alaska.
Some of it will be found; a few will
strike it rich. But the region is so re-
mote, the means of transit so poor. the
winters
and the percentage of chances so large
ly against the prospector. that no man
should venture thither unless well pre-
pared to cope with any condition that
may arise. Certainly not while the
country south of Vancouver offers as
many opportunities to the industrious
man as it does to-day.