Stikeen River journal., 1899-04-22
St; Michael Trading Co.
A Boom for WranSel

William G. Thomas, a pioneer of Alas ka, formally Deputy United States Marshall here and later d customs official, is the promoter of an eXpcdi- tion being fitted out for the purpose of prospecting a heretofore uneXplored section of the great North West Tcrrit- ory. This expedition will start from Wranyel and will be composed of sev- eral experienced and practical miners, who, in the early days of the Cassiar gold mining eXic cement, were among the fortunatcs who reaped rich re- ward. The objective section of the country is that portion lying west of the Rocky Mountains and at the eX- treme hcadwaters of the Yukon and its eastern tributaries, and from whence it is believed the gold found in the klondike and other streams originally came.
 The theory is based on the belief that the Rocky Mountains are t!ie foun tain head of the gold run. or. in other words, contain the mother ledge. and from which. by the action of the ele- ments of ages past. has scattered the gold on both sides oi the range through the United States, British North America and Mexico.
 The rich deposits found along the klondike river and its tributaries lead to the belief tiiaU- the mother lode is somewhere in the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the headwaters of the now famous klondike. section of country which has not yet been pros pected, owing to it's being almost inn penctrable from the klOndike. This expedition will go to Dease lake which lies about 25O miles northeast of Wrangcl, in British Columbia. and from there will proceed in d northeast erly direction over d comparatively open country until the foothills of the Rocky Mountains are reached. Then the course will be along the west side of the range prospecting all the streams gulches and benches to a point east and north of the klondike, thus taking in all the streams which form the head waters of the Yuken. and down the channels of which gold has been car ried and deposited from time immem- oral
 In an interview Mr. Thomas said In the early days of the Cassiar ex- citemcnt two men penetrated a portion of the country to be prospected ly this expedition. but owing to the running out of supplies and the sickness of one of them. they were compelled to return to Wrangel. They met with good sue cess. bringing out several dollars in dust. most of which was coarse gold and bore but little indications of hav- ing been carried any great distance by water. as it was rough and contained more or less quartz. One of these men died at Wrangel while the other left he has never made his appearance, it is surlnised that he either abandoned the project or met with similar fate to his partner.
 The reports they gave of the country as related by Mr. Thomas, were most encouraging, and since that time he has never known of any one going into that section of the country, although several expeditions have been planned. Owing to the uncertainties and the hardships which would have to be en- countered they were abandoned.
 Now that the richness of the Klon- dike has been proven and in the firm belief that its gold came from the Rocky Mountains, the present eXpedi- tion which is being organized, will be d reality. and it is the intention to make the start as soon as the season is sufficiently opened. It is the opinion of the promoters that they will strike d new gold field equally as rich or richer than the klondike. and thereby open up new field for the adventurous and hardy miner.