Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-09
ALASKA GOLD FIELDS
The Years Output From the Yukon
District $4,000, 900.
FOOD CONDITIONS AT DAWSON CITY
livestock of Fresh Meat Last
Winter.
LAWS REGARDING CLAIMS


United States Consul j. c. McCook at
Dawson City has sent to the State Depart
ment, under the date Of March 81. some in
teresting notes on gold mining in Alaska
and the Klondike region He says:
1T is surmised that Alaska will exceed
tho Canadian Yukon in gold output In a
few years, if properly developed. 1t covers
more gold-bearing territory and the gold
so far discovered is evenly distributed, not
being in pockets, as is the case on many
creeks in the klondike district, where one
claim may be rich and the adjoining one
worthless.
The miners in United States territory
have different regulations for each d1s-
trict-for instance on American Creek the
miner is allowed a 1,32O-foot claim as per
United States statutes; while on Wolf
Creek, adjacent the miner is allowed only
a 5Vo-foot claim; on Jack Wade Creek, l.
600 feet is the length allowed.
Laws as to Claims.
:Staking by illegal powers of attorney Is
practiced. The recorder, in order to get his
fee Of $3.50, records for any one making
statement. On Jack Wade Creek many
Claims were Sldkeu ny par WIN WV
sent from Dawson with illegal powers Of
attorney The miners held a meeting ana
declared that the stalking by powers of at
torney not properly authenticated before
a notary public or recognized ofilclal was
illegal. They afterwards declared the size
of claims to be 800 feet, instead OF l,oo
feet as first determined At still another
meeting, it was put on record that tne
powers of attorney previously declared IL,
legal were thereafter to be CONSIDERED
legal,
1T would be well If all the districts In
Alaska could be governed by uniform
law, as local regulations often change the
size of claims, etc. These conditions per-
nit miner to locate and record a claim on
all the creeks, which would appear to
operate against the welfare Of the country.
AS it is now, if the owner Of a claim is can,
ed away to visit his home In the United
States. his claim may be divided during MS
absence by q miners meeting.
With a United States land office at CIR
Gle City and one at Eagle City to cover the
territory from Fort Yukon to the Canadian
frontier, and another in the koyuk district,
conditions would be improved.
Overstock of Fresh Meat.
There has been an overstock of fresh
meat this Winter-peef killed in the faH ana
kept frozen. Moose meat has been brought
| in in large quantities by the Indians, which
| has helped to keep the price of beef down.
| This month caribou meat has been coming
| IN. and a few mountain sheep. Otherwise.
provisions have remained at the high price
| prevailing all winter. Felt shoes are the
| recognized foot wear for this country ana
| Alaska, at least from october TO April.
| They are warmer and far superior TO the
| old fashioned Indian moccasln. All that
| were brought in last year were readliy SOLO
| at $40 per pair. These shoes should not
| cost to manufacture more than S1.S9 to s.
per pair.
| The Trail to the Sea.
THE mail service leaving Dawson twice
| A month has been excellent. The average
| time to Skagway Is fifteen days, the trip
| was made once in tea. The mail service
| coming into Dawson has been ~retched
| on the LIST of March the mail of September
1898, was received During the month
| there has been such accumulation OF
| mail that the post Office has been alter
| nately closed for two days TO sort the mail
| then opened for two days tor distribution
| A great disappointment has been the utter
| failure to deliver second-class matter. Me-"
| York and Philadelphia papers came IN 1ol
| the first time about month ago ano
| found a ready sale at $50 a copy.
| THE quickest route for persons coming
| into Alaskan territory for prospecting a
| Forty-Mile, Eagle City, or Seventy-Mile Is
| by the pass, then by boat from Lake Ben
| net through Dawson. The bulk of freigh'
| for Dawson will Of course, come up the
| Yukon The upper river from Dawson tC
| head Of navigation will be better supplied
with boats this year than last, and 1t IS tt
| be hoped freight rates Will be reduced. or
| the lower river. from ST. Michaels to Daw
| son CITY. the Alaska Exploration Company
| will have six river steamers and nVt
| barges; the Empire line, four river steam
ers one stream tug, ana nail q doZef
| barges: the Alaska Commercial Company
| eight river steamers two others chartered
| and eight barges: the National Trading ant
| Transportation Company. six river steam
ers; the Colunbia Navigation Company
two river steamers; the Seattle-Yukor
| Transportation Company three rive1
| steamers and three barges-all OF which
have accommodations for both freight ant
passengers. Some of the new steamers ar
fitted up as luxuriousiy as any river steam
ers In the United States.
| There are some fourteen steamer
frozen up in the Yukon, and 1t is fearet
| that when the ice breaks up. II Will carr,
the boats with 1t. Some of the companies
will run small steamers with supplies III
the Koyuk river, as many people will re
| main in that section another winter.
| THE thawing machine has proved
great labor saving device. and is mucl
| more economical than the old method
burning far less wood. The thaWins ma
| chimes so far consist Of a boiler of. say, tel
| HORSEPOWER small engine, and piping
There will be a demand for all brought in.
Claims are cheap on the market today
owing to the scarcity of money. goo
many prefer loaning their money at ten pc
cent month interest Oh sooo cidliHs 4
buying the claims.
Disregard of Comfort.
zone Is struck on visiting the miners cab
Inc for the first time by the apparent lac
) of consideration for comfort, One finds
u by IA or IA by 16 cabin, with two bunk
| at the end facing the door, butt to accom-
modate two or three persons for sleeping
! though four five and six are often take
care of over night. The cookins stove
In q corner near the door. Theirs Is no ven
tnatcr except small hole cut In the roo
. "a the door is usually closed. 1 have see
outside of a cabin similar to the one jus
. described hundreds of empty champaign
. bottles costing $50 a pint. The none
: might have been spent in providing MOI
| habitab1e quarters.
Outlook Never Better.
Under date Of April 7. Consul McCoo
. | adds:
!. 1.-The outlook Of the placer gold fields {
!; the Klondike has not been better since gol
!: ! was first discovered in the Yukon territor
Already this winter, several new strik'
bro hot