New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-21
RICHES OF NOME REGION.
A BIG RUSH EXPECTED THERE WHEN
THE SEASON OPENS.

THE SEASON OPENS.
When William H. Seward. in 1867. concluded with
the Russian Government the treaty that coded to
this country the Territory of Alaska, it is doubtful
If he looked ahead to time when that practically
barren land would become one of the worlds great
gold producing centres, but such 1t Is The
news of the marvellously rich discoveries in the
KIondke was Immediately followed by great rush
of gold seekers into that region. The best claims
were quickly pre-empted, and nothing left for
the later corners In consequence of this an army
of prospectors spread themselves far and near
the face of that country and new discoveries quick
~ followed another. But owing the rigor
of the Canadian mining laws the prospectors were
anxious to find gold American soil. Men hocked
into Alaska and there began systematic search
for the yellow metal Success in number of in
stances crowned their efforts and finally what
pears to be the greatest of all discoveries in this
gold country found at Cape Nome.
number of Cape Nome men have been lately
making the Everett House, in this city their head
quarters, and Burton D. Bakeslee. acting
spokesman for the party. told the story of Nome
he knows 1t, as follows:
The credit for the original discovery that there
gold in paying quantities at Cape Nome-I
think there is little queston-belongs to the natives
nT oSG ali eab o
in the hope of finding the yellow metal in paying
ing party visited Cape Nome. They returned and
and dreary to live in The natives however were
we'll aware of the presence of gold in Nome, and
acquired religion coifided the fact of its existence
there to two missionaries named Hultburg and An
derson, would not like to go so far as to say
that these men have permanently forsaken the
learn the truth or fasity of the information they
had received; Arriving there in September. 1895
just before the freeze they were nevertheless able
TO take out of the ground from 800 to $500 with
they organized a company, which now has control
of the best claims there. The news of the discov-
conflicting rumors to the extent and value of the
ind and ID on this account it was not definitely
struck there until last September when the whole
sale rush of people from Dawson and other points
began.
GOLD IN THE SEA SANDS.
The strip of beach in which gold lies in the sands
Of the sea stretches it is already known from Cape
Gently been found, distance Of one hundred and
twenty-five miles This sea shore gold nature has
know OF three men who with a rocker, succeeded
doubt has arisen to the legality of these claims
on the sea front. and to whether or not In the
to their being worked Under the law. p the sixty
feet OF beach Immediately above tide water IS said
this strip that the gold found that caused
last year. ''' "e'' 10 o'S'o'efy became known
, But. rich as this sand unquesttonaby is. the
numerous creeks, with which the country is inter
vestigated have shown good results
~ The total output of gold from Nome last year
P',s,, OF the claims were opened up or thor
viii be tEorogh last w6T in tb they
short season. The most conservative estimates
still. 10 "
1t is all placer mining at Nome. that is where
the gold is found in minute quantities. scattered
throughout the beds Of streams in the earth ad
Itself AS, in every other great mining strike
theory that ali sod oray 0etSer the e
one great leuge, from which it was washed away
by the gradual action of the waters passing over
II throughout countless cons of time, and to find
this original ledge men are now hunting the coun-
doing KiOndflka
region It is the old theory Of the mother lode
do god came m from
quartz ledge. but 1t is not impossible that in the
course of time that ledge may have decomposed
and been entirely washed away.
AMERICAN MINING LAWS.
There two new discoveries reported, which
ARE said to Be o rich but Of t ben knOW nothing
west of Cape Nome ana the other at MoEton BAN
eighty or ninety miles, southeast.
between Canadian and American mining laws.
creek to 200 feet whereas by the latter you may
lying deeper than it does at Nome the miners are
able TO work at It during the winter months, and
ton for the time when they can run these accu-
hes through srgr t sees But IN Nome the pay
only carried on during the summer months
you to that region for the reason that you won't
need much there and in winter you can get furs.
necessary, for they can be bought upon arrival at
reasonable prices.
What is known as the Nome gold belt is divided
into the Nome, Bonanza Eldorado, Discovery
Blake, Big Four. Shook. Cripple Granite Fair
view. Cape York and the Norton Bay mining dis
tricts. In my opinion the Edorado district living
northeast of Cape Nome, is likely to cause a sem
sation before another year.
have been all over most OF this region and
from personal observations believe that the re
ports from there have not been IN the least exaS-
gerated but in spite of this should not advise a
poor man 10 go there to try his luck for a number
OF reasons In the first place 1t Is estimated that
the greatest rush ever known in the history OF
m W there
undoubtedly result in oversupply OF labor and q
consequent drop In the price that labor will com
locating claims in the district while already theSa
people enough in there now to take up ali eooS
taken up In the Nome district. No one should